Get to Know Me (Rachel Warmath, Founder of Alive in the Fire)

Hey, I'm Rachel! The founder and writer behind this blog :) I'm doing a little re-introduction post today. I’ve evolved a loooot since I started this space back in 2010. I give myself permission to evolve every year, honestly, and have gone through a huge awakening over the last five years.

So here’s more about me, my background, and what I’m up to. You can always stay up to date on my latest projects and adventures on my “now” page too!

About Me

- I have an English degree from Northwestern University with a focus in creative writing and poetry. I started my college years as a journalist with a dream to write for magazines, but realized during a spring break trip my junior year that I was not cut out to move to New York City, so I began rethinking that dream. When I applied to the creative writing program and got in, it led me in the direction of an English degree instead of a focus in journalism.

- During my time at Northwestern, I tried a number of different writing, publishing, and marketing endeavors. I interned at the Northwestern University Press (and actually sent out rejection letters for manuscripts!). One of my journalism classes had me working out of a small office in the Edgewater neighborhood, interviewing people on the streets of Chicago, covering local bands, and doing features for campus publications. I also interned at a huge advertising firm in downtown Chicago (and was shocked at the lack of work/life balance of everyone on the team). I worked at one of the on-campus online newspapers (called NorthbyNorthwestern) and helped found the creative writing section for it. I also worked on student films, took a screenwriting class, studied a little bit of art history which I really enjoyed, and was on a dance team briefly (and I had also danced in high school).

(Side note: If you want some real throwback pieces of my writing, check out this link: my work for NorthbyNorthwestern, an online campus publication at Northwestern University.)

- I have over 15 years of experience as an editor and writing coach. My early days of coaching writers actually started at Northwestern! I worked with one of my college professors, Sara Vaux. She is a scholar in religion and film studies and wrote a book called The Ethical Vision of Clint Eastwood. I took her class on Clint Eastwood films, she liked my papers for the course, and she subsequently hired me to help her stay organized on her manuscript, give minor feedback, and do research for the project. It was so much fun and really gave me a lot of my early confidence with book writing and collaborating with authors.

- In my early twenties, I collaborated with a fiction writer on a steampunk novel based on a live performance and band. The project was so creative, unique, and fun to be a part of. The book is called Gertrude & Grace and is also tied to an album.

That project led me on trips to Indianapolis, Detroit, and even Park City, Utah to work on the book. I had no idea when I first visited Park City that I would one day be moving to the Salt Lake area!

Here’s me getting tattooed in detroit years ago. To learn more about my tattoos, read my memoir, alive in the fire: the journey to inner peace and creative power.

- I grew up in northern California and now live in Utah with my husband and two dogs. I have also lived in Evanston, Illinois and the Sacramento area of California, along with Humboldt County and Chico, CA. I’ve visited a lot of places in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and on the East Coast and would love to visit the Northeast at some point. I love traveling.

- I'm unique in that I'm a sober, highly sensitive woman in my 30s who doesn't want kids.

- I’ve been an athlete throughout my life. I did track team in junior high (after being recruited for doing well on high jump in P.E. class! Ha!). I did dance team in junior high and high school (what’s called Drill Team— we would perform at football halftime shows, school rallies, and annual competitions). I even choreographed a routine my senior year and was one of the team squad leaders. It was a highlight in my high school experience for sure! I also did one summer of a rec swim team that kicked my ass and was also such a fun and humbling experience. In college, I danced a little bit and also found yoga. After becoming a yoga teacher I’ve also been into weightlifting (strength training) and running. In 2021, I ran a 50k and a few marathons and have done a number of half marathons, too. I also love hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, and other movement practices.

- I've supported over 150 authors of memoir, non-fiction, and poetry as they finished their books and created confidence from within along the way. I’m an international editor and have worked with a variety of small publishing companies. In 2024, I went all in on my own business, Confident Authors. I’m also getting ready to launch something really special called The Book Shaman that combines my love of writing, editing, and publishing with my love of the healing arts. As part of it, I’ll offer shamanic writing retreats and immersive experiences for writers on a healing path.

- I have 6 years of experience as a professional copywriter. In 2021, when I moved to Utah, I worked full-time on a creative team for hair extensions brands. I loved being a part of the creative process and getting to collaborate with the brand team, graphic designers, videographers, models, and hair stylist educators. It was an extremely niche topic to write about but helped me learn a ton about optimizing copy for a big retail brand. Towards the end of working there, it also solidified my beliefs about how the beauty industry preys on the insecurities of women and isn’t really something I want to dedicate my writing skills to :) But I’m very grateful I had the experience and so glad that that position led me to Utah (and also paid for my wedding and my six or so months of grad school while I thought I wanted to do an MBA :)

- I'm an 8-time independent author. I’m a big proponent of self-publishing because it empowers authors to be in charge of their creative projects and bringing their vision to life. Some of my books took 1-2 weeks while others took 2-3 years to write. I’m working on my next few books now, including another memoir, a book of poems, and a book for writers. Stay tuned!

- I'm a memoir ghostwriter. I love going really deep into the heart of a book and integrating intuitive practices like shamanic journeying, Reiki energy work, and yoga nidra into the writing process.

- I was a spelling bee champion in 3rd grade. It might sound silly but it was a transformative, memorable experience of my childhood that always stuck with me. I felt seen and understood by the kids at that event because they were all smarty-pants kinds of kids like me! That moment of winning first place was an early moment where my inner champion and my inner critic voices came out. It’s interesting to think back to that time and how it shaped me both in positive and challenging ways. I was so proud of the trophy they gave me! :)

- I host sacred focus writing immersions, online writing intensives, and workshops for women and gender-diverse authors. My women’s writing group, Write On, is one of my favorite projects from this year. In it I coach women and help provide an accountable, safe, relaxed space where they can show up and write and talk about their writing. Truly a transformative space that mirrors so much to me!

A photo from back when i was in training and still working on my tattoo sleeve, too!

- I am a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certified Vinyasa yoga teacher. I did my training in 2013-2014 at Leap Yoga in Folsom, California. It was hands down one of my most transformative life experiences and helped me find my voice in such a powerful way. Since then, I’ve been teaching yoga classes to people of all backgrounds and experience levels. I absolutely love yoga and what the practice has done for me and how it helps others.

Fun fact: over the years I have done over 50 yoga photo shoots, too! I absolutely love the creative process of collaborating with a photographer and capturing my yoga practice. My favorite shots are ones in nature too where there is an interactive dynamic with the natural landscape. I feel so grateful to be able to work with other talented creatives and to see my strength when I look at the photos and share them.

- I am also a certified instructor for with Yoga for First Responders (I teach law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, and veterans tools for nervous system regulation and PTSD prevention). My most recent class with YFFR involved teaching law enforcement cadets at a local community college in the Salt Lake Valley. That was awesome. I plan to do more trainings with YFFR in the future, too. You can read more about my experiences with them in this blog post: Riding Along with the Local Fire Department

- I am a Master level certified Reiki practitioner (in the Usui lineage). I use Reiki in my own life on a daily basis to help with finding balance, harmony, ease, and restful sleep. It’s also useful to bring in when I teach yoga as it helps me read the energy in the room and also allow Savasana (final rest) at the end of class to be more effective and soothing. I also use Reiki for writers to help with creative breakthroughs, letting go of past trauma, and releasing perfectionism. I absolutely love Reiki. It has helped me so much in life!

- I am currently in The Beauty Way shamanic apprenticeship training and have been working with the Akashic Records for the past 5 years. Studying shamanism and incorporating shamanic journeys into my spiritual practice over the last year has been absolutely incredible. And my daily Akashic Records journaling practice along with the past life journeys I’ve done… all of these things have been so eye-opening and so helpful in being able to take my healing journey deeper and to support clients in a profoundly meaningful way.

I have a deep-rooted passion for energy work, magick, memoir, and the healing arts.

At this stage in my career, I’m intentionally weaving together my technical expertise as a writer, editor, and intuitive book coach with my lived experience of healing from trauma and addiction.

My work is guided by my own spiritual awakening—a journey that’s included recovery, shadow work, embodiment, and reclaiming my voice. I believe that writing is a sacred act of remembrance and transformation, and I support others in telling their truth, reclaiming their power, and creating something lasting from their lived experiences.

I'm grateful to be here and connected with all of you!

Much love,

Rachel

P.S. You can also learn more about me and listen to my podcast interviews on the About page of this website, or head over to the About Me page of my Confident Authors website. For more information about my books, visit www.rachelwarmath.com.