Our Story
Although Rose Angel Publishing is a new company, the founders first started publishing books back in 2013 initiating the vision of creating more diverse books. It all began with a 30 year old manuscript gathering dust on a shelf. Finally one day, she decided to type the manuscript and self-publish the book The Legend of the Black Rose, a book her mother wrote with the intention of using the same pen name as her. So, D. C. Cowan authors was born and now includes three generations of writers sharing ideas, stories, and publishing books on a wide variety of themes.
The Cowan family includes the original D. C. Cowan, artist and Spellman College graduate, her daughter, her grandchild, cousins, nieces, and even a set of twins! They produce books in categories such as romance, adventure, historical fiction, suspense, children's books, and books they call ethnofantasy featuring a variety of cultural backgrounds in sci fi/fantasy genres. Books written in 2024 and prior were all handwritten and original works by the authors. It includes titles such as Roses and Incarnations, The Book of Omni, and the Elemental Angels Series.
Recently, an explosion of interest in their books resulted in the recruitment of authors from various backgrounds to help them on their journey to redefine classic public domain books. Also, with the use of AI in tasks such as generating covers, interior illustrations, and even book editing, they have grown their book catalog from a few books to hundreds of books in just one year. Similar to the story of the black rose, these were book ideas that had built up for over a decade and now finally get a place on reader's shelves.
Our Vision
We believe in the power of stories to shape our understanding of humanity. By reimagining classic literature with diverse characters and perspectives, we create space for all people to see themselves in our shared cultural heritage.
Our Purpose
To transform public domain literature by:
- Diversifying character representations across race, ethnicity, and cultural backgrounds
- Removing harmful stereotypes and racist elements from classic texts
- Preserving the fundamental stories, themes, and literary merits of these works
- Creating inclusive versions of timeless narratives that speak to modern readers
Our Principles
- Respect for the Original Work - We acknowledge the historical significance of classic literature while recognizing its limitations.
- Authentic Representation - We commit to thoughtful, nuanced portrayals of diverse characters that avoid tokenism or stereotype.
- Historical Context - We maintain awareness of historical settings while finding creative ways to increase representation.
- Accessibility - We strive to make reimagined classics widely available to readers of all backgrounds.
- Transparency - We clearly identify our works as reimaginings rather than translations or editions of the originals.
Our Approach
- Select public domain works with enduring literary value
- Analyze texts for opportunities to diversify character representation
- Carefully revise while preserving plot integrity and thematic depth
- Consult with cultural sensitivity readers when appropriate
- Publish with explanatory notes on our process and intentions
Our Publishing Mission
As an independent publishing company, we will:
- Build a catalog of reimagined classics with professional editing and design
- Develop print, digital, and audio formats to maximize accessibility
- Create sustainable business practices that support our creative and humanitarian goals
- Partner with educators and libraries to bring diverse classics to new audiences
- Establish transparent reporting on both sales and charitable contributions
Our Commitment to Humanitarian Causes
We dedicate a portion of all proceeds to support:
- Organizations fighting human trafficking and providing support for survivors
- Programs aiding sex workers with resources, healthcare, and exit pathways
- Shelters and services for survivors of domestic abuse
- Global relief funds addressing immediate humanitarian crises
- Disaster relief efforts providing emergency assistance to affected communities
We believe that by reimagining our literary past while supporting humanitarian causes, we create positive change through both cultural and direct action. Our books will not only diversify representation in classic literature but also contribute to addressing serious humanitarian challenges facing our world today.
