Welcome to Midnight Garden Publishing

Where Creativity Takes Root and Authors Thrive.

About Us

At Midnight Garden Publishing, we believe that every story deserves a fertile ground to grow. We aren't just a publishing house; we are a vibrant artistic community dedicated to empowering authors at every stage of their journey. Whether you are penning your first draft or managing a growing literary empire, we provide the tools, the tech, and the team to help you bloom.

- Our Mission Statement -

To cultivate a sustainable and inclusive sanctuary for storytellers by bridging the gap between artistic vision and professional success.

At Midnight Garden Publishing, our mission is to demystify the publishing process through innovation, community, and expert craft. We are dedicated to providing authors with the high-end resources, business infrastructure, and editorial excellence typically reserved for industry giants, while maintaining the heart and intimacy of a local collective. By fostering a collaborative ecosystem supported by local businesses and peers, we aim to empower every author to grow their passion into a legacy.

- Our Three Pillars -

Empowerment

Provide software and website storefronts to turn writers into business owners.

Craft

Deliver a full editorial suite, one on one consultations, beta reading groups, and writing groups

Community

Host free writing groups and local events to ensure no author walks the path alone.

- Our Ecosystem of Support -

We’ve built a comprehensive "garden" of services designed to take the administrative weight off your shoulders so you can focus on what matters: the writing.

Complete Editorial Suite:

From developmental editing to meticulous proofreading, our experts polish your prose to perfection.

Web & Commerce:

We build and maintain professional author websites and custom online storefronts, ensuring your digital presence is as captivating as your books.

Business Mastery:

Navigate the industry with ease using our integrated client management software, distribution networks, and sales tracking.

Community & Growth

Writing can be a solitary craft, but it shouldn't be a lonely one. Midnight Garden is committed to fostering connection through:

Free Writing Groups:

Join our collaborative sessions led by Writers in Residence to hone your craft and find your tribe.

Curated Events:

From workshops, conferences, and networking events to book launches, we create spaces for authors to shine and readers to engage.

A Village for the Arts

Midnight Garden is bolstered by an incredible network of local businesses who share our passion for the arts. This synergy allows us to offer robust resources and unique opportunities that celebrate the intersection of business and creativity.

Meet the Team

Chief Executive Officer, Poet, & Writer

Mindy McVay, CEO of Midnight Garden Publishing House, is a mother, a wife, a poet, a writer, as well as a community organizer. She has enjoyed writing for many nonprofits in the past, and has hosted her writing group, Writers in Residence, in three different states for 9 years. She was brought up in a successful family tech business and is a fourth generation farmer from the Amarugias in Cass County. Her cumulative life experiences have shown her how to unify community and business for the benefit of those around her. She is currently partnered with other Kansas City businesses in marketing and works in freelance copywriting. She enjoys gardening with her son and teaching garden lectures in her online group, Reviving Victory Gardens One Friendship at a Time, on Facebook. Mindy is currently writing a screenplay and has recently been published in the KC Anthology of Bards Against Hunger.

"I love working in the publishing industry, growing our KC artistic community, and finding ways to collaborate with other local businesses to support and Empower Authors and artists in the KC Metro area."

Editor-in-Chief

Patricia Hartman is a Graduate from Northwest Missouri State University, “Go Bearcats!” with a bachelor’s degree in English Education, fifteen years editing experience working in such mediums as newspapers, newsletters, pamphlets, and with independent creative writers. She has a history of teaching elementary age students and has enjoyed her time living in creative communities such as Chicago, Bakersfield, Seattle, and has made Kansas City her home.

“It is an honor and a passion to edit the writings of the creatives I work with at Midnight Garden Publishing. Editing is its own art. My responsibility is neither to correct nor directly change what the artist has manifested. Rather, I strive for the client’s brilliance to shine as brightly as possible. Editing is taking something that is already beautiful and elevating it to its highest form. While doing this I have the privilege of being able to see the wonders and new depths of fellow artists all over the Kansas City area who constantly surprise me with spaces they create between the pages. I can’t wait for those like you to allow me to join you in your journey."

Poet and IT professional

Jonathan David Shepard is a Kansas City area poet and has a degree in Software Engineering. He currently works as an Uber driver in addition to his many contributions to Midnight Garden Publishing. Originally from Sheboygan County in Wisconsin, he made the move to the Kansas City area in 2015. He has found friends and reconnected with family here in the KC area and is proud to belong to this community. He can be found on YouTube under the name Jonathan David Shepard where he reads classic poems and his own works in succinct videos and Shorts. He is thrilled to be part of the Midnight Garden mission of empowering and supporting local KC authors.