I have to admit, it’s hard keeping up with everything. And I do mean everything, not just here at Strong Girl Publishing headquarters (i.e my desk chair that is shared with DW the Dachshund). The world constantly feels heavier and heavier, we’re checking the air quality before we can go out and exercise, and it feels like anytime I open social media, there’s something else to get stressed about. That’s the bad stress. But I have to admit, there’s also a lot that I’m incredibly lucky is piled on my plate. The good stress is that it’s race season, so I’m in full-time cycling journalist mode, between coverage for Bicycling.com and the Queen Stage Women’s Cycling Podcast. I’m also doing my own training, I’ve started taking boxing classes, and next week, I’m off for a couple days on a bikepacking/trail running adventure with a good friend, with whom I’ve also launched a bi-weekly trail running series. I’ve been at a few incredible events (shoutout to Rooted MTB in NY!) and we’re planning an amazing August-October of racing cyclocross and being at events including Feisty Fest in PA in September. I’m at the halfway mark of writing the fifth Shred Girls book (!). I’m about to sign a new author. And we have, in the next 2 months, an online course, a graphic novel and a children’s book launching, on the heels of the wild launch of Marley Blonsky’s Ragtag Best Friends Bicycle Club. And that, my dear friends, is just the highlight reel—not the day-to-day stuff that pays the bills.
In the background, I’m also really leaning into MAKING again. I obviously write a lot of words, but it’s been a while since I really made a lot with my hands. So when I wanted to improve my setup at events, rather than hitting Buy Now, I made shelves. I laminated info about each book and author for them. I made the vinyl decals and iron ons for Strong Girl Publishing using my vinyl cutting Cricut. I have a screenprint kit that I’m starting to use for some new designs instead of outsourcing them. I… bought an old gumball machine (not a cute one, one that needed a LOT of work) and I’m refurbing it for a secret project that will be revealed soon.
It’s been a lot. But anytime I’m starting to feel like hiding under my desk, I think about the joy I’m getting making things—both here in word form, but also IRL. And I think about three years ago when I showed up in my mentor’s office and ‘pitched’ the idea of Strong Girl Publishing to him. I already had the Shred Girls books, I had a couple of authors I knew I wanted to work with, and I had this big idea and a silly powerpoint presentation. At the end of it, he sat back, looked at me, and said, ‘this isn’t going to be a business. It’s going to be a legacy.’
All that to say… haven’t had as much time to write this Substack (like many other substackers I know!). Still, I wanted to pop in here to say a hello, and to let everyone know about the new drops coming soon!
Thanks, as always, for following along with our wild adventures!
-Molly Hurford, founder, Strong Girl Publishing
Here’s what we have coming up! As always, your support is so, so, so appreciated.
We have three bundles on the site right now: Shred Girls, Tween and Teen Summer Reading Bundles—great deals, great books, great extras (like stickers and backpacks)! Check them out here if you have a kiddo you need to keep entertained:
Coming August 15, pre-order open now
In our course Inner Power: The Pelvic Health Playbook for Young Female Athletes, you’ll learn that your body is stronger than you think, and understanding it is the first step to performing at your best. Created and taught by Laura Powers, a physiotherapist and former varsity volleyball player with advanced training in pelvic health, this course gives athletes the knowledge and tools to understand what’s happening in their bodies, and what to do about it.
Pelvic health is one of the most underserved areas in sport. Research shows that roughly 1 in 4 female athletes who play impact sports experience bladder leakage. Painful periods sideline athletes every month. Constipation, fatigue, and energy deficiency affect performance in ways that often go unrecognized. These aren’t just things to push through. They’re signals… and there’s a lot that can be done to boost your health and performance.
In the course, Laura covers the anatomy of the pelvic floor and core, bladder leakage and what actually causes it in young athletes, bowel health and its surprising connection to other symptoms, period health including how to track your cycle, manage pain, and know when to seek help, and RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), a condition that can affect every system in the body when athletes aren’t fueling enough to match their output. Practical exercises for breathing, pelvic floor awareness, core connection, and period pain relief are woven throughout.
The video course is designed for athletes aged 14 and up, and a valuable resource for the coaches and adults who support them.
Learn more and register now here using code EARLYBIRD15 for 15% off! (For coaches or educators looking to purchase the course for teams or students, learn more about our bulk options here or email info@stronggirlpublishing.com.)
Coming September 8, preorder open now
We worked with the RE.sport team to create a graphic novel that’s research-based and evidence-informed to help kids understand the barriers that their peers may face in sport. It’s available for preorder now, and bulk options (with PDF lesson plan downloads and a tryout assessment) are available for classes and teams. Check it out here.
You walk past the tryout poster in the hallway.
Some kids can’t wait.
Some feel nervous.
Some don’t even stop to look.
What is stopping some kids from trying out for the team while others don’t think twice? What makes some kids excited, while other kids don’t even consider signing up?
Asking “Why Can’t They Play?” seems like a simple question, but it has an incredibly complex answer. All kids should be able to play, but for some, a tryout poster hanging in the hall is just another reminder of why they can’t play.
In this graphic novel, a team of researchers breaks down some of the main ways that a soccer tryout can exclude many kids—and why that’s wrong, and what kids, coaches and educators can do about it.
When we work together, we can find a way that we can all play.
Lizzie Learns to Ride will be released 10/27/2026 and is available for preorder now!
Dr. Gabrielle Rossi is an author, educator, and lover of leisurely bike rides. Gabrielle has spent more than a decade leading youth-focused organizations that use play, movement, and community as powerful tools for growth. She’s the Founder and Executive Director of Girls in Gear, a national nonprofit that helps girls of all ages discover the joy, confidence, and freedom that come from riding their bikes. Gabrielle now has the privilege of watching girls across the country take what they learn on two wheels and carry it into their lives - with courage, tenacity, and pluck. Named the recipient of the Youth Empowerment Award by the League of American Bicyclists, Gabrielle frequently speaks around the country about her work and the transformative potential of biking for girls.
Once a hesitant nine-year-old who had no interest in riding a bike, author Gabrielle now spends her days cheering on first-time pedalers, chasing fearless climbers, and making friendship bracelets at the finish line. In Lizzie Learns to Ride, Lizzie is nervous about pedaling for the first time. Gabrielle knows firsthand what it’s like to be a reluctant rider, and that it’s okay to feel big feelings when you’re trying something new for the first time! Having taught hundreds of girls, Gabrielle knows that learning to bike is really about learning to trust yourself because with a little bravery (and your trusted stuffie), anything is possible.
Lizzie Learns to Ride is illustrated by Emjay Haislip, an illustrator from the Washington D.C. area who loves bringing colorful characters and stories to life. They create illustrations for children’s media, brands, and anyone who needs a splash of creativity. They sell goods and run workshops under the name We Are All Makers.
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