Lost in Publishing? Let’s Find Your Path.
I help authors navigate the publishing process with clarity and confidence—so you don’t waste months guessing or sign a bad deal.
In Collaboration With:
Traditional Book Publishing Strategy
When authors are ready to level up, the right guidance can unlock major deals.
Take the team behind Love as a Business Strategy. After self-publishing their first book in 2021, they came to me to explore traditional publishing for their follow-up.
When Wiley expressed interest, we moved fast.
With my support, the authors:
Developed a standout proposal in under two weeks, securing a two-book deal.
Sold Wiley the rights to an expanded edition of their first book.
Negotiated their own terms confidently, landing above-average royalties on both titles.
Love as a Change Strategy is now in the works—and they’ve entered traditional publishing on their own terms.
Hybrid Publishing—Without the Guesswork
Some authors arrive with big goals—and little groundwork. That’s where strategic guidance makes all the difference.
Take Reza, for example. He came to me with a proposal and a dream of landing a major traditional deal and becoming a NYT bestseller. But like many first-time authors, he had no platform.
I helped him recalibrate his path.
With my support, Reza:
Pitched independent traditional publishers, getting real interest and offers.
Chose a top-tier hybrid publisher (Greenleaf) to retain creative control and ensure bookstore-quality printing.
Built a custom publishing team, including marketing and PR, to support his September 2025 launch.
His debut, The Self-Made Maverick, is set for a standout release—and Book 2 may just hit that NYT list.
Self-Publishing with a Human Heartbeat
Many authors don’t realize how little control they have—until it’s too late. I’ve helped authors regain their rights and rebuild stronger.
Take Susan, for example. Her memoir, Inside: One Woman’s Journey Through the Inside Passage, was traditionally published. Seven years later, the publisher declared it “out of print” and returned the rights.
We connected through a publishing strategist in the Pacific Northwest, and I helped her take the reins.
With my support, Susan:
Recovered her rights and assets, including files and cover art.
Rebranded her book with a fresh cover and top-tier Print-on-Demand quality.
Re-released under her own imprint, giving her full creative and financial control.
She turned a dead-end into a new beginning.
From Manuscript to Masterpiece
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![Book titled "Inside" by Susan Marie Conrad, featuring a map of the Inside Passage and a red kayak on water.]()
INSIDE: One Woman's Journey Through the Inside Passage
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![Book titled 'Music for the Developing Brain' by Jane J. Bader, DMA. The cover is blue with musical notes and a piano keyboard design.]()
Music for the Developing Brain: A Simple, At-Home Program
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![Book titled "Bet on Yourself" by Sarah Turner with floral cover design.]()
Bet on Yourself: Your Testosterone-Free Guide to Being Your Own Boss
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Love as a Business Strategy: Resilience, Belonging & Success, Updated Edition
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![Book cover of 'The Pond Beyond the Forest' by Shigeko Ito, depicting a serene pond with surrounding foliage.]()
The Pond Beyond the Forest: Reflections on Childhood Trauma and Motherhood
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![Book cover titled 'The Ugly Side of Beauty' by Rachel Nixon, featuring a stylized image of a woman with gold makeup on lips and hand.]()
The Ugly Side of Beauty: A Memoir
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![Book cover featuring a silhouette of a ship at sunset with title 'Prepare to be Boarded: A Coast Guard's Remarkable Life' by Linda Haley Prentice.]()
Prepare to Be Boarded: A Coast Guard's Remarkable Life
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![Blue book titled 'Keep Calm and Code On: A Tactical Guide for Navigating the Pitfalls of Software Development' by Alex Lau.]()
Keep Calm And Code On: A Tactical Guide for Navigating the Pitfalls of Software Development
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Survival First: The Rebel Entrepreneur’s Guide to Risk, Riches and Immortality
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Finding Value: A Reforming Mean Girl's Guide for Creating More Meaningful Connections
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Driving Plato's Chariot: Lessons on Student Ethical Development
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Wounds: How Hurt, Heartache, and Tragedy Become the Keys to Unlocking Greatness
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The Passion Gap: What Our Parents Didn't Teach Us About Purpose, Prosperity, and Lasting Happiness
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We're All Mad Here: an (in)elegant memoir
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The Way Home: Restoring Your Relationship with Your Creator
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Me, My Customer, and AI: The New Rules of Entrepeneurship
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Fifty Shades of True Crime: Sex, Drugs, and Killer Kink
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You Can Share My Daddy
The Rose Approach
A strategic 3-step process to help authors make the right publishing moves with clarity and confidence.
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Before exploring any publishing path, we get clear on your vision.
What’s included:
1:1 deep-dive strategy session to understand your publishing goals (traditional, hybrid, indie, etc.)
Review of your manuscript or proposal (if available)
Feedback on book positioning, audience, and long-term career goals
Clarification of your book’s unique value in the market
How I help:
I become your thought partner—helping you distill your message, align your goals, and set realistic expectations before you make any big decisions. -
Your book doesn’t exist in a vacuum. I analyze where it fits and how to pitch it effectively.
What’s included:
Market research on genre/category performance
Reader trend analysis to inform positioning
Agent/publisher wishlist and backlist research (what they want vs. what they’ve sold)
Comparable title analysis for pitches or positioning
Strategic advice on publishing path: traditional, hybrid, or independent
How I help:
I pull from industry data and real-time insights to shape a smart, tailored strategy that fits your goals—no guesswork. -
Once you’re clear and positioned, we connect the dots.
What’s included:
Query letter or pitch review (or writing support)
Introductions to aligned agents, hybrid publishers, or PR/marketing partners
Personalized submission strategy with timelines
Consulting on early calls and negotiations
Guidance on evaluating offers and navigating terms
How I help:
I open doors and help you walk through them—with confidence. Whether it's crafting your pitch or preparing you for a meeting, I guide you at every step.
Three Ways I Can Support Your Author Journey
What clients are saying
Navigating Publishing with Insight & Strategy
Hi, I’m Rose Friel Conway, Founder of Foreword Literary Consulting
Apart from being a lifelong reader, I’ve always been fascinated by the stories we return to—and how they evolve with us. That curiosity led me from studying literature and media to working in both traditional and hybrid publishing, including time at Simon & Schuster UK and managing 1,500+ editorial assignments a year in hybrid publishing.
In 2023, after seeing firsthand how industry shifts affected both authors and editors, I founded Foreword Literary Consulting to offer strategic, human-centered support. I help authors clarify their goals, evaluate their options, and navigate traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing with confidence.
Let’s make smart, intentional moves—together.