“Don’t give up. A reader can’t read a blank page and rejection is just a step toward the story you’re meant to share.”
Kelly Moran is a hybrid author, small press publisher, and international bestseller living in York, South Carolina. Through her company, Rowan Prose Publishing, she champions emerging writers and tells stories that resonate globally.
About
Kelly Moran is a seasoned author and founder of Rowan Prose Publishing, a small press that uplifts underrepresented voices in the literary world. Based in York, South Carolina, Kelly began her professional journey in 2005 as a novelist, publishing over 30 titles in paranormal and contemporary romance, and even light horror. She is a hybrid author having published both independently and through major houses like Penguin/Berkeley and her books have earned international acclaim, particularly in Germany, where she is a household name.
In 2023, Kelly launched Rowan Prose to support debut authors often overlooked by large publishers. Her goal is to provide a welcoming, professionally rigorous publishing experience that balances author freedom with editorial excellence. With over 50 authors on her roster, she works daily to edit, market, and nurture literary careers from her home office complete with the “commute” past two dogs and a pot of coffee.
For Kelly, success isn’t measured solely in sales or bestseller status, though she’s achieved both. It’s found in the emotional connection readers form with her work readers who write to say her characters made them laugh, cry, or feel seen. She champions inclusive storytelling, often weaving in themes of disability, anxiety, and social justice into her romance novels.
Her advice to aspiring creatives is simple but powerful: follow your dream. Whether you’re writing at 5 a.m. before work or querying your 80th agent, keep going. “Rejection will come,” she says, “but so will the right readers and maybe even your dream contract.”
