Meet Bernadette Soehner of 5 Prince Publishing in Arvada

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bernadette Soehner.

Bernadette, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started at 5 Prince Publishing in 2011, when I decided to independently publish my books. At the time I had contracted a trilogy with another house and the books were not being put out on time and I wasn’t receiving my royalties. Being a serial entrepreneur, I knew that I could do it better with my own terms. I published my first book, The Executive’s Decision, in May of that year with a promise to myself that I would only publish my own books in my publishing house. Because I also am a curator of community, I couldn’t help but take on other authors who had a passion for the written word and a fresh voice. Since then, I have published thirty-six of my own titles and over 150 titles from sixty other authors.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Learning the publishing industry hasn’t always been easy. The industry has changed immensely since 2011, and the learning curve is steep. I know that in the beginning, with my willingness to want to help all authors, I took on a few that weren’t ready to be published, and I did them a disservice by letting my lack of expertise guide them. However, I never held on when I thought they could do better on their own. Through the years, I’ve let my authors be part of the process with a hands-on approach from editing to cover design and marketing. I want everyone to feel good about their publishing journey.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the 5 Prince Publishing story. Tell us more about it.
At 5 Prince Publishing, we focus on bringing fresh voices to the fiction that you read. Over the years, we have gone back to our roots, publishing romance in its many sub-genres, as well as young adult fantasy. We keep our author base small so that our authors are personally taken care of by our team.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I always admit that I was lucky to publish when I started. At that time, independent publishing was just taking off. Though the eye rolls still existed when you told people you published your own book, the quality and the opportunity was much greater. I entered the market at a time when maybe only those who had access to professionals (such as editors and designers) could publish, as well as being someone who was tech savvy enough to figure out the process. Over the years, this had changed so quickly, and the market saturated. It’s not as easy to publish a book and have it go straight to the top, but it’s still possible. But I know that I was very lucky to ride the #1 position on Amazon and iTunes for weeks at a time.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.5princebooks.com
• Email: books@5princebooks.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/5princepublishing
• Facebook: facebook.com/5princepublishing
• Twitter: twitter.com/5princepub

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