Amanda Eaddy McKeithan
Amanda Eaddy McKeithan is an author, writing coach, speaker, and publisher dedicated to empowering women to find and use their voices through storytelling. As the founder and CEO of Securely Lit Publishing, she supports aspiring authors—particularly women of color—in transforming their life experiences into impactful, purpose-driven books. With more than 16 years of experience as a writer and seven years as a coach, McKeithan has built a platform that not only helps women publish their work but also teaches them how to build brands and create income from their stories.
In addition to her work in publishing, McKeithan is the visionary behind the SECURE women’s empowerment movement, an initiative focused on helping women achieve stability and confidence across all areas of life—physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and financially. Through her coaching, speaking engagements, and creative projects, she creates safe spaces for women—especially Black women—to share their stories, heal, and inspire others. She is also deeply involved in education and community engagement through her role with Richmond Public Schools, where she works to strengthen connections between schools, families, and community resources.
A prolific author with multiple self-published works, McKeithan uses her own life experiences—including overcoming trauma and adversity—as a foundation for her message of resilience and renewal. Her storytelling extends into film through projects like her SECURE docuseries, reflecting her broader vision to amplify the voices and experiences of Black women. Recognized for her impact, she has received honors such as the Allen & Allen Hometown Hero Award and the YWCA Rising Outstanding Women Award. Guided by purpose and passion, Amanda Eaddy McKeithan continues to build a legacy centered on storytelling, healing, and helping women realize the power of their narratives.
• Virginia State University- B.S
• Author of the Week (third grade)
• Author of the Month (third grade)
• Pretty Purpose (Board Member)
• Board member for Pretty Purpose nonprofit supporting tween and teen girl development
• Girls Mental Health Summit
• SECURE women empowerment movement
• Planning to launch Secure Girls Club nonprofit for teen girls
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to trusting my own process and not comparing my journey to someone else's. Comparison is a thief of joy. You have to really trust your own process and get clear on what your goals are. What do you hope to accomplish with the business in 5 years? What is something that you are called to do that you believe no one else can do? When you get clear on that and trust your own journey, it will keep you on the journey. I've also had to prioritize myself and work on my healing. Self-awareness is so important. I had to dig deep and realize that what I was doing wasn't working, that I was really broken, life was lifing, and I needed to get back to Amanda. For the past 7 years, I've been on this journey of securing myself, securing myself financially, mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, really prioritizing myself. We can't be good business owners, writers, coaches, consultants if we're not being kind and good to ourselves. Prioritizing yourself is super important. The best writers are the healed writers.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The first thing I would say is to embrace the process and trust the process. I had to learn that I could not compare my journey to someone else's, and that this was a process. If I looked at what the next woman was doing and I compared my journey, it would stop my growth. Comparison is a thief of joy. You have to really trust your own process and get clear on what your goals are. What do you hope to accomplish with the business in 5 years? What is something that you are called to do that you believe no one else can do? When you get clear on that and trust your own journey, it will keep you on the journey. And if you have moments where you feel you need to stop, then stop. Stop and heal, because the best writers are the healed writers. Sometimes I could not write and coach other women because I just had too much stuff going on, too many life events, and I had to sit down and heal. This is all part of trusting the process. What is for you is for you. It's not gonna go away because you need to take a break.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
A major challenge in publishing is the continued underrepresentation of Black women and women of color and their stories. At the same time, there is a powerful opportunity to support these voices through hybrid publishing models while helping authors build strong brands and monetize their work.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me are self-awareness, healing, and prioritizing myself. Self-awareness is so important. I had to dig deep and realize that what I was doing wasn't working, that I was really broken, and I needed to get back to Amanda. For the past 7 years, I've been on this journey of securing myself, securing myself financially, mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, really prioritizing myself. We can't be good business owners, writers, coaches, consultants if we're not being kind and good to ourselves. Prioritizing yourself is super important. I also value giving back and empowering women of color. I really am giving Black women, women of color, what I didn't have, and holding their hand through the whole entire process. Our stories really transform the world, and as Black women, sometimes we're just underrepresented in so many industries. I want to give us voices. I'm passionate about girls being part of programming that helps them become the future leaders of tomorrow, providing them with the resources, the leadership skills, the conflict resolution, and the confidence. We as women can get along, and we need each other.