Do midlife women's stories matter?

More than ever. Say hello to Empress Editions…

A Spark at Book Club

A few months back, we did a thing at The Empress Book Club. And let me tell you—it was SO COOL. Allow me to set the scene...

It’s late on a Saturday morning. Our little Zoom squares light up one by one, with the usual suspects: coffee cups, tea mugs, and the occasional avocado toast lurking just out of frame. It’s a small group today, but a special one, because we’re joined by Kirsten Miller.
Yes, that Kirsten Miller—bestselling author of The Change, which, fun fact, is being adapted into a limited series.

  • From Fiction to Reality

    If you haven’t read The Change yet, drop everything and get your hands on it. It’s a thrilling mashup of The Witches of Eastwick and Big Little Lies, with a splash of magical realism.
    Picture this: a heroine who can hear the cries of the unjustly deceased, another whose hormonal “heat” is practically a weapon, and a third with a green thumb and a knack for dishing out poetic justice.

    It’s twisty, grounded, and, well, let’s just say... vines. Lots of tangled, metaphorical vines.

  • Something Shifted

    As we talked with Kirsten about what inspired The Change, the conversation took a turn. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about the novel—it was about real life.

    The characters in the book face isolation, invisibility, and midlife reckonings. Two are out of work. One is a widow. I found myself saying,

    “The national unemployment rate is 3.4%, but for women over 50? It jumps to 13%.”

    Then came the gut punch:

    “Women are 80% more likely to be impoverished in retirement.”

    That stat just… hung there. Like a storm cloud.

A Call to Action

We talked about how it stems from a lifetime of inequality: the pregnancy penalty, the pay gap, the glass ceiling, rampant ageism, inadequate healthcare, and the simple fact that women live 8 to 10 years longer than men.

That’s when Kirsten said something that stuck with me:

“We all have to hire each other.”

Later, as I walked through the park, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
What if we all—not just a handful of us, but millions—pledged to support midlife women?
Buy their art, read their writing, hire their services, hop into their Lyfts?

The thought kept circling back to one thing:
Writing.
And the way traditional publishing so often silences midlife voices.

  • Enter: Empress Editions

    When the election happened and despair settled in, I knew: it was time to turn this idea into action.

    Introducing Empress Editions:
    A publishing revolution for midlife women, by midlife women.

    We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Empress Editions—an indie press dedicated to amplifying the voices of midlife women and transforming the publishing landscape.
    With bold ideas and global insight—from paper to fulfillment—we’re rewriting the rules of storytelling.

  • Why Empress Editions?

    Traditional publishing often sidelines midlife stories. Even when featured, the financial model leaves authors with just a sliver of the revenue. Most publishers claim 85–90% of a book’s earnings.

    At Empress Editions, we’re flipping the script. We believe the author—the creator—should earn the lion’s share.

    Our mission: Champion diverse, authentic, and unapologetically bold midlife voices—and ensure those voices are generously rewarded.

A Powerful Debut

We’re ecstatic to unveil our first release:
Quickies by Dr. Heather Bartos, MD.

Named one of the nation’s top menopause experts by Maria Shriver and Oprah, Dr. B delivers a book that’s as empowering as it is cheeky.

💋 Playful. Honest. Sexy.
Quickies offers actionable advice to make midlife your sexiest chapter yet.
This is more than a book—it’s a permission slip for midlife women to reclaim intimacy and confidence.

What’s Ahead

In our first year, we’ll publish six incredible books—
3 nonfiction and 3 fiction—featuring bold midlife voices.

Our nonfiction will spotlight memoirs and self-help.
Our fiction? Romance in all its glorious sub-genres.
Because yes, midlife deserves great love stories, too.

From steamy authenticity to wise wit, Empress Editions is here to challenge stereotypes and celebrate the messy, magical middle of life.

The Empress Age Movement

Empress Editions is part of a bigger vision—The Empress Age—
A movement born from the newsletter that now reaches over 2 million readers.

We’re redefining midlife as a vibrant, creative, unstoppable phase between “mother” and “crone.”
And we’re doing it with timeless design and a commitment to sustainability.

Join the Revolution

Preorders are open for Quickies!
Be among the first to receive:

✔️ An autographed copy of Quickies
✔️ A VIP Empress Editions gift basket (worth $500)
✔️ A chance to win a luxe “Read, Write, and Renew” spa retreat with Dr. B

Because midlife isn’t the end of your story—
It’s the start of the best chapter yet.