I am proud to work with incredible female authors who bring unique stories, insights, and perspectives to the world of publishing. In honour of International Women’s Day, I am spotlighting some of the talented women I’ve had the privilege to publish.
Women Who Write, Inspire, and Empower
Ray Star
Book Title: The Earthings Trilogy
Ray has over 15 years of experience in PR and previously owned a successful PR agency and photography studio in Essex before transitioning to freelance work during lockdown. As a member of the Climate Fiction Writers League, she is committed to sustainability, planting one tree per book sale, printing on recycled paper where possible, and leading the #READGREEN campaign to petition Amazon KDP for sustainable printing options.
Her Thoughts: Each of these authors has a powerful voice and a compelling story to tell. I asked them to share their thoughts on what it means to be a female author today. Their words reflect resilience, creativity, and the importance of representation in literature.
As someone relatively new to the publishing world, I’ve been fortunate not to have encountered gender-based challenges as an author – something that stands in stark contrast to my previous profession. In that role, low-level sexism was an almost daily experience, a reality many women unfortunately relate to. However, stepping into the publishing industry has been a refreshing change. Here, being a woman doesn’t come with snide remarks, prejudices, or those all-too-familiar inappropriate moments. Instead, I’ve found it to be a welcoming and inclusive space – one where my work is valued for what it is, rather than who I am.
My inspiration for writing comes from a deep desire to reconnect people of all ages with the magic within them. I also hope to encourage greater awareness of the other creatures we share this planet with – seeing them as equals rather than lesser beings. The book I’m currently working on, The Earthlings Trilogy, is a reflection of that dream. I long for a world where all living things are treated with love, respect, and true freedom – free from oppression in any form. That vision is one I hold in my heart daily and bring to life in my writing.
For women who have a book inside them waiting to be written, my advice is simple: make time for it. Don’t worry too much about planning every detail – just sit down and start writing from the heart. If you don’t prioritise the things you love, how will they ever become part of your life? How will you make a difference or raise awareness for the things that matter to you if you don’t take that first step?
I hope that resonates with some and encourages others to bring their stories to life. I’m incredibly excited to be publishing the first book of my trilogy on March 27th with the wonderful Chronos Publishing – a female-led powerhouse that has made this entire journey an absolute dream.
Sara Challice
Book Title: Who Cares?
Sara Challice is a motivational speaker and coach improving the lives of those caring for loved ones. Having appeared on TV and radio, she regularly gives talks to local and national charities, and businesses supporting unpaid carers in the workplace.
Her thoughts: I never intended to be an author, but after 13 years of caring and learning so much during that time, as well as overcoming so many issues, I realised carers needed to know this. Anyone caring for a loved one usually learns the hard way, on their own, when it doesn’t actually need to be this way. Writing the book was a vehicle for getting all of this important information out there.
Since the book has been published, won an award, and had so much fantastic feedback from carers struggling to cope, I am so grateful that I took the time and energy to write it. When we begin to write, we can never foresee the difference the book will make in others’ lives, the people we will meet and how much we will grow in the process. It means a lot to be a female author, sharing my wisdom and knowledge to help the millions of carers further globally. I now give countless talks for charities and businesses supporting carers.
It took a few years to finally be published. I had to be patient! But I knew, if you just keep going, it will finally pay off. I didn’t particularly notice discrimination being a woman in the publishing industry. I did have a lot of knock-backs from larger publishers, who didn’t want to give me the time of day. I felt disappointed, due to two in three of us will be a carer, and the majority of us end up falling ill as a result – as I did.
Over the last few millennia, men have dominated the world in books and publishing, and women’s voices didn’t matter or count. But times are changing, fast. It is also wonderful to have a female publisher who understands why this book needed to be out in the domain, and I am really thankful for that.
We do need to support female authors who want to get their books written and published. I feel women-only writing groups would help nurture ideas and strategies, along with best practices in completing their book and getting it into the marketplace, whilst creating a larger digital footprint.
I am proud to be a female author and the only woman in my family to have written and had a book published. The world needs to receive more wisdom for female authors. We need our voices heard. And if there are any women out there contemplating writing a book – do! We want to hear your story, your insight and your knowledge. Now is the time to write and get your message out there.
Alexandra Thornton
Book Title: Intuitive Thinking
Alexandra is a leadership, mindset, and behaviour specialist who helps individuals and teams achieve transformative breakthroughs. As Head of Consultancy at Human Alchemy, she empowers people to unlock their full potential through high-impact coaching, communication strategies, and data-driven insights.
Her thoughts: Being a female author means finally allowing myself to take up space. To shine – but not in a selfish way – in a way that serves and helps. As women, we’re often raised to be the support, the nurturer, the one who listens rather than the one who speaks. So when we dare to write, to publish, to take up space with our words, a sneaky little voice whispers: Who am I to do this? The ones that say my thoughts must be filtered, softened or justified. It’s an act of defiance, but also one of deep authenticity – and a bid for unity.
Let me tell you – don’t you dare listen to that voice. That’s imposter syndrome talking and it has no place in your journey. Your words matter. Your stories, your knowledge, your perspective – these things have the power to change someone’s life. And it is not selfish to share them.
Women have been storytellers for centuries, yet too often, our voices have been silenced, dismissed, or undervalued. To write as a woman is to step into a long tradition of those who dared to speak, even when the world told them not to. It’s both liberating and terrifying.
Most of all, it’s about connection. Words build bridges and when we write, speak and feel honestly, we give others permission to do the same. If my words can inspire, comfort or generously challenge just one person, then they’ve done their job. That is the power of being a female author.
Mariette Richardson
Book Title: Free The Hidden Speaker Inside | She Speaks Like A Leader
Mariette Richardson is an international performance coach, concentrating on the improvement of public speaking resulting in the delivery of top-class presentations for winning over the audience and closing deals.
Her thoughts: My journey as an author was shaped by years in corporate life, where I witnessed talented women struggle to have their voices heard. Many were overlooked for promotions or dismissed simply because they didn’t speak with the same authority as their male colleagues. I knew this needed to change, so I wrote She Speaks Like A Leader—a guide to help women find confidence in their communication and embrace their natural strengths.
Beyond voice and leadership, I also wanted to highlight an issue that isn’t discussed enough—how menopause impacts women in the workplace. A colleague once told me that no one seemed to care if she was struggling with hot flushes or memory lapses, even though it clearly affected her performance. That moment stuck with me. Women face unique challenges in their careers, and my mission is to empower them with the tools to navigate these realities with confidence.
As a female author, I’ve seen firsthand the expectations and stereotypes placed on us. People assume we’ll write fiction, biographies, or poetry, while business books—especially those on finance and leadership—are often seen as a male domain. But things are changing. More women are stepping into these spaces, competing in major awards like the Business Book Awards—and winning. When both of my books made it to the final round, I saw how important it is to challenge outdated assumptions.
My journey to publishing took a pivotal turn when I met Taryn Lee Johnston at a networking event. She simply asked, “Have you written a book yet?” At the time, I had started a draft, but it was dry and uninspiring. Then, during lockdown, she sent a follow-up email: “How’s your manuscript coming along?” That one message was the push I needed. Taryn gave me invaluable advice—“Mariette, imagine a client in front of you and simply coach them.” That single shift in perspective brought my book to life. Without her encouragement, I might still be sitting on an unfinished draft.
Now, as I work on my third book, I want to encourage more women to tell their stories, share their expertise, and step into their power as authors. My advice? Don’t wait. Start writing today, without overthinking or second-guessing. I learned the hard way that you can edit later, but you can’t refine what doesn’t exist. Be bold, be daring, and write as if no one is watching—because the world needs more female voices in every genre.
LK Pang
Book Title: Moat Hill Hall | The Night Counsellor
L K Pang is an artist and a former architect. Born in Kent, she has moved around the country and now lives near Harrogate with her husband and three children.
Her love of gothic stories and years visiting stately homes in the Yorkshire countryside translates into the settings for her novels.
Her thoughts: Female authors such as Charlotte Brontë, Daphne du Maurier, Margaret Atwood, Maggie O’Farrell have greatly influenced my work. Writing is a great tool for delving into the complexities of the female psyche. The main characters in my books are women who have been overlooked and underestimated, and for these reasons, lack confidence in themselves. This is something many females, including myself, have felt in a male dominated society, especially in the workplace.
Through my novels, I like to explore how characters can find the strength to overcome adversity. When I wrote The Night Counsellor, I wanted to highlight how society viewed women in the past and the challenges single mothers or women in unhappy marriages faced. It was not commonplace for a woman to be independent with ambition. The women who succeeded carved out a place for us. We can now be unashamed of our desires, forge our own career paths, design our own life goals.
Certainly, the research has made me more grateful for being able to reflect upon history from the comfort of my writing desk. Long may this journey of self-discovery and empowerment with my characters continue.
Sophia Purcell
Book Title: The Weapin Of Choice
An experienced journalist and copywriter with 11 years in editorial, marketing, content management, and communications, working across sectors including travel, food and drink, fashion, business, and financial services. Sophia has lived with anorexia for over 14 years, an experience that has shaped her perspective and resilience both personally and professionally.
Her thoughts: I’ve been obsessed with female authors ever since I was young, but the fascination really kicked off when I went to university to study English Literature. For three years, I read and wrote about women every chance I got, to the point where my friends found it amusing (“there she goes again writing about the representation of women at every possible opportunity”). Back then, my favourites were Margaret Atwood, Rachel Cusk, Sylvia Plath, Arundhati Roy and – from a more theoretical, philosophical standpoint – Judith Butler, Simone de Beauvoir and Helene Cixous. Essentially, strong, powerful women with strong, powerful voices. At the time, although I knew that I wanted to write for a living, I never imagined that I’d become an author in my own right. It was always there I suppose, even from the very beginning, when at the age of 5 or 6 I would write fantastical stories about pandas and house-trained velociraptors. But it was more of a pipe dream than an actual goal, and something I never, ever spoke about.
Even now, two years on from the publication of my first book, I still have to pinch myself every time I walk into a branch of Waterstones and see a copy of my book on the shelf. As trite as it might sound, that really was a dream come true, and even though it’s only been a couple of years, I don’t think that feeling will ever get old. As well as being the realisation of a dream, for me, becoming an author has been about so much more than knowing I can walk into a shop and pick up a copy of my book. It has been, and very much still is, an active process. A process of becoming; of cultivating and then harnessing enough self belief to know that not only do I have a story to tell, but that it is one that will hopefully help or inspire others in some way.
Since graduating from university, I’ve dipped in and out of various careers, torn between the desire to help others and the desire to write. And although subject wise it was relatively niche, The Weapon of Choice stands as a testament to the realisation that it is possible to fulfil both desires simultaneously – by helping others with my writing.
When thinking about the barriers I’ve faced as a female author, it feels more relevant to speak about my second book, since this is where I have found myself wrestling with imposter syndrome in a way that never happened the first time around. Because The Weapon of Choice was about my own experience of life on an all-female Eating Disorder unit, I didn’t really have to contend with the opinions or criticism of others. They were – and probably still are – very much there, but because what I was writing was a memoir (and a very niche one at that), they didn’t bother me in the slightest. It is also important to note that when I was writing the book, I had no intention of it being published, which I think took away any pressure.
But this time around, things couldn’t be more different. My second book, Dignity is Overrated, has been in the works since I was 21, and although it is still a memoir of sorts, its subject matter is likely relatable to a much larger audience. In many ways, this is hopefully a positive thing, but it does also mean that as a whole, the book will be open to more widespread criticism – from women and men alike. Throughout the writing process, there have been many moments when I have felt like giving up – mostly because I have been crippled by self doubt. Each time I sat down in front of my laptop, my mind would unleash a barrage of insults and criticism, telling me that my story wasn’t interesting enough, relevant enough, relatable enough, strong enough to stand out, or that it was too depressing and too personal. And on top of all this, sat the ever pressing fear that my words would in some way offend or upset other people, whether I know them personally or not.
Now, thankfully, the heavy cloak of imposter syndrome has lifted, and instead of berating myself, I’ve been putting my energy into celebrating the fact that I’ve had the courage to put my words out into the world for a second time. Almost simultaneously, I’ve finally managed to let go of the weight of other people’s opinions. Although I only ever received positive feedback about The Weapon of Choice, I know that there will have been people who didn’t like it, and the same will likely be true of my second book.
But one of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the last year is that it is absolutely okay to let people be wrong about you, to divide opinions, make waves and stand up for yourself. Be that in writing, speech, spoken word or visual art. As long as you are kind, true to yourself and can be proud of what you’ve achieved, everything else pales into insignificance.
I have never felt more loved and empowered than when I am amongst other women – often, those who share similar struggles to myself in one way or another. And although at present, I do not know any other female authors on a personal level, I have always felt that reading is in itself, a form of connection.
So even though I may not know an author personally, and our paths may never cross, by reading and engaging with their work, we are somehow reaching out to one another from afar and saying “I see you, I respect you, our stories are both powerful and valid.”
Celebrating Women in Publishing
I believe in amplifying female voices and ensuring women’s stories are heard. From fiction to non-fiction, memoirs to business books, our female authors continue to shape the literary world with their powerful words.
Join me in celebrating these incredible authors by exploring their books, sharing their work, and supporting women in publishing.
