In a world where many creative people are still searching for real community, Mandy Jo Squires is building one—intentionally, thoughtfully, and with a clear sense of purpose.

As the founder of Creative Slingers of Ink Inc., Mandy has created more than a brand. She is building a growing literary ecosystem for writers, authors, readers, and artists in Greer, South Carolina and beyond. What started almost by accident has grown into a thriving platform that includes author events, writing sessions, memberships, featured author pages, coaching, and an ambitious vision for the future of the literary scene in the Upstate.

For authors looking for support, readers looking for new voices, and creatives looking for connection, Mandy’s work is becoming something special.

From Michigan to the Upstate, With a Vision for Community

Mandy Jo Squires is a Michigan native who relocated to the Upstate with her husband shortly after they got married. Drawn to the region by its balance of mountain access, small-town charm, and proximity to larger cities, she quickly found herself at home in Greer.

That sense of place matters. It is part of what helped shape her mission.

After moving to South Carolina, Mandy noticed something important: while there were literary communities in cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, and Columbia, there seemed to be a real gap in the Upstate South Carolina writing community. There were authors here, readers here, and creatives here—but not enough visible, well-organized spaces that brought them together.

Rather than waiting for someone else to build it, she decided to do it herself.

A Growing Force in South Carolina Book Events

Mandy’s events have become one of the most exciting parts of her business. What began as smaller gatherings evolved into full-scale author events featuring dozens of writers and a wide variety of genres. In Michigan, her larger events grew to include 55 authors and five vendors. After bringing the concept to South Carolina, she launched large-scale local events in Greer, including a successful event at the Depot featuring 32 authors.

Now, that growth continues.Her 2026 events at the Randall House in Greer are part of an expanding vision, with one scheduled for April 25, 2026, and another planned for October 17, 2026. Looking even further ahead, Mandy is preparing for a major leap forward with her 2027 event:

The Stories and Ink Expo

One of the biggest developments in Mandy’s business is the launch of the Stories and Ink Expo, a new name and concept designed to grow with the future of the brand. Rather than tying the event to a single season or venue, Mandy wanted a name that felt scalable, memorable, and big enough for what she is building. Stories and Ink Expo is exactly that.

Planned for October 23, 2027, at the new Greer Sports and Event Center, the expo is expected to feature 60 to 70 vendors, with a strong emphasis on authors as well as literary-focused artists. This next stage represents a major evolution for the brand and positions Mandy as a serious force in the South Carolina literary event space. It is not just about hosting another book event. It is about creating a destination.

What Makes Mandy’s Events Different

There are plenty of events where people simply set up tables and hope for foot traffic. Mandy’s approach is far more intentional.

Her events are designed to be interactive, family-friendly, organized, and welcoming. She keeps admission free for shoppers because she never wants cost to be a barrier to discovering books and authors. She also uses Eventbrite RSVPs to streamline attendance and improve the guest experience.

One of the most creative features of her larger events is the Passport to Reading game, a browser-based activity that encourages guests to interact directly with authors. Attendees visit author tables, collect codes, and enter them into the game. Each author visit and book purchase earns entries into prize drawings, which culminate in giveaways near the end of the event.

It is a smart system because it does more than entertain visitors. It helps create real engagement between readers and writers.

That detail reflects Mandy’s overall philosophy: events should not just be full—they should feel alive.

A Strong Commitment to Diversity in Books and Authors

One of Mandy’s clearest priorities is diversity.

She actively works to create lineups that include a broad range of genres, voices, backgrounds, and publishing paths. Her spring event alone includes around 55 genres, approximately 140 book titles, and authors from eight states. Her long-term vision is even bigger. She wants events that eventually include authors from across the United States, and even from neighboring countries and multiple language communities.

That means variety not just in people, but in the kinds of books readers can find. From fiction to nonfiction, romance to fantasy, children’s books to multilingual titles, Mandy wants her events to feel like a place where everyone can discover something that speaks to them. In an era where readers increasingly want authentic, independent, and diverse literary experiences, that focus matters.

Supporting Writers Through the Inkwell Community

Mandy’s business is not only about events. A major part of Creative Slingers of Ink is its membership model, known as The Inkwell.

The Inkwell is designed to support writers and authors at different stages of their journey. Mandy has streamlined the offering into two levels: a free writer membership and a paid author membership.

Paid members receive added visibility through featured placement on the website, including their own landing pages. In Michigan, those members also had access to smaller “Meet the Author” events, and Mandy plans to expand similar opportunities in the Upstate over time.

Both membership levels benefit from the broader community experience, which includes:

• Virtual Writing Sessions
• In-Person Writing Sessions
• Collaborative Support
• Author Networking
• Problem-Solving & Creative Support
  

These are not rigid, impersonal workshops. They are community-based sessions where writers can make progress, ask questions, get unstuck, and help one another move forward.

That kind of support can make a major difference, especially for writers who feel isolated or overwhelmed.

Helping Self-Published Authors Move Forward

One of Mandy’s strongest differentiators is her passion for helping self-published authors.

She understands that many writing spaces still focus heavily on the traditional publishing route—finding agents, landing deals, and navigating established publishing systems. Mandy is building something different. She wants to help writers who are pursuing a more independent path and need real, practical guidance.

That includes her plans for one-on-one coaching, designed to help people move from “I have an idea” to a finished, self-published book.

She specifically mentioned walking writers through publishing with Lulu, a print-on-demand platform that can still distribute books broadly, including through Amazon. For aspiring authors who want support without feeling pushed into a one-size-fits-all model, that kind of help could be incredibly valuable.

Mandy is not just encouraging people to write. She is helping them understand how to turn their work into something real.

Building a Trusted Literary Network

Another major area of growth for Mandy’s business is infrastructure. She is working toward building a vetted directory of service providers that authors can trust—editors, illustrators, formatters, and other publishing professionals. Her goal is to create a reliable ecosystem where writers can find help without having to guess who is credible. That is important because one of the biggest challenges in self-publishing is not only writing the book. It is figuring out who to trust with everything that comes next. Mandy’s long-term vision points toward something much larger than event coordination. She is building a platform where authors can find community, visibility, resources, and guidance all in one place.

A Business Built on Standards, Professionalism, and Authenticity

One of the most striking things about Mandy’s approach is that she takes quality seriously.

She believes in clear expectations, communication, and professionalism. Authors are expected to show up on time, stay engaged, and respect the event experience. If someone treats the opportunity casually, she notices. Her standards are there to protect the quality of the event for everyone involved.

She is also firm about authenticity.

Mandy has taken a clear stand against fully AI-generated books and AI-generated book covers at her events. While she makes room for practical tools like spellcheck, formatting assistance, and editing support, she does not want her events to become a showcase for work that bypasses the human creative process entirely.

That policy reflects her broader values: real art, real writing, real people.

For authors and artists who care deeply about originality, that stance helps build trust.

Mandy Is an Author and Artist Herself

Part of what makes Mandy’s business feel credible is that she is not operating from the outside. She is in it herself.

She is an author, an artist, and a creator who understands firsthand what writers face. She has designed book covers, written her own books, and worked through the same creative and logistical challenges as the people she serves.

That lived experience shapes the way she runs her business. She is not guessing what authors need. She is building from experience.

It also explains why the business feels so personal. Mandy is not just trying to host events. She is trying to create the kind of literary community she herself wanted to find.

The Future of Creative Slingers of Ink

Looking ahead, Mandy’s vision is bold.

In the next three to five years, she wants to fill the entire Greer Sports and Event Center with authors, literary artists, and readers. She wants a growing paid membership base, a support staff, expanded coaching, a stronger event structure, and additional programs that serve both writers and readers at a higher level.

Most of all, she wants to bring the literary community together in a way that feels cohesive, visible, and alive in the Upstate. That vision is not small. But based on what she has already built, it also does not feel unrealistic. Mandy Jo Squires has already proven she can turn a simple idea into a growing platform. Now, she is doing something even more meaningful: creating lasting space for authors to be seen, supported, and celebrated.

Why Mandy Jo Squires Matters in Greer and the Upstate

Creative communities do not appear out of nowhere. Someone has to build the infrastructure, create the opportunities, send the emails, organize the rooms, maintain the systems, and keep showing up.

That is exactly what Mandy Jo Squires is doing.

Through Creative Slingers of Ink Inc., The Inkwell, her expanding author events, and the upcoming Stories and Ink Expo, she is helping shape a stronger literary culture in Greer, South Carolina and across the Upstate.

For authors looking for community, readers looking for discovery, and creatives looking for a place where original work still matters, Mandy is building something worth paying attention to.