Let’s talk about business.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own a business? Or perhaps you want to own a handful of lodges or inns? Well, my new friend Amy can fill you in on both of those objectives! Amy’s father and mother began their venture into the business world in the 1970s with the opening of their store, The Gas Pipe in Texas. (Supposedly it got its’ name from the exposed gas pipes in the ceiling of the store.)
The Gas Pipe ended up becoming a very lucrative business endeavor. Eventually, Mr. Shults was able to expand his business to multiple locations as well as another location in New Mexico! Once the Gas Pipe was doing exceedingly well, he invested in a property in Alaska where people could gather, be entertained, and get away from it all! His new lodge, Rapids Camp Lodge, sounds incredible! Especially so if you enjoy a good round of fly-fishing! Check it out on its tab, on https://www.deneki.com/.
Some minor setbacks throughout the years, but they maintained an edge.
The heart and soul of this book go much deeper than merely listing the success that Amy’s family has had in the business world. The Gas Pipe stores have always sold a unique array of items, including bongs, pipes, and other paraphernalia that people can use for specific purposes. I’m sure you catch my drift. Law enforcement was always going after Mr. Shults and his shops over the years, confiscating everything and leaving nothing. Mr. Shults and his wife would have to fight the law in court to get everything back as what they were selling were not illegal in their business. There are many things you can buy in any store out there that will be used for something other than the actual intended purpose. (Hammers, anyone?)
All troubles aside, Mr. Shults was able to stay afloat and keep his business endeavors going strong. In 2005, his daughter, Amy, joined the family business. From there, with her experience and assistance, the company only continued to grow. The family enjoyed an Alaskan vacation, unlike any other every summer to ensure that their lodge was in tip-top shape! (I can only imagine the fun that was!)
While reading her story, you get to feeling like you’ve known Amy and her family for years.
Amy shares deeply personal stories of her teenage years after her parents split up, and how she coped, or rather, didn’t deal with that aspect of her life. She was in constant turmoil and couldn’t seem to find a way out. Then she hit rock bottom. The only way to go was up, and her mother was there to help lead the way. Her story of self-growth, discovery, acceptance, and ultimately, forgiveness, is incredible.
As I stated before, Amy finally joined her father in the family business in 2005, after making significant lifestyle changes, getting married, and having twins! Flash forward to 2014, and both Amy and her father, Jerry, are charged with 17-count federal drug distribution and money laundering indictments. The maximum penalty, if they were charged and convicted of everything, is life in prison. Talk about a significant downfall! My jaw about dropped open reading her description of how it all played out!
The charges involve conspiring to sell synthetic marijuana, also known as K2, Spice, or herbal incense. The most significant charge, from what I could gather in the book, as well as reading up on everything online, was the synthetic marijuana charge. The federal government claims that Amy and her father “knew” without a doubt, that when people bought their “herbal incense” bags (which were labeled as herbal incense, bath salts and potpourri) from the Gas Pipe business, that they were going to go home and smoke them just like pot. Amy and her father claimed to have no actual knowledge of this, stating that the bags had written on them, “Not for human consumption.”
Another primary charge is that the Gas Pipe stores began making their own “herbal incense” products in a warehouse of one of the businesses. Trace amounts of banned substances per the Federal Government were found in the herbal incense products purchased by undercover agents over a few years. In staying up to date with federal regulations, each time a new substance is added to the government’s banned list; the Gas Pipe would search for a similar, but not forbidden item to update its product. So, unless I’m misunderstanding (highly possible by the way), the federal government updates its’ banned substances list frequently, and then when anyone attempts to comply with it, as the Gas Pipe did, they’re taking the blame for covering something up by complying?
I need to make something quite evident here. I am absolutely against drugs, including pot. That being said, I know that many people are for it, indicated by the fact that it’s legal in a lot of states now to use without issue. I have family members who are all for it. So when I first started reading this book, I couldn’t quite grasp what all the fuss was about. OK… so, this business sells drug paraphernalia, and everyone on the planet knows what most people are using it for…and the federal government is mad about it? How does that make sense at all? (BTW, I still DON’T quite get what the government is upset about.)
Then there were a few rounds with cancer.
Amy was already fighting for her life in one arena, with lawyers, judges, television stations, and several other outlets! Including the federal government! When, SURPRISE, she went in for a regular mammogram, and the doctor knew that she had breast cancer. Again, I was shocked while reading this book. It’s mostly a personal journal describing all of life’s crazy ups and downs, but with more extreme versions than I’m used to seeing!
Due to the urgency of the cancer treatments Amy was then facing, her lawyers were able to postpone the court appearance/battle for about a year while she underwent chemo and did all she could to beat cancers’ ass! Thank goodness for small blessings and for them working with her to an extent! After months of treatment, hormone issues, lack of energy, and I’m not sure all of the downsides of chemo, Amy won. She beat it! I was jumping for joy, reading her tale of winning against an unseen enemy!
However, the joy was short-lived as she had to be in court for trial reasonably soon after the treatment was over. Regardless of being physically done with chemo, the effects on the body don’t disappear overnight. I can only imagine the struggle she went through the first few months after she beat cancer back.
It wasn’t until the end of 2019, just a few short months ago, when the trial concluded, and a verdict was reached amongst the jurors. Amy and her father were charged for “mislabeling spice products,” within their business, which authorities consider a deadly poison. It has been known to put people in hospitals if they’ve used it as a drug. (Basically, like all drugs can eventually do to you, but hey, that’s not the point.) The more serious drug-trafficking charges were dropped. Amy and her father will both end up serving 36 months in federal prison for their crimes.
When I finished with the book, still in shock, I might add; Amy’s father was already in prison serving his term. The way the court ordered the conditions to be served was to stagger the times that they were in jail. Since Amy and her father run the business together, it wouldn’t do to have them both in prison at the same time. Once her fathers’ time was served, it will be Amy’s turn.
After taking a few days to mull things over, I reached out to Amy to see if she could do an emailed Q&A with me. She obliged. Here is the result of that conversation:
- How did your family and friends react to your book?
My friends and family have been very supportive about me sharing my story, even though it meant sharing some things about my loved ones as well. I tried hard to not share anything I didn’t think anyone would want to be shared and didn’t delve to deeply into the personal lives of others. My kids are very supportive and are always asking how the book is doing (in regards to sales and getting recognition) but neither of them have read it. I think they feel they lived through most of it and the stuff that happened in my life before them is probably stuff they don’t really want to read about their mom doing (drugs, sex, etc.) but they are very proud of me for writing the book, and my husband is too. For my friends that didn’t know all the “nitty gritty” of my life, they have been very intrigued by the book and have most often expressed sadness and sympathy for all I endured.
- Has anyone from the DEA or government reached out to you in criticism of your book?
No, nobody from the government has reached out to me about my book. I’ve often wondered if anyone from the government has read it, but even if they have, I doubt they would reach out or comment on it. I don’t think that would be legally advisable.
- What is your favorite quote? Why?
I have several sayings and mantras I like to live by – the glass is always have full and if it’s not figure out how to get it there, life is about learning how to dance in the rain – but an official quote that is one of my favorites is from Bob Marley – “I never knew how strong I was until being strong was my only choice.”
- How is your father doing? I’m honestly quite shocked that you each got 36 months! Is there a possibility for early release?!
Well, one reason it took me a few days to answer your questions is because this has been a very busy and hectic week (in a good way) because my father came home. Due to the COVID pandemic and the issues it was causing in prisons and his elderly age and being deemed “high risk,” he was released to home confinement on 5/20. We are enjoying lots of time together cooking, binge watching Netflix, conversing and being reunited after the last six months. Because we are codefendants, the BOP wouldn’t permit me to visit him (we didn’t know that was going to happen) and so it was very hard being separated. We are so beyond grateful he is home “safe and sound.” He’s on house arrest and is still serving time but he gets to do it from the safety and comfort of home.
- How are your children handling everything? I’m happy that you all went to therapy/counseling (I’m a huge advocate for that!), and I imagine it’s helped tremendously with everything going on.
My children are amazing. On one hand I feel like they have gone through more than any child should have to go through, but on the other hand I know there are children that go through even worse. Even in the darkest and most challenging times, my children have been surrounded by love and encouragement, and sadly many children never have that. Their eyes were opened at a young age to how the world truly is, and that life isn’t always fair, and we can either bow down and give up or keep fighting to move forward. For the most part they are regular teenagers who right now are excited to soon get their driver’s licenses and talking about where they want to go to college in 2 years. I think like many things in all of our childhoods, the impact and enormity of what happened and how it’s shaped them will continue to be realized as they grow and mature throughout life.
- How long, from beginning to end, did it take you to get the book together and get it published? Were there any significant roadblocks?
While I was going through the legal battles and my cancer battle, I journaled a lot, so when it was time to put the final book together, most of the material was already there. It just had to be put together and have some things added. So it was a process that took about 3 ½ years because much of it was written in “real time,” and when it was time to put the whole store together and write the “ending” (at the end of the trial) that took about 2 months. Then of course there were months of editing and fine tuning.
- Physically, how are you feeling? At what stage are you at with all of that? Just going back for checkups now and ensuring that you’re still 100% free and clear? Also, side note, way to go you AMAZING lady on kicking cancer’s butt on top of everything else you had going on at the same time!! That’s an incredible feat and even more so when thrown in the mix with everything else!
I’m feeling really great. It’s taken much longer though than I thought to “bounce back.” I thought I would finish treatment and all my surgeries and I would be right back to my “old self.” That wasn’t the case. First of all, due to the legal situation, my health was not great (the worse it had ever been) when I was diagnosed, so I was already “behind the eight ball” so to speak. Then I was naïve to how much of a toll cancer treatment takes on the body long term. It’s a lot that the body goes through, and bouncing back from that is not an “overnight” situation. But in this last year I’ve really seen some improvements in my overall health, physique, energy level, etc. I’m back to a regimented fitness routine and I keep up with my husband again on hikes, and my body is “normalizing” or finding a “new normal.” I’m very grateful and pleased with where I am health wise right now.
- What are you looking to accomplish in say, the next five years? I know there’s a possibility of being in prison, so, if you’d like, we can change that to the next ten years, or you’d like to broach this one?
In the next five years I look forward to helping my kids get into the college of their choice and then spending more time in Alaska with my husband. I’ve gone back to school to get my masters in professional counseling because it was always a goal of mine to get a second degree in something I really enjoy. I don’t know exactly how I will utilize that in my life, but I trust God has a plan for me. I want to continue growing my non-profit and helping those who are disadvantaged as much as I can, and I look forward to seeing how our businesses continue to grow too. One thing I’ve learned the last few years is to not make too many plans. I make preparations and focus on the good and positivity in my life and then I trust that my path will take me where I’m supposed to go on my journey.
- I was happy to see that you started a non-profit in Texas! That’s incredible! Are your kids involved with that as well? I believe that kids should begin volunteering and helping their community as often as they can as soon as they can as it’s a gift! Amy’s non-profit is called Hopeful Tuesdays!
Yes, my kids help cook meals to be served and they’ve gone with us to hand out lunches to people in the streets. Last Thanksgiving we spent the day as a family serving our first Hopeful Tuesdays Thanksgiving. The kids are really very sweet and caring about it, always asking how the people are doing (they’ve gotten to personally know some of them over the past year), and they have also recruited their friends and their families to help with cooking and providing food as well.
- You mentioned in your book how FREE you felt when you got out of jail during after the weekend while you were waiting for your attorney to get back. With COVID-19 currently ongoing, how has that affected your feelings of being free? Is it as bad as when you had to wear Bertha?!
The “shelter in place” (that’s what our local government in Dallas called the semi quarantine) has absolutely brought back memories of Bertha for me, and now my dad is back home with a “Bertha” again, so it does seem we’ve found ourselves in familiar territory in some ways. But I don’t feel as alone right now because 1) Everyone is going through the same “isolation” and 2) I’m in a different place mentally and emotionally than I was when I wore Bertha before. Plus, I’m really kind of a “home body” at heart so I don’t mind the downtime and being at home a little more, but it’s one thing to choose to do it and another to have it forced upon you.
- My husband and I have a dream/bucket list item to make to all 50 states! We’ve been to everywhere except the NE and Alaska and Hawaii! This is an off-topic one, but what are the going rates for your lodge in Alaska?! I’d LOVE to go; it sounds incredible! Could you provide the link? 😊 Plus, the links of your other locations? I’d like to include them in my post!
www.deneki.com is the website for all the lodges. I have the same bucket list about all states. I have 8 left and after this year I should be down to 5!
- Are you planning on writing any more books regarding the injustice of the federal system, as well as DEA laws and other INSANE things you’ve been forced to go through?! Or just any other books in general? I feel as if with the number of places you’ve traveled, and the marathons you’ve run on, you probably have a ton of material to get started! (PS – I’ve checked out Amy’s blog, and it’s amazing! Just like her book!)
I do enjoy writing and sharing. I think communication is our biggest asset. Writing a book though is a huge commitment and then there is the cost and time put into publishing it after it’s written. If there is interest in hearing more from me, I’d always be open to sharing more. I’ve started a blog in the last couple of months, and that has been a great way to share “real time” thoughts and has been a wonderful outlet for me, and hopefully people have enjoyed it (amyherrig.com/blog)
- One of my favorite quotes from your book was, “It was like a child being angry at a parent because of the consequences the child experiences because of his or her own poor behavior. Really the child should look at himself or herself as the reason for the disappointment or even anger because he or she did something wrong, but he or she instead blames the parent.” This sentence was like a lightbulb going off, especially as you compared it with how adults get mad at God. I’ve been there, I’ve done that. I was mad at God for a long time. What made you realize that the reasons you were angry had nothing to do with God, and more to do with your past and choices? That’s a long way to come to realize we have to take responsibility for our actions!
I think having a lot of time by myself without any distractions (when I was home with Bertha) was a blessing, even though it was excruciating initially. It gave me time to be introspective and with minimal distractions and activity, I was forced to look at myself and my entire life and the choices and decisions I had made and how I had ended up where I was. That’s also when I started doing a lot of writing, and it was a huge emotional purge and brought me great clarity. Also, meeting with someone from the church and having her explain to me that our relationship with God isn’t perfect always and it’s okay to be angry then helped me to understand what the anger was really about and I could process it and look within.
- What would you say to your younger self if you could go back? Any advice or helpful tips?
I would say “love yourself, the good, the bad and the ugly. Embrace it all, and forgive yourself and give yourself grace because only when we can do that with ourselves can we do that with others and true, pure love and grace are essential for acceptance and growth of ourselves and each other. We are all just trying to make our way through this crazy thing called life, and we are all imperfect but we were created perfectly in God’s image of us, so love yourself and love one another and learn from your mistakes and know you are going to mess up but as long as you are striving to be the best version of yourself possible, then ultimately you will be okay.”
- Your facing jail time rather soon; how does that make you feel? (I personally, btw, don’t think you should be going in the first place, I think it’s ridiculous!) Do you have plans on what you’re going to try to do to pass the time? Do you know where you’ll be placed? Three years seems like it will pass by in the blink of an eye when you’re able to live your life to the fullest, but when you’re being held back for whatever reason, such as how life is now with the majority of places in quarantine!
It would be ridiculous for me to say that the idea of going to prison doesn’t give me angst. Of course it does. I think prison itself will be okay (not great, but manageable – assuming they get the virus situation resolved), but learning that lifestyle and routine will be a big adjustment. But more than anything I have angst about leaving my children, husband and our businesses. At least my children are older, so for obvious reasons my absence would be more traumatic if they were younger, but it’s still not ideal. My husband is a rock and our marriage is solid – it has survived a lot. The businesses are a lot to leave though. I’ve tried to turn things over to other people, but it’s been a struggle to do so because for over 5 years we have just been trying to survive the legal ordeal, and then just when we were getting our heads above water, the pandemic happened, so there has been no real opportunity for me to evaluate how to transition the leadership of the businesses to someone else because we’ve been in constant survival mode. But one thing I’ve learned these last few years is everything happens for a reason and God does have a plan. So for now I get up each day and prepare and do what I know I need to do for the immediate future, and I try to enjoy as much time with my family as possible, and yes, I know there is a prison sentence currently looming, but for today I’m free and home with my loved ones, and that is what I’m going to focus on until is it no longer the case, and then even in prison, I will I am very blessed and have a strong foundation (emotionally, financially, etc) to return home to that many prisoners do not have.
All in all, this was a wonderful book, and I’m glad I was given the opportunity to read it and review it by Liz Chase with Ascot Media Group! If you’re interested in purchasing Amy’s amazing book, it can be found on Amazon, as well as other national book-sellers!
Have you read Amy’s book? Or perhaps you saw her struggles in the news over the past few years? Let me know either way!
Interested in other book reviews/interviews I’ve done? The book, “Dancing to the Darkest Light” is incredible! Highly recommend! I also reviewed the book, “Go Ahead, Stop & Pee,” which was also so informative and amazing, though I don’t have an author review attached to that one. There’s also the amazing book for any new moms or moms-to-be, “New Baby Blueprint,” which I wished I’d had prior to my firstborn!
Love ya and thanks for stopping by,
Kelly Ann
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