Advertisments
Indie Groundbreaking Publishers
 |
|
 |
by CeCe Richardson / March 2021 We all agree 2020 was a tough year for small businesses, and it's easy to think that nothing good could come from the COVID crisis. But some businesses found a way to thrive through a world-wide pandemic and, unbelievabl … READ MORE |
 |
by Jim Barnes / February 2022 CityFiles Press was born in 2003 when Michael Williams walked into Richard Cahan's CityFiles Arts and Books storefront and started talking about books. The pair began to envision a publishing company that would produce ' … READ MORE |
 |
by Jim Barnes / November 2021 Steve Semken takes a brief moment to reflect. Although he may be celebrating thirty years of publishing, as anyone in the entrepreneur world knows, there's no time to stop and rest on what was. A business of any size nee … READ MORE |
 |
by Jim Barnes / March 2022 BenBella Books has just turned 20 years old and is going strong, proving to be one of the world's most vital 'boutique' indie publishers. Founded in 2001, the Dallas-based publisher 'aims to be the publisher of cho … READ MORE |
 |
by Jim Barnes / August 2020 Throughout the history of book publishing, major innovations have changed the way books are created, distributed and sold. Think Gutenberg's press, Penguin's paperbacks, Amazon's online bookstore…and a 22 year-old … READ MORE |
 |
Jim Barnes / June 2020 When it comes to independent publishers, there's “indie” and then there's “way indie.” Self-described “offline” publisher, Analog Sea, is one of the “way indie” publishers … READ MORE |
 |
by Jim Barnes / August 2019 The city of Detroit has been “down and out” since the ‘60s, with race riots, white flight, and corrupt city government giving “Motown” the reputation of a run-down, dangerous place. But all … READ MORE |
 |
by Jim Barnes / April 2019 It may be hard to define a NYC-based publisher that's been releasing 10-20 titles a year for 30 years as “groundbreaking,” but that's the amazing thing about Allworth Press – it keeps delivering groundb … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / JULY 2108 One year from their 30th anniversary, Charlesbridge continues to grow and evolve as a children's book publisher while pursuing new markets. The Boston-based press acquired Imagine Publishing in 2010, which brou … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / JUNE 2108 The publishing market is vast, spanning independent presses, the big five, self-publishing and everything in between. Working with the support of a publisher means, in a sense, to cater to what sells. While some writers … READ MORE |
 |
by Jim Barnes / March 2018 Joe Biel started Microcosm Publishing in Portland, Oregon 22 years ago as “a punk rock teenager.” Having grown up during hard times in rust-belt Cleveland, Ohio on a social security income, autistic … READ MORE |
 |
by Jim Barnes / February 2018 The University Press of Kentucky (UPK) is an award-winning and much-admired press widely known for its publishing excellence in the areas of Appalachian cultural history, military history, and the Civil War, along with m … READ MORE |
 |
By Jim Barnes and Rachel Pasche / September 2017 Over the past 20 years, the Internet and search engines like Google have completely transformed the way we gather information. Remember your public library's reference section, with shelves full of phone books, encyclope … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / July 2017 Arbutus Press is a project turned publishing house with the heart and soul of the Midwest. With over 75 titles, including Michigan Notable Book Award winners, the press flourishes in its regional non-fiction niche. … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / March 2017 In the biography of New Directions Publishing's founder, James Laughlin, Literchoor Is My Beat by Ian S. MacNiven, Laughlin is credited with being the most influential person in the twentieth century on American wr … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / February 2017 Our 2016 Indie Groundbreaking Publishers continue to bridge their success into the new year with award recognition for refreshing, significant titles and funding for important projects from enthusiastic supporters. Each … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / October 2017 Publishing can be an uphill battle, but the team at Height of Land Publications continues their trek toward becoming a multimedia platform in the backcountry and outdoor adventure genres. With three successful magazines … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / January 2017 Not only has Feminist Press reached renown amongst feminist publishing for their unique and poignant titles, but their active programming ensures that voices who have been silenced can be heard. Nearing fifty years … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / September 2016 Devoted to publishing binge-worthy books, Amberjack Publishing delivers a broadening selection of just-one-more-chapter titles. Amid a slew of up-and-coming independent presses, the recently launched Amberjack Publi … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / August 2016 Since their establishment in 1991, the publishing powerhouse Candlewick Press has striven to engage children of all ages. Widely known for Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo, National Book Award winner M. T. Anders … READ MORE |
by Anais Mohr / July 2016 Specializing in literary fiction, Coteau Books was originally founded to feature feature poetry before the mandate was expanded to include drama, non-fiction and children's literature. “‘Coteau' is, among oth … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / June 2016 When York University grad student Jack David founded the critical journal, Essays on Canadian Writing, in 1974, he saw potential in the publication. After four years of publishing essays, interviews, bibliographies, and … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / May 2016 In January, IP explored the founding publishers of the Independent Alliance; this month features the presses who joined their ranks in the following years. As we've seen, the Independent Alliance is a 'global alliance of … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / April 2016 In 1997, Johnny Temple was playing bass guitar in the band Girls Against Boys, touring the world and recording albums. In the wake of one particularly successful year, he and two of his musician friends, Bobby and Mark S … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / March 2016 Alma is the Spanish word for “soul” and Alma Books, renowned for their translations and best sellers, certainly upholds their standard as “a publisher with a soul.” Designed to show “the kin … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / February 2016 This month's publisher has broken new ground in publishing in a variety of ways; Coffee House Press is considered one of the top independent publishers around today and has published numerous award-winning titles. From i … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / December 2016 Independent publishing instills not only a great sense of freedom, but also an inherent risk. The world of small presses faces many challenges from distribution to finding bookstores willing to stock titles. In order to … READ MORE |
by Anais Mohr / November 2016 Specializing in literary fiction, Milkweed Editions was founded in 1980 as a nonprofit with a mission to “identify, nurture and publish transformative literature, and build an engaged community around it,&rdqu … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / January 2016 Independent publishers face many challenges in today's market. In order to not only survive, but thrive in tough, changing markets, publishers are adapting in strange new ways. One such success is the “Independent … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / September 2015 In 1976, Michael Wiese Productions was founded in San Francisco with the primary intent to produce films. But when the company's founder and namesake, Michael Wiese, struggled to find a publisher for his non-fiction guid … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / August 2015 Brindle & Glass was named for the quirky appearance of a beloved 'Catahoula Leopard hound named Paddington (Paddy) Foran with brindle fur and one glass eye,' and the books they publish are just as unique. From Her Vo … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / July 2015 Since 2007, Radius Books has grown out of Santa Fe, New Mexico to encompass a global photographic collection of publications. Non-profit Radius Books was launched when photo editor Darius Himes and publicist Joanna Hurle … READ MORE |
 |
by Jillian Bergsma Manning / June 2015 June's Indie Groundbreaking Publisher is a small press in Canada founded by a husband-wife duo of indie authors. Sounds like a quaint little story, doesn't it? But Screamin' Skull Press is anything put quaint. Write … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson / April 2015 Enclave Publishing grew out of the bravery to embrace otherness and the confidence to create a space for often-overlooked works of Christian speculative fiction. Jeff Gerke was working in traditional Christian publishing … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson Carl Sommer is a veteran, an educator, and the founder and president of a machining company, a recording studio, and a book publishing company called Advance Publishing. All of Sommer's businesses are run by family, incl … READ MORE |
by Anais Mohr / December 2015 Many writers view the publishing world with three options: hiring an agent to keep their story off a slush pile somewhere in the cogs of the big five publishers (Hachette, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Macmillan, … READ MORE |
by Anais Mohr / November 2015 Two Dollar Radio, the movement revolutionizing and trailblazing a new breed of indie publishing, celebrates a decade of blazing originality this year with an expansion into film. The powerhouse duo calling the shots have … READ MORE |
 |
by Anais Mohr / October 2015 When Deborah Robertson founded Gibson House Publishing in 2012, her first publication was her husband's manuscript. After publishing two more novels in his series, she is working to expand the renamed Gibson House Press& … READ MORE |
by Ariel Bronson For many of our recent indie groundbreaking publishers, 2014 was a busy year that came to an exciting end. Projects have been funded with the help of generous supporters, and awards have been doled out to new, noteworthy … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson If one man can crowdfund over $55,000 for a little potato salad, what can a man with an idea-sharing vessel of culture and entertainment raise? Ask Cam Jefferys of Rippple Books, and he'll tell you a thing or two about t … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson Publishing Genius Press (PGP) was created in 2006 when Founding Editor Adam Robinson decided to take his readers' noses out of the pages and into the world.“I've always been interested in publishing, I think, ever … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson Celebrating over 20 years in the business is this month's indie groundbreaking publisher, Ice Cube Press. This “one-man operation” (with a few interns) is proud to be of the Midwest and operates with a lot of … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson The media can be cynical, and it can be easy to get lost in sarcastic irony and satire. That's why this month's indie groundbreaking publisher is a publishing house working for something more meaningful. Enter TRISTAN Pu … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson The award-winning authors under Arcade Publishing's roof boast accolades from gold IPPYs to Nobel Prizes. Arcade, now an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, was founded by Richard and Jeanette Seaver in the late '80s and &ld … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson Over a decade ago, Archipelago Books (Archipelago) was founded by Jill Schoolman as a nonprofit, independent press with a strong and far-reaching ambition. Kendall Storey, the associate editor and publicist at Archipelag … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson Synergetic Press was started in 1969 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Deborah Parrish Snyder, publisher of Synergetic Press and executive vice president of Global Ecotechnics Corporation, got her start with the company in 1 … READ MORE |
 |
by Craig Manning At the Academy Awards every year, Hollywood voters give out 24 separate trophies, two of which are designated to screenwriters. But beyond those two prizes—which go to the writers behind the favorite adapted and or … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson Red Hen Press (Red Hen) has only been around since 1994. But over the past eighteen years and counting, it has grown into Southern California's largest independent literary press and one of the biggest on the west coast. … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson Bruce McPherson, founder of McPherson & Company (McPherson & Co) puts out most of his titles on his own. Talk about true independence! McPherson got the itch to work in publishing in college when he joined a stud … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson This month's indie groundbreaking publisher won seven Axiom Business Book Awards this year, which is fitting, given that the company was started by a 22-year-old with an eye for what the market needed. In 1997, Clint Gre … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson As we get ready to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, we recognize this month's indie groundbreaking publisher's contributions to “green” living. Langdon Street Press (LSP), an independent publisher in Mi … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson In 1998, Milt “Beaver” Adams founded a company to help everyday people get their quality books published without pulling a thousand strings to get it done. Adams founded Beaver's Pond Press (BPP) at age 70 to … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson Tessa Strickland and Nancy Traversy met for the first time in London in early 1992. By September 1993, they released their first list as the founders of this month's indie groundbreaking publisher: Barefoot Books.Co-foun … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson Benjamin Bess started his career in publishing in New York City in 1970. After working there for several years in sales and marketing, his job on a book mobile took him from Maine to Florida a few years later. It was the … READ MORE |
 |
By Ariel Bronson She Writes, an international writing community of over 20,000 members, brings together women who love to read and who love to write. Members create profiles and, using She Writes as their network, interact with each othe … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson As independent companies, many indie publishers strive to stray from the conventions and rules of the industry as dictated by the larger or older conglomerates. This month's indie groundbreaker stands those rules on thei … READ MORE |
by Ariel Bronson We have been featuring publishers from around the country and beyond who are innovators of their craft with a strong passion for the industry that drives their unique missions and goals. The companies that we have featur … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson It's no secret that the past several years have been difficult for university presses. It has been a challenge for many presses to stay afloat and adapt to new industry standards while university budgets shrink. A recent … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson Paragon House publishes books with an eye to make an impact. By addressing and tackling many of the social and contemporary issues facing readers in today's economy and society, Paragon House does its part to make a diff … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson This month's Indie Groundbreaking Publisher, The Porcupine's Quill (PQL), is a small book publishing company in Wellington County, Ontario, Canada that proves that the best way to print isn't always the easiest way. At P … READ MORE |
 |
by Jillian Bergsma This month's Groundbreaking Indie Publisher, Goosebottom Books, is a brave new press with a mission that is near and dear to the hearts of female readers everywhere. Author and publisher Shirin Yim Bridges, along with th … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson Dawn Publications is married to its mission to “inspire in children a deeper understanding and appreciation for all life on earth.” From award-winning illustrations to informative yet playful text, the compan … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson Dzanc Books has been in business for seven short years and has already left its mark on the publishing industry by investing in the promotion of literacy in tangible ways, combining its efforts to put out great works of … READ MORE |
 |
by Ariel Bronson Imagine leaving a job at booming ad agency to create a startup in a whole new industry. Now picture the job you're leaving as a career with Leo Burnett (the 9th largest ad agency in the world), and that your startup has … READ MORE |
 |
by James Messinger If an “official” Occupy Wall Street book publisher were to be named, it might well be Chicago-based Haymarket Books. Here's an article by Jonathan Messinger, appearing in the November 17th issue of Time Out C … READ MORE |
 |
by Jim Barnes Papadakis Publisher is an independent, family-owned publishing house located in London and Winterbourne, United Kingdom. Since 1971, Papadakis Publisher and its predecessor Academy Editions have published more than a tho … READ MORE |
 |
by Jillian Bergsma “Groundbreaking,” “cutting-edge,” “light years ahead of their time” – call them what you will, Open Road Integrated Media is a true leader in digital book technology. Started in … READ MORE |
 |
by Jillian Bergsma The University of Minnesota Press is Independent Publisher's first university groundbreaking publisher. What makes Minnesota so different? They seriously rebel against the stereotype of a stuffy academic press (which we … READ MORE |
 |
by Jim Barnes One of the bright spots shining through the cloudy Seattle skyline is Coffeetown Press, a five-year old independent that's published an eclectic catalog of titles so far. The press is the trade publishing arm of Seattle- … READ MORE |
 |
by Jim Barnes There are many reasons the citizens of Wisconsin are lucky to live there, and one is that they have such an outstanding publishing house attached to their state historical society. (Okay, sports fans, they're lucky to ha … READ MORE |
 |
by Jillian Bergsma In this day and age, you may not consider sticking to print “groundbreaking,” but David R. Godine, Publisher has a dedication to the physical book that we at Independent Publisher deeply admire. Undaunted by … READ MORE |
 |
|
 |
by Nina L. Diamond It's a rare publisher that starts out as groundbreaking and stays that way. In the midst of on-going industry upheaval, Inner Traditions, founded and still owned and operated by publisher Ehud Sperling, celebrates its 35 … READ MORE |