Hank Quense is a prolific and inventive author best known for his practical, plainspoken nonfiction guides that demystify the writing and self-publishing process for aspiring and seasoned writers alike. With a career spanning decades and a reputation for cutting through jargon, Hank has built a library of accessible resources that have empowered countless writers to bring their stories to life and navigate the ever-evolving world of publishing.
Hank’s approach is refreshingly direct, focusing on actionable advice and real-world examples rather than abstract theory. He emphasizes the importance of planning and design in writing, believing that a well-structured story is the foundation for any successful manuscript.
In his nonfiction work, Hank covers every stage of the indie author journey, from Creating Stories to Self-publishing a Book and Marketing Plans for Self-published Books to Business Basics for Authors. These books are widely praised for their clarity and practicality, breaking down complex processes like marketing, book launches, and rights management into manageable steps. Hank’s guidance is especially valued by writers who want to take control of their publishing careers without getting bogged down in technicalities or industry hype.
Beyond his books, Hank is a generous mentor, sharing his knowledge through lectures, blog posts, and direct support to writers at all levels. His nonfiction work stands out for its humor, candor, and relentless focus on helping others succeed-a true testament to his belief that every writer, with the right tools, can tell a compelling story and find their audience.
Hank Quense was born and raised in Jersey City NJ. He attended St Peters Prep high school and Newark College of Engineer where he received a BS in Mechanical Engineering.
After college he went to work for Western Electric engineering telephone equipment into central offices. Later, Western Electric was absorbed into AT&T and Hank was transferred to a new sales organization as an account rep serving New York Telephone Company. He was later promoted to Sales Manager.
In 1996, he took an early retirement offer to become a fiction writer. His efforts at short story writing led to sales of over 40 short stories. His first two novels were published by a small indie press. This experience was so distasteful, he looked into self-publishing, started his own imprint, Strange Worlds Publishing, and self-published more than 20 books, both fiction and non-fiction.
Hank’s short stories and novels are humorous or satiric sci-fi and fantasy. His non-fiction covers fiction writing, self-publishing, book marketing and author business.
