Publisher shares her thoughts periodically
“We are, as a species, addicted to story. Even when the body goes to sleep, the mind stays up all night, telling itself stories.”
Jonathan Gottschall, The Storytelling animal
What to expect if you’re new to Bookish & Smart
When I first began building Bookish & Smart it was easier for me to identify what I didn’t want to publish than what I did want to publish. Two years in, what we won’t be is still clearer, so that’s where I’m going to start.
Books published by Bookish & Smart will not:
- Use rape or sexual violence as a plot device.
- Include hostility toward diverse peoples.
- Portray victimhood as a path toward female heroism.
There are too many books in the marketplace today that only show women as valuable or heroic if they have first been victimized. I believe that narrative perpetuates patriarchal violence against women and will not contribute. Additionally, I believe that women today are awesome and their stories of everyday life and romance are limitless.
What to expect – Part II
I love romance and positive stories. I want happy endings in my novels, my stories, and my life. Even books that make me cry should also make me laugh and feel good at the end. But let’s be honest, all happy all the time doesn’t make for a good story. While you can expect happy endings and empowered female characters, you can also expect drama of the small-town, working world, and / or overthinking women variety.
Books published by Bookish & Smart will:
- Celebrate female characters who are smart and independent.
- Use curse words when appropriate for the character or situation.
- Tell stories with equitable and relatable characters and relationships.
Among the pages we aspire to publish you will find small-town romances, interesting careers, independent and creative women, and men.
Our focus is on fiction, but we will occasionally publish non-fiction that I believe has value for the same audience who values what we bring to fiction.
Bookish & Smart Publishing 