James and Blake
(L to R) James Saleska, Tanner Olson, and Blake Flattley.
I need to tell you about James and Blake.
James is a photographer, art director, and designer.
He’s got an eye for detail and heart for helping. We started working together in 2019. I had recently left my full-time job and was pursuing a career as a writer and poet. James wanted to help me get to where I wanted to go.
We sat down together in Frankenmuth, Michigan and I told him my hopes and dreams for my career. I told him about my ideas for books and speaking and merchandise and community. James told me he could help me get to where I wanted to go and he has.
If it wasn’t for James I wouldn’t be where I am. Without James two of my books, As You Go and Walk A Little Slower, would have never been released. Without James Written to Wear wouldn’t exist. Without James my website wouldn’t look as clean as it does. Without James I would have packed up my dreams and would be working some 9 to 5 job.
He believes in me.
James sees something in me that I do not see myself.
And he tells me to keep going.
Blake is a singer-songwriter.
We met a few years back. He was playing solo shows. I was playing solo shows. After talking a bit we decided to do shows together and created An Evening of Music and Poetry. Before we started playing shows together I was looking for jobs on Indeed. The Pandemic had sucked away my momentum and dismantled my dreams. I had grown exhausted from trying and started to believe that what I was doing no longer mattered.
But Blake told me that what I was doing mattered.
Sharing the stage with Blake gave my career as a storyteller and spoken word poet new life. He has pushed me to be better; to take my craft as a writer and poet to the next level.
I tell you about them to share with you this:
You cannot go at it alone.
People need other people.
You need people who see something in you that you do not see yourself.
Do not go at it alone.
