The KWE Publishing team consists of ladies who love Dolly Parton for our own reasons, and we were all deeply saddened to learn about Dolly Parton’s passing last week. She truly was a light in the world.

While we normally don’t talk about celebrities, we were inspired to talk about Dolly’s legacy relating to books and literacy. We also wanted to talk about how we, as people who love to read and write, can continue to carry her message forward.

Dolly Parton created the Imagination Library in 1995 as a free book-gifting program for children from birth to the age of five, regardless of the family’s income. Initially, this program was exclusive to people residing in Sevier County, Tennessee, where Dolly grew up. However, the program quickly grew in size. The Imagination Library has shared over 270 million books with young readers, and an estimated 14% of children under the age of five in the U.S. receive a book from the Imagination Library every month! The Imagination Library also reaches children in other countries, too, including Canada, Ireland, Australia, and others!

As you might’ve experienced yourself as a child, an engaging book can spark a child’s love for reading and turn that enjoyment into a lifelong passion for books. It’s incredibly exciting to know that so many kids have access to books each month. It’s especially important to note that families of all income levels have access to this program, as studies have shown that children who come from high-income families tend to have higher rates of literacy than those who come from low-income families, suggesting that access to books (which can be expensive and/or may be inaccessible in areas that aren’t close to libraries) directly impacts literacy.

Dolly Parton knew this well; her own father was unable to read and write due to dropping out of school at a young age to help provide for his family. Despite her father’s inability to read, Dolly described her father as being the smartest person she’d ever known. In hopes of honoring her father and ensuring others didn’t experience his struggle, she created the Imagination Library.

In addition to creating the Imagination Library, Dolly authored numerous books (including children’s books).

How can we continue Dolly’s legacy?

There are a few ways we can help encourage others to keep reading, writing, and telling stories.

Starting or adding to a Little Free Library can be a fantastic way to encourage others to explore new books. These small libraries allow people to freely take and leave books. While some little libraries have books in certain genres (for instance, a Little Free Library by a daycare would likely have books for young children), they often include a mix of books. You can search for your nearest Little Free Library by entering your zip code here. If you don’t have one by you, consider starting one near you (just make sure you’re allowed to do so in your chosen spot first!).

Of course, supporting your local library is also important. If you live in a rural area, you might be eligible to get library cards from other counties, too! I’ve used Libby to access books from nearby counties if my own county doesn’t have a book I’m looking for. If you don’t have one already, get a library card, and encourage others to do the same. In addition to checking out books (and other forms of media, as libraries often offer magazines, movies, and more!), consider attending any local events held at your library or even volunteering if you have the time. Of course, you can also ask your local library about ways to support literacy in your area, too!

There are a variety of organizations that support literacy, but if you’re interested in directly supporting the Imagination Library, the organization does accept donations. Given that the program has been cut in several states recently, this can be a helpful way to support early literacy if you’re interested (though there are certainly other ways to do so).

Otherwise, there is incredible value in telling your own story and talking to other people about the books that have changed your life. Both writing and reading are valuable ways to really connect with other people. It’s important to remember that your story is worth telling. So, keep writing, keep reading, and keep the love of storytelling alive.

Thank you, Dolly, for reminding us all to leave a bit of sparkle wherever we go and always to enjoy the magic of books.

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We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

Subscribe now

If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, Christina, and Lauren—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“Every book is a treasure and every time you open one up, you will meet new friends and take wonderful journeys to magical places.”
— Dolly Parton

Author Event Recaps: Valerie James Abbott & Danielle Simone Share Their Stories!

Valerie James Abbott’s Late to the Party book tour continues! During a recent stop in the great state of Indiana, Valerie had the joy of meeting Evelyn, whose beautiful story is featured in Chapter Four. This special moment brought the pages of her inspiring book to life!

This past weekend, on Saturday, August 29, 2026, author Danielle Simone shared her The Adventures of Syd book series at Barnes & Noble in Glen Allen, Virginia!

Congratulations to both of our amazing authors!

Register Now for Our Free Upcoming September Webinar!

Join us for our free upcoming webinar, Book Visioning: How to Create Your Dream Book, where we’ll talk to Susie Schaefer from Finish the Book Publishing about writing, publishing, and identifying your brand! You can register now for the webinar, which will take place on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern, by clicking the button below!

Register here!

Join JoAnn M. Dickinson at Barnes & Noble!

Author JoAnn M. Dickinson is holding a book event this upcoming Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Barnes & Noble in Irvine, California, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on the second floor in the kids’ department! Come join JoAnn for her wonderful event as she shares her book, Who’s New at Lou’s Zoo?

Read About KWE Rockstars Jean Sime and Emily Deaton in Bold Journey!

Recently, KWE’s VIP Marketing Concierge Jean Sime and Editor and Book Coach Emily Deaton were both featured in Bold Journey! You can read Jean’s feature here and Emily’s feature here.

Way to go, Jean and Emily! We’re grateful to have you both part of the KWE Publishing team and family.

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

We wanted to further highlight the Imagination Library today. If you or someone you know has a child below the age of five in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, or Australia, you can check the availability in your area to see if the Imagination Library can send books to that child! Children can receive books each month until the age of five. If you’re a parent, educator, or want to learn more about how you can support children’s literacy, you can check out the site’s resource page here.

Check it out!

We’ve talked about AI more than a few times before here at KWE Publishing, and a recent article by Andrea Bartz that focuses on how booksellers are impacted by AI inspired us to talk a little more about how publishers and editors know whether or not a manuscript has been written with AI.

A quick note: When we talk about AI in this newsletter, we’re specifically talking about generative AI, not tools like spellcheck that technically qualify as AI.

(And for full transparency, we do use generative AI when creating images for our newsletters; we’d love to hire artists to create customized art for each newsletter, but that isn’t something we can do just now. That said, we’re always open to suggestions from our readers! We also don’t publish books that use generative AI artwork, nor do we publish books that are written via generative AI.)

Why does it matter if someone uses generative AI to write their book?

There are lots of different angles we could take to answer this question. Some people feel that the overuse of AI is harming people’s ability to be creative and to think critically. There are also valid concerns that AI has been trained using other authors’ work without their consent, and authors and artists aren’t being credited or paid when their work is used (though one recent lawsuit has resulted in some authors being paid, authors don’t necessarily feel it’s a total win; Anthropic can still train its algorithim using copyrighted works as long as it pays authors). Environmental concerns related to data centers are another common reason people dislike seeing AI used. Of course, some people think that AI-written work has no “soul” to it, making it unenjoyable to read because it takes the craft and skill out of writing.

Essentially, there are a host of valid reasons people will refuse to read a book if they think AI has been used. That means that authors, regardless of their own views on generative AI, should care and be aware of how this content is perceived.

Personally, we believe that AI can copy creative writing, but storytelling is an innately human act. Is it hard? Sometimes, yes! Writing a book is no easy feat! But there’s so much value in experimenting, learning from others, and sharing a story that you’ve created and that matters to you. Even as AI’s “skill” (or ability to mimic skill) improves, it lacks humanity.

That doesn’t mean generative AI doesn’t have its uses or that it can’t be a helpful tool, in some instances. It helps some authors better organize their work or start researching. And while we don’t think someone using generative AI is a bad person by any means, we do think it’s worthwhile to pursue creating your own book, even when it’s challenging. Your voice may not sound as “polished” in the first draft, but we guarantee it will be far more interesting.

So, how do publishers and editors know if something’s written using generative AI?

Every publisher and editor will have their own policies and techniques for spotting generative AI in writing. Some people use tools that claim to detect AI. (Interestingly, Substack has recently introduced a feature called Pangram that allows people to scan text for AI; since this tool is quite new, we haven’t had the chance to experiment with it too much just yet!) While these tools can be helpful, they’re not always accurate. For this reason, we tend not to overly rely on them.

We tend to detect AI (or its influence) by looking for patterns that are often associated with AI.

First, we think it’s important to note that AI programs have been trained using real authors’ writing. That means, inevitably, some authors will have a writing style—which they had well before generative AI—that appears similar to AI. Not every writer whose work sounds like AI does so because they were influenced by AI; some writers wrote that way before AI. (Just in this paragraph alone, I’ve used em dashes and started sentences with negative parallelisms, both of which are common in generative AI!)

It’s also true that some writers, particularly new writers, may have used generative AI often enough that it impacts their writing style. So, even if they’re not using generative AI for one work, if their style sounds like it’s AI, readers may perceive it as such.

A few em dashes here and there or a sentence comparing something aren’t immediately going to tip us off that a manuscript has been written with the help of, or influenced by, generative AI. Again, these are things writers have used long before AI.

However, if we see consistent patterns in an author’s work, such as the overuse of em dashes, constant “not-this-but-that” sentences, lots of abrupt, short sentences, or vague yet flowery language that doesn’t mean anything concrete, we take these as potential signs of AI use or influence. We’ll also look for repetitive statements said in different ways and a distant, somewhat generic/impersonal voice from the narrator.

The more AI-written (or AI-influenced) work you read, the easier it becomes to spot. As programs are updated, the “tells” may change. For that reason, it’s sometimes helpful for us to search for text we know is written by different models/programs from time to time.

What do we do if we suspect an author has used generative AI?

We totally understand why writers might be tempted to use AI, especially writers who are working on a book for the first time or who haven’t quite found their style. Generative AI is incredibly quick, and writers can seemingly skip the more challenging parts of writing a draft. As we mentioned above, too, we know that some writers’ work will read as AI because they’ve been influenced by AI, even if they haven’t used it for this specific work.

For those reasons, we’re never accusatory when we talk to authors who may’ve used AI. All of us at KWE Publishing understand that writing is freaking hard sometimes! But we also have seen the magic that happens when authors share their stories in a genuine way, and it makes the world a better place. So, we share what we’re seeing and why we think it looks similar to AI. We share our policy of not publishing AI-generated books. Most importantly, we talk about ways writers can write their own stories in their voices, without AI. When we know why an author is seeking out AI (to save time, to have a consistent voice, etc.), we can better coach them and give them personalized advice on how to write authentically as themselves.

Even though writers may be tempted to use AI, publishers, editors, booksellers, and readers are desperate for human-written stories with soul. Give yourself some grace as an author, and know that, even though writing an amazing book requires a good amount of effort, time, and practice, you can do it! You’ll become a better writer the more you read and write, so keep trying, and know that all the work will be worth it when you get to share a book that is entirely yours with others.

Share

We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

Subscribe now

If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, Christina, and Lauren—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“The poet doesn't invent. He listens.”
— Jean Cocteau

Introducing KWE Publishing’s New Intern, Lauren Wasson!

We’re excited to share that KWE Publishing has brought on a new team member, Lauren Wasson, as our team intern! We asked Lauren to share a bit about herself:

Hello, everyone! My name is Lauren Wasson, and I am so thrilled to be a part of the KWE Publishing team. I am twenty-one years old and just starting out in the publishing world at KWE as their “amazing intern” (as Kim would like to say). I have experience editing because I used to be my high school English teacher’s TA (teacher’s assistant) my senior year. I have my Associate of Arts degree and had English as my focus. I have always loved writing, books, and storytelling. Growing up, I actually hated reading because I struggled to keep my focus due to my ADHD. After getting on the correct medication, though, I grew to adore it. I loved how we could look into the lives and minds of so many great authors through the words they used and the stories they told. Books are one of the most valuable forms of history we have because they give us insight into who the authors truly were. Books are not just pages filled with printed words; they are the purest form of human creativity we have.

Join Danielle Simone at Barnes & Noble in Glen Allen, VA!

Danielle Simone, author of The Adventures with Syd series, will be hosting a book signing event on Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m at Barnes & Noble’s Creeks at Virginia Centre location in Glen Allen, Virginia!

Author Event Recaps!

Author Valerie James Abbott continued her book tour in Columbus, Indiana, on August 22, 2026! Valerie hosted meet-and-greet and book signing for her amazing book, Late to the Party: Extraordinary Stories of Hope After Late-Identified Hearing Loss at Viewpoint Books! Congratulations on a wonderful event, Valerie!

On Wednesday, August 26, 2026, author JoAnn M. Dickinson held her first Barnes & Noble event in Irvine, California! There, she read her book, Who’s New at Lou’s Zoo? to young readers and signed books! Congratulations on a great event, JoAnn!

You’re Invited to Our Upcoming Free Webinar!

Join us on September 1st, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Eastern, for our free live webinar with Jennifer S. Wilkov, a multi-#1 international best-selling, award-winning author and publishing expert, to discover how to identify the story within your life experiences, move beyond a collection of memories, and begin shaping meaningful personal material into memoir.

What You’ll Learn:

• The important difference between recording memories and writing a memoir;

• Identifying the central story within a lifetime of experiences;

• How to recognize the experiences, themes, and turning points that may belong in your memoir;

• How structure, voice, and perspective help transform lived experience into meaningful narrative; and

• What writers need to continue developing their memoir after the first pages are written.

Register here!

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

Have you ever wanted a fun writing challenge with stakes? Then you’ll want to check out Dangerous Writing App! Dangerous Writing App challenges writers to keep writing—or lose their progress. Writers who are caught feeling stuck or dealing with writer’s block say that this site encourages them to write something, and often, putting something on the page (and having a bit of pressure to do so) helps get inspiration flowing. Then, they move to less “dangerous” apps that save their progress.

So, if you’re willing to write something that you might lose and looking for a unique writing experience, check out Dangerous Writing App!

Check it out!

You know the book What to Expect When You’re Expecting? It’s filled with helpful information for first-time parents. There should be a book equivalent, something like What to Expect When You’re Publishing a Book.

Okay, the title’s still a work in progress, but the point remains that there are a lot of firsts that come with publishing a book, regardless of the genre.

• First time writing a first draft.

• First time revising.

• First time working with an editor.

• First time getting ISBNs.

• First time creating or hiring someone to create your cover.

• First time getting feedback.

• First time holding your book in your hands.

• First time marketing.

• First time launching.

• First book event.

The list goes on, and if you look at every “first” you’ll experience when you write and publish your first book, it’s incredibly easy to get overwhelmed. The good news is that you’re not the first one to feel this way or go through this process. There are people who can help you navigate the process, and there are also ways you can break things down to make publication feel a smidge less chaotic.

Know that your book does not have to be perfect to be worthy of publishing.

Many people let the idea of a perfect book stop them from sharing their book with the world. Heck, this stops some people from even writing. So, before you get too panicked, take a step back and acknowledge that no book is objectively perfect. Everyone has their own ideas about what makes a book good. In writing, there will always be things you can change and tweak. In five years, you might have different ideas or perspectives. That doesn’t mean you should wait.

Of course, you want to make sure your book achieves what you want it to, and there are ways to ensure your book looks professional, regardless of how you publish. Just like with other goals in life, though, you may always feel a little nervous about writing your book, getting feedback, and publishing.

If you decide that you absolutely need to make changes to your book after you publish it, and if you don’t publish your book traditionally (meaning you have more control of when and how you can update your book), you can generally make updates. If there are a large number of changes you’re making to the content of the book, you can revise the manuscript and create a new edition.

All this is to say that you’re not stuck. Your first book is a learning experience. Give yourself some grace.

Know when it’s worth outsourcing and working with professionals and when it’s worth spending your time researching, experimenting, and DIY-ing.

We can’t tell you definitively that you absolutely should or should not publish your book a certain way because there is no one way to successfully publish your book! The truth is that you have options, and what you do really depends on you, the amount of time, energy, and money you want to spend, and your goals. However, when it comes to your first book, because there are so many things that you may simply not know, it’s important to think about what is worth outsourcing to make some of those firsts less intimidating—and to help the publishing process flow more smoothly.

If you’re working with a traditional publisher, editing, cover design, and publication will be outsourced. With traditional publishing, you often don’t have as much control in the creative process when compared to self-publishing, publishing with an indie publisher, etc. (That doesn’t mean you have no control; however, there are more people in the room making decisions when it comes to your book, so your voice, while important, isn’t the only one that will be considered.) If you’re self-publishing, you have the option to outsource these elements as well, or you can do them yourself. If you’re working with a guided self-publishing company or an indie publishing company, you’ll likely have the option to pick and choose what to outsource, as many companies offer different packages.

A lot of what you choose to outsource will come down to budget, time, effort, and your existing knowledge. Once you’ve self-published one book on your own, self-publishing the next will likely be easier. The first time, though, will understandably take longer on your own.

Not sure how to navigate these firsts and what may or may not be worth outsourcing? We’ve got you!

If you need help with the “firsts” of writing, editing, and revising, consider working with an experienced editor. We almost always recommend that authors work with at least one editor prior to publishing; even other editors tend to get their own editors if they publish books since it can be a challenge to edit your own work!

Read more

More than once, we’ve had some amazing authors come to us after they’ve started writing their books (sometimes even after working with our team for a bit) and say some variation of the following: “I feel kind of lost, and I don’t know that I feel the same way about my book as I did before.”

In other words, people feel like they have changed, and their manuscripts no longer reflect the current version of themselves or the stories they want to portray.

As editors, book coaches, and writers ourselves, we get it. If you’ve written a book for months, even years, then your perspective is going to shift as you gain new experiences. This is especially true if you’re writing a memoir or self-development book!

When this happens, many writers tend to panic. OMG, I’ve wasted so much time writing something I don’t love. What the heck do I do now?!

If you’ve been here, or if you’re here now, first, take a deep breath. We’re here to give you some advice and tell you how to navigate this frustrating yet magical (yes, we promise, you’ll get to the point where it feels this way again!) process.

Step #1: Don’t go with the nuclear option of deleting everything; take a step back instead and ask yourself what’s not working in this iteration of your manuscript.

We’ve been there, staring at a screen, feeling like we want to cry or toss our laptop out the nearest window. Deleting what you’ve written might seem like a good idea if you want a fresh start.

We promise, though, that you do not want to delete everything just because something (even if it’s a big “something”) isn’t working in your draft right now. Even if you end up totally reworking your manuscript, we can almost guarantee that there is something useful that you can pull from your existing manuscript, even if it seems like a total hot mess right now.

Instead, try to think about why you feel like you’ve outgrown your draft. Are there certain parts of the plot that you dislike? Has your vision for your story changed? What ideas do you feel like are being conveyed well, and how do you feel about them? Conversely, what themes or messages aren’t being conveyed clearly enough (or at all)?

You don’t need all the answers now. You just need to have the ability to identify some of the issues at hand.

Step #2: Consider reaching out to other writers, editors, or people who can provide objective opinions.

This might feel like an unnecessary step if you feel like you’ve outgrown your manuscript. However, this is a step you don’t want to miss. Why? Because we are often our own worst critics, and when we’ve written something that we really care about, it can be incredibly difficult to be objective.

(The reason we’re specifically not suggesting you give your manuscript to friends and family at this stage isn’t that we think you shouldn’t. Friends and family can absolutely be great resources. However, they’re less likely to be objective, and right now, you need objectivity.)

You don’t have to follow every piece of advice you receive. However, when you reach out to ask others what they think is and isn’t working, you might be able to gain a new perspective on what to do next. Knowing these issues exist is obviously helpful, but knowing how to fix them is something else entirely. A good developmental editor can help you figure out how to approach structural issues, plot problems, thematic inconsistencies, and more. If hiring a developmental editor isn’t in your budget, other writers are often willing to offer support and advice, too. Talk things out, and make sure you know why certain elements of your book aren’t working for you now.

Step #3: Once you’ve identified the issues and understand why particular things aren’t working, it’s time to rewrite and revise or walk away.

When you know why a part of your manuscript isn’t working, you can work backwards in a sense and figure out what would work. For example, let’s say your first draft didn’t go deep enough into important themes; your message feels unclear. To resolve this, you must create more emotionally resonant scenes that bring out these themes. Be aware of the plot progression and your characters’ arcs. Ask yourself how the protagonist has changed since the start of the book, what lessons they’ve learned, and what you want your reader to feel.

Then, it’s time to start reworking your manuscript. There’s no easy workaround to this part of the process. You just have to keep writing. Remember, you know what hasn’t worked before, and that’s incredibly important; you’ll figure out what does work in time.

Alternatively, it might be time to take a break. Walking away is incredibly hard to do, especially if you’ve worked on a project for so long. Sometimes, though, walking away is the right choice—at least for now. If working on your manuscript is only frustrating or upsetting you, even after you’ve received feedback or have worked with an editor, you may need to take a break from your manuscript. You can return to it later, of course (and again, don’t delete anything!), but sometimes, you need space and time away from a manuscript before you can move forward.

If you’re feeling frustrated or like you’ve outgrown your manuscript, you’re not alone. Don’t panic, though; you’re capable of writing great things!

Have you ever felt like you’ve outgrown a story while you’ve been writing? How did you handle it? We’d love to hear your experiences or advice in the comments.

Share

We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

Subscribe now

If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, and Christina—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“Creativity is piercing the mundane to find the marvelous.”
— Bill Moyers

Listen to My Conversation with Robbie Samuels on the Biz Book Pub Hub Podcast!

I recently had the opportunity to be on Robbie Samuels’ Biz Book Pub Hub podcast, where we talked about all the decisions that go into the process of creating a book! This was a fantastic conversation, and I had so much fun chatting and discussing our experiences in publishing.

Robbie Samuels is a book launch strategist and founder of Biz Book Hub, a resource ecosystem for entrepreneurial authors with a curated expert directory, community networking events, and a podcast!

You can click the button below to watch or listen to the interview! If you’re an aspiring author who wants to check out the group (which I’d recommend, as there are tons of awesome people and great resources!), you can click here to learn more!

Listen hear!

Upcoming Author Events You Won’t Want to Miss!

Author Valerie James Abbott continues her book tour, with her next stop being in Columbus, Indiana, on August 22, 2026! Valerie will host a meet-and-greet and book signing for her amazing book Late to the Party: Extraordinary Stories of Hope After Late-Identified Hearing Loss at Viewpoint Books!

Danielle Simone, author of The Adventures with Syd series, will be hosting a book signing event on Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m at Barnes & Noble’s Creeks at Virginia Centre location in Glen Allen, Virginia!

Finally, author JoAnn M. Dickinson will be holding her first Barnes & Noble event in Irvine, California, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to noon! There, she’ll be reading her book, Who's New at Lou's Zoo? and signing books after the event!

Join Us for Our Upcoming Free Webinar!

Join us on September 1st, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Eastern, for our free live webinar with Jennifer S. Wilkov, a multi-#1 international best-selling, award-winning author and publishing expert, to discover how to identify the story within your life experiences, move beyond a collection of memories, and begin shaping meaningful personal material into memoir.

What You’ll Learn:

• The important difference between recording memories and writing a memoir

• Identifying the central story within a lifetime of experiences

• How to recognize the experiences, themes, and turning points that may belong in your memoir

• How structure, voice, and perspective help transform lived experience into meaningful narrative

• What writers need to continue developing their memoir after the first pages are written

Register here!

Author Event Recap: Lisa A. Marsico’s Book Tour Continues in Connecticut!

Our awesome author, Lisa A. Marsico, recently held a book signing at The BookSmiths Shoppe at the Summit in Danbury, Connecticut, where she shared her amazing book, Penny the Pittie Pup: A Tail of Courage! Penny’s tale is now available on the shelves of The BookSmiths Shoppe, so if you’re a Connecticut local, make sure to look for this wonderful children’s book!

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

Dr. Anne Bartolucci, founder of Psych Up Academy and bestselling author, is hosting a three-night writing retreat in the Appalachian Mountains from September 30th to October 3rd! She shares, If you’ve been sitting with the idea of your first—or next—book and just need the right environment and the right people to finally move, this might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

The Alchemist’s Pen is a small, intimate writing retreat in the North Georgia Mountains this coming September 30 to October 3, hosted by USA Today bestselling author, psychologist, and writing mentor Dr. Anne Bartolucci. It’s designed specifically for authors who have already published or haven’t yet but are ready to take their writing to a new level — particularly around bringing the narrative power and emotional pull of fiction into nonfiction.

You already know how to write. This is about writing it in a way that surprises even you and ensures that your readers devour your book like their favorite novel.

A few things to know:

• Spots are very limited—this is intentionally small and hands-on

• There’s an application process to ensure it’s a mutual fit

• You’ll leave, at minimum, with a first chapter with a compelling hook to draw your reader in, a book outline to guide them on their transformation, and the foundation of your author platform so readers will know when your book is released.

• Early autumn in the North Georgia Mountains is, frankly, stunning.

If this is resonating, I encourage you to apply within the next week.

Apply here!

A few weeks ago, when I was scheduling a Substack post for this newsletter, I noticed a new feature that I hadn’t seen before: an AI detection tool.

This specific tool is called Panagram. Panagram is an AI detector that estimates what percentage of text was written by a human and what percentage was generated by AI. Before you publish your post, you can click to see what percentage of text is estimated to be AI. As the author, you already know the true percentage, but if you want to know what your readers might see—since your readers can use Panagram when reading posts on the platform—you can view this prior to publishing your article.

Substack isn’t the only company using AI detectors. Many academic websites, such as Scribbr, offer AI-detection tools. Grammarly, a tool many writers use to check their own work for errors, also has a similar detector for paid users.

How do these detectors work?

Every detector will work a bit differently, but essentially, these detectors are detecting patterns based on many writing samples from humans and from LLMs (large language learning models, which are AI programs that can generate text, images, etc.). According to Substack, Panagram “learns to distinguish human and LLM writing by building a kind of map where authors with similar writing styles are placed close together, while those whose styles differ are positioned farther apart. Human-written and AI-generated text form distinct clusters on this map, and our research shows that Pangram can even locate some language models, such as ChatGPT and Claude, in different regions.”

Since different LLMs have their own quirks, each one will have somewhat identifiable patterns—at least, that’s the theory.

What’s the problem with these detectors according to numerous authors?

We’ve talked about AI more than a few times here on our Substack, and you’ve probably read other takes on generative AI, too. (We think that AI is a tool, but generative AI should never be used to write books for authors, create book covers in lieu of illustrators, etc. Generative AI shouldn’t be used in place of an expert. We do use generative AI for some social media posts, including Substack, primarily because commissioning an artist for each post isn’t possible for us; we want to be transparent about this, as it’s our policy to be TAO, or transparent, authentic, and open!)

Initially, you might think that those who are against the use of generative AI in creative spaces would be happy about the use of these detectors. After all, people who don’t want to see AI-generated work in bookstores, museums, galleries, and in other digital and in-person locations should be able to avoid AI-generated content more easily now, right? People who are interested in reading AI-generated content can also find it more easily, too. Isn’t this a win-win?

Well, not necessarily.

After reading quite a few articles and reviewing various comment threads, there are a few common concerns that are brought up regarding AI detectors on Substack and beyond. Primarily, people are concerned that these detectors are fallible. What happens if (and when, as many writers have noted that they’ve already experienced this using such detectors) it identifies a work that was written by a human as AI-generated content? Some writers have said that they’ve run the same article through an AI detector and have been given different scores, suggesting some detectors are inconsistent.

Writers are also worried that people will use these detectors as a way to make AI-generated work appear as if it were written by a person, even when it isn’t. (This is already happening, as you can Google “humanize text” and find a host of programs that “help” a piece of writing sound more human...by using AI.)

(If you’re interested in hearing more perspectives, you can check out the comments on Substack’s post about Panagram, where many writers and readers express their concerns and thoughts about the implementation of this AI detector.)

If someone is accused of using AI when they haven’t, they will likely feel frustrated and demoralized. How far should a writer have to go to prove that their work is authentic? What level of AI use is allowed before something is flagged? (Many writers will say that using tools like spellcheck is fine but that the use of generative AI is not; still, there is a wide array of opinions, and it’s reasonable for writers to have different takes.)

Most writers do not want to feel as if we have to prove the authenticity of our work. Yet, increasingly, we are being asked, and expected, to do so. Instead of talking about the meaning and content of what we’ve created, we’re stuck talking about the minutiae of how our work was created.

What’s the ideal solution?

This is one of the many tricky parts about this nuanced conversation. There’s no single solution for everyone because some people will find value in AI detectors, particularly if detectors claim to be really accurate. Others will be annoyed by this feature and choose not to use it. On Substack, writers have the ability to turn off this feature. However, this may set writers up to be accused of AI use—because if you weren’t using AI, some people may wonder why you wouldn’t leave the tool on as proof. Those who want to read work generated by AI might find these tools helpful, too.

People aren’t going to stop using generative AI, and there will always be people who are both pro- and anti-AI. We don’t think AI is inherently evil; we do think that human-created art in all forms is wonderful and valuable. Most people want to read stories filled with humanity, and we think the “human” part is a requirement for those works.

The conversation around how we tell stories will keep changing, but we know that people won’t stop telling stories. We’d love to know what you think about these AI detectors and whether you’ll be using them, have disabled them, or have used them on other sites.

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We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

Subscribe now

If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, and Christina—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.”
— Julia Cameron

Author Event Recap: A Grandpa Joe Day! in New York!

On Sunday, August 9, 2026, our awesome children’s book author and illustrator Bill Shea, creator of A Grandpa Joe Day! participated in the East Hampton Library’s Children’s Fair at Herrick Park. The family-friendly event celebrated children’s books and reading, bringing together young readers, families, authors, and plenty of fun activities. Bill was excited to connect with families and share his book with the East Hampton community.

Congratulations on a great event, Bill!

Don’t Miss Our Upcoming Free Webinar!

Join us on September 1st, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Eastern, for our free live webinar with Jennifer S. Wilkov, a multi-#1 international best-selling, award-winning author and publishing expert, to discover how to identify the story within your life experiences, move beyond a collection of memories, and begin shaping meaningful personal material into memoir.

What You’ll Learn:

• The important difference between recording memories and writing a memoir

• Identifying the central story within a lifetime of experiences

• How to recognize the experiences, themes, and turning points that may belong in your memoir

• How structure, voice, and perspective help transform lived experience into meaningful narrative

• What writers need to continue developing their memoir after the first pages are written

Register here!

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

We’re always looking for new places where writers tell their stories and talk candidly about the writing process, and we’re happy to share , which is one of those spaces! Created by author and book marketer , The Blank Page is filled with honest insights around writing, editing, content creation, and more. We love reading Mallory’s bi-weekly insights as she navigates the publishing world and the book-writing process, and we think other writers and authors will, too. If you’re interested in learning from Mallory’s experiences, or if you want to be reminded that you’re not alone on your writing journey, check out !

I never thought that I’d go to a concert again. I was just something that I didn’t think was on the table for me anymore.

Before acquiring several chronic illnesses that made it difficult to stand for long periods of time, be in the heat, and do things without pain, I loved going to concerts. Attended concerts with friends (including with Christina, fellow editor and book coach at KWE Publishing) and family. There was something about the excitement that made the air hum, the thrill of scream-singing until my voice became hoarse with strangers and people I loved, and the loud, thumping rhythm of the music that made me feel alive.

I took a forced hiatus from concerts for over a decade until I was lucky enough to see Taylor Swift at The Eras Tour in 2023, which I was only able to do thanks to my wonderful aunt getting tickets in an area where I could sit. I rode that high for days after. I would still say it was one of my favorite days, being able to see an artist whose music I’d listened to since middle school and having so much fun with total strangers and people I cared about.

When Noah Kahan released his newest album, The Great Divide, it became the soundtrack to my time in Vienna, Austria. I’d listened to much of Noah’s music for years before, and his newest album pulled me in yet again. My friends and I bonded over our “sad-boy music,” as we jokingly called it, talking about our favorite songs. I mentally analyzed lyrics while storms blanketed Vienna. I thought about the future, hoping to live in the city that represented freedom for me, accompanied by the music that made me feel things deeply.

While I didn’t expect to be able to see another concert, my dad offered to take me to see Noah in Washington, D.C. I was nervous, but mostly, I was ecstatic.

Again, I found myself scream-singing alongside thousands of other people, giddy with excitement to hear music that had moved me. I was reminded of how chaotic concerts were, with the summer heat still lingering in the air, lights flashing, and the music so loud that it shook in my chest.

I was also immensely inspired and appreciative of the unspoken invitation to be so openly joyful. Being surrounded by people who love what you love, who are moved by the same words that move you, feels almost spiritual at times.

And it was this experience that also inspired me to want to write more. Annoyingly, I’d been in a bit of a writing rut. I think part of the reason for that was that I was scared of writing something bad. (Despite being able to walk other authors through this process and knowing that you can always revise what you’ve written, I still find myself falling into this mindset at times.)

Except, I realized after thinking about my concert experience, my writing didn’t have to be perfect to be impactful. Singing off-key at a concert, I wasn’t self-conscious because I was having so much fun. And sharing that experience with others was what made it all so wonderful. My writing would inevitably be imperfect, but I didn’t want that fear to take away my love for writing and the potential to give something to others through my writing.

I’m not saying that this mindset has been super easy to accept. I still find myself pausing and scrutinizing my own work. I do think self-editing is an important part of writing once you’ve gotten that first draft down.

However, I do think that this realization allowed me to keep writing with a little less fear.

Read more

What if my writing isn’t good enough?

This is a question that I think most writers have asked themselves at some point. While it’s totally normal to feel hesitant and wonder whether the work you’re sharing is the best it can possibly be, this concern can quickly go from asking yourself whether your work is good enough to telling yourself it’s not. Then, that morphs into a reason not to share your story at all.

Honestly, as a team of writers, we get where this worry comes from. However, we’ve seen some writers conflate their anxiety about the worthiness of their stories with a lack of skill. And this can absolutely cause some writers to slam on the brakes and pull away from publishing their books—even when they’re so close to publishing.

So, as writers who have been there and as a team that offers writers objective feedback to the best of our abilities, we wanted to talk about how you can shake this fear when it becomes overpowering and how to look at your own work from a more objective lens.

If you’re questioning the quality of your work, seek feedback from other writers and editors.

Sometimes, you write something that you immediately know is really good. Over time, you get better at discerning what makes your voice unique and your own work stand out. However, it’s really easy to question and feel uncertain about the quality of your writing, too, especially if you’re a new writer or are writing in a new genre.

So, after you’ve written your draft and then self-edited and revised, we recommend reaching out to people who can be objective. While your friends and family may give you feedback on your work, it’s hard to get truly objective feedback in many cases from people you know well. Their love for you might cloud their ability to be honest. Plus, those unfamiliar with a particular genre or who don’t often read may not be able to give specific feedback.

Sharing your work with other writers is a great way to get honest feedback. However, it’s important to keep in mind that you don’t need to implement every suggestion you receive; if you do, you might find yourself writing a story that you don’t enjoy. Instead, try to take the time to look for patterns in what you’re being told.

It’s also worthwhile to reach out to an editor familiar with your genre. An editor will also give you feedback and give you an idea of where you may improve and what you’re already doing well.

It’s important to remember a few things if you do ask for writers and editors to provide feedback on your manuscript. First, know that receiving a lot of feedback does not mean your writing isn’t good. It’s also essential to remember that, as a writer, you can always keep improving and learning. This is both a blessing and a curse because it means there’s no such thing as a perfect book.

Finally, remember that you are often your own worst critic.

So, you’ve shared your book with other writers and editors, you’ve made revisions and polished your manuscript, and you’re still feeling like your work isn’t good enough. Now what?

We’re going to do a super-quick exercise here to help you get out of your own head.

Think about a time when you really fell in love with a book. How did that book make you feel?

Now, think about a book that has left a lasting impact on you. This can be a book you read as a child, a book you read during a hard time, or a book that really made you feel things deeply. What did you learn from that book that you carried with you?

Now, imagine the authors of those books didn’t publish those books because they felt their work wasn’t good enough. How would your life be different?

I can almost guarantee you that those authors questioned themselves and wondered whether their books were good enough, too. Even the most prolific authors have their own doubts.

Your book has the ability to impact someone’s life the same way your favorite books have affected you. People need to hear your words and read your story. There is someone out there who will read your book and be better for it. But first, you have to share your book.

If you’ve taken the steps to make sure your book is the best you can make it, you have to take a deep breath and let that book go out to others. It’s going to feel a little (or a lot) scary. That’s okay. Your book is not for everyone, and that’s okay, too, because someone is waiting to hear your words and will be changed by them.

Don’t let fear stop you from sharing your work with other writers, editors, and your eventual readers. Ask for help, revise, and then take the plunge and share your book. You never know what reader needs your story.

Share

We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

Subscribe now

If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, and Christina—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“Remember: Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.”
— Ray Bradbury

Congratulations to Amy McCoy for Winning a Next Generation Indie Book Award!

Congratulations to amazing author Amy McCoy for winning a 2026 Next Generation Indie Book Award in the category of Children’s Educational Picture Book for Katie Finds Her Voice: A Story About Autism! We’re so happy to see this beautiful book earn the recognition it deserves!

Katie’s first-grade class is preparing for Autism Awareness and Acceptance Day. She already knows a lot about autism because her older brother Mikey is autistic. But when Miss Magee asks Katie to share what she knows with the rest of the class, Katie isn’t sure what to do. Can she overcome her fear of speaking in front of a group? What if her words get stuck?

As Katie balances her role as an advocate for her brother with conquering her own challenges, she shares the different ways people with autism engage with the world around them. Through Katie’s eyes, readers learn that people with autism want love and acceptance just like everyone else.

Free Upcoming Event: Author Connections by Biz Book Pub Hub!

Carol Abrahamson, friend of KWE Publishing and founder of Book Award Mastery, will be presenting in Biz Book Pub Hub’s Author Connections event on August 26! As a fellow Hub Partner as well, I always enjoy hearing from publishing pros!

This meeting will bring together entrepreneurs just starting to sketch out their book ideas with experts who understand how to navigate the complexities of publishing and marketing. Each gathering features a 15-minute presentation from a Hub Partner on a topic relevant to entrepreneurial authors.

Hub Partner Carol Abrahamson will share what you probably didn’t know about today’s book awards and how it can help your business. After her presentation, you can meet with her in a breakout room to ask questions.

She’s just one of our Hub Partners you could meet at this event—experts who help entrepreneurs become successful authors.

Join on Wednesday, August 26, 2-3:30 p.m. ET to meet experts, connect with fellow writers, and learn how to turn your dream into reality.

Register here!

Check Out A Reason to Write’s Upcoming Writing Your Family History Workshop!

Frined of KWE Publishing and founder of A Reason to Write, Ellen Weeren, is hosting an in-person retreat all about combining research and family history into compelling narratives in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, on September 16–20, 2026.

In this generative workshop, you will explore strategies for uncovering and shaping family history into narrative — through genealogy, oral history interviews, family archives, photographs, heirlooms, and lived experience. Whether you are exploring a family mystery, recovering forgotten stories, or seeking to better understand the people who came before you, this workshop will help you transform curiosity and resarch into memoir that is both deeply personal and grounded in historical inquiry.

Led by Linda Tate, author of Power in the Blood: A Family Narrative (Ohio University Press) and former West Virginia Professor of the Year. Open to writers at all levels.

Register here!

Happy Four-Year Publishing Anniversary to Manifest Like a Goddess!

Four years ago, Sara Daves published her book, Manifest Like a Goddess, with KWE Publishing! Following her book launch, Sara went on an amazing book tour that took her across the globe.

Congratulations again, Sara!

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

As many of you probably know, writing a book is no easy feat! However, writing (and editing) your book is often easier when you get some advice from people who’ve been there and helped others, which is why we’re recommending ’s How to Write (and Edit) a Book. Abigail (also known as Abi) is a literary agent and developmental editor with over a decade of experience working in Big Five publishers. Her Substack is filled with helpful posts about the craft of writing, editing tips, and querying. So, if you’re in the midst of writing your book, or you’re interested in learning more about the book-writing (and editing) process, check out How to Write (and Edit) a Book!

Check it out!

I was recently talking with a friend of mine about leaving book reviews for books we don’t like. If you like a book, it’s so much easier to post a review that’s totally honest.

But when you’ve read a book that you really didn’t enjoy, suddenly, leaving an honest review seems a little (or a lot) harder. You might find yourself softening your opinions or leaving a three-star review when you really feel like the book deserves a two-star review. You might also consider how many reviews the author already has. An author who has hundreds of reviews may not be impacted by a negative review the same way an author with two reviews would be.

As an author and a reader, I get both sides of this struggle. When you’ve written something you’re really proud of that has taken you months (or even years!) to produce, the last thing you want to see is a negative review. It can make you doubt yourself and question what you’ve shared.

As a reader, though, I’ve definitely read books that have disappointed or frustrated me. When books fall short of my expectations, I want other readers who may be looking for similar content to know this, too, especially since books can be pricey and many of us only have a limited amount of time and energy to spend on reading. So, ideally, we’d like to use that time reading something we love.

On the other hand, though, I don’t want to hurt an author’s feelings. Getting feedback is often scary, and just because a book isn’t great in my opinion doesn’t mean someone else won’t enjoy it.

Surely there has to be a middle ground, though, right? Reviews are valuable, and it’s silly to ignore them. However, an author’s and a reader’s interpretation of reviews will vary.

So, how should readers handle reviews?

Truthfully, I don’t think it’s fair to say that readers should avoid leaving negative reviews—as long as those reviews aren’t hateful or cruel. Leaving a review critiquing someone’s prose, plot, and characters is totally different than leaving a review saying the author is the worst writer ever and attacking their character.

If we tell people not to leave honest negative reviews, we can’t expect people to leave honest positive reviews, either. As a reader, if you want to leave an honest negative review, you have the right to do so. (Likewise, if you don’t really care about reviews, you shouldn’t feel obligated to leave a review.)

So, as a reader, if reviews are your thing, I think you should leave reviews that are truthful but respectful. Don’t love a book? It’s fair to share your thoughts to let other readers know. Loved a book? Again, it’s fair to let other readers know. Some readers will scour reviews before picking up a book, and other readers will just skim or look at the star rating before reading. Other readers won’t care about reviews at all. Hopefully, your reviews will reach the readers who do care and help inform their decision about whether the book is right for them.

Funnily enough, a negative review might inspire someone else to pick up the book in question. If you were leaving a review saying a book had too much romance, a reader who adores romance might be drawn to the book. A positive review saying a book was filled with high-energy characters and boundless action might discourage a reader who’s looking for something with a slower pace. You never know what lens a reader will view your comments about a book.

As an author, how should you handle book reviews?

Most authors don’t need help responding to positive reviews. Many authors use positive book reviews in marketing. These reviews act as a guidepost for other readers, saying, “Hey, check out this book! Other people thought it was good; you might enjoy it, too!” When you do this, consider just using the reviewer’s first name and the first initial of their last name unless you received a review from a well-known author, book critique, magazine, etc.

It’s the negative reviews that can leave an author spiraling.

Here is a very important suggestion I have often heard in author circles that I’ll share with you: reviews are primarily meant for readers, not authors.

In practice, this means that it is not the author’s place to respond directly to reviews. (There may be a few exceptions; for instance, if a reviewer is spreading false information about the author, the author or their publisher may consider responding. These cases are thankfully pretty rare.) That doesn’t mean you can’t learn from the reviews you receive. If you’re consistently getting the same feedback on an area you could improve upon, for example, it may be worth looking into ways you can strengthen that part of your craft. If you’re consistently being praised for a technique or element in your writing, then acknowledge that this is likely a skill of yours.

It’s okay to feel a little upset if someone leaves a low rating or negative review. However, you don’t want to become consumed by ratings or reviews. If you feel anxious every time you check your book’s rating on Goodreads or Amazon, set a boundary and stop looking, or only allow yourself to look at them once a month.

It’s also okay to celebrate those good reviews. Knowing someone enjoyed your book is a wonderful feeling! Again, though, you shouldn’t let yourself become consumed; you don’t want your only motivation for writing to be getting praise; it can make it harder to write when you’re not getting constant feedback, or you might feel disappointed if you’re not getting what you perceive to be enough reviews.

Reviews help readers keep track of what they’ve read and make it easier to find their next favorite book. While ratings and reviews can be helpful for authors, too, it’s important not to hinge your idea of success solely on reviews. Use them as a way to grow and improve as a writer if you can look at them objectively; otherwise, give yourself permission to step away from the screen. Most importantly, don’t let reviews stop you from writing!

Share

We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

Subscribe now

If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, and Christina—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”
— Louis L'Amour

Late to the Party Takes on Long Island!

On Sunday, July 25, 2026, Valerie James Abbott, author of Late to the Party: Extraordinary Stories of Hope After Late-Identified Hearing Loss, visited Long Island, New York, to host a book signing and fundraising event! The book lunch celebration and fundraiser was held at Somerset Brewing Company and benefited the New York chapter of the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund!

Congratulations on another wonderful event, Valerie!

Free Upcoming Event: Author Connections by Biz Book Pub Hub!

Carol Abrahamson, friend of KWE Publishing and founder of Book Award Mastery, will be presenting in Biz Book Pub Hub’s Author Connections event on August 26! As a fellow Hub Partner as well, I always enjoy hearing from publishing pros!

This meeting will bring together entrepreneurs just starting to sketch out their book ideas with experts who understand how to navigate the complexities of publishing and marketing. Each gathering features a 15-minute presentation from a Hub Partner on a topic relevant to entrepreneurial authors.

Hub Partner Carol Abrahamson will share what you probably didn’t know about today’s book awards and how it can help your business. After her presentation, you can meet with her in a breakout room to ask questions.

She’s just one of our Hub Partners you could meet at this event—experts who help entrepreneurs become successful authors.

Join on Wednesday, August 26, 2-3:30 p.m. ET to meet experts, connect with fellow writers, and learn how to turn your dream into reality.

Register here!

Check Out James River Writers’ Upcoming Series, Getting Your Work into Readers’ Hands!

James River Writers is holding a three-part online lunchtime series, The Partnership Path: Getting Your Work Into Readers’ Hands, on August 12, 19, and 26!

Writing is your passion, and working toward a finished product is a feat in and of itself. But what happens when you’re done writing, and you want to get your work into the hands of potential readers? This series will cover the three core partnerships writers must forge in order to get their books out into the world. We will cover libraries, bookstores, and community partners. Learn who you should be talking with, how to form authentic relationships that render positive results for all involved, and how to get them to care enough to offer your books to their customers and possibly even become your biggest cheerleader!

Each class in this series includes: a one-hour online workshop, access to the recording, the PowerPoint used during the class, and additional resources.

3 Classes: $50 for Members | $75 for Non-members

A La Carte Classes: $20 each for Members | $29 each for Non-Members

Register here!

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

Many first-time authors (as well as seasoned authors) are interested in querying literary agents. However, knowing what you need and where to start can be pretty overwhelming. If you’re looking for more information, especially as a nonfiction or cookbook author, we recommend checking out ’ Not So Secret Agent. As a senior literary agent who runs The Ekus Group, the boutique culinary and lifestyle division of JVNLA, Sally shares her experiences and opinions about the publishing world on her Substack. So, if you want to learn more about why proposals may get rejected, how to write a successful nonfiction proposal, or hear from publishing experts, check out Not So Secret Agent!

Check it out!

If you’re like most people, July and August are filled with vacations, family trips, backyard barbecues, fresh fruit, and maybe even a few colorful cocktails. Some people enjoy pontoon rides on the lake, while others pack their bags and travel to another country.

Me? I love cruising and dipping my toes in crystal-blue water. There is something about sitting on a beach, watching the waves roll in, and listening to the ocean that makes everything feel right in the world. This is my happy place and brings me joy. I am also a Disney person, but I have learned over the years not to visit the parks in the heat of the summer. Lesson learned! Hot! Hot! Hot!

Some look at July and think, Half the year is over already. But I look at it differently. I think the best part of the year is still ahead.

And authors, this is very important, so listen closely! Don’t forget about summer. Summer is a FANTASTIC time to promote your book. Think about it. People finally have time to slow down. They are sitting at the beach, relaxing by the pool, traveling, or enjoying a quiet evening outside. They finally have time to pick up that book they have been wanting to read. So why not let that book be yours?

Don’t assume book sales take a vacation just because we do. Summer is actually a great time for a “summer reading sale,” an “end-of-summer” eBook discount promo, or even fun social media posts asking readers where they are reading your book and to share photos with you.

Fun fact . . . paperbacks are still a favorite because they are easy to throw into a beach bag, a carry-on, or even a backpack. So, dust the sand off your marketing, not your book.

Now let me ask you a question: Are you a glass-half-empty author or a glass-half-full author? I ask because the next five months are filled with opportunities. Sometimes we just need to slow down and take a look around. Marketing can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. It can actually be fun! Yes, I said marketing and fun in the same sentence! The key is having a plan. Don’t wait until December to think about holiday promotions. Don’t wait until October to look for fall events. Start planning now so you are ready when the opportunities arrive.

Let’s look at a few ideas to make the most of the rest of the year.

August: Let’s Finish Summer Strong!

Don’t let summer slip away without planning. This is a great time for an “end-of-summer sale,” or even an eBook promotion. Perhaps you can ask your followers to share where they are reading your book. Maybe it’s on the beach, by the pool, on vacation, or even sitting in their backyard. Ask them to share photos holding your book while they are on vacation. This could make a very fun summer post campaign.

August is also the perfect time to start reaching out. Fall calendars fill up quickly, so contact libraries, bookstores, schools, podcasts, and local events before someone else takes that spot. If you don’t ask, it’s an automatic “NO.”

September: Back to the Books

As everyone gets back into a routine, readers are still looking for new books. This is a great month for a “Back-to-School” eBook Special or a “New Season, New Book” promotion. Offer a limited-time discount, create a special bundle, or encourage readers to start their fall reading list with your book.

September is also a great time for school visits, library programs, book clubs, and speaking opportunities. This is why you need to reach out in the summer to get these events booked. Share your story as an author. Why did you write your book? What inspired you? What do you want readers to remember? It’s ok to get personal. Remember it’s all about building relationships with your readers. On social media, share behind-the-scenes photos and fun facts about your book, including your characters.

October: A Little Trick, and a Lot of Treat

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While working on a personal writing project recently, I kept returning to a particular section. There was nothing that was wrong with this section of writing. In fact, it was probably one of the stronger areas in the piece.

Yet, like a moth drawn to a flame, I couldn’t stay away. I’d move a comma here, rephrase a sentence there. I could’ve kept tweaking this section endlessly.

That’s when I recognized that this pattern is one that I’ve seen many authors unintentionally fall into.

There are two primary reasons we see authors keep making insignificant edits to a well-written chapter or selection: they don’t know what to write next, or it’s close to publication time, and they’re hesitant to move forward and let the manuscript go.

Under the guise of editing or revising, you can tell yourself that you’re going to get to the next chapter or part of the book soon. You just need to make sure this section is perfect first.

The truth is, though, that there is no such thing as objectively perfect writing. This leaves you with the perfect excuse reason to keep making minor adjustments. Will changing one word or restructuring one sentence realistically have a drastic impact on the manuscript? Probably not. But it’s easy to convince yourself otherwise.

So, if you don’t know where your book is going next, or if you’re feeling totally uninspired, it’s much less difficult to go back to what you’ve written rather than making yourself work through the challenging next chapter. You tell yourself you’ll write the next chapter later, but “later” can quickly turn into weeks, months, or even years.

And when you’re close to completing a project altogether, the fact that your book is actually going to go out into the world for people to read suddenly feels a lot more real than it did when you started writing. Some authors feel anxiety about not having control over how readers will react to the book. When you’ve written something personal or are sharing a book that has taken years to create, this fear can be magnified. What will readers think? What if there’s a mistake you missed?

While there’s not a single way to overcome these feelings, we’ve found that it’s helpful to recognize them. Then, we can help authors—and ourselves as writers—take the next steps forward.

How do you know it’s time to put down the pen (or step away from the computer) and move to the next section or publish your book?

If your project isn’t complete and you keep fiddling with a particular section or chapter, pause and ask yourself why. Do you know where your story is going next? If so, are you confident about the direction? If you’re not a planner, the answer might be “no,” and that’s okay. However, whether or not you like to plan ahead, if you’re spending a large chunk of time on an area that’s already completed (and has been for a while), and you’re just making minor changes, that’s probably a sign that, for whatever reason, you’re struggling to move forward.

What’s the solution? Writing the next chapter, paragraph, and sentence. If you’re not a planner, dive straight into the manuscript. If you like to plan things out, allow yourself a limited amount of time to plan what’s next—but don’t get stuck here. You have to keep writing the story. What if it’s awful? you might be wondering. Nothing is set in stone. But you can only make progress by writing about what’s next, and the only way you’ll know whether or not it’s good is by getting it out of your mind and onto the page.

If your manuscript has been revised, edited, and polished, and you’re still stuck on making small changes, take a step back and ask yourself if the changes you’re making are “deal-breaker” changes. “Deal-breaker” changes are those that will drastically improve the book. You’re not making these types of changes just because you can; you’re making these changes because you’ve recognized a major flaw in the book. (Ideally, these things should be caught in developmental editing, though, and it’s uncommon to find significant issues this close to the finish line.)

If you’re still feeling unsure, don’t hesitate to ask your editor, other writers who are willing to give honest feedback, or even people whose opinions you trust. (Note, though, that asking friends and family members can be tricky, since people sometimes find it hard to give feedback to people they care about.) Don’t ask specific questions that are too detailed, as you don’t want your questions to influence what the reader thinks. Instead, ask, “Does the story feel complete? Are there any major points of confusion or inconsistencies?”

This is where it’s particularly useful to work with an editor or two. If you’ve already done the developmental editor (who has looked at the big-picture elements, such as the point of view, themes, character arcs, narrative, etc., and offered suggestions on areas to improve the manuscript) and copy or line editor (who has looked at the grammar and mechanics of the manuscript and made corrections), then these problems have probably already been worked out. An editor can give you a more objective perspective.

Often, though, if you’re willing to be honest with yourself about why you’re editing your book, you should be able to recognize the root cause.

Don’t stop yourself from writing because you’re scared your writing won’t make sense. You’ll have time to revise, but you can only revise what’s written. Don’t edit out of fear that your book won’t be perfect; an imperfect published book is better than an unpublished one.

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We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

Subscribe now

If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, and Christina—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“If you're alive, you're a creative person.”
— Elizabeth Gilbert

Celebrating Late to the Party!

Valerie James Abbott, author of Late to the Party: Extraordinary Stories of Hope After Late-Identified Hearing Loss, has continued her book tour throughout the U.S.! On July 12, 2026, Valerie James Abbott brought her message of hope and hearing loss awareness to Kindred & Company in Post Falls, Idaho. The community gathered to hear Valerie’s story, learn more about her advocacy work, and celebrate the families whose voices are helping create change. The team specifically celebrated Chapter 12, Colter’s Story, with Colter attending the event!

On July 18, 2026, Valerie James Abbott joined Nevada Hands & Voices for "Stories That Matter" in Las Vegas, connecting with families, advocates, and featured storyteller Alexis Jones to share the importance of awareness, support, and advocacy for children with hearing loss. Valerie also spoke with Tish Lopez, District Representative for Nevada Congressman Susie Lee, about the need for improved hearing health surveillance and strong parent-to-parent support networks. The team celebrated Chapter 9, Alexis’s Story, with Alexis attending the event!

Register for Women in Publishing’s Business Bootcamp 2026!

Our friends at Women in Publishing are hosting a Business Bootcamp 2026 on Friday, August 21, 2026, and Saturday, August 22, 2026! If you’re an author wanting to learn more about the business side of authorship, this bootcamp can help answer your questions!

Two days of pure BUSINESS for authors and publishing professionals:

• The Foundations of Bookkeeping for Your Creative Business

• IP & Contracts — what’s okay to sign, and how to write your own

• Money Meets Mission: finding the money to grow

• Financial Management & Retirement Planning

• The CEO of Your Life: a financial framework for women who create

No marketing tactics. No launch strategies. Just the business answers you’ve been asking for — with implementation time built in so you put them to work before you log off.

$97 for both days.

No algorithm talk. No launch plans. The Business Builders Bootcamp is two days of the stuff no one else covers: your money, your rights, and your business foundation.

It IS business tactics built specifically FOR authors who are looking for the “business” basics.

This is presented by Women in Publishing, but men, you’re welcome to join us.

Register here!

Happy Disability Pride Month from KWE Publishing!

We wanted to wish everyone a happy Disability Pride Month! We also wanted to share a great article about must-read books for Disability Pride Month by ! You can check out the article by clicking the button below!

Read Reese's recommendations here!

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

Are you looking for a more interesting way to track your reading habits? Then StoryGraph might be for you! StoryGraph allows readers to easily track the books they’ve read, are reading, and want to read all in one place. StoryGraph also allows you to discover new books based on what you’re in the mood for. The site will give you recommendations based on your past preferences, too, which makes it a great place to find your next read! So, if you want to keep tabs on what you’ve read, the types of books you like best, and much more, check out StoryGraph!

Check it out!

There are so many benefits of co-authoring a book. You get to share the workload. You’re likely working with someone you like and trust and whose expertise and opinion you appreciate. Your co-author will also often split the costs of publication, if there are any. Plus, you get to promote your book together once it’s all finished.

It all sounds great—and it absolutely can be a wonderful experience! However, we’ve also managed enough projects and heard enough stories to know that co-authoring a book only goes smoothly if you put in the work. Otherwise, you might be facing a host of issues you didn’t see coming but wish you could’ve avoided.

So, today, we wanted to talk about three steps every co-author should take to keep their projects flowing as smoothly as possible.

Step 1: Before agreeing to co-author a book, consider whether you and your potential co-author share similar opinions, whether your vision for a book is similar, and whether you can realistically see yourself working with them for an extended length of time.

It’s important for all authors to consider why they want to write a book, but when you’re co-authoring a book, this is especially important. You want to ensure you and your co-author are in agreement about the purpose of this book. Your reasons for writing should be similar, and you should agree on the message of the book before you start writing.

Otherwise, you need to ask yourself whether or not you think working with this person for months (or longer, as books often take a year or more to publish, depending on how you choose to publish your book) will be doable. Do you have similar communication styles? Do you and your potential co-author both have the bandwidth (i.e., the time, energy, and potentially the funds) to commit to a long-term project together? If you disagree on something, are you confident that you two can talk it out and come to an agreement? Ultimately, you want to go into a project feeling confident that you will create a fantastic book you both love—and one that won’t cause immense frustration or damage your relationship.

Step 2: Talk about your expectations for the project before you start. Who will fill what role? How do you want to publish the book? How will the book be financed? How will profits be split?

It’s essential to talk about your expectations when co-authoring a book. Will you both write half the book, or is someone more confident and eager to write? Do you want to publish the book traditionally (meaning you’ll likely have to query a literary agent or editor at a publisher), self-publish, or work with a hybrid publisher or publisher that can assist with self-publishing?

How you publish your book will affect the potential costs of publication, as well as how you and your co-author receive profits. If you choose to self-publish (with or without a company to assist you) or work with a hybrid publisher, you and your co-author will typically get to keep the royalties (though you and your co-author will likely have to figure out how to split the profits on your own) and will maintain the intellectual property. The costs associated with self-publishing or working with a hybrid publisher can vary pretty widely. Self-publishing totally on your own is fairly inexpensive, though it’s important to note that there’s no barrier to entry. While this is generally a good thing, you still want to ensure your book looks professional, so it’s often worth it to hire contractors to create your cover design and edit your manuscript.

If you publish traditionally, you may receive an advance (an upfront payment for the book), but you’ll receive fewer royalties. Though you and your co-author will maintain the intellectual rights for your book, a traditional publisher also may retain the right to license your book for reproductions or adaptations. When publishing traditionally, you and your co-author might not have as much say about the cover, how the book is edited, etc., so make sure you and your co-author are both comfortable with whatever option you choose.

Step 3: Create a plan and determine what steps need to be taken (and by when), or work with a team that can help walk you through the process.

To keep your book from becoming a never-ending project, it’s important that you and your co-author agree on a rough timeline. Yes, life happens, and it’s likely that you’ll have to push a few deadlines back. (That’s why we recommend adding some padding in your initial timeline!) Still, you need to be willing to hold one another accountable.

You’ll also want to assign one another tasks and figure out what steps need ot be taken to complete the book. Who will write what chapter or section? When do you need to write the book description, and who will write it? If you hire contractors, by what dates should they be hired, and who will communicate with them? When do you need to acquire ISBNs?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed—and trust us, we get it!—then you might want to consider working with a team to help take you through the publication process. (Admittedly, we’re a little biased here, but we think this is a great option for co-authors who want to maintain creative control without spending hours trying to become a publishing expert all on their own.)

Once you’ve made these decisions, we absolutely recommend putting everything in writing. Both you and your co-author should sign an agreement that clearly outlines your proposal. Trust us, your future selves will thank you.

Bonus tip: Communicate, communicate, communicate!

Without solid communication, seemingly minor issues can become huge setbacks. More commonly, miscommunication or a lack of communication can put co-authors way behind schedule.

Have a question? Ask it. Have a new idea? Let your co-author know. Seriously, there’s rarely such a thing as overcommunicating when co-authoring a book!

Co-authoring a book can truly be a fun, exciting experience, but you need to make sure you and your potential co-author are on the same page first! Don’t be afraid to take your time and talk things out before diving headfirst into co-authoring a book, but also don’t be afraid to become a co-author. Together, you and your co-author might create something magical.

Share

We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

Subscribe now

If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, and Christina—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“Reading is like breathing in, and writing is like breathing out.”
— Pam Allyn

Congratulations to International Firebird Book Award Winner Gregory Gilmore!

Congratulations to Gregory Gilmore, author of King of the Sky: Choosing to Listen to God as a Path to Sobriety, Happiness, and Purpose, for winning the International Firebird Book Award in the Inspiration category!

In King of the Sky, Greg shares his deeply personal story of recognizing and breaking free from the destructive power of limiting beliefs and the pain they inflict. He delves into the thoughts, perceptions, and events that drove him to seek escape through unhealthy means, yet also offers a powerful message of hope. Through his exploration of intuition, the transformative power of hypnosis, and the strength found in community, Greg blends traditional and spiritual beliefs, revealing how life is filled with messages and synchronicities guiding us toward the fulfillment we seek.

King of the Sky is not just a memoir; it is a beacon for anyone grappling with their own battles, offering insights and encouragement to those ready to embark on their own journey of healing and self-discovery. Through this heartfelt story, readers will find the courage to listen to their inner voice and embrace the life they truly desire and deserve.

Join Us Next Week for Our Upcoming Webinar with Mary O’Donohue!

On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern, renowned strategic media coach and author Mary O’Donohue will share her expertise and discuss how authors can create author bios that will grab attention—and what mistakes to avoid!

Drawing on her experience working on more than 10,000 high-profile television interviews, she will highlight the importance of beginning a media interview with a compelling bio that sets the stage for successful publicity. She will also share a common, yet avoidable, mistake that many authors make and explain why effective publicity should never be passive. Throughout the session, she will guide attendees step by step through improving their media bios, ensuring they leave with practical strategies they can apply immediately.

Register here!

Register for Women in Publishing’s Business Bootcamp 2026!

Our friends at Women in Publishing are hosting a Business Bootcamp 2026 on Friday, August 21, 2026, and Saturday, August 22, 2026! If you’re an author wanting to learn more about the business side of authorship, this bootcamp can help answer your questions!

Two days of pure BUSINESS for authors and publishing professionals:

• The Foundations of Bookkeeping for Your Creative Business

• IP & Contracts — what’s okay to sign, and how to write your own

• Money Meets Mission: finding the money to grow

• Financial Management & Retirement Planning

• The CEO of Your Life: a financial framework for women who create

No marketing tactics. No launch strategies. Just the business answers you’ve been asking for — with implementation time built in so you put them to work before you log off.

$97 for both days.

No algorithm talk. No launch plans. The Business Builders Bootcamp is two days of the stuff no one else covers: your money, your rights, and your business foundation.

It IS business tactics built specifically FOR authors who are looking for the “business” basics.

This is presented by Women in Publishing, but men, you’re welcome to join us.

Register here!

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

As you probably know by now, at KWE Publishing, we love independent publishers! So, today, we wanted to highlight Almond Press, an independent publisher that focuses on dystopian and apocalyptic short fiction. In addition to publishing books, Almond Press’ site shares a host of resources, including a list of writing competitions (which is updated weekly!) and perspectives and insights on writing. So, if you’re interested in dystopian and apocalyptic literature, want to find creative writing competitions, or are seeking out some writing insights, take a look at Almond Press!

Check it out!

Unless you’ve lacked an internet connection for the last three years (or really don’t enjoy fantasy), you’ve probably heard of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. The romantasy book hit the shelves with all the force of a stack of dynamite in 2023, but when I picked the series up, I had no way of knowing what a success it would be. I’d preordered the book for two reasons: first, I’m approximately ten thousand times more likely to give a book a shot if it has dragons in it, and second, the blurb made me suspect the main character, Violet, would be chronically ill. As a disabled gal myself, the mere possibility intrigued me enough to hit that “preorder” button on its own.

When the book arrived, I quickly discovered that I was right. But it was also so much more than that. The symptoms Violet was experiencing were familiar. I knew them intimately. That’s Ehlers Danlos Syndrome…right? I put the book down and went to Google, and that’s where I learned that, yes—like me, and like the book’s author, Violet has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

One thing to know about me is that I’m not a crier. But that realization hit me so hard that I nearly burst into tears right there.

Seeing a character portrayed with one of my illnesses as the lead—kicking butt, riding a dragon, and still dealing with the issues I do—filled some need in me that I knew existed but never expected to see filled. And as I continued reading, I discovered Violet isn’t the only disabled character, and that the book seamlessly includes LGBTQ+ and POC characters in prominent roles, groups that are often underrepresented in fantasy. The book doesn’t make a big deal of this representation, either. It just does it. It was incredibly refreshing, to say the least.

My reaction to Violet’s disability is a prime example of how much representation matters—at every age, in every genre. Of course, as human beings, we’re built for connection, so we can and will connect to the characters in any book on a fundamental human level. But it’s so different to see yourself and your life experiences in a character in a real, tangible way, especially when you’re part of a group that is often left at the margins of stories…or off the page entirely.

This doesn’t mean that you should put together a list of minorities and start checking boxes. That risks falling into the danger zone of having a single “token” character in a group, which can create issues of its own. Good representation feels natural and thoughtfully avoids stereotypes, fleshing out every character with just as much intention as the last. It’s as simple and as complicated as holding up a mirror to the world and reflecting the diversity we see onto the page. There is no “default” human, so our characters shouldn’t have a “default” setting, either.

From an author’s perspective, writing with representation in mind only helps your story. Children’s books with diversity help foster confidence for children seeing themselves on the page, perhaps for the first time, and empathy for the children learning about new perspectives or lived experiences.

Read more

When you walk into a bookstore or library, what section do you make a beeline for first? Nonfiction? Fantasy? Middle-grade books? Romance?

Obviously, there’s no right or wrong answer here; we all have our favorite genres! And while genre is something that we think about when reading, we might be inclined to dismiss the genre when writing—but it’s important that we don’t.

Before we hop into why authors should care about and have an understanding of the genres they’re writing in, just in case you’re wondering what makes a genre, here’s a quick description. A genre is a classification given to books based on their content, the readers’ ages, tropes, and themes. Nonfiction and fiction are two broad genres, and they can be broken down into more specific genres, such as memoir, self-help, fantasy, YA (young adult), etc. Beyond this, there are sub-genres, like romantasy (romance + fantasy), that are even more specific.

So, as an author, why should you care about the genre you’re writing in, and when should you think about the genre?

There are a multitude of ways to answer these questions, but in short, it’s important that you have a good understanding of what readers will expect in your book’s genre. If you’re writing a cozy mystery, then you’ll want to keep things PG/PG-13 for the most part; if you’re writing a business book, readers will expect tangible advice and lessons.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t play with tropes and surprise the readers. (You can see how authors have done this when looking at retellings of classic fairytales, for instance.) However, it’s important that you understand the common themes and conventions so you know where to draw that line without upsetting your readers.

Think of it like this: If you go to a restaurant and you order a pizza, every pizza is going to taste a little different. You can choose different toppings for your pizza, which will change the flavor—even if you order something as polarizing as pineapple on pizza!—but you’re still eating a pizza. If you were served soup after ordering pizza and were told that the soup was, in fact, pizza, you’d probably be a little annoyed. In the same way, while there are different “flavors” (subgenres, plots, tropes, etc.) within each genre, the genre lets you know what’s ahead and serves as the foundation for a book. If readers expect one genre and get something totally in another genre, they’re probably going to be annoyed, too.

This genre classification is also important when marketing your book. You can see how other authors in the genre market their books and see what works well. Are there certain places (online and offline) that readers who love your genre hang out? Are there specific bookstores, websites, etc., that cater to your genre? It pays to do a bit of research and make sure you’re putting your book in front of readers who already enjoy books similar to yours.

What happens if you completely forget about your genre?

It depends on the outcome you’re hoping for and the reason you’re writing. If you’re writing something just for fun, or if you’re writing a book that is a legacy project for close friends and family, there aren’t many consequences to disregarding the genre(s) in which you’re writing.

However, if you abandon the concept of genre and you want your book to be read by a wide audience, you might have a harder time finding your ideal readers. Unfortunately, when you market your book to everyone, you’re kind of marketing your book to no one. When you don’t classify your book’s genre(s), you’re doing something similar and casting too wide a net.

Without knowing what to expect, some readers will be hesitant about picking up your book. In a reader’s mind, it might not make sense to spend time reading a book they’re uncertain about when they know they’d likely enjoy reading a book in a specific genre.

You may also write a book that blends genres. This isn’t inherently a bad thing; in fact, there’s been a big surge in blended genres like romantasy lately, so you can absolutely combine genres successfully. However, you want to be intentional in doing this. You need to appeal to readers of both genres, which can feel like a balancing act, and integrate the tropes and themes in a cohesive way.

Finally, if you disregard the concept of genre, you might struggle with the direction of your book. Again, you don’t have to stick to every trope or write something that feels formulaic, but knowing what has worked well in the genre gives you some basic guidance. When you know your options and you understand where your book fits in the genre, it’ll be easier to know when to meet readers’ expectations and when to creatively subvert them.

Genres aren’t strict formulas that you have to follow; they give you a loose idea of how to write a book that honors the work that’s come before while sharing your unique story. Reading books in your genre and having a solid understanding of the genre you’re writing in will help you become a stronger, more confident storyteller.

Share

We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

Subscribe now

If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, and Christina—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.”
— Andy Warhol

Congratulations to Valerie James Abbott on Best-selling Ebook, Late to the Party!

Valerie James Abbott’s book, Late to the Party: Extraordinary Stories of Hope After Late-Identified Hearing Loss, was the #1 New Release in the category of Hearing Problems! Late to the Party was released on May 5, 2026.

Get Ready for Our Upcoming Webinar with Mary O’Donohue

On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern, renowned strategic media coach and author Mary O’Donohue will share her expertise and discuss how authors can create author bios that will grab attention—and what mistakes to avoid!

Drawing on her experience working on more than 10,000 high-profile television interviews, she will highlight the importance of beginning a media interview with a compelling bio that sets the stage for successful publicity. She will also share a common, yet avoidable, mistake that many authors make and explain why effective publicity should never be passive. Throughout the session, she will guide attendees step by step through improving their media bios, ensuring they leave with practical strategies they can apply immediately.

Register here!

Hear Our Awesome Authors in These Podcasts!

Recently, two of our awesome authors were featured on podcasts! Jean Tillery, who hosts the podcast #epicStories and is the author of #epicMessages and A Dreamer’s Travel Journal, featured another one of our amazing authors, Kris Corbett, author of the memoir Bravely Bleeding: A Powerful Dual Perspective Memoir. In this episode, Jean and Kris talked about survival, resilience, and second chances. You can listen to this episode of #epicStories here!

Author Jean Tillery was also featured on The Sharvette Mitchell Radio Show, where Sharvette and Jean discussed the importance of dreaming and creating a thriving work culture. You can check out this episode of The Sharvette Mitchell Radio Show here!

Happening Soon: A Reason to Write’s “Trusting Your Creative Vision” Workshop!

A Reason to Write is hosting an upcoming workshop, “Trusting Your Creative Vision: The Roadmap From Idea to Paper,” with Adam Payne and Michael Stein in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, on Saturday, July 18, 2026!

For emerging and seasoned writers ages 15-21. A real look inside what writing actually is: generating new work, editing with an editor, and publishing your work. Held on the banks of the Shenandoah River near Harpers Ferry, in partnership with YNST Magazine. $149 per writer · limited to 12 · lunch, snacks & materials included.

Register here!

Check Out James River Writers’ Upcoming Online Master Class!

On Thursday, July 16, 2026, James River Writers is hosting an online master class all about submitting to literary journals and contests with award-winning author ! The master class will be held from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Eastern and is $50 for members and $75 for non-members.

You’ve been polishing your story or essay, and now you’re ready to take the big leap and submit it to literary journals, but just how do you do that? In this class, you’ll learn about many of the hundreds of literary journals out there waiting for your work, both the perennial heavyweights and the up-and-comers.

We’ll discuss cover letters, do’s and don’ts for submissions, the transition many journals have made from print to online submission and publication, and whether or not you have to obey the “no simultaneous submission” policy. We’ll investigate ways of tracking your submissions, useful websites for researching literary magazines, how to gauge whether you received a “good” rejection or a form rejection, and how to know when to keep submitting a piece, pull it for revisions, or put it in the recycle pile. By the end of this seminar, you’ll be armed with a thick-anti-rejection hide and a list of journals to submit your work to. Join us for an online Master Class with author Jenny Shank.

Register here!

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

Finding inspiration for writing can be annoyingly difficult sometimes. Fortunately, there are a host of places online where you can find inspiration, and is one of those places! offers writers advice, writing prompts, micro-challenges, recommendations, and more! For paid subscribers, SubClub also shares open calls for literary magazines, writing contests, and publishing opportunities every month, which is particularly helpful if you want to submit your work but aren’t sure where to find opportunities. So, whether you’re looking for some inspiration or want to submit your work to be published, you’ll want to check out SubClub!

Check it out!

When my fifth-grade teacher gave us an assignment to write about anything we wanted, I was almost giddy with excitement. Inspired by a book series about talking animals, I wrote with an intensity that surprises me when thinking about it now. I remember that I could so clearly see the scenes in my mind, and as I eagerly wrote on lined sheets of paper, graphite smudging my hands, the story poured out of me. I didn’t think extensively about how to craft the perfect story, which perspective to write in, or how to create a great hook; I simply wrote with immense passion because I loved writing.

Today, I approach writing differently. When I look at my older works, I think of ways that I could’ve created a stronger narrative or phrased things better. Many writers will tell you this isn’t an uncommon experience.

Sometimes, as an adult who overthinks like it’s her job, I’m scared to try something new because I know I probably won’t be good at it. There’s a real chance I’ll be bad at it, actually. When I started painting in my mid-twenties, for example, I had no idea what I was doing. I felt like I was smearing paint on the page like a toddler with no self-control.

As a child, though, I didn’t worry about being good when I wrote because the thought never entered my mind. I didn’t care about the quality of my writing when I first started writing because writing was simply something I did for enjoyment. I wrote because it was fun.

Now, I realize that there’s something incredibly valuable about the way I wrote initially. By leading with excitement, I was unintentionally allowing myself to get through the process of writing awkwardly, imperfectly, and sometimes mediocrely. At the same time, I was reading lots of books, so I was developing a sense of what good writing looked like and what I enjoyed. I’m incredibly grateful that I didn’t start out putting pressure on myself to create something fantastic; I was writing because I loved it, and since I wasn’t afraid of writing something mediocre, I was able to write enough to hone my craft.

I’m not sure at what age I started being concerned with how good I was at writing, especially outside of school. I knew that I wrote well for my age, and I wasn’t looking at my own writing through a literary lens. Somewhere along the line, though, I began to view my work more critically, even the writing I did for fun.

While looking at my writing critically did help me become a writer, it also made writing feel less freeing. That sense of wild creativity I’d had when I was younger got reigned in in favor of analysis.

To be clear, I’m not suggesting that you never analyze your own work. I think it’s helpful for writers to do this and to seek feedback, especially from other writers (and later, editors, if desired).

But I think examining your writing too early can take the joy out of the process. This is true whether you’re a seasoned writer or a new one.

You have to allow yourself to try new things in your writing if you want to get better. Conversely, if you want to become a better writer, you have to be okay with being a mediocre writer (at least at first).

Of course, there are absolutely writers who are naturally talented and can write near-flawless pieces in certain genres. Ask a memoirist to write flash fiction or a novelist to pen a poem, though, and they may struggle a bit. And that is totally normal. Great writers can probably pull off a new genre with a little more ease than others, but no artist of any kind can produce perfection every time. I’d also argue that, with writing, there’s no such thing as a totally perfect work since there’s so much subjectivity involved.

In a world that prioritizes instant gratification, it’s often a real challenge to partake in something that requires patience and practice. If you start writing in a new genre, or if you’re someone who’s picked up writing as a new hobby, you might be tempted to quit when the words don’t come out quite right.

Take a deep breath. Keep writing. Allow yourself to make mistakes, to write sentences that sound off. Read as much as you can so you can get a feeling for what you love. (It’s also a good idea to figure out what you don’t like, too.) Try to break down what elements you love in other people’s writing, and try to emulate those things in your own work.

And don’t be afraid to approach writing with a more childlike mindset when you start out. Instead of worrying about creating the world’s best first draft, focus on writing something that fills you with wonder and excitement.

Being a mediocre writer doesn’t mean you’re a failure, and it’s definitely not an endpoint. It’s just a rite of passage and a stepping stone on your way to becoming a great writer.

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We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

Subscribe now

If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, and Christina—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“No one else sees the world the way you do, so no one else can tell the stories that you have to tell.”
— Charles de Lint

Author of Myrt the Turt Featured in Oceanside/Island Park Herald!

Evonne DeVivo, author of Myrt the Turt, was featured in the Oceanside/Island Park Herald, a community newspaper that reaches residents in Oceanside and Island Park, New York. In the article, Evonne shares the inspiration behind her book and how she hopes students, including those in her preschool classroom, will fall in love with reading through her book.

Evonne also held a book reading event at St. Anthony’s Preschool (seen in the above photo) on June 15, 2026.

Congratulations, Evonne!

Read the article here!

Author Event Recap: Lisa A. Marsico Brings Penny the Pittie Pup to Poughkeepsie!

On Saturday, June 27, 2026, Lisa A. Marsico, author of the award-winning book Penny the Pittie Pup: A Tail of Courage, held a book event at Barnes & Noble in Poughkeepsie, New York! Congratulations on another fantastic event, Lisa!

Check Out A Reason to Write’s Upcoming Workshop!

A Reason to Write is hosting an upcoming workshop, “Trusting Your Creative Vision: The Roadmap From Idea to Paper,” with Adam Payne and Michael Stein in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, on Saturday, July 18, 2026!

For emerging and seasoned writers ages 15-21. A real look inside what writing actually is: generating new work, editing with an editor, and publishing your work. Held on the banks of the Shenandoah River near Harpers Ferry, in partnership with YNST Magazine. $149 per writer · limited to 12 · lunch, snacks & materials included.

Register here!

Write|Publish|Sell’s Book Marketing Bundle Sale!

Write|Publish|Sell is offering its Book Marketing Bundle on a flash sale until July 7th!

Here’s what’s inside the Summer Book Marketing Bundle:

Demystifying the Book Marketing Timeline (recorded workshop)

Ditch the Fear & Just Market It! – Alexa Bigwarfe’s encouraging guide to getting over your marketing mindset blocks

Build an Engaged ARC & Launch Team (recorded training)

SAMPLE Email Sequence for your advance readers & book launch team

Use Promo Sites to Sell More Books! (recorded training)

Top 3 Instagram Trainings: • Maximizing the Algorithm • Understanding Analytics • Quick Tips for Finding Book Reviewers

Launch Day Basics Checklist – Everything you need to nail your big day

Learn more here!

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

Interested in honing your writing craft? Writer’s Digest University is offering a great lineup of classes this summer! Classes vary in subject from screenwriting to querying and writing in specific genres (ranging from fantasy to romance to picture books)! Choose which classes work best for you and your writing journey.

Check it out!

There it is, the finish line! TA-DA! You’ve typed “The End” and now, watch out, world! You are ready to self-publish your brilliant book. Now you can just upload your manuscript, and a few days later, a beautiful book arrives on your doorstep. Bada boom, bada bing!

Um, if only it were that simple.

After helping hundreds of authors publish their books, I’ve learned there are a few surprises that almost no one talks about. Word to the wise… here are four of them. Gird your loins and read on.

1. Sometimes You Receive a “Frankenbook”

One of the strangest surprises in self-publishing has nothing to do with your writing. It has to do with printing.

Today, many books are produced using print-on-demand technology. Instead of printing thousands of copies and storing them in a warehouse, companies such as IngramSpark print individual books only after they’re ordered.

Most of the time, the system works beautifully. Every now and then, however, something bizarre happens.

At KWE Publishing, we’ve jokingly started calling these “Frankenbooks.”

People, we’ve seen some freaky stuff! We’ve seen books arrive with two different books bound together under one cover. Imagine opening your memoir halfway through only to discover it suddenly transforms into someone else’s cookbook.

One of our awesome authors, Jean Tillery, received a proof and was puzzled about its length. Turns out under one cover (and it was the correct cover), there were two complete printed versions of the same book. We’d never seen that before!

We’ve also had authors order a proof copy of their own book and receive an entirely different author’s book instead. One author of ours opened his package expecting a printed proof of his children’s book, and instead received a nonfiction Christian book. He reached out to me and said, “Um, Kim, are you trying to tell me something?” I jokingly said, “You need some Jesus in your life!” After we had a good laugh, I reported the issue, and a new, correct printed proof was sent.

Why does this happen? With print on demand, the printers at the publishing sites are constantly in use. One print job is followed by another, and sometimes mistakes happen. If you’ve ever used a home printer and accidentally printed on the wrong paper type, you’ve experienced something similar.

Fortunately, these situations are very rare, and printers do replace defective copies. Still, it’s a reminder that publishing combines sophisticated technology with very real manufacturing equipment. Every once in a while, the machines decide to tell their own story!

2. December Is Usually a Terrible Month to Publish

Many first-time authors assume December is the perfect time to launch a book. After all, people are buying gifts. ‘Tis the season for your new book to enter the world, right?

Wrong.

In reality, most publishers avoid releasing new titles during December, and independent authors should think carefully before doing the same.

Think about it. The holiday season is already overflowing with distractions. Families are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s. People are traveling, attending parties, shopping, and juggling packed calendars. Everyone is placing online orders, which is both great and super hectic.

Media outlets often have reduced schedules. Bookstores are focused on cranking out holiday inventory rather than promoting new releases. Even readers who intend to buy your book may simply be too busy to notice it.

For most nonfiction and general-interest books, waiting until January or later often gives your launch the attention it deserves. And if you have a self-help book, January is the season for resolutions, which could give your book a big boost!

Read more

A few weeks ago, while visiting Vienna, Austria, I decided to attend a “social book club.” I wasn’t sure what this would entail, and, unlike Kim, networking isn’t one of my (Emily) strong suits, so I was a bit nervous.

Thankfully, this was an informal event that invited people who loved books to talk about books they had read recently. People could talk about any genre of book, and their review of the book didn’t have to be positive, either.

I was incredibly curious about what this would look like, and the people who presented all did a fantastic job. While the word “presentation” evoked images of slideshows in my mind, thanks to years of PowerPoint presentations in school, this was less structured. People would stand at the front of the room and talk about the book. Most people gave readers an overview of the plot, though presenters often tried to avoid big spoilers, talked about what they liked, what they disliked, and what questions the book brought up for them. Usually, the presenters were familiar with the genre of books they were presenting, but not always. One person who presented talked about how boring he found the book he’d read and why.

At the end of each presentation, everyone in the room was invited to ask questions to the presenter. Questions included

• “Did you know the context of the book or anything about the author before you started reading?”

• “What do you think the author’s intent was?”

• “What do you think the message of the book was?”

• “Would you recommend the book to others?”

• “What made you want to read the book in the first place?”

• “Why don’t you like the book?”

• “What made you want to keep reading?”

Since people were presenting different genres of books—from historical fiction to self-help books to dark thrillers—the presenters’ answers varied widely. I loved hearing about people’s motives for reading, what made them put down a book, and whether or not they thought the author’s message was executed well.

In addition to having fun nerding out about books, I left the book club thinking about how a “book club mindset” could benefit authors.

If your book were presented at a book club, what would you want your reader to share about your book?

Let’s pretend your book was picked up by one of the people in this club. If one person has read your book and is sharing an overview of your book, what points do you really want to come through? Do you want the presenter to talk about the unique perspective or the fast-moving pace? Are you hoping the presenter will highlight a character’s arc and the way the message came through? Or do you want the presenter to note the ambiguity and open-ended conclusion?

Let’s say you’re writing a memoir. Your book is about overcoming the loss of a loved one and finding a way to keep living and finding joy while still carrying that grief. If your book were presented, you’d want the presenter to appreciate the nuance of your story, the fact that you point out that your grief becomes a part of you and changes as you do. You’d also want the presenter to note your sense of humor, the way you cope with levity and laughter.

So, start working backwards. How can you present your message in an honest way throughout the book? What experiences exemplify this message? How can you balance talking about hard truths and the realities of grief while still incorporating your sense of humor?

It’s important to remember that you should write the book you want to write—but it’s important, too, to be intentional and think about how you can share your story in a way that ensures readers grasp your intended meaning.

In a room full of book lovers, whose attention would you want to grab?

I was really interested in understanding why certain readers connected with books while others didn’t. Funnily enough, the person who talked about a book he disliked piqued the curiosity of a few other readers in the room. The presenter felt like the book was too boring and said there wasn’t enough action by page fifty. Other readers in the room said they’d be willing to read fifty pages if the payoff was worth it.

Your book isn’t for everyone. That’s not a bad thing! While there are overarching themes that might appeal to a wide array of readers, it’s important that you know who your book is really for. If you’re writing a fantasy book, you want to appeal to the people who enjoy the genre of fantasy, yes, but your book could also appeal to readers who love a good coming-of-age story or romance if your book includes those elements.

Think about the genre you’re writing in. What will readers expect? What will excite readers in this genre, and are there certain pet peeves that readers in this genre frequently point out in other books? What books have done well in this genre, and what specifically do readers enjoy about these books? When you know these things, you can create a book that will reach the right readers.

Think about what you enjoy when reading a book. How would you present your favorite book, and how would you present your least favorite book?

We’ve talked a lot about how your readers would perceive your book so far, but as a writer, it’s important to remember what you love about reading and writing, too. Equally, it’s helpful to know what you don’t like in writing. Having this information will help ensure you’re writing a book you’d want to read!

For instance, let’s pretend I’m presenting about a made-up book I dislike. I talk about how the characters felt flat, unfeeling, and distant from the world they lived in. I highlight how the stakes weren’t clear or didn’t feel like they mattered. I say the protagonist, who was supposed to be likeable, was deeply uninteresting, and I ended up feeling irritated with the character halfway through the book, so I didn’t care what happened to them.

In my own writing, these are all things I’d want to avoid. Knowing what I dislike as a reader guides me as I write, just as knowing what I like does.

For the sake of fairness, if I were talking about a made-up book I love, I’d spotlight the emotional depth and chemistry between characters, the immersive environment, and the meaningful stakes. I’d talk about how I love that the protagonist was forced to confront their own sense of right and wrong. I’d say that, when I finished reading the book, I felt kind of empty in a good way—because how could I ever find a book so wonderful again? (Even though I know that I will.)

Again, in my own writing, I’d find places where I can hopefully create emotional depth and high stakes that feel real without feeling dramatized. I’d focus on creating an imperfect character who would grow as a person. I’d also make sure that my book is paced well, balancing moments of tension with calmer scenes to allow readers to process what has happened.

Thinking about your book in the context of a book club might sound a little strange at first, but I’ve found that it’s helping me think about my own writing, as well as others’ writing, in new ways. How would you want your book to be presented in this club?

Share

We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

Subscribe now

If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, and Christina—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“A writer is a world trapped in a person.”
— Victor Hugo

Important Note for Authors: KDP Announces Payment Changes

When updating a book under my KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) account, I learned that, starting August 1, 2026, all publishers must use a participating Payment Service Provider (PSP) or a direct bank account. I ran into this when I received this message: “Action required: You've entered a bank account not able to receive KDP payments.”

If anyone else runs into a similar issue, you can delete your old bank account information and then re-enter the same account information. Hopefully, this resolves the issue!

If you want to learn more, you can click the button below and read a KDP community post with more details.

Read the KDP community post here

Author Event Recap: Author Lindsay at the Pentagon!

Lindsay Chánnel Hill, author of When War Comes Home—The Soldier, the Spouse, and the Child: Living with Secondary PTSD, held a book signing and author meet and greet at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on June 22, 2026, which focused on continuing the conversation around PTSD and mental health as they affect service members and families. Readers were able to speak with Lindsay about her book, purchase books, and get their books signed.

Congratulations on a wonderful event, Lindsay!

Author Event Recap: Lisa A. Marsico Takes Penny the Pittie Pup on the Road!

On Sunday, June 21, 2026, Lisa A. Marsico, author of the award-winning book Penny the Pittie Pup: A Tail of Courage, held a book event at Barnes & Noble in Danbury, Connecticut! Congratulations on another fantastic event, Lisa!

Registration for the James River Writing Conference Is Open Now!

You can now register for the 2026 James River Writers Conference! The conference starts Friday, September 25, 2026, and goes through Sunday, September 27!

James River Writers is excited to continue to offer both in-person and online elements for our conference. Join us for Master Classes online on Friday, September 25. Then, join us at the Greater Richmond Convention Center (in Richmond, Virginia) for a full slate of programs focusing on the craft and business of writing. Enjoy lively panel discussions, critique sessions with literary agents, an engaging keynote, headshot mini sessions, and agent one-on-one meetings (standard with your ticket). In addition, we’ve included opportunities for networking and socializing, because community is at the heart of everything we do. Since 2003, this multi-day event has been known for its inspiring, collegial atmosphere and hospitality. Whether you’re just starting out on your writing journey or a seasoned professional, there’s something for everyone.

Learn more here!

Check Out A Reason to Write’s Free Upcoming Workshop!

You may remember our interview last week with the wonderful Ellen Weeren, founder of A Reason to Write. We wanted to share that Ellen, via A Reason to Write, is hosting a free writing workshop via Zoom on June 27, 2026, from 1:00–2:30 p.m. Eastern!

Join the wildly popular Prompt-A-Palooza series for a generative flash workshop led by Francine Witte — poet, flash fiction writer, and one of the most energizing voices in the flash community. Come ready to write.

Register here!

Happening Today: The Book Finishers Summit!

Today, you can join The Book Finishers Summit for free! The summit runs June 25–29, and there’s still time to register! This 5-day virtual event will teach you new tips and techniques so that you can finally complete your first draft, revise and edit your book (so it’s a book you’re proud of!)

Learn new ways to publish and market your book so you can reach your Ideal Readers!

Over 30 Accomplished Authors and Speakers Show & Tell Their Expert Strategies To Help You FINISH your book, revise, publish, and market it as well.

Register here!

KWE’s VIP Marketing Concierge, Jean Sime, at Denver Transplant Games!

KWE Publishing’s VIP Marketing Concierge, Jean Sime, attended this year’s Transplant Games of America, which was held in Denver, Colorado. This year’s Transplant Games set a Guinness World Record, with 966 living donors and organ recipients in one place at the same time!

As a kidney recipient herself, Jean is a dedicated and passionate advocate for organ transplants, and this year, she took home a silver medal in darts. Way to go, Jean!

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

If you’re a writer interested in submitting your essays, short stories, poetry, or other work to publications, check out ’s recent post, “The New York Times is seeking essays on Modern Love! Write for NBC! PLUS, over 30 calls for speculative fiction, short stories, art and poetry!” Here, you’ll find a host of contests, calls for submission, and more, all spanning a wide variety of genres. Thanks, for sharing such a comprehensive list! (You can also check other posts on Write, Period. to learn about other opportunities.)

Check it out!

Recently, I came upon a book titled Dog Person: A Love Story by author Camille Pagán. The book is written from the perspective of a dog who’s now living with his human’s partner, Miguel, after the death of “his person,” Amelia. He’s determined to help Miguel find love. He promised Amelia he would, after all.

Though the subjects are drastically different, this reminded me of the horror film Good Boy, which is also shown from the perspective of a dog. (In the film, the dog is a witness to supernatural forces affecting his human.)

Both the book and film immediately caught my attention because of the unique perspectives. There’s a sense of innocence a dog has in the face of both heartbreak and horror, and that, combined with a dog’s loyalty to their owners/people, opens up endless possibilities for new ways of storytelling.

The book and movie made me consider how a shift in perspective can drastically change the way a story is perceived. My imagination started to run wild, and I was excited about exploring different stories from perspectives I previously hadn’t considered.

So, why should you write from a unique perspective?

Writing from another perspective encourages creativity—and can help pull you out of a writing rut.

No matter whose point of view you’re writing from, whether your narrator is omniscient or limited, when you change that point of view, you’re forced to view your story from another angle.

What if your story was told from the perspective of the antagonist? How might the message of your story change? Who would the reader sympathize with? Do your protagonist’s actions suddenly feel less heroic or noble?

This practice shows you that there’s not really such a thing as a wholly objective narrator. It forces you to think about your characters’ motives, how your readers will view the story, and the story itself might change altogether.

Writing from a unique point of view allows you to build empathy for others while forcing you to acknowledge the stakes in your story.

It’s easy to get caught up in the mindset that the way you view the world is the same way everyone views the world. However, everyone experiences life through their own lens, and writing from a point of view that might initially feel unnatural to you allows you to better empathize with others—within books and outside of them.

That said, writing from another perspective also helps you establish your stakes. You need your readers to empathize (even if on a small level) with your protagonist, and to do that, the readers have to understand what the protagonist has to lose. The stakes have to feel real and meaningful enough to matter.

Wondering how to firmly establish your stakes? Challenge yourself by writing a critical conflict in your book from the perspective of a bystander. Would a bystander stop if they witnessed this moment of tension, even without having the full context of what the protagonist has already experienced? Would the setting, dialogue, and actions of other characters pique the bystander’s curiosity? What would a bystander take away from this scene? Ultimately, you want your bystander to feel something, even as an outsider.

That’s not to say that every scene has to be overwhelmingly dramatic to make an impact. If a bystander were to witness a quiet fight between a couple at a restaurant, for instance, seeing Person A pull their hand away while Person B grimaces and averts their gaze, combined with hushed, strained whispers, could be enough detail to make the bystander feel sadness or anger.

You give yourself the option to introduce multiple perspectives into your story, which adds layers to your book.

As we’ve made clear, writing from a unique perspective gives your readers more information about the story, the characters, and even the world you’ve created. While you certainly don’t have to write your story from several perspectives, you might find that your story could benefit from more than one point of view.

When you write from two or more points of view, you can introduce details to readers that one character may not be aware of. When two different characters have opposing beliefs or motivations, by offering both perspectives, you have the opportunity to create ambiguity about what’s right and wrong. Tension can quickly build as a result.

There are ways to add nuance to your book without multiple perspectives, of course, but knowing you have this option allows you to consider the best way to tell your story. The most effective method of storytelling isn’t always the easiest or the thing we’re inclined to do first. So, allow yourself to reimagine your story and how different perspectives, whether they parallel one another or not, could affect your overall narrative.

Exploring multiple perspectives can be a fun challenge to help spark creativity; it can also be a fantastic way to build tension, add nuance, and reveal more about the world you’re creating. There are wonderful books with all types of perspectives and points of view, so while you don’t have to write from a bizarre or unique perspective, challenge yourself to ask, “What if?”

Share

We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

Subscribe now

If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, and Christina—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“You fail only if you stop writing.”
— Ray Bradbury

Check Out A Reason to Write’s Free Upcoming Workshop!

You may remember our interview last week with the wonderful Ellen Weeren, founder of A Reason to Write. We wanted to share that Ellen, via A Reason to Write, is hosting a free writing workshop via Zoom on June 27, 2026, from 1:00–2:30 p.m. Eastern!

Join the wildly popular Prompt-A-Palooza series for a generative flash workshop led by Francine Witte — poet, flash fiction writer, and one of the most energizing voices in the flash community. Come ready to write.

Register here!

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

Created by best-selling author , Zibby includes a variety of essays, bookshop news (including book recommendations and video interviews), publishing details, and more! So, if you’re interested in getting a behind-the-scenes look at publishing or are looking for some book recommendations, you’ll want to check out Zibby’s Substack!

Check it out!

Recently, I came across a Note on Substack that said something along the lines of “Writing shouldn’t be easy.” (Then, when I tried to find it again, it of course disappeared into the void.)

As a writer, my first thought was a somewhat desperate, Why not? I need writing to be easy sometimes!

Like other writers, I’m not a huge fan of staring at a blank document or feeling like I want to write but not quite knowing how to get the words on the page. I also dislike starting a project only to lose interest. Standard writer woes, right?

But then, the editor part of my brain thought, Of course it’s not easy. Think of all the revisions, edits, and conversations it’s taken the authors I’ve worked with to create the amazing books they’ve written. It takes time to figure out how to share your story authentically in the best way you know how. Part of the reason their works are so beautiful is that their writing wasn’t easy.

Ugh. Okay, maybe Editor Emily had a point. Still, Writer Emily was kind of skeptical. Just because writing something is hard does not mean it will be good, and just because writing something is easy doesn’t mean it will be bad. There are things I’ve written, things I’ve seen others write, that came somewhat effortlessly. Few revisions were required.

I love the feeling of writing being easy. I love being in a flow state where the words feel right and true, and the words transfer seamlessly from my mind to my fingertips as I type on my laptop.

(I also love the feeling of finally finding just the right way to complete a challenging project.)

However, I realized that whether writing feels easy often depends on two things: your reason for writing and where you are in the process. Writing a first draft or writing for fun often feels easy; writing for an audience and writing during revisions often feels challenging.

When you’re writing just for yourself, there’s less pressure to create something that’s as close to perfect as possible. Though some authors are still hard on themselves when writing personal pieces, generally, they don’t scrutinize these works as closely as they would if writing for others.

When you’re writing a book that you want to share with the world, you’re probably putting some pressure on yourself. That pressure to create something meaningful that will stand the test of time almost inevitably makes writing harder.

You have to think about your readers, at least a little. Even though you’re still hopefully writing for fun and because you believe in your message or story, you have to consider a multitude of factors now. What is your ideal reader looking for in this genre? What are common tropes in the genre? How can you meet and subvert readers’ expectations in clever ways? Is your narrative engaging enough? Are the characters growing? Is the plot progressing at the right rate?

It’s important to think about these questions. They can also make you pause. In fact, I’d argue that they should make you pause.

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Recently, Emily from KWE Publishing had the chance to chat with Ellen Weeren, author, professor, and founder of A Reason to Write! A Reason to Write is a fantastic business that hosts writing retreats and workshops in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and we can’t wait for you to learn more!

Emily: Could you share a bit about yourself and your background in writing?

Ellen: So, like every writer, I wrote horrible poetry when I was a kid, sitting on the sidewalk, looking at the clouds and rainbows. In high school, I was editor of our literary magazine and on the newspaper staff. I liked writing, but I didn’t really see myself as a writer. I didn’t know that was a thing you could do. I went to college, and I decided to major in psychology, thinking, That’s what my mom did. She enjoyed it. And then my dad’s an accountant, so I was like, “Oh, maybe I’ll do accounting.” It was even worse. So, I decided to major in English because it was what I liked.

I looked for jobs in writing. The only job I could even apply for was editing, but I didn’t really have an editing background. I was more of a creative writing literature person. The pay was horrendous, so I became a secretary and then worked my way up and eventually became a law enforcement policy writer. When my kids were born, I worked part-time, and then, after I had my first daughter, I decided to stay home. I pursued hobbies on my own.

I edited and wrote my neighborhood newsletter, keeping a bit of a touch point. But then, my family moved to India, and I started writing a blog. I wrote probably four days a week and won some awards, including being listed as one of the top ten expat blogs of the year twice. I thought, Wow, maybe I am a writer.

We moved back to the U.S., and it wasn’t as interesting to write about my daily life. There weren’t camels and elephants at the road and new places and new people all the time. So, I joined a writing group and they said, “Your essays are kind of like fiction. You should maybe consider writing fiction.” I joined some writing groups and started going to workshops. I ended up getting my MFA at George Mason and graduated in 2019.

During this time, I’m sending my short story out. I’m working on a novel and getting some traction. I moved to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in 2021. I had had the benefit of being in some amazing writing spaces. And I thought, I live on the Dale River; it’s absolutely amazing. I don’t know how I’m so lucky, but maybe I’m meant to share this. With other people.

I started A Reason to Write, which hosts writing retreats. People come, and there are two bedrooms and a kitchen, a bathroom, and writing spaces, and they just get away and write and seem to be really productive while they’re here. So that’s been amazing.

I’ve also started doing workshops in person and online. There are so many writers that I have come across who are not famous, but they’re well known in their world. And getting to introduce them to people who are newer in their journey has just been amazing. Writing can feel so isolating sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be. There is a rich, rich community.

At my very first workshop, I met a group of people that I really liked, and I started Facebook with them. Then, I went to another workshop and started another Facebook group with them, and then another workshop. By the time I was on my fourth Facebook group, I was like, “This is unmanageable. I’m going to combine them.” It literally started with five people, and now, it’s almost 850 writers. It’s not a book club. We don’t let people who don’t write join. I also host free workshops for the people in that group, taught by people in that group.

Emily: That’s awesome that you’re helping to create those communities! Are the workshops generally focused more on fiction or nonfiction, or do you do a bit of both?

Ellen: They have been swirling around flash, so very short pieces, and there are no parameters on what you bring. The last one we did had some poetry elements.

But I think they’re all different, and they all offer something. I’m looking at doing a workshop for teenage writers, and I’m very excited about that. I have the editor of You’re Not Seeing Things out of West Virginia, whose name is Adam Payne, doing a workshop in July.

Emily: That’s so cool! I know you have a short story collection that’ll be published in 2027, which is really exciting. Could you share what that collection is about and what the process of pitching it was like?

Ellen: Short story collections can be tough. At first, I thought, Who is buying short story collections? Apparently, people are.

I had a novel that I started, got stuck, and gave up. That’s the way a lot of first novels go. I started a second novel and also got a little bit stuck, and I was like, “I just need to finish something!” So I started writing more short stories and started getting them published in different places, which is definitely helpful in the process of finding a publisher for a short story collection. If you can say, “These magazines bought into these stories and published them,” then you’re going to have a little bit more street cred, for lack of a better term.

I wasn’t really thinking about publishing a collection. I really wanted to do the novel first, with the hope that then they would say, “Oh, do you have anything else?” And I would say, “Well, as a matter of fact, yes, I have a story collection.” But then, I kind of thought, Why not? I submitted to a Masters Review chapbook contest. I didn’t make their top twenty lists, but I was in their top five percent or so. And I was like, Wait a minute, maybe there’s some legs to this.

I started submitting [to publishers] and got a bunch of noes. Then, I heard about Cornerstone Press out of the University of Wisconsin, Stephen Point. I submitted to them.

It probably took a couple of months to hear back. Then, they wrote and said, “Hey, here you go.” So, I signed a contract. My manuscript is due this September, and the book is scheduled to come out next September in 2027. It will be a two-year process from being accepted to being published.

When you submit a novel, you just submit it, Chapter 1, 2, 3, but when you submit a short story collection, you really have to think about what order the stories are in. When it came time to do that, the basic idea that I followed was like a shopping mall. You have your big stores at the beginning and end, a big store in the middle, and then the little stores in between. I put my best story first. And then what I thought was my second-best story at the end, my third story in the middle. Then, I sprinkled the rest throughout.

Throughout the whole process of submitting anything, whether it’s a short story or a novel, you just have to know [that the noes are] not personal. I did an internship with Jeff Kleinman, who’s a literary agent at Folio. That was really helpful because I saw how much comes in.

Emily: How long did it take you from the time you started submitting to hear a response?

Ellen: I started submitting in October of 2023, and I submitted to nineteen places. I started applying in October of 2023. And it won’t come out until 2027. It was four years from first submission to publication.

When I was [querying], every Friday morning, I would sit down for two hours, and I would submit short stories. It's part of the job, and it is very important to take it seriously. When I start submitting my novel, I will have a three-hour block every week where I’m researching, writing, submitting, and then updating all the noes.

Emily: Is there any advice you’d give to authors who are interested in querying publishers?

Ellen: Listen to the people who know what they’re talking about and [whom] you trust. If they make a recommendation to you, what’s the worst that can happen? I had [an unpublished] short story collection yesterday. If I don’t have [a published] one tomorrow, nothing has changed.

Also, get feedback. When I was very new to writing, I didn’t understand the feedback, so I didn’t believe it. Because I was like, “That doesn’t even make sense. I’m not trying to do that. That’s not happening.” That was the wrong answer. The right answer was, “I don’t understand that. I better figure that out because people who care about me are telling me that.” That doesn’t mean for where you are that it isn’t amazing. But it doesn’t mean it’s ready, either.

Emily: I love that analogy! How can people follow you online or learn more about A Reason to Write and any upcoming retreats?

Ellen: I have my workshops listed on A Reason to Write. There are quite a few coming up. There’s also writer’s retreat information there, too. It’s a minimum of two nights, as long as you want to stay.

Anyone who wants to join A Reason to Write Facebook group is welcome to join. They just go into the Facebook group and answer a couple of questions. It’s an amazing community, and I publish a lot of opportunities for open submission windows, articles, and opportunities to learn. When someone publishes something, I celebrate it.

I also have a website and am on LinkedIn. I love connecting with people. Community is so important, no matter what you’re doing, and with writing especially, it’s not organic all the time. Any opportunity I have to put two people in the same room together or to connect, I’m happy to do it.

Thank you so much, Ellen, for taking the time to talk to us!

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We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

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If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, and Christina—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.”
— Maya Angelou

Check Out My Interview with Books4Guys!

Last week, I spoke with Chris Clinard, founder of Books4Guys, an organization and podcast that was created to motivate and instill a passion for continuous learning and self-improvement. We had a great conversation about my journey from working in IT to starting and growing KWE Publishing! We talked about publishing, the challenges that come with writing a book, AI, entrepreneurship, and more! Click the button below to listen to our conversation!

Watch the interview here!

Author Event Recap: Penny the Pittie Pup Visits Cheshire, CT!

On Sunday, June 7, 2026, Lisa A. Marsico, author of Penny the Pittie Pup: A Tail of Courage, visited Barnes & Noble in Cheshire, Connecticut! Lisa shared Penny’s story with excited readers and had a great event. Way to go, Lisa!

VIP Marketing Concierge Jean Sime at the New Jersey Sharing Network 5K!

Our very own VIP Marketing Concierge, Jean Sime, participated in the New Jersey Sharing Network 5K this past weekend, a special event celebrating life and raising awareness for organ and tissue donation.

The day brought together transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, caregivers, and supporters to honor donor heroes and the lifesaving gifts they made possible.

The event also served as a send-off for Team Liberty as Jean, her kidney donor Pat, and her team prepare to travel to Denver for the 2026 Transplant Games of America, a week-long celebration of the transplant community, resilience, and the power of organ donation.

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

After our wonderful conversation with Ellen, we wanted to further highlight A Reason to Write! If you’ve been wanting to find the time to dedicate to writing and are looking for a beautiful space to do it in, A Reason to Write’s retreats in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, could be the perfect spot for you! You might also want to join a workshop hosted by A Reason to Write, which you can find on the website here. If you can’t make it to an in-person workshop, you can still check out upcoming online workshops!

Check it out!

Many authors imagine holding their first book in their hands. Finally, after so much time, energy, and work, your book is ready to be shared with the world!

Then comes a question some authors haven’t yet considered: where and how do I sell my book?

The truth is that the answer to this will depend on quite a few factors, including how you’re publishing your book (self-publishing alone or with assistance, publishing with an indie publisher, traditional publishing, etc.), your goals, the level of marketing support you have, and/or the amount of time and effort you’re willing to invest in marketing.

An important note: there’s no singular place you have to sell your book.

If you’re writing your book solely for your enjoyment and to say you’ve published a book, or if you’ve written a legacy-type book, then you might only share your book with your family and be unconcerned about selling it elsewhere. That’s totally fine! Likewise, if you want your book to remain online only and aren’t interested in selling books offline, that’s okay, too. Again, it depends on your goals.

That said, we’re going to talk about some of the most common routes authors take to sell their books and how they do it.

Most authors want their books to be available online and in stores.

If someone were to ask us the best way to sell their books, we’d likely suggest this two-fold approach of getting your books online and in a few stores if possible. Amazon is the world’s biggest bookseller, so while many readers will find your book there, it’s also valuable to get your book into local stores.

If you publish using IngramSpark (the company most of our authors use to print and distribute their books) and enable distribution, your book will automatically be “broadcasted” or shared with online retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Bookshop.org, and other stores.

Traditional book publishers often handle the ins and outs of where your book will be sold online and (at least to some degree) in stores. Since big publishers have a reputation for producing many quality books each year, booksellers know what they’re getting.

However, if you’re not working with a traditional publisher, you might have to do some of the legwork to get your book into stores.

That’s because booksellers aren’t automatically familiar with you or your work. That’s not a bad thing; it gives you the chance to make a great first impression! It does mean, though, that you’ll need to approach booksellers yourself. It’s useful to bring a one-sheet with you that includes your book’s ISBN(s), the cover image, your author bio, your book description, and any contact information you’d like the bookseller to have (whether that’s your website, email address, or phone number). This will give booksellers an idea of what your book is about, who it is for, and whether it would be a good fit in their store.

After this, you can discuss either holding an event at the bookstore (where you would sell books) or putting your book on consignment. Consignment allows booksellers to put your books in their stores for an agreed-upon time, but sellers can return the books that aren’t sold back to you. Then, profits are split between you as the author and the bookseller.

(If you’re interested in selling your book at a store that’s not local to you, try reaching out to the store directly. You might have to follow up a few times, and while there’s no guarantee you’ll get a response, it’s worth trying!)

Something important to consider, though, is that many booksellers won’t stock your book if your book was published through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)/is only available for purchase through Amazon.

Why? Amazon is the largest competitor for booksellers, and Amazon has contributed to bookstores closing over the past decade and beyond. So, unless you don’t want to sell your book in stores, we don’t recommend solely publishing and selling through Amazon.

Beyond bookstores, think about setting up a website and reaching out to libraries, relevant conventions, conferences, or other events, and other local stores that may sell books.

You’re not limited to selling your books in bookstores. Selling your book directly from your own website can help cut costs—if you’re willing to store books and ship them yourself. Since readers don’t have to go through a “middleman” retailer, authors typically profit more per book when they sell books directly to readers. However, it’s worth noting that it takes time, effort, and space to store and ship books yourself. While this isn’t a sustainable option for everyone, it’s worth considering.

(It’s also worth noting that IngramSpark offers shareable purchase links, which allow readers to purchase your book directly from IngramSpark. This often results in higher profit margins for authors, but readers usually pay more in shipping than they would otherwise.)

Otherwise, local fairs, conferences, and conventions can all be excellent places to share your book with new readers. Additionally, libraries are always seeking out new books! While you’ll want to talk to librarians at your local libraries to learn more, you often apply for space at conventions and appear as a vendor.

Of course, it pays to do your research, too; you don’t want to pay exorbitant vendor fees if your ideal audience won’t be at the place you’re selling your books. Still, it can be incredibly worthwhile to get your book in other venues beyond bookstores, so don’t rule out unique opportunities!

There are so many places and ways to sell your book, and how you publish your book and your goals will play a big role in where your book is sold. With a bit of time and effort, you can get your book into various stores and online retailers—just don’t skip out on researching your options!

Share

We’re building a community dedicated to helping writers share their stories with the world. Want to join us? Subscribe for free to join our community of writers bringing their stories to life, or access our free ebooks, writing templates, and more when you become a paid subscriber!

Subscribe now

If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, Jean, and Christina—would love to help you with creating your book. If you’d like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don’t work together, I’m happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:

https://www.kwepub.com/consultation

We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.

Write on!

Kim Eley
KWE Publishing

“So long as you write what you wish to write, that is all that matters.”
— Virginia Woolf

Author Event Recap: Myrt the Turt at Barnes & Noble!

On Sunday, May 31, 2026, Evonne DeVivo, author of Myrt the Turt, along with Myrt the turtle himself, held a book signing and launch event at Barnes & Noble in Manhasset, New York! Readers of all ages were delighted by Myrt’s story, which is based on the author’s real pet, Myrt, a forty-year-old Eastern box turtle. This children’s book is filled with beautiful illustrations and is a great way to share a love for reading and nature with young readers!

Congratulations on a fantastic event, Evonne!

Meet Myrt the Turt, an Eastern box turtle who has some amazing secrets all about turtles to share! From where he lives to what he eats, Myrt happily invites young readers to step into his shell and see the world from his perspective.

Filled with beautiful illustrations and fun facts, Myrt the Turt brings the Eastern box turtle’s story to life. Myrt, who is based on the author’s real-life turtle, acts as a delightful advocate for anyone who wants to know more about these amazing creatures. Perfect for early readers who love animals and wildlife, Myrt the Turt is an amazing introduction to the world of nature.

Order here!

Celebrating the Finale of the Barris Books and Bernice Books Series!

After May 18, 2026, Bernice and the Broken Dream, the third book in the Bernice book series, author Brandt Ricca and illustrator Matt Miller concluded the fantastic Barris Books and Bernice Books series! Congratulations to both Brand and Matt for creating two magical, interconnected series and for the publication of their sixth book in the series!

The Barris Books, which has claimed a #1 bestselling spot on Amazon, has six books total, with the first three, the Barris Books, focusing on Barris Hart, books four through six focusing on Barris’ sister, Bernice, the Bernice Books. The Barris Book Series follows in the footsteps of beloved classics such as Harry Potter, Eragon, and Artemis Fowl in bringing magic and wonder back to bookshelves.

Check out the series here!

From Mess to Message Wins Pacific Book Award!

I was delighted to learn that my book, From Mess to Message: Ten Steps for Writing Your Book, won a Pacific Book Award for best book in the category of reference!

A lot of people can write a book of “how-tos.” What Kim Eley has created with From Mess to Message is a “how-to with heart.” Through her humor, gentleness, straight talk, and vast expertise, she takes you on a journey. This book is much more than an outline of what to do and when to do it—it’s a handbook for making decisions, for how to keep moving forward when you get stuck, and for remembering why you’re writing your book in the first place.

Join Our Next Free Webinar, “Query Letter Clinic” with Jennifer S. Wilkov!

Join us on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern for a free webinar all about querying with author and coach Jennifer S. Wilkov, founder of Your Book is Your Hook!

Ready to trade query-letter confusion for crisp, compelling clarity? This hands-on Query Letter Clinic, led by publishing expert Jennifer Wilkov, is your backstage pass to crafting a pitch that actually fits your book and catches an agent’s eye for the right reasons.

Too many writers borrow templates that were never meant for their genre, their voice, or their goals. In this session, we’ll help you stop mimicking—and start building a query that feels aligned, strategic, and submission-ready. The result? A letter you can send out with confidence (and maybe even a little swagger).

In this clinic, you’ll learn:

• Where to begin (without the overwhelm)

• What each section must include—and what to leave on the cutting room floor

• How to present your book idea in a way that elevates it

Register here!

Resources:

Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!

Have you ever wondered what an author decades ago was thinking when they wrote their book? It turns out that you’re not the only one! Created by author, professor, and artist , is a fascinating look into the questions readers have for authors who have died, as well as a look into readers’ thoughts about various authors’ creations. Kelcey describes the site as “a series of letters to the dead authors and artists who have inspired, entertained, enlightened, bored, or perhaps enraged us.” So, if you’ve ever wanted to talk to, question, or rant with (or at) an author who’s no longer around, take a look at ; readers are welcome to pitch their own letters!

Check it out!