Bold Story Press
A Hybrid Publisher for Women Authors
Your Story Matters.
Publishing It Well Matters Too.
Choosing the right publishing path is one of the most important decisions you'll make as an author.
Emily Barrosse, founder and publisher of Bold Story Press, spent more than four decades in publishing, including serving as Vice President and Editor in Chief at McGraw Hill Publishing. During her career, she signed and published hundreds of successful books, including the most successful first-edition college textbook ever published.
Today, Emily brings that same editorial expertise and publishing judgment to a select group of authors through Bold Story Press.
We are a hybrid publisher for women authors who want professional publishing support, thoughtful guidance, and a partner who understands that every book has its own path.
Our goal is not to persuade every writer that Bold Story Press is the right choice. It is to help you determine the most sensible next step for your book.
A Different Kind of Hybrid Publisher
For many authors, pursuing traditional publishing feels intimidating, overwhelming, and almost impossible to access. Securing an agent alone can take months for a response, and the process can be frustrating and uncertain.
Self-publishing offers another path, but it requires authors to manage every aspect of publishing themselves, from finding, qualifying, and hiring the right editors and designers to distribution and marketing.
Hybrid publishing provides authors with a third option.
Bold Story Press combines the professional standards of traditional publishing with a more collaborative approach. Every manuscript is carefully evaluated, and we publish only those that meet our editorial standards and fit our publishing program. Authors we accept receive experienced editorial guidance, professional book design and production, and distribution support while retaining ownership and playing an active role throughout the publishing process.
Our publishing list is intentionally selective and intentionally small. Each year, we accept only a fraction of the manuscripts we review, based on both the quality of the work and our capacity to give every book the attention it deserves. By limiting the number of titles we publish, we can invest the time, expertise, and care that help each author and each book succeed.
Meet Emily Barrosse
Emily Barrosse is the founder and publisher of both Bold Story Press and Xander Press. She spent the first 32 years of her career in traditional publishing, where as Vice President and Editor in Chief at McGraw Hill she signed and published hundreds of best-selling books.
In August 2020, Emily founded Bold Story Press, a hybrid publisher dedicated to amplifying women’s voices and helping women publish exceptional books. As Bold Story Press grew, outstanding manuscripts began arriving from authors outside its women-only publishing mission. Rather than turning those writers away, Emily created Xander Press.
To learn more about Emily, watch this interview.
Our Authors Get Noticed
Roughly one in five books published by Bold Story Press have gone on to win or place in a national or regional award, recognition earned by the books themselves, not solicited on their behalf.
What Does a Hybrid Publisher Actually Do?
This is one of the most common questions we hear.
A good hybrid publisher provides the expertise and services authors need to create a professionally published book, with a different business model and author experience than traditional publishing.
At Bold Story Press, authors receive:
Professional manuscript evaluation and editorial guidance
Editorial services tailored to your manuscript's needs, which may include developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading
Full production services for your book, ebook, and audiobook
Distribution through Ingram's print-on-demand and wholesale network, giving retailers and libraries the ability to order your book
Strategic marketing and launch support
Publishing guidance from an experienced team
Retained ownership of their rights
A faster path to publication than traditional publishing typically allows, most books move from manuscript to publication in 9 to 12 months
Higher royalty rates than authors typically receive through traditional publishing
Get Answers Before You Decide
Publishing can be confusing.
Between traditional publishing, self-publishing, hybrid publishing, agents, distributors, and online advice, it is easy to find yourself with more questions than answers.
We have collected answers to the questions we hear most often:
Do I need a following before I publish, or can that come after?
How do I know if my manuscript is ready?
Which publishing path is right for me?
Do I keep my rights, and who controls the decisions?
Our goal is not simply to explain our process. It is to help you make informed decisions about your book.
Wherever You Are in the Writing Process, There Is a Next Step
Still Exploring Publishing?
Join The Honest Guide To Getting Published Webinar
Publishing questions are often the first step toward publishing decisions.
Our webinar provides a straightforward overview of today's publishing landscape, including the differences between traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, and self-publishing. Emily Barrosse discusses what happens, from first draft to finished book.
This is not a sales presentation disguised as a webinar. It is a conversation about publishing.
Register for a webinar
Have a Manuscript in Progress?
Request a Manuscript Evaluation
Writing a book is a significant accomplishment. Knowing what comes next can be more complicated.
Our manuscript evaluation service provides professional editorial feedback for authors who are well into the writing process and want an experienced perspective on their work.
You will receive guidance on your manuscript's strengths, opportunities for improvement, and potential next steps.
Request an evaluation
Finished Your Manuscript?
Submit Your Book for Consideration
Completing a manuscript is no small achievement.
If you believe Bold Story Press may be the right publishing partner for your book, we welcome you to submit your completed manuscript for consideration.
Because we maintain a curated list of authors, we are selective about the projects we publish. Our goal is not to publish every book. It is to publish the right books with the right authors.