About Us

Author page for Melinda Field | Author page for Sally Landaker

Lani Cartwright and Melinda Field were the co-founders of Wise Women Ink. The entire dream came about when Melinda Field and Judith Sommerset came to Lani with the amazing idea of creating a deck of wisdom cards for women over 50. Melinda had researched book after book, trying to find a guide for women entering this extremely important chapter in their lives. She wanted to know who she was now, over 50, an empty-nester, what did this new adventure look like. Who could she look to for sage advice. She wanted to create a empowering guide that women could use on a daily basis. Between Melinda, Judith and Lani the Wisdom of The Crone was birthed. They wanted to honor the word crone; the introduction to Wisdom of The Crone, sums it up perfectly…

“In ancient days, elder women or crones were a respected and integral part of the community. Our world seems to be obsessed with youth, yet there are 630 million women over the age of 50 on the planet today.
As leaders, counselors, teachers, grandmothers and aunties, we now have wisdom and diverse life experience to offer. We encourage you to defy society’s view of older women. We empower you to honor this amazing time of life.”
“When you seek the truth, ask the wise woman within.”

Lani and Melinda went on to create “The Journey” a deck of 54 wisdom cards created to empower and inspire young women as they walk the path of self-discovery. The urgency to manifest this deck felt urgent Young women in our society today were struggling to find their place in the world, in society and in their own hearts. We felt this deck was a starting point, a way to start conversations, revealing emotions, dreams, and self awareness.

The last deck in the trilogy was Wonder of The Mother, a deck created to honor and inspire all who mother.

We are proud of the books and card decks we have helped come to be over the last 10 years. Melinda’s fabulous novel True and its sequel The Nest of Our Being have been received with fabulous reviews. Other titles include Sally Landaker’s The Cave of The Crystal Skull, Mount Shasta Wildflowers: A Field Guide Featuring the Paintings of Edward StuhlThe Kid-U-Naut books by Jeffery “Page O” Redman, Journaling By The Moonlight, a deck of 54 cards guiding mothers on a path of self-discovery, Embracing The Elementals, Poems for Ample Ladies!. The excitement of new projects makes life so worthwhile and we have been so fortunate to work with wonderful writers and visionaries.

Now in it’s 14th year, after working side by side, Melinda has left Wise Women Ink, to focus solely on her writing and family. Both Lani and Melinda had conscientiously decided to become “Book Shepherds” in the hopes that they could help other women bring their literary dreams and goals to fruition. Lani is now carrying that torch, ( don’t worry she still seeks Melinda’s wisdom.)

Lani Cartwright is a photographic artist/graphic designer and a domestic violence advocate who through her photography has captured the emotions and stories of women across the United States.

Championing young women, inspiring them to search out their paths of passion has been her constant work.

Melinda Field is an award winning writer of poems, plays and prose who lives in the scenic mountains of Northern California. Her first novel True received overwhelming five-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

Her latest offering, The Nest of Our Being can be read as a standalone book or as a sequel to True. Based on excerpts from The Nest of Our Being, Melinda was awarded a writing residency at the Can Serrat International Arts Residency in Barcelona Spain.

Melinda’s recent publications include The Journey, Wonder of the Mother and Wisdom of the Crone. She served as Literary Dramaturg for the Strawberry Theatre’s award-winning play Postcards from Hotel Cassiopeia, which was performed in February 2015 at the Hudson Guild Theatre in New York City.

Melinda is currently immersed in her third novel.

Wise Women Ink strives to help women understand the best avenues in which to bring their projects and visions out into the world. The what, when, who and where of indie publishing, the right people to contact, without being wrangled into contracts and situations, the art of avoiding legal nightmares. Honest information and ideas for women interested in self-publishing.