Black Ember Press was built for authors who want more than a finished book.
Writers who want clarity, alignment, and full ownership of their voice. You keep your rights. You keep your royalties. We provide structure, strategy, and steady guidance from manuscript to finished book. We value trust, clarity, and human dignity.
WHO THIS IS FOR
For authors who want ownership without isolation, and support without surrendering control.
For people who want their work to feel honest, not rushed or reshaped into something easier to consume. For storytellers building something lasting.
HOW IT SHOWS UP
GUIDED INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING
Manuscript guidance, editorial direction, design coordination, and strategic clarity from draft to finished book.
For memoirists, first-time authors, and purpose-driven writers who want their work to feel aligned from the inside out.
PRESENCE FIRST PHOTOGRAPHY
Publishing is our foundation, but we also offer intentional photography for authors and creatives who want their presence to match the depth of their work.
Portrait, branding, and event sessions rooted in steadiness and authenticity, creating imagery that feels grounded, honest, and true.
FOUNDER
Black Ember Press was founded by Rashida Saunders, author of Permission to Break and a public safety professional whose work has been shaped by community, leadership, and lived experience.
Her work is grounded in truth, emotional honesty, and a deep commitment to honoring stories with care. After years inside high pressure systems, she understands what it means to carry stories that go unspoken, and the cost of staying silent.
She brings both structure and humanity to the creative process, helping authors move from manuscript to publication without losing ownership of their voice.
