#PartnerPublishing
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Surprisingly Useful Things I Learned from Incredibly Dodgy Spam (So You Don’t Have To)
#1: Readers Aren’t Searching Your Book Title. Why I’m Opening the Bombs…. I get a lot of spam. Some of it is ordinary spam. Some of it is publishing spam, which is its own peculiar species. These emails tend to begin with flattering observations about a book, an author, or my company and end, eventually,…
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Have a Writing Question? Bring It to the Chat.
One of the reasons we created the Current Words Publishing Subscriber Chat is simple: writers have questions, and those questions don’t always need to wait for the next blog post. Maybe you’re wondering whether you should self-publish or pursue traditional publishing. Perhaps you’re trying to figure out Amazon keywords, book reviews, editing, cover design, ISBNs,…
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What’s New On Substack?
The final installment of our Can I Do That? copyright series is now available. In Part Four, we look at a question every author should understand: How do you protect your own copyright? We’ll cover when copyright begins, why registration matters, when it makes sense to register, and why understanding your rights is an important part of…
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A New Series for Poets at Old Scratch Press
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You Can Go Home Again. It Just Won’t Be the Same.
There’s an old saying that you can never go home again. Whether or not that’s true depends on what we mean by “home.” Most of us carry two versions of the places where we grew up. One exists in memory, populated by familiar faces, favorite streets, and routines that once felt permanent. The other exists…
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Celebrating the Release of The Valley of the Blue Moon
Today is one of the reasons we love what we do. At Current Words Publishing, every publication day is a celebration—not just of a finished book, but of the months (and often years) of dedication that brought it to life. Today we’re delighted to celebrate the release of C.K. Bougae’s debut novel, The Valley of the Blue Moon.…
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Creatures of Habit Receives a California Book Watch Recommendation
One of the greatest pleasures of independent publishing is watching a book continue to find new readers long after launch. We’re delighted to share that Creatures of Habit by Alexander Brito has been featured in the July 2026 issue of California Book Watch, where it received a thoughtful and generous recommendation from the reviewers at the Midwest Book Review. Rather…
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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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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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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…