Reviews & Author Success Stories

Black Rose Writing (BRW) is a trusted indie publisher (est. 2006) with a unique author-centric approach. They charge no author fees and offer traditional royalties. BRW has earned a 4.9/5 average rating (based on 10 author reviews) for its supportive editing, marketing, and personal approach. Award-winning titles and success stories since 2006 underscore BRW’s reputation for quality and no-cost publishing for authors.

Author Testimonials

  • David Radman, Children’s Author

    “They have published 3 of my 4 books. I’ve had nothing but positive things happen every step. They handle everything from ISBN to distribution on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and more. They are a traditional publisher and don’t ask you for money to publish.”

  • Joe Barrett, Author of Managed Care (Fiction)

    “I’ve had a great experience with Black Rose Writing… I’ve been very happy with their promotion and distribution efforts.”

  • M. Lee Musgrave, Author of Brushed Off (Mystery)

    “BRW has published 3 of my books and never demanded I buy my own books or pay for marketing… No one at BRW has ever pressured me to pay for anything.”

  • Sasha Lauren, Author of The Paris Predicament (Fiction)

    “The staff at Black Rose Writing are skilled, upfront, supportive, and professional.”

  • Kathy Nichols, Author (Fiction)

    “BRW gave honest answers to my marketing questions and never pressured me. They respond quickly to emails with helpful, encouraging messages. I’ve been very happy with BRW.”

  • Diane Hawley Nagatomo, Author of The Butterfly Café (Contemporary Fiction)

    “After hearing other authors’ positive experiences, I decided to go with BRW… I’d say I’ve been very happy with BRW.”

  • Mark Hewitt, Author of Special Access (Thriller)

    “From the final copy editing work… to BRW’s overall commitment to help new authors… it has been an unqualified success. Nothing to complain about, only accolades to pass out.”

  • Judy Serrano, Author of Easter’s Lilly (Romantic Suspense)

    “I will always recommend Black Rose Writing to new authors… giving us our break, helping us get recognized and giving us the opportunity to make something of ourselves without having to self-publish.”

  • Donald L. Gilleland, Author of America: A Cultural Enigma

    “My experience with Black Rose Writing was excellent. The owner, Reagan Rothe, and his staff were absolutely professional and helpful throughout the publication process. I would recommend them to any writer – they are superb, dedicated professionals.”

  • Keating Simon, Author of The Guardian Chronicles: Emergence (Fantasy)

    “Black Rose Writing has been nothing but supportive to me and pushed me to advance my writing career. This has been one of the best experiences of my life and I am so grateful for everything you’ve done to help me with my dream.”

Author Success Story: Shawn Warner’s TikTok Bestseller

In July 2023, Shawn Warner – a debut BRW author – went from an unfamiliar face at a Fort Worth grocery store to the #1 Amazon bestseller overnight. A fellow shopper’s act of kindness sparked a viral TikTok: over 19 million views turned Warner’s YA novel Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor into an instant hit. The book amassed hundreds of five star reviews (4.9/5 on Goodreads), and Warner found himself reunited with the TikToker on NBC’s Today show. This heartwarming success story – born from community support and BRW’s publishing platform – showcases how Black Rose Writing authors can achieve mainstream success.


 FAQs

  • No. Black Rose Writing is a traditional, royalties-paying publisher. BRW never charges authors to publish their books. While they do offer optional marketing services, all such extras are completely optional – authors are not required to buy anything. In short, BRW earns money by selling books to readers, not by charging its authors.

  • BRW pays industry-standard royalties on all sales. Authors receive a percentage of each book sold (print and digital), as defined in the publishing contract. For example, BRW authors report receiving traditional royalty rates and regular royalty statements. There are no fees or deductions taken out for publishing costs – BRW covers editing, cover design, and distribution, and the author is paid their share of sales.

  • Pretty quickly – usually within a few weeks. BRW’s guidelines state that query responses typically come within about 3 weeks from blackrosewriting.com. Many authors note a speedy turnaround; for instance, one writer received a request for their full manuscript shortly after submitting. Of course, response times can vary with volume, but BRW is known for not leaving authors waiting long.