Service that fits
Tap a stage above to see which service fits.
Independent Publishing · Author Education
From the writer with an idea, to the author with a book.
Poppy Grace Publishing is for writers who want more than a course and less than a $25,000 hybrid press. Coaching, publishing, and marketing — together.
From idea to author.
"Real authors,
real published
books."
real published
books."
Poppy Grace, Spring 2026
Now Publishing JW Radford ✦
3-Book Deal Announced Feb 2026 ✦
Applications Open ✦
From Idea to Author ✦
Real Books, Real Authors ✦
Now Publishing JW Radford ✦
3-Book Deal Announced Feb 2026 ✦
Applications Open ✦
From Idea to Author ✦
Real Books, Real Authors ✦
The Arc
From the writer with an idea, to the author with a book.
The mark on our wordmark says it plainly: two butterflies and a path between them. Most writers know where they are at the start. Few know how to get to the other side. We do.
From idea to author.
Five Services · One Platform
Pick the place you actually are.
The book you're writing decides which service makes sense first. Most authors use more than one over time — they connect cleanly.
Available now from Poppy Grace
JW
Radford
Driven by Desire: The Path to Unstoppable Success is the first title in the three-book agreement Poppy Grace Publishing announced with JW Radford in February 2026. Available now in paperback and ebook. The series expands on discipline, mindset, legacy, and overcoming adversity — work focused on practical wisdom for readers navigating real challenges, not platitudes.
JW Radford brings a rare combination of authenticity, leadership credibility, and emotional honesty to his writing.Poppy Grace Publishing on the JW Radford signing
01Discipline
& mindset
& mindset
02Legacy
& leadership
& leadership
03Overcoming
adversity
adversity
From the Poppy Grace family
Mind(in)g Me.
By MJ Radford. Overcoming mental trials and reclaiming positive self-image. $22.99 · paperback. Not a quick-fix manual — a manifesto for living life one step at a time. Available now in paperback and ebook.
Where are you?
There's a service for every stage.
Tap the stage you're in. We'll show you which service fits.
→
Three questions · One honest answer
Find the service that fits.
A quick three-question read so the service we suggest fits — not the one that's easiest to sell. Want a deeper read? Take the full quiz.
Question 1 of 3
Where are you in the writing?
Question 2 of 3
What does success look like for this book?
Question 3 of 3
How much support are you looking for?
Your fit
Author Clarity Session
A focused 60-90 minute session to surface what your book actually is, who it's for, and what path makes sense from here.
From Poppy Grace
The books we publish.
Published, forthcoming, and what's next. Real authors, real books — every one chosen because it deserves to be read.
Ready to publish?
One conversation. We'll tell you exactly what your book needs next.
Where to begin
Find your starting point.
There are five places writers start. Each one has a different first move. Find yours, then take the deeper quiz to confirm the fit.
The five stages
Where are you, really?
Be honest with yourself about which one fits — the recommendation only works if the inputs are true.
01
Idea
Signs you're here
- The book exists in your head, not on the page
- You can describe what it's about in 30 seconds
- You haven't decided who it's for yet
- The thought of writing it is mostly intimidating
Service that fitsAuthor Clarity Session, then Book Planning
02
Outline
Signs you're here
- You have a structure on paper — chapters, sections, the spine
- You know the through-line, not just the topic
- You haven't started drafting in earnest
- You want a plan that actually holds together
Service that fitsBook Planning
03
Drafting
Signs you're here
- Pages are accumulating — somewhere between 30 and a full draft
- You're inside the work and don't know if it's working
- You need someone with you, not just a course or a book
- You're considering quitting more often than you'd admit
Service that fitsManuscript Review (or Author Clarity Session if you're stuck)
04
Finished
Signs you're here
- You have a complete manuscript
- It's ready to be shaped into a published book
- You're deciding between hybrid, indie, or traditional paths
- You don't want to make this decision alone
Service that fitsManuscript Review → Publishing Guidance
05
Self-published
Signs you're here
- Your book is out, but it's not finding readers
- You're frustrated with how the launch went (or didn't)
- You're considering republishing it properly
- You need a positioning + execution layer the book never got
Service that fitsLaunch Support (or Publishing Guidance for a re-publish)
+
Not sure?
The seven-question deep quiz below uses your answers across writing stage, vision, support level, time, timeline, and prior experience to give you a more confident recommendation than "I think I'm in stage 2."
Take the deep quiz →Seven questions · One sharp answer
The deep quiz.
Seven questions instead of three. The same routing logic — just with more inputs so the recommendation has somewhere to land.
Question 1 of 7
Where are you in the writing?
Question 2 of 7
What does success look like for this book?
Question 3 of 7
How much support are you looking for?
Question 4 of 7
What's your biggest challenge right now?
Question 5 of 7
How much time can you dedicate weekly?
Question 6 of 7
What's your timeline for publication?
Question 7 of 7
Have you worked with a coach or editor before?
After you apply
The next three steps.
No mystery. No waiting weeks. Here's exactly how it goes.
01
You apply
Tell us where you are with your book. We respond within 48 hours.
02
We talk
A 30-minute conversation. We listen first, then tell you exactly what your book needs next.
03
We work
If we're a fit, we start. If we're not, we'll point you somewhere that is.
Ready to start?
One conversation. We'll tell you exactly where to begin.
Five services · One platform
Pick the place you actually are.
Most authors use more than one of these over time — they're designed to connect. Apply at any door, we'll meet you where the work is.
01Author Clarity Session
Author Clarity Session
Before anything else, decide what you're really building.
A one-on-one strategy session for writers at any stage. We work through the three questions that decide everything else: what is this book really about, who is it for, and what's the right next step from where you are right now. You leave with a written summary and a clear recommendation — not a pitch.
What's included
- Pre-session worksheet to surface what's already in your head
- 60–90 minute working session, recorded for your reference
- Written summary with your concept, audience, and recommended next step
- Honest assessment of fit — including when the right answer is somewhere else
02Book Planning
Book Planning
Build the spine before you build the book.
For writers with an idea, an outline, or 30 pages that aren't quite working. Book Planning produces a working manuscript plan: concept refined, audience defined, structure mapped, voice and style direction set. The output is a foundation packet you take into drafting — most writers find drafting goes 2–3× faster after this.
What's included
- Concept clarification — what is the book about, in one sentence
- Audience definition — who is it for, who is it not for
- Chapter-by-chapter structural outline that holds together
- Voice + style direction — finding the way only you can write it
- A complete planning packet to draft from
03Manuscript Review
Manuscript Review
An expert reader, with notes you can use.
A discrete, deliverable engagement: we read your manuscript or a substantial section of it, and respond with a structured developmental review. This is the read most writers wish they'd had earlier — focused on the work itself, not on motivation. Useful before deciding to publish, or before commissioning an editor.
What's included
- Read of up to ~80,000 words (longer manuscripts: scope by quote)
- Editorial letter (8–12 pages) covering structure, pacing, voice, and clarity
- Inline marginal notes on the manuscript itself
- 30-minute follow-up call to walk through the review and answer questions
04Publishing Guidance
Publishing Guidance
End-to-end, from finished manuscript to a real book.
For writers with a complete manuscript ready to be published. We handle editing (developmental → line → copy in sequence), cover and interior design, ISBN and metadata, distribution setup, and the production decisions that determine whether a book reads like a real book or a self-published one.
What's included
- Editorial sequence — developmental, line, and copy
- Cover and interior design
- ISBN, metadata, and distribution setup
- Production oversight through to print and ebook
- Ongoing decisions guidance through publication
05Launch Support
Launch Support
The first 90 days. Get them right.
Launch is where most authors lose their book. Launch Support is a positioning + execution engagement that takes a finished book — yours or one we published — from inventory to readers. Pre-launch positioning, launch sequencing, and the systems that keep a book moving in the months that matter most.
What's included
- Pre-launch positioning — who this book is for, where they live
- Launch sequencing — the 30 days before, the launch day, the 60 days after
- Author-platform basics — what to set up before you publish, not after
- Review-generation strategy and execution
- A launch dashboard you can actually read
Not sure which fits?
Take the deep quiz. Seven questions, one honest answer.
From Poppy Grace
The books we publish.
Published, forthcoming, and what's next. Real authors, real books — every one chosen because it deserves to be read.
Available now
Mind(in)g Me.
By MJ Radford. Overcoming mental trials and reclaiming positive self-image. $22.99 · paperback. Not a quick-fix manual — a manifesto for living life one step at a time.
For readers who are tired of self-help that promises everything and delivers nothing. The work is yours to do — this book sits beside you while you do it.
Also available on MJ's website
Available now · Three-book agreement
JW
Radford
Driven by Desire: The Path to Unstoppable Success — the first title in our three-book agreement with JW Radford — is available now in paperback and ebook. The series expands on discipline, mindset, legacy, and overcoming adversity, drawing on JW's career as a leadership strategist and his work with high-performers across industries.
Poppy Grace Publishing announced the JW Radford agreement in February 2026. Driven by Desire released later that year. Books two and three are in development.
JW Radford brings a rare combination of authenticity, leadership credibility, and emotional honesty to his writing.Poppy Grace Publishing on the JW Radford signingRead the announcement →
Book 1Driven by
Desire
Desire
Book 2Title
TBA
TBA
Book 3Title
TBA
TBA
JW Radford · Shop
The book, the merch, the rest.
Beyond the book. JW's tour merch and a planner companion to Driven by Desire — for readers building the discipline the book is about.
The shelf
Every book we've made.
Published, in production, and on the calendar. The list is small on purpose — every book gets the attention it needs.
Bring us your book.
If your book belongs on this shelf, we want to know about it.
For writers who want to learn first
The library, the roadmap, the glossary.
Education first. Most of what writers ask us is answered here, free.
Phase 01
Idea → Concept
You have an idea. The work in this phase is figuring out what it actually is and who it's for. Most writers skip this and pay for it later. Service: Author Clarity Session.
Phase 02
Concept → Plan
You know what the book is. Now build a working manuscript plan: structure, chapter outline, voice, audience definition. Service: Book Planning.
Phase 03
Plan → Draft
You write. Most of this phase is on you, but check-ins help. Most writers complete drafting in 4-9 months from a solid plan.
Phase 04
Draft → Manuscript
You have pages. Time for an outside read. A developmental review surfaces what's working and what isn't, before you commit to publication. Service: Manuscript Review.
Phase 05
Manuscript → Book
End-to-end production: editing (developmental → line → copy), cover and interior design, ISBN, metadata, distribution. Service: Publishing Guidance.
Phase 06
Book → Readers
The launch is where most authors lose their book. Pre-launch positioning, sequencing, the first 90 days. Service: Launch Support.
Phase 07
Readers → Career
What comes after launch. Backlist sales, the next book, the platform you're building. The path doesn't end at publication.
- ARC
- Advance Reader Copy. A pre-publication copy sent to reviewers, influencers, and early readers — typically 60-90 days before launch.
- BISAC
- Book Industry Standards and Communications subject heading. The genre/category code that determines where your book lives in catalogs and stores.
- Copy edit
- Final-pass edit focused on grammar, spelling, consistency, and house style. Comes after line edit. Last edit before proofreading.
- Developmental edit
- Big-picture edit focused on structure, pacing, voice, argument. The first edit in the sequence. Most expensive but most transformative.
- Galley
- An advance proof of a printed book, used for review purposes and final checks before press.
- Hybrid press
- A publisher that charges authors a fee for publication but provides services beyond what self-publishing platforms offer. Costs vary widely. Quality varies more.
- ISBN
- International Standard Book Number. Unique identifier per book + edition. You'll need separate ISBNs for hardcover, paperback, and ebook.
- Line edit
- Sentence-level edit focused on clarity, rhythm, and voice. Comes after developmental, before copy edit.
- Manuscript
- Your complete book in draft form, before editing and design. Typically delivered as a single Word doc or Google Doc.
- Metadata
- The data about your book that lives in catalogs and retailers — title, subtitle, author, description, keywords, BISAC, price. Determines whether your book is findable.
- Print-on-demand
- Distribution model where books are printed when ordered, not in advance. Lower upfront cost, lower per-unit margin. Used by most independent presses.
- Proof
- A printed advance copy used for final visual checks before going to press. Always order proofs. Always.
- Trade publisher
- A traditional publishing house that pays authors an advance and royalties, owns the rights, and handles all production and distribution. Big Five and the imprints under them.
- Trim size
- The physical dimensions of a printed book. 5x8" and 6x9" are most common for trade. Choosing well matters more than authors realize.
Ready to start?
If you've read enough and you want to talk to someone, we're here.
Why we exist
From idea to author.
Poppy Grace exists for writers who want more than a course and less than a $25,000 hybrid press. Coaching, publishing, and marketing — under one roof, in the right order.
The arc
Two butterflies. One path.
The mark on our wordmark says it plainly: two butterflies and a path between them. Most writers know where they are at the start. Few know how to get to the other side. We do.
There's a quiet space between "I have an idea for a book" and "I'm a published author." That space is where Poppy Grace lives. We don't sell shortcuts. We walk it with you.
From idea to author.
What we believe
Four principles.
No mission statement word salad. Just the four things we won't compromise on.
01
Real authors, real books
We don't publish to fill a catalog. Every book we make is a book we believe in. The list stays small for a reason.
02
Education first
Most of what writers ask us is answered for free in our resources. We'd rather you get there with a clear head than buy a service you don't need.
03
No false promises
We don't guarantee bestseller status, book deals, or six-figure launches. We do guarantee real work, real attention, and the truth about your book.
04
Quality over volume
We publish a few books a year, not a few books a month. The math doesn't work the other way. Your book deserves the slower path.
From the team
"We started Poppy Grace because we kept watching writers get stuck — between the courses that promise too much, the hybrid presses that charge too much, and the silence of true self-publishing. Most authors don't need any of those. They need someone who's been through it to walk it with them."
— The Poppy Grace team
Tenets
What we won't do.
01
We won't take your money for a book that isn't ready.
If your idea isn't a book yet, we'll tell you. If your draft isn't ready to publish, we'll tell you that too.
02
We won't pretend hybrid press economics are good for you.
Most $20K+ hybrid press deals don't return. We'll tell you when one is worth it and when it isn't.
03
We won't sell you the service that's easiest to sell.
If you need clarity, we'll suggest clarity — even if you came in asking for production. Wrong door, wrong outcome.
04
We won't grow the list past what we can do well.
Quality over volume isn't a tagline. It's the constraint that makes Poppy Grace possible.
One conversation
Ready to publish?
Three ways in. Pick the one that matches what you actually need right now.
Application
Tell us about your book.
All fields help us route you to the right service. Honest answers serve you better than impressive ones.
Application received.
Thank you. We'll be in touch within 48 hours — usually sooner. Check your email for a confirmation in the meantime.
Frequently asked
The questions we get most.
No. We're selective on purpose — the list stays small so each book gets the attention it needs. We accept submissions in our genres (memoir, leadership, faith, personal development, business) and we read every application within 48 hours.
Hybrid presses charge $15K-$30K+ for publication services. We don't operate that way. Our individual services are scoped to what your book actually needs at the stage you're in, priced accordingly, and you only pay for what fits. We'll often tell you not to buy a service if you don't need it yet.
Pricing is shared during the application conversation, not posted publicly. Each engagement is scoped to the book — clarity sessions are different from full publishing engagements, and the right number depends on what you actually need. You'll get a clear quote before any commitment.
Author Clarity Session: 1 week. Book Planning: 4-6 weeks. Manuscript Review: 4-8 weeks. Publishing Guidance (full production): 6-12 months from finished manuscript. Launch Support: 3-6 months. Most authors work with us across multiple services over a year or two.
Currently, no. Our publishing list is non-fiction-focused — memoir, leadership, faith, personal development, business. We may open to select fiction in future. Our coaching services (Author Clarity Session, Book Planning, Manuscript Review) are open to fiction writers.
For coaching services (Clarity Session, Book Planning, Manuscript Review, Launch Support): yes, fully. For Publishing Guidance, we operate as your publisher and rights are negotiated as part of the agreement — typically a limited-term, narrow grant rather than blanket assignment.
Yes. Each service stands alone. You can do a Clarity Session and then go off and write your book independently. You can come to us with a finished manuscript for a Manuscript Review and never engage further. The services are designed to connect when needed, not to lock you in.
Within 48 hours, you'll get a response. If we think there's a fit, we'll schedule a 30-minute conversation — no pressure, no pitch deck. From there, if we're aligned, we'll send you a scope and a quote for the service that fits.