The Doha Diaries #1: One-Way Tickets and Indemnity Forms, Confiscated and Stripped

I’ve spent the last decade helping authors find the heart of their stories, acting as that voice on their shoulder between a messy first draft and a polished, ready-to-publish book. But lately, I’ve realized I’ve been ignoring a story of my own—one that’s been sitting on a dusty hard drive for nearly two decades. Okay, not dusty, it was in a drawer. I’m digging into my archives and treating my old journals with the same clinical yet caring eye I give my clients—this is terrifying. This will be a series of essays I’m calling "The Doha Diaries," where I’ll be sharing the raw, unvarnished, and very messy lessons of a year that broke me down and built me back up, all while showing you exactly how a publishing partner turns life’s chaos into a narrative that matters.

Settle in and buckle up, you’ll want your beverage of choice for this ride…

The Soul in the Machine vs. The Squeak of the Wicker Chair | A Perspective on the Progression and Importance of Writing Craft

For most of my career, I lived in a world built on logic gates and systems architecture. My daily rhythm was defined by the precision of project management. In that space, your first language isn’t prose; it’s the structured clarity of technical requirements. When you spend decades analyzing how machines process data, you develop a balanced neutrality toward technology. To me, a new piece of software isn’t a monster or a miracle. It is simply a tool—a calculator, a CAD program, or a more efficient way to map a workflow. So, when yet another scandal rocks the publishing industry, I like to take a moment or many to dissect it within the context of my role in this world. And this is where I've landed. Sit tight, it's one heck of a ride...

Beyond the Verdict, the Line in the Sand, and Maybe a Cell Door | Lauren Ashley Mastrosa aka Tori Woods

One year ago, a single book set the publishing world on fire, but today, that fire has finally burned the house down. What started as an experiment in taboo erotic romance has officially ended in a criminal conviction that should terrify every author who thinks their imagination is untouchable. The verdict is in: the eighteen-plus disclaimer is dead, and the cell door is swinging open.

Take a Front-Row Seat in the Publishing Process | Join the Deanna’s World Typo Hunter Team

I’ve always believed that for every beautiful story, there is a meticulous set of eyes that helped it get there. Whether you’re the person who can’t help but spot a typo on a restaurant menu or someone who catches a lingering error in a best-seller, I see you—and I cherish that eagle-eyed nature. I built this community on a deep passion for books, and today, I’m inviting you to take a front-row seat in the final stage of the creative process.

2025 Reflections and 2026 Roadmap. Navigating the Zigs and Zags of Publishing

Happy New Year!!

Well, it’s the end of 2025 and the start of 2026, and today, as I write this, the end of the year is looming. I plan to post this on January 1st, and hopefully, I am organised enough to get it done in time. 2025 has been a very eventful year, so this is going to be a long one. Hang tight, grab a cup of coffee or your beverage of choice, and kick back. There’s a lot to cover.

The 6% Rule | A Data-Driven Case for Why Reader Loyalty Can't Be Faked

There’s a question I get asked in my inbox at least once a week: a reader, staring at their overflowing Kindle library with a mix of excitement and dread, wondering how on earth they’re supposed to choose what to read next. I smile every time because I get it. I really do. My own Kindle library had become a digital swamp of good intentions. It was a chaotic collection of books downloaded on a whim from a BookTok video, a "must-read" recommendation in a reader group, or an ad that was just too tempting to ignore.

For the CEO Author | A Strategic Partner is for Your Business, A Checklist is for Your Groceries

If you’re an author, your online world is likely flooded with well-meaning advice. You see the "Top 5 Marketing Tips," the "7 Steps to a Perfect Plot," and the endless "how-to" guides promising to unlock the secrets of success. But perhaps you’ve tried them and found they didn't quite fit. Or maybe you've felt a growing sense that a generic checklist, no matter how good, can't possibly solve the unique challenges of your career. If so, this article is for you. I’m not going to give you another list of tips. Instead, I’m going to pull back the curtain on why that model often fails and offer a more powerful framework: understanding your specific "What" and "Why" before you ever get to the "How."

Your Book's Copyright Registration Could Unlock a Payout from the $1.5B Anthropic AI Settlement

A landmark copyright case has resulted in a historic settlement for authors. Here’s what you need to know to determine if you might have a claim.

In the ever-present storm of news about Artificial Intelligence, one story has just broken through that should have every single author sitting up and paying attention. AI company Anthropic, the creator of the model named Claude, has reached a landmark settlement agreement. And the number is staggering: $1.5 billion.

Choose Your Game | Why I’m Abandoning the Social Media Hamster Wheel

There’s a feeling many of us in the creative and professional worlds know all too well. It’s the low-grade hum of anxiety that starts on a Sunday night, the feeling that you’re already behind on a week that hasn’t even begun. It’s the pressure to feed the beast—the insatiable, ever-changing social media algorithm. It’s the content hamster wheel, and for years, I was running on it just as fast as everyone else.

A Warm Hug in a Book | Sweet City Hearts & Kisses by Emma Hartlight

Every so often, after working on hundreds of books, you get to be part of a project that feels less like a job and more like coming home. It’s a rare and wonderful feeling, like watching a close friend achieve a lifelong dream. That’s exactly how I feel about Sweet City Hearts & Kisses, the debut collection from a truly special new author, Emma Hartlight. I admit I might be a little biased here, but oh well…

300 Books and a Bloody Mary… How Did That Happen? Celebrating My 300th Book Project

Guess who’s out of the deadline cave for now? Well, out long enough to take a breather and write this much delayed article and to have a little celebration. Book #302 and its detailed lined edits have just whooshed off to the author for revisions. I’ve got the headspace to celebrate instead of deciding between intentional sentence fragments vs avoiding sentence fragments, and stylistic choices vs grammatical necessity for word choices and sentence structure. Y’all… it’s been A LOT.

Second Chances. Celebrating Julie Rowe's Lethal Game Re-release and My 301st Book Project

In the publishing industry, we often talk about the "long game" – the dedication, perseverance, and sheer grit it takes to build a sustainable career in this industry. We focus on the next book, the next chapter, the next sentence. But every so often, it's important to pause, look back, and appreciate how far we've come. And that's precisely what I'm doing today, as I celebrate not only the release of Julie Rowe's fantastic Lethal Game, but also my 301st book project.

Marking Major Milestones | Steve Shipley's "False Hope" Release and My 299th Book Project

Happy Book Birthday to "False Hope"! Today marks the release of Steve Shipley's latest Blake Willis Thriller, and I couldn't be more excited to celebrate this launch. Not only is this Steve's third book in the series, but it also represents my 299th book project, this one as an editor, bringing me one step closer to a significant milestone in my publishing journey.

Supporting 300 Author Dreams | From Project Manager to Publishing Partner

A friend recently asked me about my career trajectory, wondering how I went from implementing multi-million dollar IT systems to working in publishing as an author services provider. When I went to point her to my LinkedIn profile, I realized it was terribly out of date. As I sat there updating it, something struck me – I've been part of bringing nearly 300 books to life. That number stopped me in my tracks. How did I get here? Let me tell you.

So You Love Reading? A Book Lover's Path to Editing

I get this question at least once a week: "I love reading, and I spot errors in books all the time. How can I become an editor?" Every time I see this message in my inbox or social media, I smile because I understand exactly where they're coming from. Reading is more than just a hobby for these people – it's a passion that makes them want to dive deeper into the world of books and publishing.

Indie self-publishing, it's a small business

From a reader perspective, I find that I'm reading more indie books recently. Compared to traditionally published books, they are a lot more affordable and often a lot more accessible, particularly with books in Kindle Unlimited. In the last few years, I've seen a huge increase in indie publishing or self-publishing. With the advent of the Kindle and Amazon making it easier for writers to publish on their own, many aspiring authors have become published authors with the push of a button. But is it as simple as that, or is there more to it?