It's Personal at Soul Speak Press.
A dream born out of Jessica Buchanan's story-telling journey…
After writing her own New York Times Best Selling Memoir, Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and the Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team VI, Jessica saw how difficult getting a memoir published through traditional means can be.
Soul Speak Press is dedicated to empowering women to share their stories and make a difference in the world. We believe that every woman is the hero of her story and we are committed to guiding women to reach their writing and publishing goals.
Jessica is a highly sought-after speaker, New York Times Bestselling author, kidnapping survivor, and passionate about helping women publish their stories.
She is the founder of Soul Speak Press.
On October 25, 2011, while on a routine field mission in Somalia, working as the Education Advisor for her non-governmental organization, Jessica was abducted at gunpoint and held for ransom by a group of Somali pirates for 93 days. Forced to live outdoors in deplorable conditions, starved, and terrorized by more than two dozen gangsters, Jessica’s health steadily deteriorated until, by order of President Obama, she was rescued by the elite SEAL Team VI on January 25, 2012.
Jessica’s ordeal is detailed in her New York Times bestselling book, Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six.
Jessica has been named one of the ‘150 Women Who will Shake the World’ by Newsweek, and her story has been one of the most highly viewed 60 Minutes episodes to air, to date. Jessica has shared her story of overcoming impossible odds on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Today Show, Stephen Colbert, The Unbeatable Mind with Navy SEAL Mark Divine, and All the Wiser with Kimi Culp, just to name a few. Jessica’s story was the subject of Wondery’s Season 2 Against The Odds podcast series and her TEDx Pearl Street talk, ‘Change is Your Proof of Life’ has been the foundation for which she travels the world, inspiring audiences to access their resilience by identifying their own autonomy and choice in the middle of their own life changing event, even when they feel they are out of options.
Her Story
Meet the Team
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Loren Buchanan
Co-Founder/Director of Marketing
Loren Buchanan has worked alongside Jessica Buchanan in a variety of roles—including as her speaker’s agent—and played a key role in founding Soul Speak Press.
With a decade of experience in marketing roles, Loren Buchanan brings a dynamic blend of expertise and passion to her role as Marketing Director at Soul Speak Press. A graduate of Lee University, Loren transitioned into the speaking and publishing industry, where she enjoys and thrives on empowering women authors. Loren is dedicated to connecting aspiring writers with the right tools and resources to help turn their dreams into reality.
Based in Boston, MA, she enjoys life with her husband and two daughters, drawing inspiration from her family and the vibrant community around her.
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Ilsa Manning
Director of Publishing, Soul Speak Press
Ilsa Manning is a lover of the written word and has been since she could put pen to paper. She holds a bachelor's in history from the University of Arizona, a master's in modern history from Royal Holloway, University of London, and a certificate in editing from the University of Chicago. Ilsa loves the intricacies and complexities of the English language and received her Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate from the Boston Language Institute, after which she taught English as a foreign language in Sczecin, Poland, London, England, and Phoenix, Arizona. Ilsa has been a member and board member of the Phoenix Writers Club since 2013, serving in the roles of president, vice president, newsletter editor, and currently as social media and website manager. Ilsa is proud to be part of the Soul Speak Press team, helping to shape and sharpen the powerful words of the women it publishes.
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Jess Greenwood
Director of Publishing, Atlas Legacy Press
Ghostwriter
Jess Greenwood is a writer, editor, and storyteller whose sweet spot lies in the space between ideation and implementation. A powerhouse in the world of words, Jess combines a sharp editorial eye, a strategic mindset, and a sense of humor that pairs perfectly with even the strongest cup of coffee—which is rarely far from reach when she's writing or editing. Her years in direct patient care taught her the importance of listening deeply, honoring individual experiences, and translating complex ideas into stories that resonate.
Jess has been instrumental in the publication of an array of Amazon bestselling books including Reframe Healthcare, Beyond the Walls, and Stillbirth Survival. She is a contributing author to the bestselling anthology, Deserts to Mountaintops: The Pilgrimage of Motherhood and ghostwriter of the breakout memoir, Shattering the Silence. Her latest endeavor, The Joy Luck Club, is a deeply personal exploration of joy in the aftermath of trauma.
Jess believes every story contains its own wisdom and voice; her role is to help uncover, refine, and elevate that voice while preserving its authenticity. Through thoughtful collaboration, meticulous attention to detail, and an unwavering commitment to the storyteller's message, she helps transform ideas into compelling narratives that inform, inspire, and endure.
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Mieke Baran
Public Relations Director
Mieke Baran joined the team at Soul Speak Press in 2024 after gathering professional experience from a variety of industries, including public relations, finance and human resources. A visual artist and avid reader, Mieke is a firm believer in the transformative power of art and storytelling, for both creators and their audiences.
Mieke holds a B.A. in History from Brown University and an M.F.A. in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art. She currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and is primarily engaged in the immensely creative and rewarding work of raising three small children.
Our Authors
