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Episode Description

As the first hybrid publisher recipient of the 2019 Independent Publisher of the Year, She Writes Press, where Lauren Wise serves as Associate Publisher, is unique in the world of publishing because we’re neither traditional publishing, nor are they self-publishing. As an independent publisher, they bill themselves as a “third way” for authors, and they proudly occupy the gray zone, a much-needed alternative in a rapidly changing publishing landscape. Unlike self-publishing platforms that publish whatever comes through regardless of quality, SWP is a curated press that works with authors to ensure that their books will be well-received in the marketplace. Unlike traditional publishing houses, which buy the majority stake in your book but often don’t deliver when it comes to providing the editorial and marketing help you need, SWP gives authors an experienced editorial and production team, while allowing them to retain full ownership of their project and earnings. We have been called hybrid publishing, partnership publishing, and co-publishing, and all of these terms are representative of what She Writes Press does. WHAT IS HYBRID PUBLISHING? The hybrid publishing model of She Writes Press is unique in the world of publishing, not only because of its mission and built-in community of women writers and readers, and also because it offers a much-needed alternative in a rapidly changing publishing landscape. There is a big difference between hybrid, self-publishing, and vanity presses; most notably that our hybrid model has traditional distribution, manuscript vetting, and was involved in the creation of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) list of 9 criteria defining what it means to be a professional hybrid publisher. IBPA’s Hybrid Publisher Criteria Define a mission and vision for its publishing program: vet submissions, publish under its own imprint(s) and ISBNs, publish to industry standards, ensure editorial, design, and production quality, pursue and manage a range of publishing rights, provide distribution services, demonstrate respectable sales, pay authors a higher-than-standard royalty. 7 reasons authors love their hybrid formula: Expertise; Distribution; Reputation; Royalties; Curation; Celebrated; and Partnership.

As Associate Publisher, Lauren Wise’s passion for reading and writing brought her to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, where she started her career in writing, editing, and publishing in 2005. Since then, Lauren has worked as a book editor, publishing consultant, and magazine columnist/editor. In 2009 she founded Midnight Publishing, an editorial company focused on helping authors publish positive, influential and inspirational novels, memoirs, and non-fiction content. For almost 15 years, she has established a readership as a music and travel journalist, writing for publications such as Noisey/VICE, Phoenix New Times, Phoenix Magazine, Runway, WHERE Phoenix+Scottsdale, WHERE Colorado, and more. Since 2015, Lauren has worked as the Editorial Manager for She Writes Press and SparkPress, and became Associate Publisher in 2019, helping to oversee a rapidly growing catalog of award-winning novels, memoirs, and non-fiction.

Lauren Wise

As Associate Publisher, Lauren Wise’s passion for reading and writing brought her to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, where she started her career in writing, editing, and publishing in 2005. Since then, Lauren has worked as a book editor, publishing consultant, and magazine columnist/editor. In 2009 she founded Midnight Publishing, an editorial company focused on helping authors publish positive, influential and inspirational novels, memoirs, and non-fiction content. For almost 15 years, she has established a readership as a music and travel journalist, writing for publications such as Noisey/VICE, Phoenix New Times, Phoenix Magazine, Runway, WHERE Phoenix+Scottsdale, WHERE Colorado, and more. Since 2015, Lauren has worked as the Editorial Manager for She Writes Press and SparkPress, and became Associate Publisher in 2019, helping to oversee a rapidly growing catalog of award-winning novels, memoirs, and non-fiction. Drop In to learn firsthand how this process works!