About Us
The Publishing Cousins Podcast
Join cousins Nikki Boetger and Melissa LaShure – an author and illustrator duo – as they pull back the curtain on publishing.
Our Goals and Vision
Our Vision
Publishing Cousins exists to demystify the publishing industry by offering an authentic, insider perspective delivered through the unique lens of family collaboration. We envision a community where aspiring authors, illustrators, and book enthusiasts feel empowered to pursue their creative dreams with confidence, armed with real-world knowledge and encouragement.
Our Goals
Educate and Inspire
We’re committed to sharing practical industry insights, creative strategies, and hard-earned wisdom that helps writers and illustrators navigate their publishing journeys with clarity and purpose.
Build Community
Through honest conversations and relatable experiences, we aim to create a welcoming space where creators at all stages feel connected, supported, and inspired to keep pursuing their craft.
Pull Back the Curtain
We believe transparency makes the publishing world less intimidating and more accessible. Our goal is to reveal the real processes, challenges, and triumphs behind bringing books to life.
Celebrate Creativity
From manuscript to final flourish, we’re here to honor the dedication, artistry, and passion that goes into every published work—and to remind our listeners that their stories matter.
Keep It Real (and Fun)
Publishing can be serious business, but it doesn’t have to be stuffy. We’re dedicated to delivering valuable content with authenticity, humor, and the warmth of family connection.
Who We Are
We’re Melissa LaShure and Nikki Boetger—cousins, collaborators, and your guides through the publishing world. Melissa brings her experience as an author, while Nikki offers her expertise as an illustrator. Together, we’re partners-in-publishing who’ve navigated the creative trenches and lived to tell the tale.
What makes us different? We’re not just industry insiders—we’re family. That means you get honest conversations without the corporate polish, insider knowledge delivered with cousin-level candor, and all the encouragement you’d expect from people who genuinely want to see you succeed.
Through Publishing Cousins, we combine our complementary creative perspectives to give you the full picture of what it really takes to bring words and images to publication. From our own wins and “learning experiences” (we all have them!) to expert advice we’ve gathered along the way, we’re here to share it all—mistakes, triumphs, and everything in between.
Whether you’re drafting your first manuscript, perfecting your portfolio, or simply curious about how books come to life, we’re excited to welcome you into our creative corner of the publishing world. Grab a seat at our table—there’s always room for one more.
Our Story
Publishing Cousins began the way many good ideas do—over family conversations that were just too good to keep to ourselves.
As cousins who both found our way into the creative industry, Melissa and Nikki discovered that their paths, while different, were remarkably complementary. Melissa pursued her passion for storytelling as an author, while Nikki developed her talents as an illustrator. Over the years, as we navigated contracts, deadlines, rejections, and victories, we found ourselves turning to each other for advice, encouragement, and the occasional reality check.
Those kitchen table conversations and late-night phone calls became our lifeline in an industry that can feel isolating and overwhelming. We swapped stories about manuscript submissions and portfolio reviews, celebrated each other’s wins, and commiserated over the inevitable setbacks. We realized that the combination of our perspectives—words and images, author and illustrator—gave us a unique understanding of how publishing really works.
Then it hit us: if these conversations were helping us, imagine what they could do for others trying to break into publishing or grow their creative careers.
That’s when Publishing Cousins was born. We wanted to create a space where the mystery of publishing dissolves, where aspiring creators could hear honest experiences from people who’ve been in the trenches, and where the journey felt a little less lonely. We’re not just colleagues or co-hosts—we’re family, and that means you get the unfiltered truth, served with warmth, humor, and genuine care for your success.
So here we are, inviting you into our ongoing conversation about creativity, publishing, and everything in between. Because the best stories are always better when shared with family.
Meet The Hosts
Nikki Boetger
Co-Host
Melissa LaShure
Co-Host
Welcome to the world of romance. Melissa LaShure writes steamy, adventure-packed, inspirational historical Christian romance novels that feature cowboys taming the wild west and rescuing damsels in distress.
Melissa likes to think of her books as bridging the gap between your typical Christian romance and secular romance. She loves the passion found in secular romances, but as a believer, she is not comfortable with the bedroom scenes. So, Melissa writes books that are packed with passion but leave the bedroom door shut with the goal of pointing readers to Christ.
Outside of being an author, Melissa currently works in education as a curriculum director and Principal for an amazing school corporation. In addition to that, she hosts the LiteraryScape and Educational Awareness podcasts.
When she’s not working, writing, or podcasting, you can find her hanging with her husband or reading a book. Of course, she is always up for exploring new places and enjoying great coffee!