Publishing with Peace Corps Writers: Transition in Progress
Important Update: We are currently transitioning our publishing operations
Peace Corps Writers — an effort of Peace Corps Worldwide — has long been dedicated to publishing books by writers who have served with the Peace Corps as Volunteers, staff, or host country partners. We welcome fiction, non-fiction, travel, memoir, poetry, and other genres from our community of writers that meet one criterion: They support a greater understanding among the peoples of the world.
Current Status
We are currently in the process of transitioning from our previous arrangement under Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and Marian Beil’s dedicated leadership to a new, more sustainable structure for the future.
For decades, Marian and John have generously given their time and talent to help hundreds of RPCVs publish their books through the Peace Corps Writers imprint. As we plan for the future of this vital publishing arm, we recognize the significant level of effort required and are exploring several options to ensure continuity and growth.
Future Publishing Model Options
We are actively exploring several pathways forward to best serve Peace Corps writers and readers, including:
- Creating a digital-first publishing platform with professional editorial and design support, streamlined submissions, and direct-to-reader distribution alongside print-on-demand options
- Finding a home for the imprint within a major publishing company that shares our values and commitment to Peace Corps voices
- Partnering with established small presses or university publishers with experience in international literature and cross-cultural narratives
- Developing a hybrid publishing model that provides professional support while keeping costs accessible for authors
- Building a network of publishing professionals willing to mentor Peace Corps authors through the publication process
- Establishing enhanced submission and selection processes to ensure consistent quality while supporting more writers
Our Vision
We’re committed to ensuring that Peace Corps writers continue to have pathways to publication while creating a sustainable model that doesn’t rely solely on volunteer efforts. Our vision is to help more returned Peace Corps volunteers share their powerful stories with the world by making the publishing process accessible, supportive, and affordable.
We want to take Peace Corps writing to the next level by connecting authors with professional editors, designers, and publishing experts who understand the unique value of cross-cultural experiences. Our goal is to help these important stories reach broader audiences—from fellow RPCVs to readers everywhere who are hungry for authentic perspectives on global citizenship, service, and human connection.
The extensive bibliography of books published under Marian’s care will be transitioned to a new interactive online platform that showcases this remarkable literary legacy.
What This Means for Authors
We expect to have our new publishing model in place by the fourth quarter of 2025. In the interim, authors may submit their manuscripts to Glenn at gblumhorst@gmail.com, with the understanding that submissions may be placed on hold until we have our new arrangement in place.
Authors with manuscripts in progress are encouraged to continue their writing and preparation work. We anticipate that our new model will provide even better support for Peace Corps writers seeking publication.
Stay Updated
Please check back regularly for updates on our transition progress. We will announce our new submission guidelines and processes as soon as they are available.
Thank you for your patience as we work to create an even stronger platform for Peace Corps voices in literature.
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You may also wish to read:
How to Write A Novel in 100 Days by John Coyne (Ethiopia 1962–64). Even if you don’t want to finish writing your book in 100 days, or even if it’s not a novel, this book has lots of writing and editing tips, and encouragement for any book author; and “How to Publish“ with hints and encouragement on publishing your book; and “Self-published Quality Format” to get an idea about what “designing a book” really entails, both by Larry Lihosit (Honduras 1975–77).