EDITOR’S NOTE
As summer fades and autumn begins to whisper in the air, we find ourselves in one of the best seasons for reading. The long, sunlit days of summer give way to cooler evenings, perfect for curling up with a blanket, a warm drink and a book that carries us somewhere new. Just as the leaves begin to turn, every story invites its own change of color and perspective. This September, let’s step into fall together, with books to keep us company through the season ahead.
Featured Book of the Month
The Power of Authors is a book about stories—not in the sense of plot and characters, but in the sense of what stories do in the world. It begins with a simple conviction: words are never neutral. They heal or harm, unite or divide, inspire or diminish. From this foundation, the book invites readers to consider how writing shapes not only personal lives but also the destiny of communities and nations.
Structured as a reflective exploration, the book reveals the hidden influence of authorship. It shows how books become companions in moments of loneliness, teachers in times of uncertainty, and sparks of courage when silence might otherwise prevail. It insists that authors do more than entertain; they are builders of memory, guardians of truth, and quiet catalysts of change.
What sets The Power of Authors apart is its breadth. The book reaches beyond the world of professional writers and seasoned novelists, embracing anyone who chooses to set words on paper—or screen. Each act of writing becomes part of the enduring tradition of voices leaving their mark through language. Whether shaped into novels, essays, histories, or memoirs—or found in emails, social media posts, memos, thank-you notes, and condolence cards—these words hold the power to echo far beyond the writer’s own time and place.
The Power of Everyday Words
The Power of Authors reminds us that writing’s influence is not confined to shelves of novels or rows of memoirs. The words that shape our days—an email carefully worded, a post shared on social media, a memo clarifying direction, a thank-you note written in gratitude, or a condolence card offered in grief—carry weight.
These small, everyday writings ripple outward. A short message may encourage someone facing discouragement. A public post may inspire reflection far beyond the author’s reach. A note of sympathy may steady a grieving heart. Even the most ordinary act of writing joins the larger tradition of language shaping lives.
By widening its embrace to include both great works of literature and the simplest of human expressions, The Power of Authors shows that all writing matters. Every word—whether crafted for many or offered to one—has the potential to echo beyond its moment.
At its heart, the book is not a manual on technique but a meditation on purpose. It celebrates the courage of storytelling while reminding readers of the responsibility that accompanies it. Words can build bridges, but they can also sharpen divides. The book asks its audience to reflect deeply on how stories are told, why they are told, and the legacies they leave behind.
For members of the Readers and Writers Book Club, The Power of Authors offers both mirror and map. It mirrors the club’s mission of connecting people across distances through the written word, and it provides a map for understanding the profound place of authorship in human experience.
Reading this book is more than an act of appreciation. It is an act of recognition—words still hold power, books remain vital in shaping the world, and the legacy of all writers continues to matter.
OTHER BOOKS FOR SEPTEMBER
Get these books with 50% discount with your Readers and Writers Book Club Membership!
Visit www.publicationconsultants.com to order!
Featured Author: Meet Evan Swensen
Evan Swensen was born in Utah and moved to Alaska in 1957, where he has lived ever since. Alaska has shaped his life, his writing, and his publishing career, giving him a lifelong connection to the land, its people, and their stories.
Evan is the publisher at Publication Consultants, where for decades he has helped authors bring their manuscripts into print. Under his direction, the company has published hundreds of books by writers of every genre and background. His vision has always been larger than the mechanics of publishing; he sees storytelling as a way to preserve memory, challenge division, and plant seeds of courage, kindness, and hope.
Alongside his work as a publisher, Evan is an accomplished author. His books include One Last Cast, Fishing Alaska, Hiker’s Guide to Alaska, Alone with Bears, and his forthcoming The Power of Authors. His writing reflects both his deep love for the outdoors and his conviction that words can inspire change. He has also contributed to numerous national magazines, often drawing on his experiences as a fisherman, hunter, pilot, and Alaskan adventurer.
Evan has long been involved in Alaska’s media, serving as publisher and editor of Alaska Outdoors magazine, producer of the Alaska Outdoors television show and outdoor recreation videos, and host of The Outdoor Show television program and Alaska Outdoor Radio Magazine. As a pilot, he has logged more than 4,000 hours of flight time in both wheel and floatplanes, and his love for the outdoors extends to fishing, hunting, and exploring Alaska’s backcountry.
Beyond his professional work, Evan has served faithfully in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, holding leadership roles including bishop, high councilor, district presidency counselor, mission presidency counselor, and temple sealer. His personal life also reflects his devotion to family: he and his late wife, Margaret Robison Swensen, have nine children, 27 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren before her passing in 2002. In 2003, he married Lois Jane Schmitz, a native of Minnesota and longtime Alaskan.
Evan also founded Author Masterminds and the Readers and Writers Book Club, communities that connect authors and readers worldwide. His leadership in these groups reflects his enduring belief in the power of authors to reach across borders and generations.
At heart, Evan is a storyteller who claims to have the best job in the world: when going afield, he puts on his fishing vest, picks up his fly rod, kisses his wife goodbye, tells her he is going to work—and she believes him.
Community Corner
Member Submissions
Your Space to Shine. This corner is for the voices of our club—both readers and writers. If you have a poem, short story, artwork, or even a thoughtful reflection you’d like to share, we’d love to feature it here. Consider this your space to inspire and connect with fellow members.
Send your submissions to jen@publicationconsultants.com and be part of the conversation.
Quick Writing Tips
from Steve Levi
The internet and social marketing have changed book selling. In the past, books were sold in bookstores on shelves by genres like mystery, romance, history, and puzzles. Those days are gone. If you are reading my tips, you do not have the connection for the big bucks. So, what do you do? Be different; be unique. How do you do that? First, spend the next week writing down every idea you have ever considered for a book. After you have the list completed, put it in the trash can. If you could come up with those ideas, so can anyone – and everyone – think of them too. Now, force yourself to think of ideas that ‘cannot be.’ Be an off-the-wall thinker. How about someone who steals things of no value? Why would anyone steal something that has no value? Can you make a story of it? Actually, you can. If you want a sample, look at my stories on Readers and Writers Book Club. I can assure you no one else in America is writing about thieves who steal old license plates, sewage, or snow. Snow?
>> Read The Matter of the Snowfall Cover
General Book Club Meeting
Each month, the Readers and Writers Book Club gathers to chat, catch up, share writing tips, and get to know authors themselves. This September 16, we’re featuring Evan Swensen and his new book The Power of Authors. Don’t miss this chance to be part of the conversation.
Mark your calendar!
Tuesday, September 16 at 6:00 PM EDT
Reserve Your Seat Now