Who am I?

My name is Karen Stanley —writing mentor, hybrid publisher, author of 15 books, and founder of Mabel and Stanley Publishing. Since 2021, I've been helping fiction writers and business authors across the UK, and internationally,write, publish and sell books they're genuinely proud of. To date I've supported 80+ authors through the publishing process — and I've made pretty much every mistake along the way so you don't have to.

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My story

I started writing in 2011 with a dream and absolutely no idea what I was doing. I spent thousands on what I now know to be vanity publishing, and received precisely nothing in return, (unless you count a poorly edited book riddled with mistakes, 'published' with an over-inflated price that was never going to sell, and a front cover that looked like it had been done on colour magic by a 5 year old!) No support, no royalties, no control over my own work. It was a very expensive lesson, physically and emotionally!

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So I did what any determined writer does. I researched, I learned, I tried every publishing route going: vanity publishing, self-publishing, traditional publishing (twice), and eventually hybrid publishing, which turned out to be the right fit for me and for the authors I now work with.

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What I discovered along the way was that genuinely practical, jargon-free publishing help for new authors was almost impossible to find. Everyone was either trying to take your money or drown you in complexity...and then take your money once you were well and truly confused!  Nobody was just telling the truth.

That's exactly why Mabel and Stanley Publishing exists...I wanted to be the person I needed when I started out for new and budding authors.

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And the name?

The name was inspired by Mabel -  my beautiful mastiff; my loyal companion, champion snorer, chicken-lover, and snuggle buddy. She inspired the logo and the name, and she's been my loyal writing companion throughout this entire journey...although she is definitely more of a sleeping partner! Stanley, since you're wondering, is the publishing half of the partnership; the half that is passionate about books and who actually gets stuff done. 

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What I bring to the table

I'm a former teacher and assistant headteacher with over 20 years experience teaching literacy and writing — which means I understand how people learn, how stories work, and how to explain the complicated stuff clearly. I've written 15 books of my own across fiction and non-fiction. I've helped 80+ authors publish books that have changed their lives and grown their businesses.

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I know the UK publishing landscape inside out — from KDP and IngramSpark to hybrid publishing, ISBNs, cover design, editing, royalties, and everything in between. And I'll always tell you the truth, even when it's not what you were hoping to hear.

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I also host the Write to Publish podcast - honest conversations about writing, publishing and everything in between, for authors who want straight answers without the fluff.

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What I believe

Your book deserves to exist. Whether you're a fiction writer with a story you've been carrying for years, or a business owner who knows a book would transform how clients see you, I'm here to make it happen. Properly, honestly, without the rip-offs.

I want to be the person I needed when I started out, and I promise to pay your book the very same care and attention that I pay my own.

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If you're ready to stop dreaming about your book and start publishing it, you're in exactly the right place.

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