Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lyndsie Clark. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lyndsie, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I’ve always been a dreamer. And for dreamers, finding a place in the world can be difficult, because something about reality often feels just slightly out of tune. I turned to stories at a very young age. They taught me how to look at the world sideways, how to pull meaning from experiences that felt confusing or frightening. Through them, I learned empathy, acceptance, and how vast and varied the world could be.
When I began writing in sixth grade, that sense of possibility opened again—this time from the inside out. Writing gave me a way to express my feelings, and more importantly, my beliefs about how the world could be. It became a tool for growth, a way to claim my voice.
As I moved into young adulthood, I noticed that life felt richer when I was writing. More vivid. More intentional. Eventually, I realized I wanted to share my words with others. Writing became my way of engaging with deep, difficult issues—of questioning, problem-solving, and offering hope. Representation matters, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it wears the faces of our everyday antagonists, both external and internal. Stories give us a way to approach those truths with compassion instead of fear.
Some of the deepest lessons I’ve learned came from literature. Within stories, I found resilience. Underdogs standing against impossible odds. Bands of misfits forced to trust one another. Relationships unfolding in awkward, messy, deeply human ways. These stories taught me that perfection isn’t the goal, that a “perfect life” doesn’t exist, and that perseverance matters, even when the path is uneven and full of cracks.
That is what I want to offer through my writing. I want to encourage people to push their own boundaries—emotional, physical, creative, or professional. I want to celebrate friendship (the stranger, the better), love in all its forms, and the quiet reassurance that no one is truly alone.
I think purpose often reveals itself the same way—by listening to what keeps pulling you back, what helps you make sense of the world, and choosing to build a life around that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
At the heart of my work as an author is a belief that stories are how we make sense of a world that often feels fractured, hostile, or unjust. I write science fiction and speculative stories that center underdogs, misfits, and people pushed to the margins—characters forced to confront systems of power larger than themselves, yet still fighting for agency, connection, and dignity. My work explores themes of equality, freedom, and resistance, not through abstraction, but through deeply human relationships: friendships forged under pressure, love that survives imperfect people, and the quiet resilience required to keep going when the odds are stacked against you.
That vision is at the core of The Savant Uprising series, including Anamnesis, which I’m currently bringing to life through Kickstarter. Crowdfunding has allowed me to publish in a way that aligns with my values—directly supported by readers who believe in the story and the message behind it. The campaign isn’t just about producing a book; it’s about building a community around stories that challenge corporate control, question who gets power, and affirm that representation matters, even when it’s uncomfortable or confrontational. Kickstarter gives me the freedom to tell these stories without compromise, while inviting readers to become part of the process.
Alongside my own writing, I’m also invested in creating sustainable, supportive pathways for other writers through the publishing collective, Machines of the Infinite Press, as its marketing director. The collective exists to push back against the isolation and gatekeeping that often define traditional publishing, offering collaboration, shared resources, and editorial support rooted in a respect for each creator’s voice. Whether through editing, mentorship, or shared publication efforts, the goal is the same as my fiction: to amplify meaningful stories, foster creative solidarity, and prove that art driven by empathy and purpose can still thrive in a challenging industry.
Together, my writing, my Kickstarter campaigns, and my work with the collective are part of a single mission—to tell honest, resonant stories, to help others do the same, and to remind people that they are not alone in imagining something better.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, the three qualities that were most impactful in my journey are creativity, optimism, and my extroverted nature.
First, creativity. I needed it not only to tell stories, but to build worlds rich enough to feel inhabited—to create spaces where readers could see themselves and where characters existed as more than words on a page. That meant learning to look at people honestly: not through rose-colored lenses, but with all their contradictions and rough edges intact. Characters become relatable and likable not because they are perfect, but because they feel real.
For those early in their journey, I would encourage treating creativity as a practice, not a personality trait. Read widely, write often, and allow yourself to experiment and fail. Curiosity—about people, systems, and emotions—is just as important as imagination, and it’s something that grows the more you use it.
Second, optimism. Writing is rarely viewed as a “practical” career, and creativity is often dismissed as indulgent or unnecessary. Many people are encouraged to grow out of artistic ambition rather than into it. I’ve questioned my path more times than I can count, and there were moments when I nearly quit in favor of something more socially acceptable. What kept me going was learning to redefine success. Instead of waiting for one monumental achievement, I began celebrating small victories: finishing a manuscript, publishing a book, selling a single copy.
My advice here is to learn how to reframe your goals. Progress compounds. Optimism isn’t blind positivity—it’s the decision to recognize forward motion, even when it’s slow, and to trust that consistency matters more than instant validation.
Lastly, extroversion. While many writers thrive in solitude, I draw energy from people. I enjoy talking with strangers, building relationships, and engaging with communities. This has become essential to my work as an independent author and as the marketing director of the Machines publishing collective. In a landscape where visibility often requires paid advertising, community-building and genuine connection have been some of the most effective tools I have.
For those starting out, I’d suggest developing comfort with outreach, even if it feels awkward at first. Attend events, talk about your work, support others publicly, and remember that networking doesn’t have to be transactional—it can simply be about shared enthusiasm and mutual support.
Together, these three qualities shaped not just how I write, but how I sustain a creative life. They taught me that storytelling is equal parts imagination, resilience, and connection—and that developing all three makes the journey not only possible, but meaningful.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
As an editor and book coach, I’m looking to collaborate with up-and-coming and self-published authors who are ready to take their work seriously and push their stories to the next level. I’m especially passionate about creators working outside traditional publishing—whether through self-publishing or small indie presses—because I believe that’s where some of the most innovative, honest, and community-driven storytelling is happening. I’m drawn to writers who are curious, open to feedback, and invested not just in finishing a book, but in making it the strongest version of itself.
Beyond fiction, I’m also interested in collaborating with artists and creators of all kinds who need thoughtful, compelling copy. That includes author bios, press releases, crowdfunding pages, and website content—places where voice and clarity matter just as much as craft. Good storytelling doesn’t stop at the book itself; it shapes how creators present themselves and connect with their audiences. For me, that creative exchange is what turns a life focused on mere survival into one centered on meaning and purpose.
As a member of Machines of the Infinite Press, we’re seeking collaborators across a wide range of disciplines—from audiobook narrators and visual artists to designers, web developers, marketers, and editors. Our goal is to build a mutually supportive network of professionals who believe in ethical collaboration, fair compensation, and keeping creative business rooted in small, independent, and local communities. We want to work with people who value cooperation over competition and who are excited to help build something sustainable together.
To connect, please visit our website www.machinesoftheinfinitepress.com or email [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lyndsieclark.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndsie.clark.author/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lyndsieclarkauthor
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndsie-clark-ab83308/
- Other: Anamnesis, book 2 of the Savant Uprising Kickstarter (ends Dec. 25th): http://kck.st/3Mm4Eco
Image Credits
Images taken by me. Features me, Jon Gray Lang (President of Machines of the Infinite Press) and Robb Wetmore (author with Machines of the Infinite Press).
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
