FORTHCOMING from BETTY on SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
ANY KIND OF KNOWN TOMORROW
A Novel by Leah De Forest
979-8-9923690-3-8 (Print) • 288 pages • $19.95
Preorders open May 12, 2026. Betty is distributed by Independent Publishers Group. More information.​​
In March 2020, as Hadley Parris faces a sense of her own mortality, and amid fraught family ties, her decision to take in a vulnerable teen with no place to go all adds up to an already complicated life, increasingly contained in her Brooklyn apartment along with the threat of maybe thousands of angry bees.
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“A deeply affecting novel about a deeply troubling time in New York City.”
—David Haynes, author of Martha’s Daughter
“A tour-de-force of empathy [that] incisively captures that unimaginable moment in 2020—when all our anchors were abruptly pulled up, and together-alone we found ourselves at sea with no land in sight … An impressive debut.”
—Sonya Chung, author of The Loved Ones
Leah De Forest was born in Geelong, Australia, and lives in Boston. Her writing has appeared in Griffith Review, CRAFT Literary, and Fiction Writers Review, among many literary journals. She serves as an editor at Bloom, a literary website featuring authors who debut at 40 or older, and teaches writing at the Harvard Extension School. Leah holds an MFA from the Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College.
Meet Betty
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Betty is a traditional, distributed independent press imprint of WTAW Press that acquires literary titles through an anonymous open submission process. In seeking to elevate and publish traditionally underrepresented authors, we eagerly welcome all self-identified women—including trans women, nonbinary and intersex authors, and authors whose gender is fluid or nonconforming.
We ensure every title benefits from the high-level editorial care and comprehensive in-house marketing and publicity that are the hallmarks of WTAW Press.
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Learn more about our authors.
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Betty’s unique cohort model
Our authors don't publish in isolation; as part of a cohort they support one another throughout the publishing cycle. This structure focuses on community-driven impact, where writers stay hands-on with the publishing process to create a sense of shared success. This model is a game-changer for authors.
Here’s how:
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The power of group force and focus
In a crowded market, four or five authors shouting for one another is louder than one author shouting for themselves. At Betty, we’ve moved away from the lone wolf author model. By publishing as a cohort, our authors cross-pollinate their audiences. When one author lands a great reading or a review, they bring the whole group along.
Democratizing the industry
Betty pulls back the curtain on the publishing black box. Authors gain agency by learning the how and why of the industry. They aren’t just waiting for things to happen; they’re active participants, making them savvy and empowered throughout their careers.
Professional sustainability
The launch of a book, especially a debut, is an emotional milestone. Our cohort model provides a built-in peer support system, ensuring our impact is measured in both sales and the well-being of our writers.
Submissions and selection
Our selection process is designed to ensure artistic excellence while building a supportive, inclusive community of writers.
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Our selection philosophy:
Artistic merit first
Initial review is completely anonymous. We believe the work must stand on its own; platform itself will not get a book published at Betty.
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The finalist stage
Once a manuscript moves to the finalist stage, we “open the envelope” to review the author’s statement.
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Seeking literary citizens:
We select authors who want to be part of a cohort—writers who are as excited about their peers’ success as their own.
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Submissions:
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Eligibility
We accept unpublished full-length books of prose (novels, nonfiction, memoir, collections of stories or essays).
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Anonymity is mandatory
There can be no identifying information on the manuscript, including the file name, headers, and title page. Manuscripts containing identifying information will be automatically disqualified and any reading fee forfeited.
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How to submit
Manuscripts are accepted only through our submission manager during open submission periods. All guidelines listed on the submission manager must be followed to avoid automatic disqualification and forfeiture of reading fees.
To stay informed about our next open submission period, sign up for our newsletter and follow Betty on our social media platforms @thebettybooks.
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