Stories deserve more than a place to exist.
They deserve to be held with care.
Black Ember Press is an independent publishing house founded on honest storytelling and respect for each author’s voice.
Our growing catalog includes memoir, poetry, and guided reflection exploring family, identity, faith, resilience, and healing. We publish stories that help readers understand their own experiences and see another person’s life more clearly.
OUR STORY
Black Ember Press began with Permission to Break: A Memoir of Strength, Silence, and Softness by founder Rashida Saunders.
Writing about grief, motherhood, public service, and the cost of always being strong shaped more than a memoir. It shaped an approach to publishing: tell the story honestly, protect the voice behind it, and give the work thoughtful attention.
That first book became the foundation for a growing catalog, including poetry by Doris Drew and reflection tools by Saunders.
Each publication brings its own perspective, connected by a commitment to lived experience and emotional depth.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
An author’s voice is central to the work.
We believe publishing should respect that voice, value creative ownership, and bring intention to how a book is developed and shared.
We build our catalog thoughtfully, giving each title the attention it deserves and considering the readers it may reach.
OUR CURRENT FOCUS
We are supporting our published books and developing forthcoming titles.
Black Ember Press is not currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts, publishing clients, or photography clients.
For questions about our books, orders, or publishing approach, visit our FAQs.
OUR FOUNDER
Rashida Saunders
Rashida Saunders is an author, speaker, leadership strategist, and public servant.
Her writing draws on motherhood, public service, grief, faith, and healing to examine the relationship between the roles we carry and the lives we experience privately.
She founded Black Ember Press following the publication of her debut memoir, Permission to Break, creating a home for her expanding body of work and the voices of other authors.
