March is Women’s History Month, and we’re celebrating and highlighting our female sponsor CEOs! Empower, Encourage, Support!

Female Founder: Karen Ferreira 

Karen Ferreira is an award-winning creative director, professional book illustrator, and bestselling author. She is the founder and CEO of GetYourBookIllustrations and Children’s Book Mastery, platforms dedicated to helping self-publishing authors succeed in creating, publishing, and marketing their children’s books. She helps self-publishing authors get amazing, affordable illustrations and also provides them with the know-how to succeed in the industry with the yearly online Children’s Book Mastery conference, courses, and author challenges. Karen is passionate about empowering indie authors to bring their stories to life and reach their intended audience. Through her courses and training, she provides invaluable insights into the self-publishing journey, ensuring authors can excel at every step—from writing to promotion. Her mission is to assist authors in creating beautiful, impactful books that resonate with readers.

Women in Publishing Summit community members get access to Karen’s training on Mastering “Show, Don’t Tell.” Discover simple, actionable strategies to enhance your writing with show, don’t tell. This presentation provides plenty of examples to help you bring your stories to life! Use coupon code WIP2024 at https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/ChildrensBookMastery

Check out Karen Ferreira’s recent podcast: Self-Publishing Secrets for Children’s Book Authors

In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe and Karen discuss how her journey as an illustrator led her to launch Get Your Book Illustrations and Children’s Book Mastery, the most common struggles children’s book authors face and how Karen helps solve them, and why writing a short children’s book is actually harder than people think.

Watch Karen Ferreira’s webinar: Discover the 5 Top Strategies To Get Your Picture Book Done

In this training, you’ll learn how to write a picture book without procrastination, self-doubt, or taking months, even if you’ve always struggled to turn your idea into a story.

March is Women’s History Month, and we’re celebrating and highlighting our female sponsor CEOs! Empower, Encourage, Support!

Female Founder: Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane

Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane is an award-winning ghostwriter, writing mentor, and author based in Australia. Her journey into the world of storytelling began with her career as a journalist in 2007, where she honed her skills in crafting compelling narratives. Over the years, she transitioned into ghostwriting and mentoring, driven by her passion for helping individuals share their unique stories and expertise through nonfiction books.

Roxanne’s ghostwriting career took off in 2018, and since then, she has worked with clients from diverse backgrounds, assisting them in transforming their ideas and life experiences into impactful books. Her ability to connect deeply with her clients and bring their stories to life has earned her multiple awards and recognition in the literary community. In 2023, she was the Sunshine Coast Business Awards Creative Industries winner, and in 2020, she was one of only two female finalists for the Australian My Business Awards Young Leader of the Year.

In addition to ghostwriting, Roxanne is a dedicated mentor who guides aspiring authors through the writing and publishing process. She authored The Mindful Author, the first book in her Ignite & Write trilogy, which serves as a roadmap for writers looking to navigate the challenges of authorship. The Mindful Author received the Reader Views Gold Medal in the Writing and Publishing category as well as the Book By Book Pub Award for Best Writing/Publishing Book. Her workshops and mentorship programs have empowered countless individuals to overcome their fears and take the first steps toward becoming published authors.

Roxanne offers online workshops for writers who need direction and support on their journey to become a nonfiction author. The Ignite & Write Online Workshops are accessible any time, 24/7. You can complete the eleven modules in a single day or pace yourself to move through the content that takes you from building strong foundations for your book all the way through to creating your bespoke manuscript. By joining the workshop, you will receive an Author’s Pack in the mail and be introduced to The Phoenix Phenomenon ACT process, which provides clear and easy steps to build strong foundations for your nonfiction book manuscript. Women in Publishing Summit community members receive $200 off the total price of the course! Learn more: https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/ignitewrite

Roxanne is an advocate for storytelling as a means of personal and professional transformation. Her dedication to her craft and her clients has made her a respected figure in the literary world, inspiring others to share their voices and make a meaningful impact through their words.

Check out Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane’s recent podcast: 

The Truth About Ghostwriting: How to Bring Your Nonfiction Book to Life 

In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe and Roxanne discuss the ins and outs of ghostwriting, who can benefit from it, and why hiring a ghostwriter isn’t “cheating.” If you’re curious about the process or considering ghostwriting for your own book, this conversation is packed with valuable insights.

March is Women’s History Month, and we’re celebrating and highlighting our female sponsor CEOs! Empower, Encourage, Support!

Female Founder: Karen Strauss

Karen Strauss founded Hybrid Global Publishing in 2010 to provide innovative options for talented authors to publish on a level playing field with traditional publishers. Her team has a combined eighty years of experience in the publishing industry, having published more than 1,400 authors since 2008. They make publishing easier and more profitable by managing all the details and complexities of production, distribution, marketing, and sales. Hybrid Global Publishing is a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs, coaches, speakers and authors to provide a complete publishing experience. Karen has over thirty years of experience in the publishing industry; she has held management and marketing positions at major publishing houses, including The Free Press, Crown, Random House, and Avon. 

Karen Strauss is a seasoned professional in the publishing industry with over thiry-five years of experience in all aspects of publishing, sales, marketing, strategic planning, and distribution. She has held management and marketing positions at major publishing houses, including The Free Press, Crown, Random House, and Avon. Karen has helped over 1000 business owners become successful published authors and has helped 700 authors reach #1 bestselling status. She has worked with celebrities such as President Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Stewart, Martha Stewart, George F. Will and Og Mandino.

Members of the Women in Publishing community get access to Karen’s Million Dollar Rolodex, including everything you need to get your book written, published, and marketed! https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/hybrid

Watch Karen Strauss’s recent sponsor webinar: Which Publishing Option Should You Choose?

In this informative session, Karen dives into the three main publishing paths available to authors today: traditional publishing, self-publishing, and hybrid publishing. She explores the pros and cons of each option, helping you make an informed decision about which route is best for your unique situation and goals.

Check out Karen Strauss’s recent podcast: International Women’s Day: Amplifying Your Voice

In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe interviews Karen about her journey from traditional publishing to hybrid publishing, the challenges authors face, and the hidden costs of publishing. Learn about Karen’s journey and hear her wise advice for aspiring and established authors as well as entrepreneurs.