Wait – let’s get this straight. We started as a magazine.
This year, we want a book. We want to give you all a beautiful anthology book. If this is the format we love, we’ll keep it. If we decide to stick to a magazine, we’ll do that quarterly then monthly starting next year.
When I started this journey of publishing more than a record (which is what I did many years ago), I wanted to do something I loved while I had free time. I had small children and was a busy mom. Children grow, life evolves, and over the past six years since I started my venture onto this newer path, I’ve discovered many things.
First, I could always be a better writer.
So, I went back to school. I’m slated to graduate in a few months. Though I didn’t learn tons I didn’t already know, I did build my confidence, expand my knowledge, and continue to grow. And I chose to do it all outside of publishing. I did this for several reasons, but ultimately, when I relaunch the books I wrote in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, I want them to be better than if I had released them in those years.
Second, there is a network of amazing people out there in my business.
And I love meeting them all. That likely includes you too.
Third, I spent a year submitting films and short stories to keep my name out there in the world of publishing while I was not publishing.
Some were accepted while others were not. Some I turned into an ebook while others I shared in my blog.
In this journey of submission – and not even submitting as often as I said I would – I decided I wanted to be someone who helped others be seen.
As a development and copy editor, I get to work with new writers. Authors who are doing this for the first time and don’t always know what to do next. Most of these authors are eager. I was too. Believe me when I say 34 Seconds, my debut that is now four years old, would be much different today if I were to write it or even take the time for a full rewrite. But we all grow in our professions, so I may turn it into a screenplay one day, but I won’t rewrite the book.
I also coach middle grade and young adult children how to create stories with structure and arcs like the ones they love to read.
In doing these things, I decided I wanted to have a place for people to come and grow. Be seen. Learn. Prosper. Find a tribe. These are the things I needed as I took time off of publishing and allowed myself to grow.
So I reached out to Dr. Charles Cooper, an almost life-long friend who also writes and publishes and suggested we jump in together on a venture to get authors out there into the creative world we know well.
It took me seven months longer than I thought I’d need to be ready. But look, this matters to me, so I wanted to have time to focus and do it right.
So today, we are sending out press releases looking for authors, writers, artists, and folks who’d like to be published to join our tribe.
We’ve combined our efforts, our knowledge in formatting, editing, publishing, networking, and marketing, and we are releasing our first Annual this winter. We’d love for your work to be included.
Sign up here to be considered. https://stellasamuel.com/elizabeth-river-press-annual-2019-submissions/