About Elizabeth Ducie

Elizabeth Wins International Publishing Award

Elizabeth Ducie has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 9th Annual Women in Publishing Summit. The award was presented at the closing session on Wednesday 11th March.

Elizabeth spent more than thirty years as an international manufacturing consultant and technical writer before turning to creative fiction in 2006—and what followed is a masterclass in what indie publishing, done with intention, can look like. Under her own imprint, Chudleigh Phoenix Publications, she has published more than twenty titles including the Jones Sisters international thriller series, the Coombesford Chronicles cozy mystery series, and six collections of short stories. Her debut novel, Gorgito's Ice Rink, was runner-up in Writing Magazine‘s Self-Published Book of the Year Awards in 2015.

But the achievement that defines Elizabeth's legacy is arguably her Business of Writing series—a practical, no-nonsense toolkit that gives indie authors the business systems they need to actually sustain a creative career. It is the work of someone who believes that writers deserve to understand their own industry, and who has spent decades making sure they can.

As well as being a member of South Hams Authors Network, Elizabeth is a founder member of Chudleigh Writers' Circle, a former Director of Exeter Literary Festival, and a member of the Crime Writers Association. She has taught and lectured at Swanwick Writers' Summer School and writing communities across the UK. She has been a member of the Women in Publishing community since 2020.

The Lifetime Achievement Award honours a woman whose long-term commitment to publishing has shaped and elevated the industry. Elizabeth Ducie has done that—quietly, consistently, and with the rigor of a scientist who never forgot she had stories to tell.

“I was delighted, but completely surprised, to hear I was in the running for the award,” Elizabeth said. “I never suspected I would even be nominated. And to hear my name announced was incredible. The Women in Publishing Awards exist to shine a light on the women doing the work—the publishers, editors, authors, and advocates who lift others as they rise. I feel honoured and humbled to have been included in this group and recognised in this way.”

The Women in Publishing Summit is a global virtual event and year-round community dedicated to helping authors and publishing professionals build visibility, revenue, and lasting impact. Founded by Alexa Bigwarfe, WIP is home to thousands of women across the publishing ecosystem—united by the belief that they are Better Together.

Elizabeth Ducie began  creative writing in 2006 and initially wrote short stories and poetry for competitions. She had a few wins, several honourable mentions and some short-listing.  She is also published in several anthologies. She now writes crime fiction and non-fiction business manuals.

Her debut novel, Gorgito’s Ice Rink, is a cross-genre story featuring an impossible quest, dual timelines and love, both the romantic and the familial sense. It was Runner-Up in the 2015 Self-Published Book of the Year awards.

The Jones Sisters thrillers are set in the sometimes murky world of international pharmaceuticals. The first three parts (Counterfeit!, Deception!, and Corruption!) were published between 2016 and 2018. In September 2024, she published the final part in the series, Retribution!.

The Coombesford Chronicles, cosy crime set in a typical English village, have been published annually since 2021. So far, we have seen Murder at Mountjoy Manor; Villainy at the Village Store; and Calamity at Coombesford Church. In October 2024, we will find out who’s been Silenced at the Summer Social.

Under the Chudleigh Phoenix Publications imprint, she has also published four solo collections of short stories and co-authored another two with her friend and fellow SHAN member, Sharon Cook. She also writes and lectures on Author Business Foundations, business skills for writers running their own small business.