Traci Bliss

From childhood, I was inspired by the remarkable women on both sides of my family who came to California in the 1800s. Their tenacity and resolve became the foundation of my career as a non-fiction storyteller. Despite the formidable social barriers of the Victorian era, these visionary women met resistance with ingenuity, courage, and unrelenting determination. Imagine Santa Cruz County once the logging capital of California becoming a leader in environmental activism thanks to their stewardship. My book, Big Basin Redwood Forest: California's Oldest State Park, tells how even the greatest obstacles to change can be overcome. Their exemplary lives gave me the courage to transition from a thriving career and follow my true calling: the exhilarating work of sharing authentic stories that might otherwise be lost.

After I became a tenured professor, I was stunned to discover that my salary was noticeably lower than several men in the college with fewer accomplishments. A mentor provided this advice: Always ask for what you are worth and “do it with data.” With a spreadsheet firmly in hand, I met with the Dean. His review resulted in a fair salary increase with an added bonus: the opportunity to represent the university at an international conference in Japan.   

Do you want to be an exceptional nonfiction writer? Whatever the level of your writing skills and extent of your platform, think of yourself as a shepherdess. Find that one lost sheep—the intriguing true story that has yet to be told, or told well. Then shepherd your own journey of discovery, never losing sight of the message you alone believe the story can convey. What really happened, and why? How did each person contribute, in his or her own way, to the saga? Through this immersive experience, new insights and empathy will begin to shape your unique voice. Allow the story to create you, rather than the other way around. 

Whether from films, books or public talks audiences today have a burgeoning hunger for true stories about overcoming the odds—well beyond the traditional realms of sports and religion. The time is ripe with opportunity, because extraordinary stories still remain untold. For example, in the true-story group-survival film genre, women are almost always absent from prominent roles. Yet in a 2025 film, The Lost Bus, a teacher’s rich supporting role is absolutely essential to her students’ survival.

Hidden Figures continues to inspire me whenever I face obstacles in setting the historical record straight, particularly when women succeeded in traditionally male domains. The achievements of the Black women mathematicians who helped propel America’s space program remained outside public awareness for decades. It took years of determined research and storytelling to bring their contributions to a wide audience, first through Margot Lee Shetterly’s book and then the acclaimed film. Their success reminds me that overlooked stories are worth the unrelenting perseverance it takes to tell them.

Honesty, trust, and reciprocity.