Ricky Treon is the director of publishing at Blue Handle Publishing—one of Amarillo's own small, independent publishing houses.

Ricky's path into publishing isn't a straight line. He came up in the newspaper world, witnessing firsthand the rapid shifts and challenges that reshaped the industry. From there, he moved into writing, explored acting, and ultimately found himself helping bring other people's stories to life.

In this conversation, we talk about what it actually takes to move a story from your head onto a bookshelf, the evolving media landscape, and what it means to commit to small business in an economy dominated by large-scale corporations. It's also a reminder that meaningful, creative work is happening right here in Amarillo—and that there's still space for independent voices to be heard.

If you've ever thought about writing a book, starting something of your own, or just wondered how creative industries are changing, this one's worth your time.