Welcome, Book Academy Cohorts!
You’ve landed here because you are part of The Book Academy program with Luvvie Ajayi Jones.
We wholeheartedly believe that Luvvie’s program helps bring out the best in writers—and we’d like to help you bring your story to the world.
For Book Academy participants only, we’re offering a complimentary strategy session with our marketing manager, Crown Shepherd, and our creative director, Victoria Petelin. Once you pitch your concept, Crown and Victoria will cover aligning your book with your career goals, what to expect throughout the publishing process, and best practices for approaching book marketing and sales.
When you fill out the form, please put The Book Academy for “How did you hear about Wise Ink?”
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01
WRITE
Honor your creative vision: We see our clients as collaborators who spearhead the direction of their brands and thought leadership. Collaborate with top-notch editors and designers who understand your goals and aesthetic and honor your creativity.
02
MARKET
Market sustainably: We approach marketing holistically so that everything you do aligns with your skillset, furthers your career goals, and builds your legacy. We’ve worked with hundreds of authors to launch their books, bringing expertise on effective marketing tactics so you can focus on what matters most.
03
PUBLISH
Maximize Profit: Our authors keep 100 percent of their books’ profits—Wise Ink does not take royalties. This supports direct sales opportunities like speaking engagements and bulk orders. We offer a variety of distribution options (including full trade distribution with Ingram), consulting with authors on personalized strategies to maximize profits and eliminate sales barriers.
OUR PRocess
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Wise Ink is a hybrid publisher that combines the quality and distribution of a traditional press with the creative freedom of indie publishing. We involve authors throughout the traditional book production process to release professional books that match our authors’ impact goals. We provide support, guidance, and project management from the start of their projects through printing, marketing, and distribution.
“The publishing world is so intimidating as a first-time author with a tiny platform. Without The Book Academy and Wise Ink, I'd never have made good on my lifelong dream to write a book. But with the knowledge and confidence I gained in TBA—plus the guidance and support from my Wise Ink team—I brought Mortimer the Terrier's Second Chance into the world in less than 2 years. My only regret is that I didn't find TBA and Wise Ink sooner!”
— Kristin Hanson, author of Mortimer the Terrier’s Second Chance
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You’ll meet your project manager who will guide you through the publishing process. On your first strategy call, you’ll establish your book’s mission, scope, timeline, and next steps.
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Work with a developmental editor or writing coach who helps you refine big-picture issues like voice, pacing, and story arc. Then, we start copyediting, which focuses on grammar, spelling, language usage, and style. Finally, all of our books are proofread according to The Chicago Manual of Style, the publishing industry’s standard grammar and language usage guide.
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You’ll have 1:1 guidance from our marketing team to develop a custom, sustainable launch strategy. We’ll work with you to build a marketing plan through achievable milestones that highlight your strengths and capture your audience. Our marketing team will build your book’s custom metadata (all the information required to sell your book from your subtitle to book description) to optimize your book’s online discoverability and position it for success.
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You’ll work with your project manager to establish a design brief that sets the tone for your book and brand. We collaborate with designers and illustrators who take feedback and iterate on initial concepts, producing an aesthetically appealing book that is worthy of your vision.
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Once your book is designed, it receives a second round of proofreading, then a thorough pre-press check to ensure quality and accuracy before the book goes to the printer.
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Your book can be distributed through multiple channels—including direct-to-consumer, full trade distribution, and Amazon—without packing and shipping orders yourself. We partner with a warehouse and fulfillment center local to us that gives you flexible access over inventory so you can sell at speaking engagements, get into libraries and bookstores, and manage sales listings with ease. We can also support the rollout of supplemental materials like ebooks, audiobooks, podcasts, and more.
"The Book Academy didn't just teach me about the book industry; they connected me with an excellent publishing partner in Wise Ink! As I'm going through final edits and proofreading, I'm constantly amazed by Wise Ink's editorial excellence, attention to detail and genuine care in preserving my voice and creative input. Today's publishing world can feel overwhelming, especially for a first-time author. Finding a trustworthy hybrid publisher can feel impossible, but Luvvie Ajayi's Book Academy made it effortless by vetting and partnering with publishers who truly care about authors' success. The values alignment and creative collaboration that Wise Ink brings to every project is exactly what Book Academy prepared me to expect from a publishing partner."
— Lola Dada-Olley, attorney and author of the upcoming memoir, Unapologetically Whole (June 2026)
Our Books
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![Your Loss Matters by Michele DeVille, hardcover]()
Your Loss Matters
BY MICHELE DEVILLE
Michele DeVille is a grief specialist, educator, and coach who draws from professional and personal experiences to create a book on grieving that's tailor-made for those who know the pain of loss. With easy-to-navigate topics and short messages, her words offer encouragement and support in moments that otherwise feel overwhelming. -
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Work Smart, Do More
BY JAN LEHMAN
Work Smart Do More is the time management book for CEOs and leaders looking for proven, successful ways to increase productivity and create a winning culture. With a unique blend of behavioral strategy and technology solutions, this look at business culture for leaders shows that working hard doesn't have to be hard―and the tools to make a difference are straightforward and within reach. -
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You're Too Young to Understand
BY LIZ SJAASTAD
Growing up with a mother with untreated schizophrenia and a turbulent alcoholic father, Liz was left to deal with the daily machinations of her mother's paranoid mind. Shedding light on the complexities of parental mental health and generational trauma, Liz shares the story of a life led despite the fears of "becoming her parents" and how she shows up for her parents—and herself—when it was needed most. -
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Speaking Story
BY SALLY ZIMNEY
Sally Z is an award-winning professional speaker with 25+ years of presentation experience and a master’s degree in persuasion. She coaches high-potential dreamers from their first gig to their high-paying and world-changing keynote. Her clients range from small business owners and creative entrepreneurs to leaders at Fortune 500 corporations like Viacom, Paramount, and more. With her signature enthusiasm—and you guessed it, entertaining storytelling—Sally Z shares the tools and mindset shifts that make speaking feel not just approachable, but achievable. -
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The Future of Work Is Human
BY HANNAH L. UBL AND LISA X. WALDEN
Ninety thousand hours. That’s how long the average person will spend at work over their lifetime. To put it another way, it’s roughly one-third of our lives. Workplace communication experts Hannah L. Ubl and Lisa X. Walden believe jobs can inspire feelings like fulfillment, ease, and even fun. This unbeatably modern take on the workplace offers actionable steps for leading with intention and transforming your outlook.
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The Right Thing to Do
BY JOE SCHMIT AND JOE MAUER
This baseball book for kids reveals an important lesson about making good choices. Alongside Minnesota Twins hall-of-famer Joe Mauer, young readers will discover the kindness that powers any path to stardom.
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Charlie Creates in His Own Way
BY BELINDA RICHARDSON AND HOLLIS CALLAS
Today is Charlie's first day of pottery class! He can't wait to make his own pot, but he's afraid that his little wing will slow him down. With the guidance of Señor Higgins, his mama, and his friends, Charlie will learn to follow his heart and create art in his own way. Perfect for parents, caregivers, and elementary school teachers, Charlie Creates in His Own Way teaches kids that it's okay to forge your own path.
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Everyday Superheroes: Women in STEM Careers
BY ERIN TWAMLEY AND JOSHUA SNEIDMAN
Deep in space, on Mars, a robot rover searches for traces of water, one of the key things needed to support life. Back on Earth, Dr. Vandi Verma guides the robot, Curiosity, in its search. People all around the world were enchanted by animations like Princess and the Frog and Bravest Warriors, but before they ever hit the screen, Sonya Carey imagined and designed them. These are just some of the colorful careers of these Everyday Superheroes making the world a greener, healthier, and cleaner place. Everyday Superheroes: Women in STEM Careers will spur reader's imaginations and introduce them to 26 STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
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The Resilient Brain
BY KATIANNE OLSON
Did you know the human brain is amazing? It is in charge of your entire body! But what happens when the brain gets injured? Inspired by the author's journey of supporting a loved one who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI), this stunningly illustrated children's book about traumatic brain injuries is both educational and empowering.
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The ABC's of Inclusion
BY BETH LEIPHOLTZ
In a relatable, positive, and compassionate voice, disability advocate and social media content creator Beth Leipholtz introduces twenty-six real kids with autism, hearing differences, epilepsy, Down syndrome, and more than a dozen other diagnoses. Their stories remind us that people with disabilities are all around us, and all children deserve to be seen, heard, valued, understood, and loved.
“Learning from Luvvie and Macy, being a part of this AMAZING community of writers let me know my book deserves to be in the world. It boosted my confidence in being a writer/author. TBA introduced me to my publisher, Wise Ink. Wise has shepherded my poetry book with tender loving care! They have a vested interest in my success. I couldn’t ask for a better partnership.”
— M A Phoenix, author of Love Letters to Us: Poetry for the Soul and Healing for the Spirit, Spring 2026
“I dove into the Book Academy for some ‘me time’ while juggling three teens. Little did I know, it would ignite a firestorm of returning to my roots and unleash my inner voice! Suddenly, I was querying publishers, creating social media videos, and inspiring others. Then, bam! Wise Ink came knocking, making my dreams a reality. With their incredible team and hybrid publishing model, I'm building my brand, speaking to raise money for food banks, and creating change. Get ready, world! My debut book is hitting shelves in 2026, showing my kids that it's never too late to learn, grow, and give back. Let's do this!”