Meet The Company
The Pen and Prowess Publishing Co. is an established literary publisher with a simple but enduring belief: the right story, in the right hands, can change a life.
Founded over ten years ago, by our Literary Shepard, Marilyn “ME” Porter we set out to create something the publishing world was missing — a home where authors are treated as collaborators, where craft is honoured above commerce, and where every book that bears our name is published with genuine care, intention, and pride.
We are not a vanity press, but a very strong resource for someone who has considered self-publishing and has opted out. We are not a conveyor belt. We are a team of passionate readers, editors, and storytellers who believe that literature matters — and that the work of bringing a great book into the world is itself a form of art.
Our Mission
To bridge the gap between talented authors and passionate readers by publishing works of the highest craft, integrity, and purpose.
Our Vision
A world where exceptional writing is celebrated, preserved, and shared across generations.
Our Core Values —
PROWESS
Everything we do is guided by seven principles we call PROWESS:
P — Purpose Every book we publish carries intention. We champion stories that matter and writing that moves people.
R — Respect We honour every author's voice, every reader's time, and every story's integrity.
O — Originality We celebrate distinctive voices and bold ideas that push the boundaries of literary expression.
W — Wisdom We bring thoughtful discernment to everything we publish, guided by experience and insight.
E — Excellence We hold ourselves and our authors to the highest standard, because great stories deserve nothing less.
S — Stewardship We are faithful guardians of the written word, preserving literature for generations to come.
S — Skill We believe in the craft — honouring the discipline and mastery it takes to produce enduring work.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
What We Publish
We publish across seven genres — literary fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children's books, young adult, memoir & autobiography, and spiritual writing. What unites every title on our list is not genre, but quality. We are drawn to writing that is distinctive, purposeful, and built to last.
We use technology — from AI-assisted editorial tools to digital submission systems and data-driven audience development — to bring great books to readers faster, smarter, and more efficiently than ever before. But technology is our engine, not our soul. Our soul is the written word.
A Note to Our Authors
If you are a writer with a story to tell, we want to hear from you. We open our submission doors four times a year, and we read every query that arrives in our inbox with genuine attention and care. First-time authors are warmly welcomed. What we look for is not a publishing résumé — it is a voice worth amplifying.