Stephanie Johnson Lawson

About Stephanie Johnson Lawson

Posts by Stephanie Johnson Lawson:

Photo of the Altered Tarot deck showing several cards with moon‑phase backs, the Hermit card displayed in front, and the open guidebook showing upright and reversed meanings for the Hermit.

September 30, 2026

Fall 2026 Updates from Unencumbered Press

Stephanie Johnson Lawson Against the Current, Altered Tarot, Book Publishing, Events, Living Unencumbered, The Altered Tarot Deck and Guidebook, Tyler Bieber audiobooks, behind the scenes, book festivals, chapbooks, creative process, fall 2026, indie publishing, publishing updates

“Solitude isn’t empty—it’s expansive.” Read the fall updates from Unencumbered Press: events, audiobooks, chapbooks, tarot reviews, and behind‑the‑scenes work.

A white hanging sign on a building reads “THINK BIG SHOP SMALL” in bold black letters.

July 22, 2026

Creative Solidarity: Four Small Projects to Back on Kickstarter

Stephanie Johnson Lawson Against the Current, Publisher's Picks Arab music, Audiobook Kickstarter, cozy romantasy, creative community, crowdfunding, indie creators, indie film, indie tarot, Kickstarter, Persian music, publishing Kickstarter, queer romantasy, small creators, Tarot Deck Kickstarter, watercolor art

Five days left for the Against the Current campaign! While you’re on Kickstarter, check out the four indie projects I’m shouting out. Supporting small creators is worth it.

June 30, 2026

Reflections at the End of June

Stephanie Johnson Lawson Accessibility, Against the Current, From the Publisher's Desk, Literacy, Politics accessibility, Against the Current, audiobook month, audiobooks, book access, Countdown, Kickstarter campaign, LGBTQ+ representation, literacy, Pride Month, Publishing, Supreme Court ruling, transgender rights

Access is the thread running through so much of June. Pride Month is about access to dignity and representation. Audiobook Month is about access to stories. And today’s Supreme Court ruling is about restricting access to participation.

June 26, 2026

Help Convince Kickstarter We’re Cool

Stephanie Johnson Lawson Against the Current, Biography, From the Publisher's Desk, Marketing Insight, Nonfiction, Promo Videos, Transparency, Tyler Bieber audiobook, campaign update, crowdfunding, Father Tom Oddo, indie publishing, Kickstarter, LGBTQ history, pre‑launch, Projects We Love, small press

Follow our Kickstarter pre‑launch page to strengthen our case for a Projects We Love badge.

June 9, 2026

Turns Out It’s Audiobook Month

Stephanie Johnson Lawson Against the Current, Book Publishing, Marketing Insight, Tyler Bieber Against the Current, audiobook month, audiobook production, audiobooks, book news, Independent Publishing, indie publishing, Kickstarter campaign, Libby app, libro.fm, small press life, summer reading, Unencumbered Press

It turns out it’s Audiobook Month—something my inbox has been very eager to tell me. Luckily, the timing lines up with our first audiobook Kickstarter, launching July 5. A little planning, a little birthday magic, and here we are.

May 27, 2026

On Birthdays & Crowdfunding the Against the Current Audiobook

Stephanie Johnson Lawson Against the Current, Biography, From the Publisher's Desk, Nonfiction, Personal Stories, Tyler Bieber Audiobook Kickstarter, Audiobook launch, biography, birthdays, Book Publishing, Catholic social justice, crowdfunding, DignityUSA, faith and identity, Father Tom Oddo, Legacy and remembrance, LGBTQ+ Catholic history, queer Catholic history, University of Portland, Vatican II

A reflection on why birthdays matter, what they stir up, and what’s ahead for the Against the Current audiobook.