About Us
We Publish Books That Create Magic in Your Mind
Bloom & Co. Publishing is an independent publishing company based in Burlington, North Carolina,
Our Founder
Bloom & Co. Publishing was founded by Gwendolyn Stephens, MBA, NCCPF, an author, educator, entrepreneur, and North Carolina Certified Professional Florist.
With more than 25 years of experience in the floral and creative industries, Gwendolyn has combined entrepreneurship, education, business management, and storytelling throughout her career. She previously taught floral design and floral business entrepreneurship through Guilford Technical Community College Continuing Education.
As a published author herself, Gwendolyn understands that authors need more than inspiration. They also need knowledge about publishing, marketing, branding, distribution, and the business behind their books.
Our Mission
Our mission is to inspire, educate, and empower new and aspiring authors to transform their ideas into published works while developing the knowledge and entrepreneurial mindset needed to build a lasting author brand.
Our growing collection includes:
Circus of Flowers -Nature’s Greatest Show in Bloom
the. Storm -The Fractured Legacy
The Art & Business of Event Planning & Logistics Coordination.
Dance of the Dandelions (Coming Soon-2027)
Beautiful Suicide (Coming Soon-2027)
Papier-Mâché Roses (Coming Soon-2027)
Work With Bloom & Co. Publishing
Interested in publishing, manuscript submissions, author education, book readings, book signings, speaking engagements, or educational workshops?
Connect with Bloom & Co. Publishing to learn more.
We All Have A Story to Tell
Bloom & Co. Publishing believes every story deserves the opportunity to be discovered. We help new and aspiring authors understand the journey from manuscript to publication while learning how to build an author brand and approach their books as both creative works and business opportunities.
Whether you are writing your first novel, developing an educational book, sharing your personal story, or building a collection of published works, our goal is to help you better understand the publishing industry and the entrepreneurial side of becoming an author.
More Than Publishing
Bloom & Co. Publishing is built around creativity, education, and entrepreneurship. We believe becoming an author is about more than publishing a book—it is about understanding your audience, developing your brand, marketing your work, and creating opportunities around your ideas.
Our focus is helping aspiring authors gain practical knowledge about the business of publishing while encouraging them to develop their own creative voice.
Steps How To Submit Your Manuscript
How to Submit Your Manuscript
1. Finish Your Manuscript
Before anything else:
- Complete the full manuscript (unless the publisher accepts proposals)
- Revise and edit thoroughly
- Run grammar/spell checks
Research the Publisher
2. Make sure the publisher is a fit.
Check:
- Genres they accept
- Tone/style (does it match your book?)
- Submission guidelines
Never submit blindly—targeted submissions get better results
Prepare Submission Materials
3. Most publishers require a package of materials.
Core items:
- Query Letter (1 page)
- Synopsis (1–2 pages summary of the full story)
- Sample Chapters (usually 1–3 chapters)
Sometimes required:
- Full manuscript (if requested)
- Author bio
- Comparable titles (comp titles)
Write a Strong Query Letter
4. This is your pitch.
Include:
- Hook (grab attention immediately)
- Brief plot summary
- Genre + word count
- Target audience
- Short author bio
Think: back cover meets sales pitch
Format Your Manuscript Properly Format Your Manuscript Properly
5. Standard format usually includes:
- 12 pt font (Times New Roman or Garamond)
- Double spaced
- 1-inch margins
- Page numbers
- Title + author name in headerClean formatting shows professionalismStandard format usually includes:
- 12 pt font (Times New Roman or Garamond)
- Double spaced
- 1-inch margins
- Page numbers
- Title + author name in header
Clean formatting shows professionalism
Follow Submission Guidelines EXACTLY
6. Every publisher is different.
They may ask for:
- Email submissions vs form upload
- Specific subject line format
- File type (Word, PDF, etc.)
Not following instructions = automatic rejection at many publishers