Bargain Hunter columnist speaks on living in a conservative bubble

MEDIA RELEASE__Bluffton University hosted Melissa Herrera, writer and author, as the featured speaker for the 2026 English Festival Forum. Herrera, who grew up in the Holmes County Mennonite community, shared her journey as a columnist, author, and storyteller, offering insights into writing beyond familiar perspectives.

Herrera, whose weekly column ran for 15 years in the Bargain Hunter, reflected on the challenges of engaging with an audience that often held differing views. 

"I'd write on immigration, undocumented persons, racism, and other challenging topics they wouldn’t normally read,” stated Herrera. “I'd tiptoe softly, tell the person's story that became me, or perhaps something they might have dealt with, every day in my writing."

Her presentation, titled “Uncensored, Writing Beyond the Conservative Bubble I Lived In,” explored the influence of her upbringing and her commitment to empathetic storytelling. "I don't remember a time when I wasn't writing something down,” Herrera stated, reflecting on her childhood and her earliest call to write. 

Herrera also shared her experience writing her book “Toño Lives”, based on the life of her husband George. "My husband, George, has an amazing life story. It's hard and crazy and full of unbelievable happenings. He's been pushing me for years to write a story and put it into a form." She spoke about self-publishing the book, the journey in writing and the rewarding experience of the latest fifth-anniversary edition being more recently released.

Throughout her career, Herrera emphasized the power of listening, learning, and writing with honesty. "I write methodically, carefully, sometimes editing too much as I go… But I've learned, that's who I am and how I write." Her words encouraged the students and festival participants to write authentically to their own style and pace. 

Bluffton University’s English Festival celebrates the craft of writing and the sharing of diverse perspectives. Herrera’s presentation offered students and community members a compelling look at the art of storytelling, column writing and the courage to address challenging topics with integrity.