At the Women in Publishing Summit, we talk often about how writing changes lives. But sometimes, it saves them.

In this powerful episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, Alexa speaks with Kasey Rogers and K. J. “Kat” Harrowick, the co-founders of I Know Why She Stayed, a nonprofit using storytelling and advocacy to change the conversation around domestic and financial abuse.

Their initiative, Authors Against Abuse, invites authors to use their most powerful tool—the written word—to break cycles of silence, offer hope, and fund resources for survivors rebuilding their lives.

Why This Matters to Writers

Every writer in our community understands the courage it takes to tell the truth on the page. Many of us have written through loss, grief, trauma, or injustice. For some, those experiences include abuse, coercion, or financial control—issues that affect millions of women, including countless members of the writing and publishing world.

By using our voices collectively, we can do more than tell stories. We can change systems.

The Power of Storytelling

For Kasey, writing her memoir For Better Selves was the beginning of healing. “For the first time in over a decade, I stopped having nightmares,” she says. The act of writing helped her process the unthinkable and reclaim her power.

Kat, who experienced financial abuse beginning in childhood, turned her skills as an author and designer into curriculum development—helping other survivors understand that financial control is abuse, and that recovery begins with education and community support.

Authors Against Abuse: Writers as Advocates

The Authors Against Abuse program is rooted in a simple belief: stories heal, educate, and drive change. The initiative unites writers, editors, and publishers to:

• Raise awareness about financial and domestic abuse through books, essays, and public conversations 
• Donate skills or time—editing, designing, marketing, or speaking—to support survivor-focused programs 
• Contribute financially through small monthly Patreon donations or sponsorships of the organization’s Power Pen, a discreet USB resource kit for women seeking to leave unsafe situations 
• Host or join writing-to-heal workshops, bringing storytelling and community to shelters, libraries, and campuses 

For the Women in Publishing Summit community, where storytelling and advocacy are already at the heart of what we do, this work is a natural extension of our mission. Many of us write memoirs or novels that explore trauma, survival, or empowerment. This initiative provides a meaningful way to connect our craft to real-world impact.

Why It Matters Now

Funding for domestic violence and women’s health programs is shrinking nationwide. Independent, community-driven organizations like I Know Why She Stayed are filling the gap. By supporting Authors Against Abuse, the author community can help ensure survivors continue to have access to resources, support, and safety.

Whether you’re a novelist, memoirist, poet, or publishing professional, your voice matters. Your words matter. And together, we can help create a safer, more equitable world—one story at a time.

Why This Matters to the WIP Community

• Many women in the publishing industry have lived experiences of financial or emotional abuse. This work acknowledges that reality and offers tangible tools for healing and advocacy. 
• The Women in Publishing Summit has always centered the power of women’s stories to drive change. Supporting I Know Why She Stayed extends that impact into social action. 
• Writers, editors, and publishers in the WIP community can directly support survivors through workshops, donations, or amplifying the Authors Against Abuse message. 
• It reinforces the idea that storytelling is not just art—it’s activism.

👉 Learn more and get involved at IKnowWhySheStayed.org/authors-against-abuse.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Organization: I Know Why She Stayed 
• Authors Against Abuse Initiative: Learn More & Get Involved
• Patreon: Support the Mission
• Instagram: @iknowwhyshestayed
• Women in Publishing Summit: WomenInPublishingSummit.com

SPEAKER BIOS

Kasey Rogers

Author, survivor, and co-founder of I Know Why She Stayed, Kasey transformed her own experience with coercive control and financial abuse into a movement for healing through storytelling. Her memoir For Better Selves explores trauma, recovery, and resilience.

K. J. “Kat” Harrowick

An author, designer, and curriculum developer, Kat is the co-founder of I Know Why She Stayed. She leads creative strategy for Authors Against Abuse, empowering writers to use their words to drive awareness and social change.

For the full conversation on I Know Why She Stayed and the Authors Against Abuse campaign, listen to Alexa’s chat with Kasey Rogers and K. J. “Kat” Harrowick, the co-founders of I Know Why She Stayed.