Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sequoyah Branham. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sequoyah , so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
For me, it seems being the only one in the room with a big black (or straw) cowboy hat on is very helpful. I stick out in a good way and readers are able to connect me with my books in their mind very easily after walking away from my table.
I was very used to being “the only one in the room like me” even before I was a published author. I grew up working cattle with my dad. Whenever we went dayworking to other ranches or had extra hands out to help with the spring and fall works it was just me and a whole bunch of 40+ year old cowboys. Growing up this way prepared me to be comfortable with being different and has served me well as an author of contemporary western fiction when most other westerns are historical or more focused on mystery.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m, Sequoyah, a west Texas ranch girl, living out her dreams of ranching and writing with trusty geldings, a nice bay mare, couple of cowdogs, and head full of stories–oh and the best cowboy hubby!
I write stories set on West Texas ranches with all the grit and determination of a western and the nuances of grace and tenderness of a woman.
It’s rare I stumble upon a novel that makes me feel that I’m at home. I’ve combed through plenty and run into a couple ditches.
On one side, I can read something like The Kerrigans and marvel at the gall of a ranch women in the civil war era. Stepping out her door every morning, shotgun in hand, to see if there’s a rider on the ridge ready to pick her family off.
On the other side, I can read a Harlequin romance and start cringing at the cover. Because, personally, I’ve never seen a cowboy building fence without a shirt on. The half a million dollar paid for home and availability for going out on a date every other night aren’t characteristics of the ranchers I know either.
I got so frustrated bouncing from one side to the other that I decided to write my own stories.
Ones with characters I can nod along with, conversations I’ll replicate at the feed store tomorrow, and crises I can laugh at, because I know it’s not as big of a deal as it feels like in that moment.
I love meeting new readers as excited about ranching as I am and I host quarterly giveaways to share about other books and goodies that support the lifestyle as well.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
No doubt the three most important things I’ve grown and had through this author (and for ranching) journey are: problem solving skills, the ability to push past my comfort zone, and an ear to receive feedback.
Problem solving is something I’ve been growing in forever and still am! Whether it’s something on the ranch–like how to get a young horse to load in the middle of a pasture–or if it’s at the author’s desk. It’s a muscle that you either use or lose and I’m thankful to have many situations to exercise it for me.
For anyone building this muscle I’d say before asking for help think of one or two things you can try to attempt to solve the problem. And when help has arrived, step in and be as hands on with the solution as possible! It helps it stick for next time.
The ability to push past my comfort zone has been a process. A journey of pushing just one inch past and then the next time I could push two inches past that little circle of comfort. I find that this too is a muscle I must keep using. Marketing, speaking on themes of my books, and helping new ranches are some of those exercises for my own comfort zone.
Accepting feedback can be like knife to the heart if it is hand dealt and received with the right heart. When first receiving critique on my writing I had to constantly remind myself that my mentors and peers were sharing these insights to help me and my story rise to be the best we can be. Without receiving this kind of feedback there would be no way that I would have made it this far in my author journey.
I’d advise anyone seeking to grow in this area to keep nuggets of truth (such as mentioned above) readily visible to remind yourself how and why you’re receiving these sometimes hard to receive words.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Overwhelm comes to visit me more often than I’d like! I’m a list gal and having it all out in writing in front of me really helps me to put all the things that are contributing to my overwhelm in perspective. From there I like to prioritize. What has to happen today? This week? Then what are things that can wait longer.
Looking long term and trying to avoid overwhelm I like to set some priorities for the year and each month. These help me to be able to quickly figure out where my efforts should be and if I can say yes to a new opportunity. For example 2025 has been a year of growing my wonderful list of email supporters for my writing. I can filter all other opportunities through if it helps me achieve that.
When all else fails and overwhelm has settled onto your couch, grab a cup of coffee (or other favorite beverage), turn on your favorite song, and on the second or third time it plays get up and dance! There’s a lot more going right in our lives than we think there is.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sequoyahbranham.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sequoyahbranham
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091080528423
Image Credits
Madeline Alvey
Cheyenne Dawn Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
