Hi, we’re Jonathan and Renée Lautermilch—CEO and Chief Editor of Smart Publishing.

Smart Publishing didn’t start as a business. It started with frustration.

Jonathan published his first book through a company that came highly recommended. The process was more complicated than it needed to be. The editing felt heavy, the experience lacked support, and when the book launched, it didn’t produce the outcome he expected. What should have been a defining moment ended up feeling underwhelming.

Not long after, Renée decided to write her own book. Instead of outsourcing the process, she learned it from the inside out: what works, what slows authors down, and what actually moves a book forward. She completed her manuscript in four months and, on launch day, her book reached bestseller status across multiple categories.

That contrast revealed something important: the difference wasn’t talent or effort; it was process, positioning, and execution.

It became clear that most publishing experiences focus on getting a book finished, but very few are designed to make that book do anything meaningful afterward.

That realization became the foundation for Smart Publishing.

We built this company to help business owners and professionals create books that go beyond being published. A book should support your authority, strengthen your credibility, and create opportunities that continue long after launch.

Since then, we’ve worked with a wide range of authors, from entrepreneurs to industry experts, who have used their books to open doors, grow their businesses, and position themselves at a higher level in their field.

Our approach is structured, high-touch, and designed for real life. Most of our authors are busy, which is why our process is built to move efficiently without sacrificing quality or clarity.

We keep our client roster intentionally focused so we can stay involved, provide real guidance, and ensure every project is aligned with a clear outcome.

If you’ve been thinking about writing a book, the right question isn’t just whether you can get it done. It’s whether your book will actually move things forward for you. That’s what we’re here to help you build.