#AuthorCommunity
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Your Work Has Value Before It’s Published
Protect Your Own Copyright, Too Most writers spend a lot of time worrying about accidentally infringing someone else’s copyright. Far fewer spend time understanding their own. The final installment of our “Can I Do That?” series turns the conversation around. We’ll look at when copyright begins, why your first draft already matters, what registration does (and doesn’t)…
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Please Stop Quoting….
Every writer has experienced it. You’re working on a scene when the perfect song lyric pops into your head. It says exactly what your character is feeling, and suddenly you’re wondering whether you can borrow just a line or two. Unfortunately, copyright law isn’t quite that simple. In Part Three of our “Can I Do That?”…
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Today is the Last Chance to Join the Avengers of the Sun Advance Reader Team!
There’s still time to request a complimentary Advance Reader Copy of Avengers of the Sun, Ken Davis’ historical novel of espionage, betrayal, and romance during the Roman civil war between Constantine and Maxentius. If you enjoy historical fiction, military history, political intrigue, and unforgettable characters, we’d love to have you join the advance reader team. Advance…
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✨ Author Spotlight: C.K. Bougae ✨
We’re excited to introduce C.K. Bougae and celebrate the launch of her new author website! C.K. is the author of The Valley of the Blue Moon, a fantasy novel filled with mystery, magic, and unforgettable choices. As she prepares for publication, we invite you to get to know her, learn more about her upcoming novel, and…
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There Is Something Different About Reading in the Summer.
Why do we love a good beach read? Perhaps it’s the slower pace of a vacation, a quiet afternoon on the porch, or the sound of waves in the background. Whatever the setting, summer often gives us permission to read for pure enjoyment. We aren’t studying for a class or researching a project. We’re simply…
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The Indie Author Companion, Episode 3: Fair Use Isn’t a Magic Phrase
James: Copyright law: the one area where writers confidently say “I looked it up” and then get it completely wrong. DianneP is here to help with that. Claire: This episode follows a single thread — what writers actually get wrong about fair use, and why the answers are almost never as simple as the questions.…
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A Fantasy With Heart, a World Built on Loss, Hope, and Discovery
One of the pleasures of fantasy is discovering worlds that feel both extraordinary and emotionally familiar. The best fantasy novels don’t simply transport us somewhere new. They remind us that courage, loss, hope, and love exist no matter the world in which a story unfolds. That balance is one of the strengths of Shattered Energy: A…
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What If the Detectives Hunting Supernatural Villains Weren’t Entirely… Human?
Some mysteries require more than a sharp eye and a magnifying glass. In Terror by Night: The Supernatural Affairs of Madison Cavendish and Sue SunMountain, James Goodridge introduces readers to an unforgettable investigative duo: Madison Cavendish, a vampire detective, and Sue SunMountain, his Lycan partner and romantic interest. Together, they tackle strange cases that exist where…
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Why Advance Reader Copies Matter (and How You Can Help an Indie Author)
Every book begins with a single reader. Long before a novel appears on bookstore shelves or starts climbing online bestseller lists, it often finds its first audience through Advance Reader Copies, commonly known as ARCs. An ARC is simply a complimentary pre-publication copy of a book shared with readers before or shortly after release. In…
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Happy Independence Day from Current Words Publishing
When I was a kid, the Fourth of July meant decorating my bicycle for the neighborhood parade, watching the Phillies play baseball, and proudly wearing a pair of red, white, and blue low-top sneakers that I thought were the coolest shoes on earth. I also remember six-year-old Jacque McGough, wildly rebellious and tiny, sneaking sips…
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Copyright Is Every Author’s Business
Most writers don’t become authors because they enjoy reading legal Copyright Is Every Author’s Business Most writers don’t become authors because they enjoy reading legal documents. But sooner or later, nearly every writer asks questions like these: Can I quote song lyrics? Can I use that photograph I found online? If I give credit, is…
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Join Our New Subscriber Chat
Today we’re announcing a brand new addition to our Current Words Publishing Substack publication: CWP subscriber chat. This is a conversation space exclusively for subscribers—kind of like a group chat or live hangout. Dave and I will post questions and updates that come our way, and you can jump into the discussion. Join chat How…
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The Indie Author Companion, A Podcast from Current Words Publishing: Episode 1
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This Looks Like Fun….
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Instant Noodles Lit Mag Hosts Free Zoom Workshop June 13 for Upcoming “Al Dente” Issue
Writers, poets, artists, and creators looking for a fresh publishing opportunity are invited to join a free online creative workshop hosted by the editors of INSTANT NOODLES LIT MAG on Saturday, June 13 at 5 PM ET (2 PT). Now in its sixth year, INSTANT NOODLES has become a distinctive independent online literary magazine known…
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Missing…. Office Dog & Office Cat
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Don’t Miss Today’s Free Live Event!
A reminder for readers, writers, and the creatively curious: Today at 7 PM Eastern, Current Words Publishing presents our next Reader Series event featuring Susan Burgess-Lent, author of When All the Girls Stopped Singing. This free live Zoom event offers much more than a traditional author talk. You’ll hear Susan discuss the hidden histories that inspired…
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Happy Pride!
Happy Pride Month! At Current Words Publishing, we believe stories matter because people matter. We are proud allies of the LGBTQIA+ community and proud members of the Safe Space Alliance and Stand In Pride. We believe everyone deserves to be seen, respected, supported, and free to tell their story in their own voice. Publishing has…
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Congratulations to 2026 People’s Telly Award Winner Dan Cohen!
We are delighted to congratulate author, speaker, and podcast host Dan Cohen on receiving a 2026 People’s Telly Award for an episode of his podcast, Awakenings In Real Life. Dan has dedicated much of his work to exploring the extraordinary experiences that can emerge during some of life’s most challenging moments. Through both his writing and…
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It’s a Beastie Boys World: I Just Live In It. Free Guide!
Oh man, you found the perfect song for your novel. Only thing is, it’s not your song. What’s an author to do? What Can You Safely Use: Song Titles Book Titles TV Show Titles Titles typically cannot be copyrighted. What Can You Not Use Without Checking Copyright First: Song lyrics Quotations from people (famous or…