Rising Stars: Meet Bernadette Soehner

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

Bernadette, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
5 Prince Publishing was born after I received a publishing contract from a small publisher, that unfortunately was a deal that went bad. An entrepreneur at heart, I knew that I could publish my books in this up-and-changing literary industry. This was in 2011. I opened 5 Prince Publishing with the thought that I would publish my books under the imprint. Instead, it grew into something bigger. Authors, looking to get away from the chase of a big 5 publisher and the need for an agent, liked my business model and began to submit their work to me.

Since 2011, we have published 56 of my titles and over 160 titles of other authors. Right now, in 2022, we have over twenty-five authors that we work with, and our publishing team works remotely from all over the world. We are now considered a mid-sized publisher, and we focus on authors in the United States, as we feel we can offer them more exposure to local markets. We mostly publish romance, women’s fiction, thriller, fantasy, and sci-fi.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road in business, of any kind, is never smooth. We faced a lot of challenges in the beginning because small press publishers were popping up left and right with the new publishing models that were being offered. Over the past 11 years, there has been a learning curve for sure. New technology has come to play, there are new reader expectations, and the demand for quality publishers increased.

Before 2011, it was looked down upon to publish your work or to work with a small press. Now, independently published, and smaller / mid-sized publishers, are having great success with their writing. Some of these authors have hit big charts, received movie deals, and are changing the industry. Many of the industry leaders are having to change their mindset too. It’s no longer just a big dog game.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As the Founder/CEO of 5 Prince Publishing, I wear many hats. However, this entire journey started with me as an author, which I still am, full-time, today. I write Contemporary Romance as Bernadette Marie, and in 2023, I will publish my 56th title. I think what sets me apart from other authors in my genre, is my characters and their interactions with one another. I find dialogue to be most important when making characters connect with readers. If they connect on the page, the reader is swept in.

Also, my characters are contemporary. They are modern men and women with the same challenges that we face daily. I always promise happily ever after, and I say that I’m the antidote to anything you might have been reading that is heavy and has left you a bit down. Or, in the case of just turning on the TV and seeing what’s going on in the world, a Bernadette Marie book will leave you happy.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting.
The biggest advice I have for authors or those who want to get into publishing is to find an organization that caters to your needs and provides support and education. One of the greatest assets I have is the network of peers that I have assembled over the years. My contact list is filled with agents, editors, cover artists, narrators, authors, etc.

In this industry, specifically, we rally around one another. We, for the most part, all understand that our one bright and shiny book will only hold a reader for a few days, or weeks. There are thousands of authors for them to choose from, so why not be allies and help one another find those readers and share the work of those we work with?

Also, this industry changes so often that keeping up with new things is important. Organizations offer workshops and classes on craft, marketing, and software, and have experts come in to walk you through such things as police procedure or medical terms. Joining an organization will do so much for the upcoming author or publisher.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.5princebooks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5princepub/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5PrincePublishing