Meet publisher Martine Sharp: "it’s really rewarding to be part of a book that blesses readers"
Sharp is a workshop leader at the upcoming Southern Christian Writers Conference
Dr. Martine Sharp is a lady of many talents.
She spent twenty years writing for The Alabama Baptist, sharing articles and reviewing books. “I loved visiting different churches and interviewing people,” she said of her time there. At the same time, she wrote three books of her own and was writing travel pieces for online publications as well.
In addition to writing, she worked as teacher then principal then central office administrator for thirty years with the Morgan County School System in Alabama and now teaches doctoral students for the University of Phoenix.
In addition to advising her PhD students, Martine is President and CEO of SonCoast Publishing, a full-service publishing company and consulting firm for writers that publishes both traditional and hybrid titles and she is also the co-owner of SeaCoast Publishing, which publishes the popular Alabama Roots Biography series.
(Martine will speak at the 2025 Southern Christian Writers Conference about today’s publishing opportunities, based on her experiences with SonCoast and SeaCoast. Her workshop will provide important information to help authors understand the difference between traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, and self publishing. Learn about Martine and other faculty members of this year’s SCWC.)
Of her home and family life, she says:
“I live in rural Morgan County on land that six generations of my family have lived on. . . I have been blessed to have two wonderful husbands, both now deceased, and have two sons and six grandchildren. One of my sons works in the business his dad started, and the other is a pastor in Morgan County. I’d tell you about my amazing grandchildren, but I know you have limited space.
I am an active member of Central Baptist Church in Decatur, and attend First Baptist, Gulf Shores in the winter.
I love reading, writing, and digging in the dirt. . . I think I could have been happy being a farmer! I also love to travel, and have been to several countries in Europe. I just got back from taking seven friends to my favorite country—Italy! It was my sixth trip to Italy. I also think I would have been happy as a travel agent!”
Of her work with writers and as the CEO of a publishing company she says:
“I love working with Soncoast authors—they’re the best! It’s really rewarding to be a part of a book that blesses and/or helps the readers.
I have limited the number of books I publish these days so I can concentrate on my own writing (I mostly publish now for authors I have already worked with), but there is still a lot to do to keep the company afloat—ordering books for my authors, updating information, filling book orders, paying royalties, placing ads . . . it keeps me busy. I’m working on ways that AI can enhance/support my job now. I figure it’s coming, so I might as well learn to harness it.”
(Sharp will also meet in one-on-one consultations with prospective authors at the conference.)
She is clearly a very busy lady - but she maintains an interest in politics as well and also serves as a poll worker during elections. (A fun political fact? She served a term as mayor of her town!)
Learn more about Soncoast Publishing.
Learn more about Seacoast Publishing.
In-person registration for the SCWC is full, but you can still sign up for virtual access here.
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Miranda Herring is a contributing writer for “The Ready Writer” who began blogging her journey living with autoimmune disease as a way both to express what she was experiencing and to connect with others who were walking a similar path. Since then, she has written a devotional for those living with chronic illness and is now at work on her second book. Check out her book on Kindle. Read her blog.