Publishing
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Current Words Publishing and Old Scratch Press Congratulate 2026 Best of the Net Nominees
by Robert Fleming Best of the Net 2026 Nominees Visual Art selections by Robert Fleming and Alan Bern Andy Gordon, Car Side View Mirrors Joseph Barbella, Horse Power Robert Fleming, Frozen Sanctuary Creative Non-Fiction selections by Nadja Maril Tamara-Lee Brereton-Karabetsos, From Cage to Street Patty Perreault Bennett, Our Christmas Surprise Fiction / Flash Fiction selections by…
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ARC Readers: We Have Something Special for You!
Dr. Bertina M. Hooks has lived more than one life. She’s a physician, healthcare executive, entrepreneur, mother, and disability advocate. In 2022, a life-threatening medical crisis put her on the other side of the physician-patient relationship and resulted in the loss of her right leg below the knee. Now she’s telling the story in From Fire…
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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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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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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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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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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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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…