This July, we’re excited to welcome Michelle Schingler, Editor in Chief of Foreword Reviews magazine, into IBPA's 2026-27 Board of Directors. A lifelong reader, Michelle came into publishing through an unusual path -– by way of divinity school and the public library system before landing in book reviews. Let’s get to know her!

IBPA: Hi Michelle, welcome to the IBPA Board of Directors. Tell us a little about what you do at Foreword Reviews as its Editor in Chief.

Michelle: In 1998, Victoria Sutherland noticed that independent presses were getting no love from the trades, so she founded Foreword to fill that gap. It was a visionary move! Since then, we’ve been dedicated to highlighting the best books from indie presses...where I truly believe all of the great literary work is being done. I have the awesome job of selecting all of the books for the magazine and coaching our freelance reviewers in our style, which is all about helping prospective reviewers through their discernment processes.

IBPA: You had studied feminist theology at Harvard Divinity School. What was your original life plan and what changed that plan?

Michelle: I wanted to be a thorn in the Vatican’s side on the topic of women’s ordination. Ten years of studying the guys in charge, though, made me realize the futility of that exercise, at least in this lifetime. So for the health of my soul, I switched to the other topic that filled me with meaning: books.

IBPA: You then worked for the Hall County Library System for four years. What led you to book reviews and ultimately, Foreword Reviews?

Michelle: I loved library work and it definitely felt like a kind of calling. At night, I wrote for Book Riot and reviewed for a number of companies. Foreword was my favorite to review for, and I waited, hope-filled, for a full-time position to open up. When it did, the move to Northern Michigan took place in two weeks and over Thanksgiving, and it was a great one—every day is about celebrating books!

Michelle (left) with her Foreword Reviews colleagues at American Library Association conference in June. From L-R: Barbara Hodge, Stacy Price, Jennifer Champagne and Christopher Nesbit.

IBPA: Every board member brings their unique perspectives to the discussions at the board meetings. How do you think you will serve IBPA members' needs in your role?

Michelle: IBPA is such a great, encouraging organization for independent publishers and authors, and I love the education elements of your work especially. First time authors just can’t intuit the many complicated processes that go into producing and selling a new book–they need you guys! I’m very into supporting that from a trade review organization’s perspective.

IBPA: What issues are important to you, that you hope to make an impact on through being on IBPA’s board?

Michelle: AI LLMs are a frightening new frontier for artists and illustrators, and I’m very interested in being a part of the conversation about how human creators will respond.

IBPA: Beside your role as the editor of a reviews magazine, you are a book reviewer yourself. Can you share some insights on the book reviewing process that IBPA's publisher and author members can benefit to know about?

Michelle: Early on, reviewers balk at the thought of being negative. No one wants to hurt an author’s feelings, and we all know the work that goes into writing a book. But nuanced feedback is more crucial, and valuable, than inflated praise. Readers, and bookstore and library buyers, need help deciding whether or not a book is right for them. A reviewer who only ever says positive things is of no use in those conversations. The best reviewers are thorough and fair; they diplomatically—snark has no place in trade reviews!—name shortcomings where they see them in addition to highlighting what’s great. The other side of this is that authors need to prepare themselves for the reality that some negative feedback is likely to come—no two readers are going to respond to one book in the same way. Take it in stride, don’t attack your critics, and try to see the value of even less-than-positive reader responses. Presuming, of course, that there are no factual errors in said reviews.

IBPA: Final question! Tell us something about yourself that has nothing to do with work or publishing.

Michelle: To bastardize a Carrie Bradshaw quote: thrifting is my cardio! My personal style is a mix of mid-century modern and granny chic, and I decorate almost entirely from secondhand shops in my area. And, to brag: I’m good at it. There’s nothing, really, like the rush of an amazing deal!

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,500 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

This July, the IBPA Board of Directors welcomed three new board members, and among them is Crystal Daye, founder and CEO of Dayelight Publishers, who has come the farthest--literally--to join IBPA's board. Based in Kingston, Jamaica, Dayelight Publishers is the largest publishing consultancy in the Caribbean that is focused on publishing faith-based books. Crystal is a published author herself while helping  fellow authors write and launch their own books. Let’s get to know her!

IBPA: Hi Crystal, welcome to IBPA’s Board of Directors. We are excited that you’ll be bringing your unique perspectives and expertise for the benefit of our members. What kind of books does Dayelight Publishers publish?

Crystal: We specialize primarily in nonfiction books particularly Christian-based -- like devotionals and bible studies, personal development, leadership, business, memoir and inspirational titles. Our authors are often speakers, coaches, entrepreneurs, ministry leaders and professionals who want to use their stories, message, and expertise to transform lives.

IBPA: Where do your authors come from?

With her publishing coordinator Kimone McLoud at the Scotiabank Vision Achiever Expo in 2024, where DayeLight Publishers was one of the featured businesses in their business accelerator program.

Crystal: While Jamaica remains our largest market, we have worked with authors from more than 14 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, China, England, Bahamas and several other Caribbean territories.

IBPA: You’ve helped over 500 writers get published, and in addition, you are an author yourself. Tell us about a few of your books.

Crystal: One of my most impactful books is Living A Royal Reality: Discovering Your Identity, Purpose, and Worth in Christ which encourages women to embrace their God-given identity, overcome self-doubt and live boldly in their purpose. It was my first bestseller and continues to inspire readers nearly a decade after its release.

My newest book, Launch Your Professional Speaking Career, equips aspiring and emerging speakers with the tools to build a speaking platform, clarify their message, increase their visibility and monetize their expertise.

IBPA: In addition, you are involved in other publishing projects as well, we hear.

Crystal: Yes, I am also the host of the Reaching Millions podcast and an award-winning talk show, The DayeLight Show. I also founded The Kingdom Author Success Conference which is the largest faith-based conference and book fair in the Caribbean, and the Kingdom Indie Author Award.

IBPA: Every board member of IBPA brings different gifts to the IBPA Board of Directors. What do you hope to be your unique contribution to the board?

Crystal: I hope to bring the perspectives of both a publishing services provider, and a trainer from an emerging market. Much of my work has focused on helping first-time authors navigate the publishing journey, build lucrative businesses and use their books as tools for impact and income.

I also hope to serve as a bridge between IBPA and the Caribbean and Christian publishing community by increasing awareness of the opportunities available through independent publishing, and helping more authors from underrepresented regions access publishing education, resources and global networks.

IBPA: What issues are important to you, that you hope to make an impact through being on IBPA’s board?

Crystal: I am particularly interested in initiatives related to education, diversity and global outreach. I would also love to see greater international representation. As someone serving authors across multiple countries, I understand the unique opportunities and challenges publishers face outside of North America and I hope to contribute to conversations that help IBPA continue expanding its global impact.

IBPA: That’s a good point. IBPA has been primarily US-focused up until recently, originating from our founding in Southern California in 1983. But today our members are increasingly global and includes publishers in Canada, Europe and Asia. We’re so glad to have you push for increased global impact. 

Crystal (right) with her family (from L-R): Daughter Christelle, fiance Omar with her bonus daughters Amyah and Arianna at their surprise engagement party.

Final question! Tell us a little bit about your life outside of publishing.

Crystal: I am a mother of a 14-year-old, eldest sibling of five. and a woman of faith who is passionate about helping women and girls dream bigger and live purpose-driven lives. I enjoy speaking, cooking, dancing, going to comedy shows and I am a #foodie!

One fun fact is that I am getting married in the summer this year. I’ve been a bridesmaid eight times and maid of honor four times. So 2026 is a very special season of planning my own wedding while preparing for an exciting new chapter of life with my new family. As someone who is ambitious and always chasing the next goal, I am learning to enjoy this season of simply being, finding joy in the present moment and trusting God with what comes next!

IBPA: We are so happy for you, and thank you for sharing about your upcoming special day with us! Congratulations and best wishes to the both of you!

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,500 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

Author-publisher Courtney Kelly wears many hats. As a licensed civil engineer, she is a Project Director at a commercial construction firm in Texas, as well as an adjunct professor in engineering at Southern Methodist University. In addition, she shares her passion for engineering with children through her books, Celeste Saves the City, Celeste Tunnels Underground and upcoming Celeste Paves the Way. Her books show the role of civil engineers in society.

She is a sought-after speaker and Courtney's author appearances have gone as far as Germany and Singapore. We’re excited that she'll be sharing about her overseas experiences and advice for fellow author-publishers on how to secure author appearances at IBPA Publishing University this May 14-16, 2026. Let’s learn about how she secures and sells her books at international author events.

IBPA: Hi Courtney, thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge at PubU. You have two bachelor’s degrees, in civil engineering and math, and a master’s degree in civil engineering. Clearly, you’re quite passionate about engineering! So, what led you to engineering and to write a series of books?

Courtney Kelly: I was introduced to the possibilities within engineering while attending STEM camps across the country during my high school years. Through these experiences, I landed on civil engineering as a way to connect the dots between being forced to evacuate from New Orleans because of Katrina, and the measures that it would take to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring.

Speaking at a school assembly in Stuttgart, Germany.

IBPA: How did you plan to achieve this?

Courtney: Early in my career I would speak to kids at events and most would ask if I operated a jackhammer. It was clear that most didn't have a working definition of what civil engineers did or the different types of jobs that were available within construction. I created my heroine Celeste as a means of solving that problem and providing a tangible touchpoint that gave a better understanding of civil engineers and construction while highlighting the importance of representation.

IBPA: So what was the first book about?

Courtney: The series started with Celeste Saves the City and is based on my journey into civil engineering as a result of Hurricane Katrina. In the book, Celeste protects New Orleans from flooding by building barrier islands that protect coastal wetlands – the first line of defense for the city. It continued with Celeste Tunnels Underground where readers find our heroine in Dallas to tackle the issue of traffic congestion. These releases are in support of the mission at Courtney Kelly Books to inspire and empower people of all ages.

Story time at the Karlsruhe school in Germany.

IBPA: Your books have been translated into French, Spanish and German and sold in over 15 countries. Tell us about the process.

Courtney: When I decided to do the translations, I don't think I even realized that selling translations rights was a thing. I saw it like another engineering problem. I already had the book created, I just needed to replace the English text with a foreign language and knew that my illustrator could handle the typesetting. The missing piece was a translator for each language. Once I had that piece of the puzzle figured out, I published the various language editions in the same way that I had done the English versions.

IBPA: How did you book your first overseas speaking engagement?

Courtney: I was planning to visit Germany and wanted to see if I could pull off getting an event scheduled while I was there. Just one slight issue – I didn’t have any direct contacts at the typical places, like schools or libraries, that I would normally work with to put on a program.

IBPA: I think that's something that many can relate to. What happened next?

Courtney: After sending what seemed like an endless number of emails to organizations across the country, a coworker who was a military veteran suggested that I try the elementary schools on military bases. I researched a few locations and after going through another round of bounced emails, I finally received a reply from the principal of Stuttgart Elementary. It turned out to be a great match since their Parent Teachers Association had been looking for an author to visit but since the school was outside of the city, it had been difficult to find someone willing to travel there. What I thought was going to be a quick 30-minute story time reading and author talk turned into a multi-day tour of three elementary schools in the Stuttgart area. In addition to book reading sessions, I also incorporated writing workshops and hands-on STEM activities.

Books, boxed and ready to ship to Germany where 550 students will each receive a copy of Courtney's book.

IBPA: That’s amazing! Do you sell books at the events?

Courtney: Yes. The trip to Stuttgart resulted in a true test of my capabilities as one school ordered 550 autographed copies of Celeste Saves the City so that each student could take one home. This created all kinds of challenges as I worked through how to properly enter the shipping address, what size boxes made the most sense to use, and finding the quickest way to check and sign them all with very limited time to ship them so that they arrived in advance of the visit.

Since then, I’ve continued to offer either preordered or on-site books for sale. And of course, I’ve run into other issues like handling in-person transactions in Singapore when I couldn’t use my typical POS (point-of-sale) systems that hadn’t been registered for that particular country.

IBPA: We’re really excited for your presentation at PubU. Can you give PubU attendees an overview of what they’ll learn from attending your talk, “Booking International Author Events”?

Courtney: I’m super pumped to be delivering this session! I’ve designed it to be very interactive so that attendees will walk away with the specific steps that I’ve taken to secure bookings at schools, libraries, and organizations abroad while minimizing cost and maximizing impact. Using the proven blueprint that’s been developed, author-publishers will be equipped with the tools to generate their own roadmap of how to plan, implement, and execute international event opportunities for their publications.

Courtney exhibited at the Frankfurt Book Fair last year, Here she is with IBPA's Andrea Fleck-Nisbet and Terry Nathan.

IBPA: No doubt, one important question from attendees will be: Who covers the cost and if you make money from speaking internationally?

Courtney: The short answer is yes and no. If I consider the full amount of travel to the country, hotels, meals, etc. then no, I technically don’t make a net profit from these events. However, that’s why I usually couple the events with an already established trip that has expenses covered through other means so that the profit from the events is truly profit. I utilize a similar strategy when traveling stateside – if I’m headed to California for a particular reason and have capacity to book an event, I will maximize the trip by doing so.

IBPA: That’s a sound strategy. Finally, we know that you are launching a third book this year -- Celeste Paves the Way.

Courtney: In this next book, Celeste travels to Atlanta and works on the development of a new runway to allow for increased airplane capacity. While there, she learns about the inner workings of what makes it possible for airports to operate and planes to fly safely. The book is my way of paying tribute to the airports that I’ve done projects for and really celebrates the diverse careers that are available throughout the aviation industry in a unique way. It will be released in English, Spanish, French, and German as well. I can’t wait to share it with the world! 

IBPA: Thank you Courtney, for taking the time to chat with us today, as well as for sharing your expertise to help other publishers succeed! We’re looking forward to your session at PubU!

Courtney’s session at PubU is Breakout 5 - Booking International Author Events on Saturday, May 16 at 3:30pm. During this interactive session, attendees will walk away with the specific steps that she took to secure author events abroad while minimizing cost and maximizing impact. Using this proven blueprint, author publishers will be equipped with the tools to generate their own roadmap of how to plan, implement, and execute international event opportunities for their books. Attend this session at IBPA Publishing University.

IBPA Publishing University

The #1 annual conference for indie publishers and author-publishers, IBPA Publishing University, is headed to Portland, OR this May 14-16, 2026. There will be dedicated tracks for established publishers, newer publishers, and hot topics; and three amazing keynote presentations. Join us! For more information and to register, visit www.publishinguniversity.org/.

In 2008, when Michelle Halket felt the call to pursue a more fulfilling career, her instincts told her that e-books, which were just emerging at that time, would mean more worthwhile books could be published. She founded Central Avenue Publishing before Kindle took off. Following that, her early adoption of another trend—author platforms on social media—led Central Avenue Publishing to take off beyond e-books. Today, it publishes both print and e-books, and boasts a catalog of almost 200 titles.

But their success is not solely due to having a good sense of the emerging trends. Before founding Central Avenue Publishing, Michelle worked for a decade in market research at Nielsen. And now in her small traditional press, business decisions are always informed by research first, especially in the area of acquisitions. Making good decisions is crucial for any company’s success, so this May, at IBPA Publishing University, Michelle will share her techniques on “Market Research for Emerging Publishers” so that fellow small publishers can learn how to embark on basic market research before making important acquisition and business decisions.

IBPA: Hi Michelle, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. Tell us about Central Avenue Publishing.

Michelle with three of her authors (L-R): F.S. Yousaf, Makenzie Campbell, and Shelby Leigh.

Michelle Halket: I am based just outside of Vancouver in Canada, and we are a completely traditional press. We do about 12-15 titles per year, mostly in poetry and a few select novels, and we are distributed by Simon & Schuster.

IBPA: You founded Central Avenue initially on the premise of publishing e-books to fill a demand you saw coming for this new format, but over time the press evolved and refined its publishing program. Tell us about the journey.

Michelle: I formulated the concept of the business in 2008 and made a stark career change from corporate market research to publishing with the idea that I could help authors get published via a then little-known vehicle called e-books. No one knew what they were and I remember holding up my new iPhone 3 and telling my friends they could read books on it. They all shook their heads. Thankfully, Amazon Kindle exploded onto the scene a few years later and by that time I had been able to make a ton of now embarrassing choices and mistakes without too many people noticing.

IBPA: So your press was well set up by that time, to take advantage of the e-book revolution. But growth for Central Avenue Publishing also came from being in front of another trend...

Michelle: Yes. While social media wasn’t really a thing back then, it was nascent in the form of book bloggers and author blogs – we tapped into those and experienced the first viral moments. Our YA books about vampires and witches blew up.

A few years later, I met a poet who was sharing his work on his blog of about 5K followers. New York didn’t know what to do with him but I knew! Make a book that looked like his blog. Still, without distribution, those books went on to sell tens of thousands of copies. We secured traditional distribution in 2015 in time to ride the wave of Instagram poets...and the next six years proved to make bestsellers out of many of them.

IBPA: Wow, that’s amazing. How did your press handle growth?

At the Sharjah Book Fair with authors Makenzie Campbell and Shelby Leigh, after they made a presentation to hundreds of students.

Michelle: Over time, I began a very traditional process of taking on only what I like, hiring editors and working with designers and other marketing professionals. Today our press is tiny, it’s really just me, acquiring and typesetting and designing and marketing, but I do work with freelance editors as that really isn’t my strength. Our books have won significant awards and sold as well as titles from Big 5 publishers.

IBPA: Tell us about the type of books you publish. What do you mean by your slogan, “Fiction and poetry about us at our worst...and best”?

Michelle: We publish fiction and poetry. I love debut upmarket fiction as well as poetry by poets who share their work on social media. I love championing new and diverse voices, and I also like stories that are dark, and with characters who sometimes make poor choices. But I always look for the redemption. I guess that’s where that tagline comes from. The poor choices or bad situations we find ourselves in and our journey to a better one. I think a good example is a new novel called I’m the Undertow which explores the choices two people make after one of them, through no fault of his own, strikes and kills a young man who is the son of the other character. For poetry, there is the celebration of the hardships and joy of woman and motherhood in The Size of your Joy.

Michelle was invited along with seven other editors to present their favorite upcoming book to the audience at Winter Institute 2026.

IBPA: You describe yourself as both a bibliophile and technophile. Besides loving books and research, you’re also unafraid of technology and some of your early success stories came from social media.

Michelle: For a press in its early days, it was difficult to find authors willing to take a chance on you. I used platforms like Twitter and Instagram to find authors. I sought out poets who seemed to be gaining ground on socials, or those that had self-published first. I knew I could expand their reach with our traditional distribution...and there were several of them: Iain Thomas, Trista Mateer, and Makenzie Campbell.

IBPA: Diligence in market research plays a key role in how your publishing business continues to thrive 18 years later. Give us some examples of where research influences your publishing practice.

Michelle: With every submission, we conduct an in-depth review of the author first, then the book. Since this is such a partnership, I want to know we can work well together. We actively seek out information about each author. For the book, I want to know what else has and is being published that is like this book in terms of genre and style as well as category trends.

IBPA: Finally, we’re appreciative that you’re sharing your expertise in market research with publishers at IBPA PubU. What will attendees learn at your session?

Michelle: When I was first starting out, I wish I had known lots of things. But I did have the benefit of a career in market research. I hope to bring that to this session. Attendees will learn how to identify good author prospects, strong books, market trends in categories, and how to use language that gets a store to see how they might find room on their shelf for your books.

IBPA: Getting one’s books into stores, everyone wants to know that! Thank you Michelle, for taking the time to chat with us today, as well as for sharing your expertise to help other publishers. We’re looking forward to your session at PubU!

Michelle Halket’s session Breakout 1 - Market Research for Emerging Publishers is on Friday May 15, 2026, 1:15pm - 2:15pm. This session will walk publishers through the essential steps of market research that inform sound publishing decisions. Learn how to evaluate an author’s platform and audience potential, analyze genre and category trends, identify comparable titles, and study cover and metadata patterns that signal market positioning. We’ll also discuss the need to assess who else is publishing in your space, track performance post-publication, and refine your future acquisitions strategy. Whether you’re preparing to launch your first title or building a sustainable list, this session will give you ideas and tools to publish with confidence and clarity.  

IBPA Publishing University

The #1 annual conference for indie publishers and author-publishers, IBPA Publishing University, is headed to Portland, OR this May 14-16, 2026 with tracks for established publishers, newer publishers, and hot topics; plus three amazing keynote presentations. Join us! For more information and to register, visit www.publishinguniversity.org/.

For IBPA member Ashley Wall, her young children are both the “why” behind her founding MamaBear Books, as well as the reason that it’s firmly rooted as a home-based business even as it continues to grow and publishes works of other authors. Ashley began by self-publishing the kinds of books she wanted to read to her own children—stories that inspire confidence and spark imagination. With 10 books in its catalog and more to be launched in 2026, Ashley juggles publishing and parenting under the same roof, sometimes involving her children in the creative process. We chatted with her to find out what it takes to make a success of both vocations.

IBPA: Hi Ashley, thank you for joining us! You founded MamaBear Books in 2022. As a former math teacher, what inspired you to start your own publishing company?

Ashley: It really started from reading with my two young children and a gap I couldn’t ignore. As a teacher and mom, I was always searching for stories that sparked imagination, built confidence, and encouraged kids to dream big. The idea of writing children’s books stayed in the back of my mind for many years. As I continued to read constantly with my children, that idea pushed its way to the front. After sharing my dream of writing a children’s book series with my husband, he was immediately on board.

I knew I wanted to have creative control and bring my ideas to life, and we thought how neat that would be to do the same for others. With a goal to expand imagination, build confidence, and encourage children (and adults) to dream big, that’s how MamaBear Books was born.

IBPA: What did your physical workspace look like when you first began working from home, and how has it changed?

Ashley: In the beginning, “office” was a generous word — it was a small desk tucked in our guest room! My first “filing system” was a mix of folders stacked on the counter. As the business grew, we carved out a real workspace with bookshelves, inspiration boards, two large desks and so many sticky notes! Now my office feels like a cozy blend of creativity and business, there are mockups of upcoming titles, my kids’ drawings on the wall, and plenty of reminders of how and why I started.

Ashley Wall working in MamaBear Books' home office.

IBPA: Was there a moment when you realized you were building something that went beyond your own author career? You’ve now published eight other authors. How did you make the jump to publishing other authors?

Ashley: At first, I thought just bringing my own stories to life would be amazing. But as I learned more about publishing, and connected with other aspiring authors, I saw how many talented voices were struggling to get their stories into the world. I realized MamaBear Books was going to be bigger than my books — it would be a platform to help others share theirs. When our first outside author project came together, it was such a proud full circle moment. Helping another author hold their finished book for the first time reminded me why this work matters.

IBPA: What is something you struggled with managing a growing publishing business while raising a family in the same physical space?

Ashley: The biggest challenge is the constant overlap — work and family blend together in beautiful and chaotic ways. Some days I feel like I’m rocking it, and other days I’m answering emails with one hand while making lunch with the other. The guilt can creep in — the feeling of not doing enough in either role. But I remind myself that my kids are watching me build something from the ground up. They’re learning about resilience, creativity, and following through, even when it’s hard. I’ve turned those struggles into learning moments for my kids. I involve them in the process, reading manuscripts to them, asking for their input on illustrations and bringing them to events to help. They have even started their own little company selling bracelets and bookmarks they make.

IBPA: Running a business from home can bring plenty of distractions. How do you set boundaries between work and family life?

Ashley: I’ve learned that boundaries don’t have to be rigid — they just have to be intentional. I try to keep set work blocks during the day, and when I’m done, I really try to be done. That means closing my laptop, stepping away from my phone, and being present with my family. When my kids are at school, that is when I work. When I pick them up, work stops until after they go to bed. I struggled with this during the first year and a half and had to refocus myself. I knew I wanted to grow as a successful author and publisher, but I also knew my kids came first and I didn’t want them to resent the business because it received all of mommy’s attention. I set boundaries and as I mentioned before, I also include them when sometimes those boundaries have to cross. This has helped my kids love the business and given them something to be proud of.

IBPA: You collaborate with a remote team. What procedures or processes have worked for you that you can share with publishers who are just like you?

Ashley: We use a mix of tools — email, video calls, and Google Docs. I love quick voice notes for creative feedback because it keeps the process personal. I’ve learned that clarity and kindness go a long way in remote work; being specific about timelines, expectations, and goals helps everyone stay on the same page. I also make time for casual check ins, not just “task” meetings — creative work thrives on connection. I don’t have all the answers and am a firm believer that we are all growing and learning every day, so I also try and give my team members creative freedom to flow in their genius.

IBPA: Let’s talk book marketing now. What approaches have been most effective for you?

In-person events and markets are a key channel for MamaBear Books to connect with its readers and sell books. Her children learn entrepreneurship from their mom at a young age.

Ashley: Authenticity always wins. The social media posts that resonate most are the ones that come from the heart — sharing behind the scenes moments, the lessons learned, and the “why” behind the books.

We’ve also found success with school and library visits, local media features, and collaborating with mom influencers and educators. It’s about building relationships and showing up consistently, both online and in person. When people connect with your mission, they naturally want to support your books. We do a lot of in person book festivals and markets where we get to engage with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and the kids. There are always people running to our booth who bought a book before and now are looking for the next book. Being out and connecting with others builds that sticky community — and that community is the best publicity and hype team you could ask for.

IBPA: What tools, platforms, or partnerships have helped you build MamaBear Books?

Ashley: IBPA was one of the first organizations we joined and has been one of the biggest learning tools for me. Coming from a background of math education, publishing was brand new, so I absorbed everything I could and am still learning daily. Google Workspace has been a lifesaver for organization. Canva is my go to for social content and marketing design. Amazon has been a big driver of sales, and Amazon KDP helps with paperback distribution. We use Edelweiss to reach retailers and reviewers and have an amazing sales team. And honestly, community partnerships have been huge. Collaborating with schools, libraries, and local bookstores not only grows our reach, but keeps the mission personal and connected.

IBPA: Do you sometimes feel that you need to get out of mom mode and connect with your professional peers? What groups or where do you go for this?

Ashley: Oh, absolutely! It’s so easy to stay in mom mode, especially when your work happens at home. Connecting with other authors and publishers refuels me. I’m part of IBPA and a few women in business networks, and I love attending book festivals or author events whenever I can. Even a quick virtual coffee chat with another creative — especially my editor — can make such a difference. It’s refreshing to talk with people who get it— the juggle, the passion, the chaos, and the joy of building something that matters. This goes for people in general who work from home. Sometimes we get stuck at our desks in front of our computer, it can be draining. Getting out and connecting helps refuel the drive, passion and motivation — especially when you are connecting with your audience.

IBPA: Thank you so much for taking time to chat with us Ashley. We wish you well with your growing business!

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,500 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

IBPA member Trevor Wiltzen is an author-publisher and his award-winning Mabel Davison historical mystery series includes titles such as Haunting Pasts and Heart of a Runaway Girl. In addition, he is an IBPA volunteer who’s contributed his perspectives as an author-publisher in IBPA’s Editorial Committee. And once again this January 30, he has volunteered to be a community lead who will help guide the group discussions at IBPA+BookLife’s Boot Camp for Author-Publishers. In advance of the event, let’s get to know Trevor and learn of his experience as an author, publisher and content creator on YouTube.

IBPA: Hi Trevor. Thank you for volunteering to help as a community lead at our upcoming Boot Camp. Being an author-publisher yourself, we’re sure you’ll bring a lot of your own experiences to share with other author-publishers during the open forum discussions. Tell us about how you became an author-publisher.

Trevor: My journey started over 13 years ago, when I had a book idea and spent eight years polishing the manuscript. Was it any good? No, not really—haha! I can laugh at that now, but it was hard then. What finally turned things around was realizing I didn’t truly know my main characters. So I shifted my focus to a side character who did speak to me—and suddenly my writing took off. I found my groove and wrote three books in six months. From there, I spent the next couple of years publishing what became the highly successful Mabel Davison mystery series.

IBPA: For many years, you balanced a regular job with writing on the side...

Trevor: After finishing various degrees in arts, science, and business, I pursued a thriving professional career, and my writing took a backseat. However, after getting married and becoming a parent of two wonderful boys, my passion for writing reignited, and I spent years in coffee shops before work, honing my skills and finding my voice.

IBPA: Then you decided to self-publish. So what were some of the challenges you faced?

Trevor: The hardest part of publishing as an author-publisher is that, if you’re working on a budget, you have to do everything yourself—writing, editing, publishing, marketing, and more. The best part is that you can learn to do everything yourself. But the more books I published, the more I appreciated getting help with the pieces I struggle with most.

IBPA: Such as...?

Trevor: Editing support, for example, has been invaluable. What you choose to outsource will depend on you—but that’s where the IBPA and other trusted resources like fellow author-publishers come in. They can help lower costs, connect you with vetted support, and make the learning curve far less painful.

IBPA: At the Boot Camp on January 30, there will be three community sessions where attendees can surface topics that they want to talk about with their peers. Speaking for yourself as a self-published author, what are some challenges you face?

Trevor: Every author-publisher knows this feeling. You just climbed the mountain of writing your first book and once you type the end, knowing it is polished and print-ready, you feel like you are done. But then you get into self-publishing and realize there is another far bigger mountain you must climb. It’s both exhausting and exhilarating. There are so many skills you need to learn. If you try to hire experts to do it all for you, you will have to sell your car to pay for it all. As a result, you need to do as much as you can yourself and learn through hard knocks what you can learn and what you must pay for. Ideally, you keep your costs down, as publishing costs can scale quickly, which means you may need to adjust the scope of your sales strategy or extend the time to publish. You can’t have all three.

IBPA: You produce some really helpful videos and post them on YouTube and on your website, with topics such as “How to Format a Print Ready Book in Microsoft Word” and “How to Master Subplots.” Tell us about your videos!

Trevor: I love writing. I love publishing. I love teaching. YouTube allows me to do all three. I want to save people the hours, days, months, and years it took me to learn critical skills. If I can do that, I’m happy. That’s why I create a full suite of videos—from how to write, to how to publish, to how to build a career. I’m constantly learning from my audience about their needs and how I can be better. So, when you watch a video, please feel free to comment or to request a topic. I’d love to answer your specific questions and clarify anything you need to help you on your journey. You can do this. You can be an author-publisher, and you are not alone. I—and many others—are here to help. Take my free tools and lessons on my Youtube channel, @trevorwiltzenauthor, and run with them.

IBPA: Please share with us an anecdote from your life as an author.

Trevor: There are too many, but here’s one. I recently wrote the first draft of my next novel in six weeks, but I’ve spent about eight months editing it, broken into two big passes. The first pass got me to 55,000 words, and while it was clean, it was too short. So, I had to re-evaluate key sections to improve pacing, secondary character development, and to flesh out important areas I skimmed over originally. That work added another 15,000 meaningful words and brought the book to 70,000. It’s been an effort—and it led to several how-to videos for my YouTube channel so others can benefit if they’re facing something similar.

IBPA: We’re sure other author-publisher members can relate to this! Any other tips?

Trevor: Authors are often too close to their own work. If you want to save costs, here is a tip: use beta readers—friends, family, fellow authors. But when that may not be enough, it’s time to hire support. For my latest manuscript, for example, I have hired a developmental editor to review it. I’m excited to share this novel soon because I love these characters and the story is fantastic. I expect it to be published in 2026.

IBPA: Your books are sold on Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Apple and Google Play in both ebook and paperback formats. How do the platforms compare?

Trevor: My sales strategy is predominantly focused on ebook sales. While I had utilized IngramSpark, pursued library sales and leveraged other bookstore strategies, I found the potential cost of returns and sheer amount of sustained effort needed to pursue the strategy effectively was too high a barrier for me. My three books in the mystery series have been downloaded over 100,000 times, and growing, which is a great milestone. Roughly 80% of my sales are Amazon and 20% scattered over Apple, Barnes and Noble, Google Play Center and Kobo, with Apple being the second.

IBPA: What’s next? Are you planning more adventures for Mabel or branching out into something different?

Trevor: I’m currently developing two new, distinct series, with more mystery books also in the works. My adventure series takes place in the Horn of Africa in the 1980s, while my fantasy sci-fi series unfolds in the future on another world. Even if I’ve never been there myself, my goal is to transport the reader into those times and places and tap into all the ways a writer can do that. That’s part of why I love writing so much.

IBPA: Good luck on your new books coming out in 2026 . And thank you for taking the time to chat with us!

Share your unique publishing stories with the IBPA community! For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, and how to submit your spotlight article idea, click here.

Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlights articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on social media. Please contact adeline@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Instagram handle.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

Since 2012, UK-based Raspberry Pi is well known in the tech world for their single-board, modular computers that are popular with schools, students, and computer enthusiasts. Tiny and affordable, Raspberry Pi computers are designed to help users of all ages learn coding, discover how computers work, and build their own programs and machines -- because a Raspberry Pi can easily connect to physical devices.

Their publishing division, Raspberry Pi Press, was formed to produce a magazine, printed manuals, and idea books for their computer users. Since 2015, the press has published over 40 books with titles such as Make Games with Python, The Official Raspberry Pi Beginner’s Guidebook, and Code the Classics. But this September, they branched out and launched a title that’s targeted at a whole different audience. Unplugged Tots helps teachers and parents introduce toddlers to the foundational concepts of coding. We chatted with Brian Jepson, Raspberry Pi's Publishing Director, to learn more about the press; and author Hannah Hagon about finding the audience for a computer-themed children’s book. 

IBPA: Hi Brian and Hannah. Thanks for being an IBPA member. Raspberry Pi is first and foremost, a company that’s known for their computers. How did the publishing division start?

Brian: That’s a great question. I only joined in 2023, but I know that Raspberry Pi’s CEO and co-founder, Eben Upton, was shaped by the early computing books from Usborne, many of which are now available for free download. So, if you want to know how to program a Commodore 64 or BBC Micro, they’ve got you covered. Raspberry Pi was initially started to inspire the next generation of computer scientists. Fun, engaging, and creative books like the ones from Usborne were critical in inspiring kids of the '80s and '90s to go beyond playing games on their home computers — they inspired us to write our own programs. It’s our belief that we need great books and great documentation for Raspberry Pi to fully serve both educational and professional users.

IBPA: Does it publish mainly to support the core business, or does it have its own publishing mission?

Brian: There are a few parts, and one of them is supporting the core business. That’s why we have flagship books like The Official Raspberry Pi Beginner’s Guide to support our single-board and desktop computers and Get Started with MicroPython on Raspberry Pi Pico to support our microcontroller boards. Both kinds of devices can be used for play, research, or work, so we produce books that are fun, inspiring, but ultimately, instructional.

Our magazine provides a lot of source material, and we would be missing out if we didn’t pave a path from the newsstand to bookshelves. This year, we published several books in our Essentials series, including Conquer the Command Line, 3rd edition and Make Games with Python, 2nd edition, which started out on the pages of our magazine as a series of articles. Both of them are of great interest to Raspberry Pi users, but they also apply to other computers. So, part of our work is to take something from our world and broaden it to the widest possible audience.

We also have several books that acknowledge and celebrate where we came from. Books like The Computers that Made Britain and The Computers that Made the World tell the history of computers that shape the modern world we live in. Code the Classics I and II take us back to video games from the 1970s and 1980s, but also show readers how to write their own modern takes on classic games using a modern programming language, Python.

IBPA: Tell us about your role in the company.

Brian: As Publishing Director, my job is to make sure that our publishing operations are running optimally. We have one magazine, Raspberry Pi Official Magazine—formerly known as The MagPi magazine—which our UK-based magazine editorial team publishes monthly. This year, we have 10 front list titles, up from eight last year.

My role is highly varied. When it comes to the magazine, I’m largely focused on operations, leaving the editorial to the editors and the design to the designers. When it comes to the books, I handle the operational and publishing business details. But I also handle acquisitions and manage the metadata for our two distributors – CBL in the UK and Ireland, Ingram’s PGW for the rest of the world.

IBPA: Being a company that really knows computers and coding, we're sure you've built some pretty slick production processes!

Brian: Yes, I'm also responsible for the production of most of our books, which uses an in-house automated toolchain powered by Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Prince XML, and patience. Word documents go in, PDFs and EPUBs come out. We have a wonderful in-house design team that handles the covers, artwork, photos, and such. I generally sub out the developmental editing, and usually leave the writing to the authors. In the case of Unplugged Tots, we didn’t use our automated toolchain, so our design team took care of the page layout, production, and prepress work.

IBPA: Where are your books sold -- direct-to-consumer, online store, Amazon, specialty bookstores...?

Brian: All of the above! We have our own online store but we also have a brick and mortar store at the Grand Arcade in Cambridge, England. We are distributed worldwide in traditional book channels, but our books are also available from some Raspberry Pi resellers.

IBPA: Congratulations on the launch of Unplugged Tots, which harkens a new direction for the press.

Brian: Yes thank you. Unplugged Tots is designed for anyone who has a young child—ages 2 ½ to 8—and wants to inspire them to embrace a passion for computing. The activities in Unplugged Tots are based around familiar, everyday objects, and help family members and educators teach kids the fundamentals of Computational Thinking (CT). CT was formalized in an essay by Professor Jeannette Wing, and made the case that everyone could benefit from the skills we teach computer scientists. CT has taken hold, and the beauty of it is that you don’t need a computer to teach these skills. Sorting laundry, baking cookies, navigating a map are all examples of everyday tasks that can benefit from a CT approach. And as Unplugged Tots shows, the CT approach can make them more fun and promote a mindful approach to life as well.

IBPA: It’s a departure from the press’s typical books on coding and computers, targeted at students and adults. What prompted the decision to publish this book?

Brian: This gets back to why Raspberry Pi Press exists in the first place. The fact that we published the book is a testament to our CEO Eben Upton’s conviction of the importance of good and fun books for our users. Just as Raspberry Pi has helped inspire the next generation of computer scientists, we believe Unplugged Tots helps prepare that generation at the earliest possible stage — all without requiring a computer of any kind!

IBPA: Hannah, the book isn't your typical children's bedtime reading book, but instead a workbook to develop children's skills. How do you help the book find its audience?

Hannah Hagon: We are testing a wide variety of tactics, but I firmly believe that in-person events help rise above the digital noise. Parents trust recommendations from someone they’ve met in person, and those conversations often lead to multiple sales. Plus, events foster fellowship among different caregiver groups (parents, teachers, librarians) who exchange ideas and spread the word organically. For publishers, it strengthens brand reputation and relationships with venues, which makes future projects easier to place. Much like in the book itself, when people step beyond the screen, we build connections with other humans. In a day and age those connections are what we should be modeling to our next generation.

IBPA: What are some of the in-person tactics you’ve used?

Hannah: I design my events as experiences, not just signings. At one community event, I had kids rotate through three activity stations pulled directly from the book. At an educator meet-up, I handed out lesson plan adaptations teachers could test in their classrooms. These events create a real-time feedback loop and I can adapt my future work accordingly. I hear what activities resonate most, what’s too easy, and what’s too complex. I also get the opportunity to have people ask me questions, questions about particular learners... and if I can change an educational experience of one child so that they get the awe and wonder of learning and trying something new, then it’s magic!

IBPA: Thank you Brian and Hannah for taking the time to chat with us. We wish you all the best!

Share your unique publishing stories with the IBPA community! For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, and how to submit your spotlight article idea, click here.

Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlights articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on social media. Please contact adeline@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Instagram handle.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

Scanning the titles of this year’s stellar IBPA Book Award-winning books, one title stood out for its familiar words from a classic song. We soon find out that the book, Vincent, Starry Starry Night—which won a Silver IBPA Book Award in the Cover Design: Children’s/Young Adult category—was indeed inspired by Don McLean’s 1971 hit song "Vincent," about artist Vincent Van Gogh. McLean wrote the foreword for the book.

Vincent, Starry Starry Night is published by Huqua Press. And it’s not the first book that its author and publisher Judith Proffer has written in collaboration with well-known recording artists. Judith has brought several other songs to life as children’s books: Dog and Butterfly with Ann and Nancy Wilson of the band Heart, Caroline with Brandi Carlile, and Our House with Graham Nash.

In her prominent career in newspaper publishing, Judith has come to know many famous people. We sat down with her to learn about how she transforms artists’ songs into award-winning children’s books.

IBPA: Congratulations on Vincent, Starry Starry Night winning an IBPA Book Award for its beautiful cover design. Tell us about how the book came to be.

Judith: Thank you. The recognition is meaningful, especially in this category and specifically for this book. The Vincent cover came together with a lot of care, time, and heart. As for connecting with Don McLean -- three years ago my husband Spencer, who’s well known for his work in music and film, produced a documentary exploring the legacy of McLean’s iconic song "American Pie." Spencer shared occasional updates on the film’s progress, and along the way the idea for an "American Pie" centric fable quietly began to take shape. By then, I had already collaborated with Heart, Graham Nash, and Brandi Carlile on books based on their music. So I eventually floated the idea for an American Pie-centric fable to Spencer, who arranged a phone call with Don to gauge his interest. I shared my vision with Don on that call: blending elements of his childhood with the song’s legendary mythology to create a visually rich story.

IBPA: So, the success of this first book helped pave the way for the second book, Vincent?

Judith with Graham Nash. She published a children's book based on Crosby, Stills and Nash's hit song Our House.

Judith: Yes, Don’s enthusiastic and sincere appreciation for the finished book eventually carried over to a broader conversation about further collaboration. Vincent was a natural, visually, assuming I could craft a tale about mental illness that was both gentle and accessible for children while honoring Don’s haunting lyrics and Van Gogh’s work. The timing of the song’s own 50th anniversary prompted me to sit with it seriously and ultimately excavate something that felt honest. Another call with Don. Another pitch. Another green light.

IBPA: The song's inspiration, artist Vincent Van Gogh, struggled with mental illness and his life ended tragically. How did you turn this very heavy source material into a children’s book that uplifts and comforts?

Judith: Initially I grappled with it a bit. After all, Don’s song addresses the sobering topic of suicide. But rather than dwell in the lyrics’ darkest corners, I chose instead to draw from its deeper roots of compassion and empathy—inviting young readers to hold space for the quiet ones, the sad ones, the kids with feelings too big for words. Along the way, the story gently nods to Van Gogh’s masterpieces, layering visual metaphors with emotional truth. At its heart, the book is a tribute to Don’s tender lyrics...a quiet homage wrapped in a story that helps, lifts, and even comforts.

IBPA: How did you try to convey an uplifting message through Van Gogh’s art?

Judith: I had visited the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and was acquainted with some of the artist's lesser-known works. I wanted to include nods to some of Van Gogh's marquee pieces but also wanted to showcase facets of paintings that were more aligned with the poignancy of the narrative. Even with the heaviness of the subject matter, I aimed to infuse the book with elements of playfulness. An example being an illustration where we see a young Vincent clinging to a soaring cypress while painting a cloud with his little paintbrush.

IBPA: What were Don McLean’s contributions in the process?

Judith: Don wrote the introduction to both books, approved the stories, and signed off on the covers and each illustration. The day the American Pie book was released, he appeared on "Good Morning, America" to promote it, and the book shot to the number one spot on Amazon. He also joined me for a Barnes & Noble signing at The Grove in Los Angeles.

IBPA: Is it the same process with your other books with Brandi Carlile, Graham Nash, and Heart?

Judith: The artists showed up in earnest for each title—more than I hoped or expected. With the book Caroline, I sent illustrations to Brandi Carlile by way of mail to her farm in Washington, and she did offer some minor notes on some of the details. Her team helped secure a back cover quote from Elton John. That was a memorable moment, receiving confirmation that Elton would be contributing something.

Graham Nash was quite involved with Our House. He wrote an engaging introduction and helped secure a photo from famed photographer Henry Dilz that Dilz had taken of Graham and Joni Mitchell during their storied years together in Laurel Canyon. Graham’s wife, Amy Grantham, is also a talented photographer, and she offered a striking portrait of contemporary Graham for the book. And he reached out to his old friend Carole King for a back cover quote. The week the book dropped, he flew out from his home in New York for an Our House signing at Book Soup in Los Angeles, and Graham also gave a shout out for the book during some of his live shows. He was all in.

With Dog & Butterfly, Ann and Nancy Wilson wrote the prose and Ann illustrated the bulk of the book. I then hired an illustrator to round out the art. They reached out to their friend Sarah McLachlan for a back cover quote, and we launched the book during the 2014 Grammy Festival at Sea: Women Who Rock cruise.

IBPA: It’s a big plus when famous people have famous friends! But you did a lot of outreach on your own too...

Judith: Yes, I do want other indie publishers to know that while these artists did their own outreach for blurbs and it might all feel a bit lofty, I personally have been successful in securing back cover quotes from Alice Waters, Rachael Ray, Chelsea Clinton, Deepak Chopra, and others for some of my titles by writing compelling letters and emails to them or to their teams. The key is ample lead time, and the request should be organic. It needs to make sense.

IBPA: IBPA’s readers who are publishers are curious to know – what’s the royalties and rights arrangement like, when you’re publishing a book that’s based on a song?

Judith: Typically rights of this nature can run anywhere from $500 to $50,000, depending on extent of use. We opted to not include the lyrics for "American Pie" or "Vincent" in the book – that would have been lovely, but cost prohibitive. For all of the titles, we received the rights gratis, offering the artist a generous royalty. Some of the artists elected to donate their royalties to charitable initiatives that are meaningful to them.

When I attended the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books last year, I met a young publisher with three books, all based on well-known songs by well-known artists. Out of curiosity I asked her how she was able to secure the rights. My inquiry tripped her up. She had not obtained any rights nor had she made any sort of contact with the artists or publishers. She assumed they fell within public domain, not knowing these songs were decades away from reaching that benchmark. She pointed to the proliferation of lyric uses one can find on Etsy - merchandise, art pieces and such. I counseled her on how to best remedy the infringement with the least amount of financial exposure.

IBPA: With many successful collaborations with music artists under your belt, what advice would you share with authors or indie publishers with a book idea that's based on a song?

Judith: You will find that some music publishers are sensitive to the fiscal limitations of indie book publishers and can be generous with rights, depending on use. It’s definitely worth reaching out if a book publisher or author has a compelling idea for a lyric-centric book. Many artists care more about preserving their legacy and introducing their lyrics to new audiences than they do about financial consideration. Plus, they’re often intrigued by the opportunity to see their lyrics brought to life through visual interpretation.

IBPA: That’s great advice, thanks Judith. You founded Huqua Press in 2010 and it publishes a diverse catalogue that includes culinary, juvenile, fiction, and popular culture titles from numerous authors. What inspired you to start your own press?

Judith: The inspiration leans heavily into my origin story. When I was 10 years old, I was elected to represent my school at a Young Author’s Conference. I spent a good part of that summer writing a story to be presented at the early fall conference as an actual book, binding and all. While I felt the story was merely adequate and far from an explosive first effort, it medaled and that caught me completely off guard.

Even at that young age, I found myself genuinely affected by the impact of human connection through storytelling. I knew then that writers and readers were my people and that the book world was a place I wanted to call home one day. My writing took the path of journalism for decades, until the two intersected during my newspaper publishing days.

IBPA: You had a long career as a newspaper publisher. Please tell us more.

Judith: My 25-year newspaper career includes nearly two decades with the alternative presses LA Weekly, OC Weekly, Stern Publishing, where I was eventually Publisher and Vice-President, and co-owner of the Sun Community Newspaper chain in Southern California.

I helped launch and navigate the LA Weekly Books imprint with St. Martin’s Press, re-engaging a passion for the book world. One of the books we shepherded was Counter Intelligence by the late Jonathan Gold, the only writer to receive the Pulitzer Prize for food criticism. To see a book spring from a germ of an idea to the finished printed product was thrilling and fulfilling.

And then a handful of years later, the print-on-demand model surfaced with reputable distribution companies, allowing many of us the opportunity to enter the field with titles that mean something to us, with slightly less fiscal risk. I had encountered many talented writers, published and yet-to-be-published, during my newspaper days, so I reached out to quite a few of them when I first launched the business. I also reached out to proofreaders, copy editors, graphic artists, and other skilled professionals that I had worked with previously.

Actor Peter Gallagher read the audio version of  their book American Pie.

IBPA: The book is published under Meteor 17 and your press is Huqua Press. You also own Padaro Press. Please help us understand your business structure and branding strategy.

Judith: Meteor 17 is the parent company, a tremendous asset in developing extensions and servicing media-centric titles. For example, the Meteor team secured actor Peter Gallagher to read the audio version of American Pie. Gallagher was a key figure in the television series Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and the song itself played a seminal role in one episode. So it was a natural fit to reach out to him, something the team could do more easily than I could as an indie publisher. Now, the team is working with an accomplished animator to bring Vincent to life. They are also exploring the possibility of an American Pie musical based on the book.

Meanwhile, Huqua Press is the primary publishing entity with Padaro Press as an imprint for specialty titles...typically fiction, memoir, and popular culture. Patti Davis wrote a book for the Padaro Press imprint, as did actor Thaao Penghlis and theater critic/essayist Steven Leigh Morris.

IBPA: What next for Huqua Press?

Judith: I recently collaborated with Tara Fass on a fifth anniversary commemorative edition of our When We Stayed Home title, another IBPA winner, and I’m teaming with my Japan-based illustrator on Pug & Peonies—a tribute to my pugs. Huqua Press is named after them! At the same time, I'm drawing on my bibliotherapy training to bring The Word Garden to life, both as a book and a non-profit initiative. I'm also collaborating with The Girl with the Magic Ponytails author Karen Young on a book commemorating next year’s 25th anniversary of the Grammy-winning song “I Hope You Dance.”

IBPA: Wow, your projects pipeline is full indeed! We look forward to seeing more iconic songs that you’ll turn into books! Thank you Judith.

Share your unique publishing stories with the IBPA community! For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, and how to submit your spotlight article idea, click here. Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlights articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on social media. Please contact adeline@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Instagram handle.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

For more than 20 years, author, photographer, publisher, private pilot, and multiple IBPA Book Award winner Michael C. Higgins, has built a career at the intersection of publishing, travel, and storytelling. After launching Flying Adventures magazine, a lifestyle magazine for people who own and travel by private airplane, Higgins expanded his vision through the acclaimed Exploring Wine Regions book series. Drawing on thousands of days spent in vineyards, cellars, and kitchens around the globe, he has pruned vines, picked grapes, judged wines, and shared countless meals with world-renowned winemakers—all while capturing these experiences through his photography. His work has been honored by the Independent Book Publishers Association: Exploring Wine Regions – México received the Gold IBPA Book Award in Travel and the Silver IBPA Book Award in Regional categories in 2025, Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France earned a Silver IBPA Book Award in Travel in 2021, while Exploring Wine Regions – Argentina was awarded the Gold IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award in Travel in 2017.

IBPA: Hi Michael, thank you for joining us! Exploring Wine Regions has become such a unique and immersive series. What originally inspired you to blend travel, wine, and storytelling into a single project?

Michael C. Higgins

Michael Higgins: Thank you for the kind compliment. I’ve been a “travel–wine story blender” for a long time through my editorials and feature stories in Flying Adventures, the lifestyle travel magazine I published. Blending these elements is in my blood.

IBPA: How many books have you published in the series and what are they?

Michael: I’ve published four books so far and am preparing the fifth for release in 2026. They are:

• Exploring Wine Regions – Argentina
• Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France
• Exploring Wine Regions – California Central Coast
• Exploring Wine Regions – Mexico
• Exploring Wine Regions – Greece (coming in 2026)
  

Michael: My love is creating beautiful photography. I am an author and write these books because books need words. And I’m very happy people love my writing style. It is the photography though, with the books printed on museum quality art paper to enhance these photographs, that makes the journey as a photographer so rewarding. As a publisher, I have decades of experience in magazine publishing, so I’m quite knowledgeable on how to produce quality books. What is different is the distribution, and I have created excellent relationships with a top-level book distributor and a public relations firm.

IBPA: How are your books distributed?

Michael: I am fortunate to have a great relationship with a large distributor, Baker & Taylor Publisher Services, who believed in me from the beginning, and it’s so nice to see distribution grow and the sales multiply. Also, regarding distribution, the wineries and hotels who are in each issue of the book also sell books. This has become a big part of our distribution.

IBPA: We’re curious about your prior experience in publishing. Tell us what you did in publishing before this.

Michael: So I published Flying Adventures magazine. I started this publication from scratch and built it up to over a million readers. It’s been a very exciting journey. What I find interesting is that I started in publishing at the very bottom, at ten years old as a paper boy for a major newspaper. I had to beg them because of my age to let me build a paper route, which I made very successful. From paper boy to publisher of a magazine, and now a book series.

IBPA: You’ve visited some of the world’s most celebrated—and emerging—wine regions. Which region surprised you the most?

Michael: Mexico was a surprise. We all think of Mexico for tequila, but Mexico is producing excellent, award-winning wines. Having lived in Southern California my entire life, I’m shocked I had never been to Valle de Guadalupe—their primary wine region, in Baja California—until working on the book Exploring Wine Regions – Mexico. And I’m a Wino! This was a great discovery, and I’ve been back now several times. 

IBPA: One of the strengths of your books is how they convey not just technical knowledge about wine, but also a strong sense of place. We imagine that you make multiple visits and drink a whole lot of wines in the regions you write about. Do tell us more about your research process!

Michael: Everything in my books is from my personal experiences. So yes, somebody has to travel to these wine regions, drink the extraordinary wines and indulge in the delicious cuisine. I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to suffer all this, so I go! And my trips are anywhere from one to two months long. And numerous trips to each destination. It takes this kind of immersion to really know the place, get the spectacular photography, and give my readers authentic recommendations.  

A vineyard guide leads visitors through the vines, offering the kind of immersive experiences celebrated in the Exploring Wine Regions books.

IBPA: From Bordeaux to Mendoza to Baja California, you balance iconic and lesser-known regions. Where are you headed next, and why?

Michael: Creating the Bordeaux France book was very important to the series as Bordeaux is the center of the universe for wine in the world. What is the most exciting to me, though, is exposing those lesser-known wine regions. I did not create a California book on purpose, instead a California Central Coast book, which is a much lesser-known wine region, yet they produce wines as awesome as Napa Valley, the cuisine is as excellent as you find in Beverly Hills and the landscapes are stunningly beautiful.

Same story with Mexico. Nobody thinks of Mexico for wine and yet they are producing award-winning premium wines. My next book is Greece. They have been making wine for 7,000 years, yet people don’t think of them for wine. Due to circumstances you will read about in my book, they are coming back on the scene of worldwide quality winemaking just a century ago. They are catching up and the wines are unique and extraordinarily good.

IBPA: Let’s talk about the production side. Your books are beautifully designed—large format, filled with stunning photography, maps, and editorial content. Is there a struggle between balancing your high production costs and offering a price point that the market can bear? Can you speak a bit about your book pricing strategy?

Michael: Thank you for your very nice compliments. My objective is to produce beautiful books, and I love it when this is appreciated. So, thank you again. I don’t have high production costs as I keep most of the production in house, I have reasonable vendors, and I print overseas in Korea. As far as the price point, my objective is to keep it reasonable so that everybody can afford the books. The books are only $34.95 or $44.95 depending on the size of the book. I know the price is low for the size and quality of the book, I just don’t want price to be in the way of the purchase.

IBPA: What’s been most effective in marketing your books?

Regarding marketing, I find having a public relations firm, obtaining opportunities for editorials in publications, as well as radio and television, is very important. Appearances have made a big difference. I also do advertising in selective places, which IBPA offer some very good choices. Further, obtaining lots of reviews and getting awards expresses the high-quality and love for our books. 

IBPA: Finally, what advice would you give to indie publishers hoping to create a travel, photography, or narrative series?

Michael: My most important reason for doing these books is living the lifestyle of traveling the world and hanging out with winemakers and chefs. That is worth more than any profits. It sure would be helpful if they have the skills of photography, writing and publishing, or have partners so collectively they have a team to keep it in house. 

IBPA: I've really enjoyed learning about your adventures and discoveries. Thanks for sharing with us, Michael!

Note: The prestigious IBPA Book Award program is currently open for entries and inviting independent publishers to submit their books and audiobooks with a copyright date of 2025 for consideration for the 38th IBPA Book Awards. There are 60 categories to enter and the submission deadline is December 15, 2025.

Share your unique publishing stories with the IBPA community! For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, and how to submit your spotlight article idea, click here.

Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlights articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on social media. Please contact adeline@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Instagram handle.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

This July, the IBPA Board of Directors welcomed five new members to the board, and among them is Richard T. Williams. Members who work with the Independent Publishers Group may know Richard as he is the Vice President of Business Development at IPG, where he oversees new and existing business for their distribution program. He is a former director of the Small Press United program, and was once an operations manager at an independent publisher, where he earned firsthand experience on the publishing side. Though his professional life is centered around books, his home's shelves are packed with a collection of a different kind; Richard owns over 9000 vinyl records and 6000 CDs! We learn that Richard is quite a music fan and has some amazing concert tales to tell.

IBPA: Hi Richard, thanks for helping IBPA members get to know you. What IBPA committee are you involved in, in addition to being on the Board of Directors?

Richard: I have been involved in the Editorial Advisory Committee for the last 3 years but am now moving over to the Membership Committee. As I’ve predominantly worked in distribution over the last 20 years, I do think that developing any organization to have more perks, more “next steps,” and more cost-saving measures is well within my bailiwick, and I’m looking forward to how I might be able to contribute there.

IBPA: What issues do you feel strongly about, and hope to make an impact on as a board member?

Richard with his partner, Mark, on vacation in Wailea, Maui.

Richard: Keeping the independent tier of the publishing industry visible has always been a challenge, and with the major players in distribution becoming the major houses, I worry that we’ll get swallowed up. Already it feels like a good chunk of the independent community is being left behind or having options eliminated as the industry continues to consolidate. But at the same time, I think that the new players who continue to emerge might be able to develop their independent mindset. So, I would like to participate in those two things: keeping the independent culture alive and helping the newer players take part in the growth of that culture.

IBPA: What is your current role in publishing? Tell us about your company and what it does.

Richard: I’ve been with Independent Publishers Group for 20 years. We are a trade distributor, but we also reach academic, gift, and international markets. I have been signing clients, managing clients, and selling distribution services for many years. In working with so many clients of all sizes over the years, I’ve learned how to navigate many other aspects of publishing beyond distribution.

IBPA: Tell us about your journey getting to where you are today.

Richard: It’s been straight up a remarkable hill since the beginning, although there have been extraordinary changes over the years, and not always in my favor. When I started my career, publishing was still perhaps the primary way to deliver content to the culture at large, and publishers were the gatekeepers of such content. Now publishing is only one way to put significant voices into play, as the rise of social media, influencer culture, and portable devices have in many ways eclipsed it. I do feel like working in a field where change happens regularly and quickly has kept me adaptable, which in turn boosts my ability to help others.

IBPA: Could you tell us something about yourself that has nothing to do with work or publishing!

Just a section of Richard’s prized collection of 4000 vinyl records and 6000 CDs.

Richard: Growing up, I used to participate, and rank, in math contests! And my top scores in college were in computer programming. And yet, I once fashioned myself a poet and majored in English. And even though I work in book publishing, I’ve always predominantly been a bigger music fan and a modest collector of such; I’ve got 4000 vinyl records and 6000 CDs. My passion is for rock and pop from the mid-60s onward, usually British, and often some combination of alternative, experimental, independent, or electronic. This includes everything from The Beatles to Nurse With Wound. Some of my favorite live concerts include seeing David Bowie in the front row when he was just 50 and still a force of nature; watching the Cure in a thunderstorm when dark clouds were swirling overhead with jagged lightning coming down; and flying to London ten years ago to see Kate Bush come out of retirement.

IBPA: Can you share with our members one piece of publishing advice that you’ve learned through your own experience?

Richard: Can I share two? Trust your instincts. And make a lot of noise!

IBPA:: Good advice Richard, and thank you for sharing your story with us! We’ll be looking out for you at the next ‘80s rock concert!

Share your unique publishing stories with the IBPA community! For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, and how to submit your spotlight article idea, click here.

Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlights articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on social media. Please contact adeline@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Instagram handle.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

At this year’s IBPA Book Award, the children’s book A Tree of My Own (winner of one Gold and two Silver IBPA Book Awards) is notable for the fact that it’s a first book from author Nui Wilson as well as publisher Qilin Press. Qilin Press is also unique in another way as it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit press. Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito founded Qilin Press in 2023 with a mission to “change the world through storytelling.” Their book follows the journey of a Karen girl (the Karen are a persecuted ethnic group in Myanmar) and her family from Myanmar, to a refugee camp in Thailand, and finally, to America where they make their new home. All profits from the book are donated to the Oregon Karen Association and Earth Mission.

IBPA: Congrats on your IBPA Book Award win, Frances! What led you to found Qilin Press as a nonprofit?

Frances: I wanted to create this non-profit press as a way for all communities to share stories and commonality through our lived experiences. I truly believe that understanding, compassion, and collaboration happens naturally through storytelling. One of the goals for Qilin Press is to find storytellers who can tell their stories and inspire others to do the same. Toni Morrison said, “If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” For me, I can’t write all the stories I want to exist. But I can empower others to write those books and tell those stories.

IBPA: Therefore how did Qilin Press come to publish Nui Wilson’s story, A Tree of My Own?

Frances: There are almost no books about the Karen people, especially of the Karen refugee and resettlement experience. To our knowledge, A Tree of My Own is the first children's book that touches upon these experiences from the perspective of a child.

IBPA: So, you went out searching for an author who could write about this refugee experience?

Frances: Being the first in anything is daunting, especially when working with a community that has already gone through so much. That being so, I started by recruiting a storyteller who I knew was a trusted member of the community. My writer, Nui Wilson, has worked with the Karen community in Utah, Oregon, and Thailand for almost 20 years. She has volunteered with several non-profits who help recent refugees settle in the US. She is also Thai-Karen-American. It took some convincing, but she eventually agreed to write the book.

Karen children from the Portland, OR area attended the book’s release at Powell's Books. The children are wearing traditional Karen clothing.

IBPA: Then how did you find your illustrator?

Frances: Nui and I searched for an illustrator who shared the heritage and experiences of the Karen refugee community. Kayor, our illustrator, is based in Thailand near the Burmese border. His artwork celebrates Karen culture and heritage. However, because he is based in Thailand and had limited experience with children’s picture books, we also enlisted the help of Gigi Little as our Art Director for the project.

IBPA: The book is also published in Thai and Karen languages. Who are the intended audiences for the non-English versions?

Frances: The Karen version is available for those in our communities who can read and converse in Karen but may not speak or read English. This includes those in the community who may have relocated to an English-speaking country but have not gained fluency yet. The Karen version is also for those communities who may have settled in countries where English is not the predominate language. For example, I have received messages from Karen communities all over the world, including Netherlands, Japan, and India. We wanted to make sure that we had versions of the book available for the Karen anywhere. Most importantly, we wanted more books about the Karen in the Karen language.

There are nine active refugee camps along the border of Thailand and Myanmar—seven of which are majority Karen. The Thai version allows for greater visibility and information about the Karen refugee experience, especially for those living in Thailand. We wanted to share the story of what happens after resettlement, which can get lost once refugees leave the refugee camps.

IBPA: Publishing the Karen-language version of the book presented some technical challenges, we hear...

Frances: Yes, languages, especially the written forms of language, are hard to preserve and maintain where there is a shortage of books and writing in print. Technically, we had a hard time finding a Karen font that would work with InDesign, Word, and other commonly used publishing software.

Gigi, our book designer, had to manually create and correct the Karen font appearance multiple times because the programs would alter the text. It was time consuming, painstaking work that happens more often for a language that isn’t as prevalent as others in published materials. We learned that this is one additional barrier to the publishing of books for displaced communities.

IBPA: You have committed all profits to be donated back to the communities that you publish about. How does being a nonprofit press impact your publishing operations as compared to a for-profit press?

Frances: We operate with donations and volunteer time. We make sure that we have resources to pay for book design, illustrations, basic operating expenses, and printing costs. Other than that, we donate the book sale profits back to community organizations and nonprofits, or we use the proceeds for translations or the next book in a series. To date, book profits for A Tree of My Own have been donated Oregon Karen Association and Earth Mission.

Frances and Nui accepting their Gold IBPA Book Award for Best New Voice: Children’s/Young Adult in May 2025. In addition, their book won Silver in the AAPI category and the Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book (Children's/Young Adult).

IBPA: You are also a writer and founder of a for-profit press, Demagogue Press. Tell us more about that.

Frances: I’m a book nerd. I make books, I take apart books. I bind books. Books were my first friends as a shy child who immigrated to the US when I was three. It makes sense then that I spend most of my time conjuring ways to make innovative, unique reading experiences. To that end, I wanted to combine reading with gaming to enliven the reading experience and make books playable.

IBPA: Interesting! Tell us what you mean by making “playable books”?

Frances: So, I came up with my “ancient games” book series that I publish through Demagogue Press. Each book has a playable boardgame on the front cover. The book can be placed on the table and played with the pieces provided in the book. The game pieces are linked to the stories inside the book. Winding Paths, the first book, is based on “The Royal Game of UR” that originated in Mesopotamia. The inside of the book is an escape book where the reader must read their way out of the book by choosing a nonlinear reading path.

IBPA: Let’s go back to Qilin Press. What are your other projects?

Frances: A Tree of My Own is the first in a series that explores how communities preserve and adapt their language, culture, tradition, and heritage when faced with forced displacement and migration.

Qilin Press has also published a collection of works by teen writers and poets. Profits from Home is a Hope will be donated to help with Los Angeles wildfire recovery. The teen writers donated their work for the charity collection.

IBPA: That’s an amazing project. With all proceeds going toward a good cause, what is the arrangement with the authors?

Frances: The model we use is fairly simple – nonexclusive license to publish the work for a set amount of time. All writers retain their copyright. As someone who has a legal background in intellectual property, I endeavor to only license what I need to accomplish the mission of the book. Everything else is owned and retained by the creators.

IBPA: We have enjoyed learning about the good work you’re doing at Qilin Press. Thank you Frances!

Note: The prestigious IBPA Book Award program is currently open for entries and inviting independent publishers to submit their books and audiobooks with a copyright date of 2025 for consideration for the 38th IBPA Book Awards. There are 60 categories to enter and the submission deadline is December 15, 2025.

Share your unique publishing stories with the IBPA community! For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, and how to submit your spotlight article idea, click here.

Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlights articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on social media. Please contact adeline@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Instagram handle.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

As we got to know IBPA member Liesbeth Heenk, we were continually struck by how far she's taken her press Amsterdam Publishers, which she founded in 2012. Amsterdam Publishers is based in the Netherlands and Liesbeth is Dutch, yet her press has published over 115 books about the Holocaust in English, mainly written by American authors.

We wanted to connect the dots between her beginnings as an art books publisher to her present focus, and hear about her experiences running an indie press with an international reach, so we met with Liesbeth to learn about Amsterdam Publishers' evolution.

IBPA: Hi Liesbeth, thanks for taking the time to meet with us. When did you join IBPA and how did you learn about the association?

Liesbeth Heenk: I have been a member since January 2022. I'm afraid I no longer recall where I heard about IBPA, but I'm very happy with its services.

IBPA: You’re an art historian by training with two degrees from Leiden University, a PhD from the University of London, and you’ve worked at the Kröller-Müller Museum, Christie’s as well as Sotheby’s. What led you to start a publishing company?

Liesbeth: After working in the commercial art world and working for the Royal Dutch household as interim manager, I wanted to be independent. Since I wrote my Ph.D. on Van Gogh's drawings, I started by publishing easy-to-read books on my knowledge using KDP, and a whole new world opened up for me. That was the start of my publishing career. I very much liked doing it and thought: if I can publish my own work, I can also publish work by others.

Liesbeth was invited to visit Dachau with her author Manny Steinberg. Manny passed away at age 90 one year after his book was published.

IBPA: When was the pivotal moment when you decided that Amsterdam Publishers was henceforth going to focus on Holocaust stories?

Liesbeth: A Dutch author residing in France, Simon Hammelburg, asked me to publish his Holocaust book in English. Since I was just starting out and did not have that many projects, I was able to dedicate a lot of time to marketing the publication. The book did very well and came to the attention of Manny Steinberg, a Holocaust survivor living in Florida. Manny had published his memoirs with a small American publishing house, but much to his disappointment, the book received little notice since no marketing was done, so he asked me to republish it.

In September 2014 I was able to launch Outcry: Holocaust Memoirs, and I did my very best to make it into a success. And what a success it became! The author was delighted with the flood of five-star reviews; for months on end, it was the number one bestselling title in various categories. It meant a great deal to Manny that as a survivor, he finally felt heard. When the German government invited him in April 2015 for the commemoration of the liberation of his camp, I was asked to join him and his family. I drove down to the south of Germany from Amsterdam. Together we visited Dachau and Vaihingen an der Enz, two of the four camps he had been imprisoned in.

When hearing the stories by the survivor, his children and one of his grandchildren, I truly realized the importance of publishing stories by Holocaust survivors. I made a promise to myself that I would focus on this genre. As you can imagine, the Holocaust genre is not nearly as popular as sci-fi, romance, or detective fiction, so it took a few years—in fact until 2019—before I could entirely apply myself to Holocaust memoirs and Holocaust stories written by the second and third generation.

IBPA: What then is your publishing mission?

Liesbeth: There is an alarming surge in antisemitism across the globe, and I see the dissemination of true Holocaust stories written by survivors and their descendants as a way to educate people on what can happen if antisemitism is left unchecked. The knowledge of history is essential. It is shocking to see how it has become normalized in today's society. I do not publish any scholarly books, but since I believe in storytelling, I only do true stories written by survivors and their descendants. It is precisely those books that can create empathy and strike a chord.

IBPA: Your authors are Holocaust survivors, which puts you in a unique situation where your author base is dwindling with each passing year.

Liesbeth: It is their children and grandchildren who have taken on the responsibility of telling the stories. I do not believe that a fourth generation will do the same. In the 1950s-70s, many Holocaust survivors used self-publishing services to release their stories after they got negative responses from the larger publishing houses telling them there was no interest in their stories. Whenever I hear of a good book that has been self-published or published with a small press and is rather inactive, I try to get in touch with the author’s family and see whether we can work together on a new release. Thus these important works get a second life.

With Rosie Greenstein and her granddaughter Nechama Birnbaum, in Brooklyn.

IBPA: Your authors aren’t just authors...they are survivors who also lived long enough to have you preserve their accounts forever.

Liesbeth: I pride myself in having a good relationship with my authors and greatly admire survivors for their perseverance, resilience and their amazing capacity for hope. I had the privilege of meeting one of them, Rosie Greenstein, for dinner in Brooklyn just a few months before she passed away. I brought my two daughters, Esther and Naomi, so they could meet a survivor at least once in their lives. It’s a memory I will cherish forever.

IBPA: Please tell us Rosie's authorship story.

Liesbeth: Rosie Greenstein survived Auschwitz as a young girl. It was always her dream to share the story of her harrowing ordeal with a wider audience. That dream became reality when her granddaughter, Nechama Birnbaum, sent me her manuscript. I did my very best to get it published so that Greenstein, who was 95 at the time, would still be alive to see her dream fulfilled. The book, The Redhead of Auschwitz, became an Instagram sensation before Rosie passing in 2022 at the age of 96. At the moment, the author’s account has 126,000 followers, and her book has 6900 positive reviews. Her granddaughter told me that she spent her last days signing books for her doctors.

IBPA: Let’s switch gears a bit and talk about the business side of running an international press. How do authors find you?

Liesbeth: I am in the fortunate position to receive manuscripts in English from all over the world. Since I am the only publisher actively focusing on this genre, I get a lot of manuscripts via word of mouth, and Amsterdam Publishers’ presence on social media seems to do the rest. Me being based in the Netherlands has no negative impact on this, fortunately. It does make distribution more complicated though, since I can only use Print on Demand for my hardcovers and paperbacks. I would have loved to have better distribution in the United States, but that is simply unaffordable with the system I have.

IBPA: Where are your books sold and what countries do your customers come from?

Liesbeth: I sell through Amazon and IngramSpark. My Amazon dashboard shows where readers are based: United States (75.7 percent), United Kingdom (10.1 percent), Germany (5.4 percent), Canada (3.1 percent), and various other countries (5.7 percent). 

IBPA: Your books have been published in English, Albanian, Czech, Dutch, Greek, Hebrew, Sinhalese, Chinese, Japanese and many other languages. Does Amsterdam Publishers publish only in English and sell the translation rights for the other languages?

Amsterdam Publishers exhibited their own kiosk at ALA this year through IBPA's ALA program.

Liesbeth: As a Dutch person who has to know her languages since nobody else in the world speaks Dutch, I can read German, French, Italian, and Spanish, but my command of these languages is not sufficient to be able to establish whether the book is any good. So I tend only to accept English manuscripts. I do attend the London Book Fair and the Frankfurt Buchmesse, but it's usually via email that foreign publishers contact me asking about the rights of a certain book. Nechama Birnbaum's book The Redhead of Auschwitz has already been translated into 11 different languages. I am negotiating a Polish version at the moment, and I'm still looking for a French publisher. Foreign publishers, of course, always want to see sales stats. If they decide on the basis of these stats that there may not be sufficient interest in these books, and if I disagree with that stance, I will simply have the book translated myself. Especially the German books do very well. I have the series Holocaust Überlebende Erzählen on Amazon, which does particularly well.

IBPA: How did you enjoy ALA 2025 in Philadelphia?

Liesbeth: In 2024, I rented a kiosk at the American Association of Librarians conference in San Diego. I thought it was so good that I also decided to present my publishing house in Philadelphia this year (through IBPA's ALA program). I was helped by eight of my authors who manned the booth when I was doing the rounds and they did their book signings at the event. Coinciding with the event, I had the privilege of being honored by four Jewish organizations from Philadelphia for the work I am doing to combat antisemitism. I felt truly humbled.

IBPA: What an amazing publishing journey. Thanks for sharing your story with us. All the best Liesbeth!

Share your unique publishing stories with the IBPA community! For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, and how to submit your spotlight article idea, click here.

Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlights articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on social media. Please contact adeline@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Instagram handle.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

This July 1, at the start of IBPA’s fiscal year, we welcomed five new members onto IBPA’s board of directors. Get to know publisher Joe Biel, founder of Microcosm Publishing and WorkingLit, a royalty and accounting software designed for small publishers. Microcosm is just as well known for its fierce independent spirit as its quirky marketing, and for two years in a row was named among Publisher Weekly’s Fast-Growing Publishers. We found out that Joe did not set out to become a publisher, but a pivotal encounter led him toward this path of a “real job.” Let’s find out more.

IBPA: Hi Joe, thanks for taking the time to chat with us and welcome to the IBPA Board of Directors. What IBPA committee are you involved in, in addition to being on the board?

Joe Biel: I’ve worked on the Industry Advisory committee for the past year, with distribution as a focus, and I’m really excited to continue and expand that work inside the IBPA board.

IBPA: What issues do you feel strongly about, and hope to make an impact on as a board member?

Joe: Consolidation and monopolies have rocked our industry for the past 30 years and I’m looking to return that agency to independent publishers with our WorkingLit.com software and away from pleading for kinder, gentler corporations to save them. I’ve been working to carve out paths for publishers to own their own means of production. As an extension of that, I proposed the PubWest merger last year and it’s been really exciting to see that come to fruition, and now to get to build out that identity within IBPA.

IBPA: What is your current role and tell us about your company.

Joe: I founded Microcosm Publishing in 1996, and in my 21st year, we built out our own distribution, software, and warehousing to manage all systems. We publish nonfiction books for adults to change their lives and the world around them. I specialize in systems thinking and leveraged outcomes—my strength is looking at my advantages and how to utilize them.

IBPA: Could you give us examples of what you mean by systems thinking?

Joe: I look at a system and instinctively see ways that it could be more efficient. Likely as a result of being autistic and not relating with social proof outcomes, I focused less on how other people were doing things and more on effective ways of accomplishing my goals. So, for example, we left our distributor because we added up how many hours we spent managing that relationship and how many hours it would take to own that means of production. We were shocked when our sales became more than ten times what they were back then—with the very same books. That’s an example of systems thinking.

An avid cyclist, Joe (with mascot Ruby) has a bicycle for deliveries!

When we feel that we are getting too dependent on an external platform, we build our own platform and direct traffic there. We just finished rebuilding our B2B site that recommends topically appropriate books to independent retailers.

IBPA: What led you to develop your software for publishers?

Joe: The same logic and skills led me to develop our own WorkingLit.com software that manages all aspects of our operation. It does everything for us from title data to royalties to inventory and reprint management, to sales trending management to customer acquisition to marketing. This was integral to that very same growth. I looked at repeatable systems that publishers could automate and my creativity went wild with more and more of them. Now WorkingLit runs our entire company. And we don’t use AI; it’s simple algorithms and mathematics. We are the only software developed—and wholly owned—by a publisher where the software was responsible for our own ascendent growth. We think of making it available to other publishers as giving back to the community that nurtured us.

IBPA: What has your journey been like, getting to where you are today in publishing?

Joe: In 2011, when we signed with Independent Publishers’ Group, Calvin Reid from Publishers Weekly asked me why he had never heard of us before. I explained “The underground is bigger than the mainstream, I guess.” When we were Publishers Weekly’s Fastest-Growing Publisher in 2022, I was introduced to the head of the American Library Association (ALA) and she asked me what my background was. In 1995, I managed an Italian restaurant. I made a delivery to a factory where the manager told me that someday I’d have to get a “real job,” and I retched. I founded Microcosm to be a reason to get out of bed every day, not intending it to be a job but creating books to resonate with people like me who weren’t represented in the cultural zeitgeist. My encounter with that factory manager combined with seeing how much traction Microcosm received, I decided that it could be my “real job,” because it doesn’t feel like a job at all.

When I told this story to the head of the ALA, she asked where I went to school and what publishers I worked at previously. She did not know how to respond when I told her that I had done neither. Particularly in 2025, it seems the best way to be successful in publishing is to imitate no one.

IBPA: Please tell us something about yourself that has nothing to do with work or publishing.

Joe: I work hard to learn something new every single day.

IBPA: We’re curious, so what is a recent or current thing that you’re learning?

Joe: I’ve been studying the neuroscience of task switching. Each time your brain switches gears it’s a major speedbump on your cognitive load; like a computer forced to multitask against a few memory-intensive programs. For this reason, my assistant implemented an inbox sorting mechanism where all emails about the same subject are tagged and appear alongside related emails, sorted by order of importance. This allows your brain to move fluidly from one email to the next and I am shocked how much more that I can accomplish each day as a result!

But most days I study obscure and humorous events in history or try to get to the bottom of a story that I heard decades ago. Perhaps more relevant to the discussion, we talk about what we’re learning and thinking about weekly on our People’s Guide to Publishing podcast. 

IBPA: Can you share with our members one piece of publishing advice that you’ve learned through your own experience?

Joe: Whenever a publisher suffers a critical strike, it’s almost always because they are holding too much inventory or offer contracts that are more generous than they can afford. As publishers grow, they need to keep systems tight so that things scale.

IBPA: That’s great advice and thank you Joe for chatting with us. We’re looking forward to your perspectives as a large independent publisher on IBPA’s board.

Share your unique publishing stories with the IBPA community! For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, and how to submit your spotlight article idea, click here.

Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlights articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on social media. Please contact adeline@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Instagram handle.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

In February 2023, a zoo owl named Flaco escaped and arrived in Fifth Avenue in New York City bewildered after his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo was vandalized. Many feared for his welfare because, as a zoo owl, he could not fly well and had never hunted before. Wildlife photographers Jacqueline Emery and David Lei observed him from the night of his escape through his adventures surviving in the big city. They documented Flaco’s transformation as he learned how to fly, hunt, protect himself, and adapt to the seasons, and poured all their photos and essays into a book Finding Flaco: Our Year with New York City’s Beloved Owl, intending to self-published with a $10K Kickstarter campaign. Instead they raised almost five times that amount from fellow Flaco fans, and the first-time publishers went on to win three IBPA Book Awards – two Golds in Animal & Pet, Art & Photography, and a Silver in the Nature & Environment categories. Jacqueline and David are birders and photographers foremost but learned to become publishers in order to bring Flaco’s story to the world, founding their press Owls of New York in the process. We met with them to learn  how their publishing journey took off.

IBPA: Congrats on your IBPA Book Award wins, Jacqueline and David. So, you founded Owls of New York in order to publish this book for New Yorkers and the birding community. What led you down the path of publishing the book yourselves?

Jacqueline: Thank you. It is an honor to win three IBPA Book Awards for Finding Flaco. We first started working on the book in 2023. After he died, in February 2024, we wanted to celebrate Flaco’s accomplishments, honor his memory with authenticity and sincerity, and do something for the benefit of birds.

David: We were committed to publishing the book in advance of the one-year anniversary of Flaco’s death, which would be February 2025. After working with a literary agent and shopping our proposal around, we realized that our timeline was too tight for publishers. We decided to self-publish through a Kickstarter campaign and founded Owls of New York. This gave us complete control of the process from start to finish. We wrote the essays and captions, selected and edited the photographs, solicited contributions, and designed the interior of the book.

IBPA: Wow, that’s a tight production timeline! Not to mention that you were first-time publishers.

Jacqueline: Yes, but we didn’t do it alone. We had lots of support from friends. Lucy Kim designed the cover, Rosemary Feal edited the book, and Albert Sun designed the maps. Ed Shanahan, who covered Flaco for the New York Times, wrote the foreword, and Rita McMahon, founder of the Wild Bird Fund, wrote the afterword. More than two dozen friends of Flaco also contributed personal anecdotes, poetry, photos, and other artwork.

Jacqueline and David with their dog Tillie -- photographing an owl in New Jersey. Photo credit: Lily Kong.

IBPA: What was your goal in publishing the book?

David: We are proud to have produced a book that preserves Flaco’s legacy and has helped improve the lives of birds and other wildlife. To date, we have donated $10,000 of the book’s proceeds to the Wild Bird Fund, which is the only rehabilitation center for birds and other wildlife in New York City, as well as the International Owl Center in Minnesota and Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung der Eulen (Society for the Conservation of Owls) in Germany.

IBPA: You started a Kickstarter campaign to help you produce this book. Tell us about the experience.

Jacqueline: After we decided to self-publish, we made an announcement on social media in May 2024 that we were working on a book about Flaco. Our social media accounts (@jacquelineUWS and @davidlei on Instagram and X) have tens of thousands of aggregate followers, including numerous Flaco fans around the world, and were key assets for us in promoting the project. The announcement invited people to sign-up for email updates at our new website, flacobook.com, so that we could generate buzz, gauge demand, and collect contact information. Following our announcement, we finalized the book’s title and cover design and built out our Kickstarter page.

IBPA: Your Kickstarter campaign hit its goal in less than 24 hours...

David: Yes, we were finally ready to launch the Kickstarter on July 30, 2024, with an unveiling of the book’s title and cover design. We promoted the launch on social media and to the several hundred people who signed up for our email list. The campaign’s goal was to raise $10,000 in a month. We were delighted when we surpassed the goal in less than 24 hours.

IBPA: Seeing the amazing support for your book, what did you do next?

Jacqueline: So, two weeks into the campaign, we introduced some Kickstarter-exclusive bonus rewards that all of our backers would receive if we reached certain fundraising goals (bookmarks at $30K, postcards at $32.5K, and tote bags at $40K). These exclusives encouraged people to back the campaign rather than just wait for the book to be published and to promote it to their friends. Ultimately, the Kickstarter had 643 backers and raised almost $58,000.

IBPA: How did you put the additional funding to work?

At New York Pigeon Fest, next to a giant pigeon statue. Photo credit: David Lei.

David: The proceeds of the Kickstarter campaign paid for the print run and other costs related to producing and shipping the books to our backers, significantly reducing our out-of-pocket costs. The campaign’s unexpected success made it possible to enhance our print specifications and page length, to order additional copies to ensure future availability, and to donate more to charity.

IBPA: Nice! And now, award-winning book publisher is now another title you can add to your resumes! But we know that you both have successful day jobs. Please tell us more about yourselves.

Jacqueline: I teach literature and also chair the English Department at SUNY Old Westbury on Long Island. I have been photographing birds and other wildlife in and around NYC since 2019. My photographs have been published by the New York Times and other news organizations. I am passionate about wildlife conservation and volunteer with the NYC Plover Project, a nonprofit committed to protecting piping plovers that nest on city beaches.

David: In my day job, I make real estate investments globally on behalf of endowments, foundations, pension plans, and other institutional investors. I started photographing birds and wildlife in 2018 with my first African safari. That safari ignited a new passion that I brought back with me to the parks, rivers, and beaches in and around New York. My work has been published by the New York Times and other news organizations. I am a proud member of the Board of Directors of the Wild Bird Fund and support other local organizations focused on the welfare of birds, including the NYC Bird Alliance and the NYC Plover Project.

IBPA: You had to make a difficult decision during the fundraising phase. Tell us about that.

Jacqueline: Immediately after we announced the launch of our Kickstarter, we received a message from a Flaco fan asking if we would consider changing the title of our book. She explained that Flaco was more than a New York owl, and as someone who followed his story from afar, she felt excluded by the title’s emphasis on New York City. She offered to donate $1,000 to the Kickstarter if we changed the title. We politely declined. New York City was Flaco’s home for almost 14 years and such an important part of his story. We wanted to honor that.

IBPA: It’s remarkable how, as first-time publishers, you have both produced such a beautiful book of high quality. Can you share some design decisions you made along the way?

David: Thank you! First impressions matter, and we were thrilled with Lucy Kim’s beautiful cover design. Meeting Lucy was total serendipity. She discovered Flaco roosting on a neighbor’s fire escape in November 2023 and kindly invited a few of us over to see him. We walked right past her computer monitor as we were leaving her apartment and couldn’t help but notice that she was designing a book cover. When we decided to self-publish Finding Flaco, we asked her if she would work with us and luckily, she said yes.

Accepting the IBPA Book Award in St. Paul on May 16. 2025.

Jacqueline: We did the interior design ourselves, primarily because we knew we would be working on copy, photo selection / editing and layout up until our print deadline. Our design vision was to keep everything simple and clean so that our photos would be the center of attention. This was also a perfect fit for our limited design skills. David learned Adobe InDesign nearly two decades ago when he was part of his high school’s yearbook. InDesign has changed remarkably little since then, and he was able to get up to speed with the help of online resources. Our biggest challenges were typesetting and photo selection, which we worked on until the last possible minute.

David: The success of the Kickstarter campaign made it possible to enhance our print specifications. In particular, we added UV spot gloss to the dust jacket and debossing to the cover. We also went with a heavier paper weight and increased our page length to 224 pages from the 160 planned. All of these changes resulted in the final product feeling more premium.

IBPA: What next for your new press Owls of New York?

Jacqueline: While we continue to promote Finding Flaco, we are thinking about our next project. We are interested in writing a book about birds and other wildlife in New York City. We would be happy to self-publish again or work with a publisher.

IBPA: If Flaco could see the work you guys did to honor his memory, we’re sure he’ll give out two hoots of approval! Thank you Jacqueline and David, and all the best for your next project.

Note: The prestigious IBPA Book Award program is currently open for entries and inviting independent publishers to submit their books and audiobooks with a copyright date of 2025 for consideration for the 38th IBPA Book Awards. There are 60 categories to enter and the submission deadline is December 15, 2025. 

Share your unique publishing stories with the IBPA community! For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, and how to submit your spotlight article idea, click here.

Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlight articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on social media. Please contact adeline@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Instagram handle.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

At IBPA, we’re happy whenever we hear of a new indie publisher who’s ready to launch their first book after months of planning. So, we were delighted as well as our curiosity piqued when IBPA member Rebel Goose Books shared that they've lined up a distributor well ahead of their first book launch. Though Rebel Goose Books is a new indie press, founder Susan Pi is not a newcomer to publishing, having worked for over 15 years in book marketing. We set out to learn from Susan what her experiences had taught her on how to set up a new press to be ready when a distribution opportunity comes knocking (which it did!).

IBPA: Hi Susan, congratulations on launching your press and finding a distributor in advance of your first book launch. Tell us more about Rebel Goose Books.

Susan Pi: Thank you! I’m so excited to be sharing what we’ve been building. Rebel Goose Books is a new children’s book publishing house based on Vancouver Island, Canada. We publish kids’ and YA books that are bold, emotionally rich, and full of heart. I’m especially drawn to books that dig a little deeper and don’t shy away from big feelings or complex themes. We want our books to reflect the real world that kids and teens live in, while giving them space to imagine something better too.

IBPA: What’s your publishing mission?

Susan: Our company’s mission statement is: To champion stories that require courage to tell—stories that reflect the vibrant, complex world children and teens live in today, where challenges are met with resilience, differences are celebrated, and every experience offers a chance to grow.

IBPA: How many books are in the pipeline as you ready to launch?

Susan: The plan is to release two books per year, with our first book Guinea Pigs Don’t Wear Pants, written and illustrated by Chris Paul Farias, coming out in June 2026. The book is about celebrating individuality across the rainbow-hued spectrum. After that, in October 2026, we’ll launch The Way I Win by Angela Hollett, a picture book about a neurodivergent boy who learns that thinking differently is what helps him succeed in his first jiu-jitsu tournament. And we have two more titles in development for 2027.

IBPA: What is your “why” to launch Rebel Goose?

Susan: I’ve always loved kids’ books, but becoming a mom gave that love a whole new direction. It gave me a "why". I want to make the kinds of books I want my daughter to grow up with. I want to make books that tell her she belongs, that she’s enough exactly as she is, no matter how many mistakes she makes or what anyone tells her. I guess, in a way, these are also the books I wish I had had. Books with messages that might’ve saved me a lot of self-doubt, not to mention a good chunk of money and ten years of therapy as an adult!

Susan with her daughter Eloise.

IBPA: What has your journey been like, getting to your current role as publisher?

Susan: I started with a degree in English because, like a lot of book nerds, I didn’t know what else to do. When people asked if I was going to be a teacher, I panicked and tacked on a business degree so I’d at least sound employable. Later, I went back for my Master of Publishing because, clearly, I was determined to make books my whole personality. I was lucky to find incredible mentors at Ten Speed Press and Heyday, where I eventually became the marketing director. I've always been drawn to marketing and publicity. There's something about finding the soul of a story and helping it reach the people who need it most that appealed to me.

Eventually, I also started ghostwriting, editing, and helping indie authors with their marketing plans. When I got long COVID and was debilitated for far too long, I had to choose where to spend my energy. That’s when I realized I didn’t want to go back to the old version of publishing. I wanted to build a new one. So here we are.

IBPA: Please tell us what led to your finding a distributor?

Susan: From the beginning, a lot of people asked if I was doing hybrid or self-publishing. But the plan was always to build a traditional press. I’m in this for the long haul, and that means doing things in a way that respects how the industry works. Long lead times, proper sales cycles, offset printing, etc. I wanted Rebel Goose to feel like it belonged in the room from day one. So when the opportunity for distribution came up, we were already set up in a way that made sense for that next step.

IBPA: Already set up how?

Susan: I come from a marketing background, so I also approach publishing with that mindset. I tend to start by looking for gaps in the market. e.g. places where something feels missing, especially when it comes to emotional honesty or representation in kids’ books. I ask myself what problem a book could help solve for a reader, a parent, a teacher. If a manuscript lands on my desk and I can immediately see how to position it, who it’s for, and how to get it into the right hands, that’s when I know I’ve found something worth pursuing. That way of thinking makes our books commercially viable. They’re mission-driven, yes, but they’re also built to connect and to stand out in a crowded space.

IBPA: You also emphasize the importance of branding…

Susan: Yes, branding played a big role in getting to this point too. Rebel Goose wasn’t thrown together. The logo, the color palette, the mission statement, the way we talk about ourselves. All of this is what helped us cultivate an inaugural list where each book was chosen to carefully open doors. Every book on our list had a lot of potential, a focused reach, and clearly communicated who we were and what we stood for.

IBPA: How did the distribution deal with Orca Book Publishers come about?

Susan: So I was originally planning to go the usual small press route. Sell on my own, build slowly, and look for a distributor later. But while I was chatting with Chris Paul Farias’ agent at Transatlantic, she said, “You should talk to Orca.” It made total sense. They publish values-driven books with heart, just like we do. We’re both based on Vancouver Island, so we had that regional connection too. From the first conversation, it just felt like a good fit.

I’m really grateful Orca saw that as well. Our first book isn’t even out until June 2026 but because we had a clear vision, strong titles in development, and a publishing plan already in place, it didn’t feel premature. Even without books on shelves yet, we were already operating like a publisher with long-term goals and a strong sense of purpose. That made it easier for them to say yes.

IBPA: Do you have advice for other new publishers?

Susan: If I had any advice for other small presses looking for distribution, it would be this: build as if you already have it. Set up your systems, your timelines, your branding with the assumption that you’ll be part of the bigger ecosystem. Distributors are looking for partners who are prepared, not just passionate. Know who you are, what makes your list unique, and how you’re going to sell your books. And then keep showing up with that clarity until the right door opens.

IBPA: Thank you so much for sharing your story with us Susan. We wish you all the best as you prepare to launch your first title!

Share your unique publishing stories with the IBPA community! For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, and how to submit your spotlight article idea, click here.

Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlights articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on social media. Please contact adeline@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Instagram handle.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

A longtime IBPA member, Torchflame Books was founded in 1998 as Light Messages Publishing by a family of authors Wally, Betty, and Elizabeth Turnbull, who then expanded the company in 2013 to include Torchflame Books as its hybrid publishing imprint. In 2024, they transferred leadership of the company to Teri Rider, and Torchflame Books became an imprint of Top Reads Publishing, also a family-run hybrid press.

Recently, they launched a new imprint that’s dedicated to publishing large print books after discovering a gap in the market for independently published books for large print readers. We connected with Teri who is their CEO and Acquisitions Manager, and Marketing Manager Jori Hanna to tell us about the new imprint, Torchflame Books Large Print, and about the challenges and opportunities in publishing large print books.

IBPA: Hi Teri. Before we dive in, we want to recognize that you’ve been a loyal, long time IBPA member. Please tell us about your publishing journey and your IBPA involvement.

Teri Rider: I’ve been involved in publishing since 1990 when I worked for a niche academic publisher illustrating and developing books. Having the opportunity to learn every aspect of publishing, I knew this would become my chosen career. I eventually began designing books and helping authors self-publish when that became an option with CreateSpace, then continued following that path until I began my own publishing company, Top Reads Publishing, in 2015.

I was introduced to IBPA during my first year as a publisher by Karla Olson, who organizes our local Publishers and Writers of San Diego group. I immediately felt welcome in this community and realized I had a lot to learn about publishing! I attended PubU, won the Bill Fisher Award for the first book I published, and then I was on my way! Wanting to give back to this community of publishers, I volunteered first with the IBPA Advocacy Committee, where I was involved in the Checklist for a Professionally Published Book, and then the Hybrid Publishing Criteria’s initial draft. I then served on the Editorial Advisory committee for the Independent magazine and took part in the launch of PubSpot. I’m currently part of the Legislation and Standards committee, and I also have been a judge for the Ben Franklin, now IBPA Book Award, for many years.

IBPA: When did you start Torchflame Books. What type of books do you publish and what is your business model?

Teri: I was fortunate to acquire Torchflame Books in 2024 when the previous owners retired, and suddenly, I had almost 100 new authors, many with multiple titles. That year was mostly spent building on the strong existing foundation of that imprint, and this year we will have the space to implement more creative ideas. We are a multi-genre hybrid press with an even mix of fiction and non-fiction titles.

A side by side comparison between a regular edition and its large print counterpart.

IBPA: It’s so exciting to hear about your new imprint. Was there a lightbulb moment? What inspired you to consider publishing in large print format?

Teri: Our Marketing Manager, Jori Hanna, first brought the idea to me when one of our YA authors asked if we would consider it. This was last year, right before we exhibited at ALA in San Diego, so we talked with several librarians during the conference, and there was an overwhelming interest. From there, we began our research, mostly at libraries, learning about the styles and standards of other large print books. Jori and I would have long Zoom calls where she would show me the stacks of books she had checked out at her local library, and we began to develop our own style guide to conform with how other large print books are produced. Jori further researched how to create our house style template for the interior layout and covers, and we started with our 2025 catalog and YA backlist titles.

IBPA: Large print format books aren’t only for those who are visually impaired. Who are the audiences for these books?

Jori Hanna: Books in large print editions offer readers of all ages a number of benefits beyond increased visibility due to the larger type. They help reduce eye strain caused by looking at screens all day, an increasing problem as screens become more prevalent in our daily lives.

Additionally, they help encourage reluctant readers because the pages have fewer words and seem to go by faster. That provides a sense of accomplishment which can help people who struggle to focus on the words or are easily distracted.

IBPA: What is the plan to bring large print versions of your titles to your backlist and new releases? Will every future new title have a large print version?

Teri: We plan to bring each of our new titles out in large print, then, will roll out select backlist titles by genre throughout the first half of this year. We’re starting with YA as some of our most popular titles were in demand. We will release our mystery/thriller titles followed by non-fiction, then the rest of our bestselling fiction titles to wrap up the 2025 Large Print catalog.

IBPA: Let’s talk about the nuts and bolts of production. What are the areas to consider for the large print version?

Teri: Most Torchflame Books Large Print books will be set in 16pt serif type with high contrast and plenty of space on the page to reduce eye strain. In most cases, the design of the large print book will not vary from the standard paperback edition except in line spacing and font size. Our standard trim size will be slightly larger than 6x9 to allow for more words on the page and still follow basic typesetting norms. Front covers will retain the original design, and back covers are simplified for easy reading. There are a few nuanced differences for some genres, like YA, but for the most part, our standard style will apply to most fiction and nonfiction titles.

IBPA: One wonders...the additional labor and pages involved must mean a higher cost to produce. So what is your pricing strategy?

The large print versions are slightly bigger and the page count also increases by about 30%.

Teri: Much of our research went into developing our style guide. The page count increased by around 30%, so the retail price reflects that. We pay our authors the same royalty rate on the large print edition of their books, and we offer the same wholesale discount that retailers and libraries expect. As for the extra labor for production, by establishing our style guide first, we will be able to save time for the design and layout of each book.

IBPA: Finally, where did you go to for guidance in starting this venture? What resources would you point other publishers who may want to follow Torchflame’s lead?

Teri: Jori and I did most of our initial research in the libraries and by talking to librarians. There are a few large print book producers, like Gale and Thorndike, and a few of the big houses produce their own large print editions. This is when we got excited because almost no independent publishers were represented anywhere. We crunched the numbers, did some tests with a few of our titles, and decided that it was the right thing to do, and it fit our mission to make our books accessible to more readers, especially through the library market. Once we collect more data on this venture, we plan to offer mini workshops for those interested in adding large print to their catalogs.

IBPA: Thank you for helping to make independently published books more accessible to all readers Teri and Jori. We look forward to hearing from you again in the future to hear about your successes and any advice you can share with other IBPA members in publishing large print books!

Share your unique publishing stories with the IBPA community! For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, and how to submit your spotlight article idea, click here.

Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlights articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on social media. Please contact adeline@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Instagram handle.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

Nancy Chakrin of Breathe The Change Press and the Midwest Independent Publishers Association is super excited to welcome PubU attendees this May 15-17. She volunteered to write this guide of fun things to do when you’re in town. Thank you Nancy!

Welcome to My City, Minneapolis-St. Paul!

by Nancy Chakrin

Nancy Chakrin

As a native of Minneapolis, I invite you to come early and stay after the conference to explore the Twin Cities. Weather should be ideal in the low 70s and no snow. Quite personally, when I attend a conference in a new city, I love to explore beyond the walls of the hotel.

Uber and Lyft are available to get you around. Both MSP Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 (i.e. Southwest, Sun Country, Frontier) are short drives to the Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront Hotel. It’s about 9 miles or around 15-20 minutes.

The Twin Cities, comprised of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, offer a diverse mix of cultural attractions, outdoor activities, and entertainment. The area boasts a vibrant arts scene, a thriving food and drink culture, and a large network of parks and lakes including the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park.

From May 16-18, the NEMAA Art-As Whirl is happening in Northeast Minneapolis – it's the largest open studio tour in the country.

Are you a Prince fan? Then you’ve got to visit Paisley Park in Chanhassen, Prince’s home and studio that’s 45 min from the hotel. They offer tours Thursdays through Mondays.

Here are my personal recommendations of things you can do when you’re in town!

#1. Minneapolis Trolley Tours was voted the most fun thing to do in Minneapolis! There are a variety of trolley tours to choose from. There is a tour to see the Minneapolis landmarks, a terror tour full of ghosts, a Minneapolis mansion tour, and more. Booking more than 6 tickets gets you a special discount. Tours depart and return to 300 Clifton Avenue, Minneapolis. I plan to be on a trolley tour with a guest on Wednesday, May 14. Hope to see a few IBPA members there!

Historian and scholar Dave Page brings the people, the homes, the neighborhood and their relationships with F. Scott Fitzgerald to life on this two-hour walking tour.

#2. F. Scott Fitzgerald Walking Tour along Summit Avenue environs with author Dave Page. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the publication of The Great Gatsby with St. Paul's foremost authority on F. Scott Fitzgerald. Dave has researched Fitzgerald for over 45 years and has written several books on the famous author. Hear little-known stories about Fitzgerald's life and his first loves as you walk by Fitzgerald's birthplace, his parents’ house where he wrote This Side of Paradise and the many places where he partied with his friends. I personally know Dave whom I greatly respect for his vast expertise and wish to share him with our IBPA members!

Two dates: Wednesday May 14, 4-6PM, or Sunday May 18,10:30AM–12:30PM. Cost: $25 per person (5 people minimum, 20 people maximum. Cash only, paid at the time of the tour. To register please contact nancy@nancychakrin.com or call/text 612 327 1116. Meet in the south parking lot of the St. Paul Cathedral (239 Selby Avenue, St Paul, approximately 1 mile from the hotel), 5 minutes before the tour time.

#3. The Paddelford Sightseeing Riverboat. You can go on a narrated cruise on the Mississippi River on Sunday, May 18 at noon, across the river from the hotel. It’s a very short drive to Harriet Island where the riverboats depart. Register online. A great idea for those staying an extra day in the Twin Cities.

The Paddleford Riverboat tour.

#4. Top Minnesota Self-Guided Tours. Take a self-guided tour (starting from $10) such as Minnehaha Falls, The Mighty Mississippi, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, George Floyd Square and Midtown Minneapolis, In the footsteps of Prince, and Minneapolis River Walk.

#5. Ordway Center for Performing Arts. Very near to the hotel, the Minnesota Opera presents The Barber of Seville on Saturday, May 17 at 7:30PM, and on Sunday, May 18 at 2PM. Meanwhile, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra will present Coleman’s Sandbox Premiere with William Eddins on May 16, 17 and 18.

#6. Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis Downtown. On Thursday, May 15, 11AM, and Friday, May 16, 8PM, there's "James Ehnes Plays Dvorak" with the symphony, and on Saturday, May 17, 4PM. "Vocal Essence Mending the Sky."

#7. Restaurants. A few restaurants favored by my St Paul friends are: Cafe Latte, French Meadow Bakery & Cafe, Bar Cart Lounge & Restaurant, Estelle, Red Cow St. Paul, Longfellow Grill, French Hen, Red Rabbit St. Paul, Ruam Mit Tai, Indian House, Shish Mediterranean Grill & Cafe, Inoni Osteria, Neighborhood Café, Highland Grill, Yum Kitchen & Bakery, and Turtle Bread.

And finally, here are even more places you can visit in the Twin Cities. I look forward to seeing you at PubU and I wish you a great time visiting my city!

• Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
• Minnehaha Falls
• Mill City Museum
• Minnesota History Center St Paul
• Walker Art Center, Walker Sculpture Garden’s Spoonbridge and Cherry
• Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA)
• The Bakken Museum
• The Science Museum of Minnesota in St Paul
• Weisman Art Museum (architect Frank Gehry)
• Mall of America

Haven't registered for PubU yet? Register here.

About the author

Nancy with Laurie Ellis-Young.

Say hi to Nancy at Publishing University this May as she happily welcomes you to the Twin Cities. Nancy is coauthor and photographer of the MIPA Gold award-winning book Friendship The Art of the Practice (Tristain Publishing) and a contributing writer for the anthology Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Women (Joan Kennedy). She has produced over 50 art “Healing Blue Waters” and photography “Yoga On and Off the Wall” travelling exhibits in the Upper Midwest.

In 2013 Nancy cofounded the non-profit BreathLogic Inc with Laurie Ellis-Young and produced several Power of Breath training manuals. Most recently she was project manager and photography coordinator for the multi award-winning book Breath Is Life Taking IN and Letting GO How to Live Well, Love Well, BE Well by Laurie Ellis-Young and Dr. George T. Ellis (Breathe The Change Press) and production coach for Discover the Power of Laughter by Sarah Routman and Rachel Siegelman (Matterhorn Press).

IBPA Publishing University

The #1 annual conference for indie publishers, IBPA Publishing University, is coming to Minneapolis-St. Paul this May 15-17, 2025! There’ll be tracks for established publishers, newer publishers, and author-publishers; and three amazing keynote presentations. Maria A. Pallante (AAP) will present The Pillars of Publishing – Copyright and Freedom of Expression; and Brooke Warner (She Writes Press), Jonathan Merkh (Forefront Books), Angela Engel (The Collective Book Studio), and Dr. Ayo Sekai (Universal Write Publications) will join in a panel discussion about Rethinking Business Models. There's also a keynote panel on AI and Publishing - Opportunities, Challenges, and Transformation moderated by Keith Riegert (Stable Book Group/Perfect Bound), with Mary Rasenberger (Authors Guild), Amanda Zila (Inkbloom), and Trip Adler (Created by Humans). Join us! For more information, visit www.publishinguniversity.org/.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,100 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

Icy Smith is the founder and publisher of East West Discovery Press that has distributed over a thousand multicultural and bilingual books in over 60 languages, making her quite the expert to have on the panel titled “Non-English Content for the US Market” at IBPA Publishing University this May. She will be joined by Wiley Barnes (Chickasaw Press), Ashley Mireles-Guerrero (Familius Publishing) and Arthur A. Levine (Levine Querido), and they will discuss the opportunities and challenges for bilingual and Non-English language books in America. Ahead of PubU we decided to connect with Icy to get to know more about East West Discovery Press and their mission.

IBPA: Hi Icy, we’re looking forward to your session on non-English books for the U.S. market at Publishing University in May. What is your publishing mission, and what types of books do you publish?

East West Discover Press's booth at ALA 2024, where they showcased their newer publications and distributed overseas titles..

Icy Smith: East West Discovery Press is one of the few and growing independent Asian American-owned publishing companies in the U.S., specializing in multicultural and bilingual books. We focus on history, culture, and social justice, while also offering an eclectic mix of titles. Currently, we publish and distribute books in more than 60 languages. Our publishing mission is to promote understanding and foster connections between people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. At East West Discovery Press, we advocate for social justice while emphasizing the values of kindness, compassion, and inclusivity.

IBPA: Who are your primary customers?

Icy: Our primary customers are readers, teachers, librarians, and school administrators who put our books in schools and institutions all around the country.

IBPA:: Tell us about your publishing journey. You have written award-winning historical fiction and nonfiction titles on little-known histories and social injustices, as well as received accolades such as the National Joint Conference of Librarians of Color Author Award for “substantial and lasting contributions to the understanding of diversity and a multicultural society.” How did you become a book publisher?

Icy: My academic background was in journalism and communication. And about 30 years ago, I was actively involved in the Los Angeles Chinatown community and helped organize the Chinese New Year parades for many years. As I got more involved with the Chinese American community, I became curious about its history and realized that there was a lack of resources on the subject—particularly regarding Chinese Americans in Southern California. This curiosity led me to conduct extensive research and interviews with many people who lived through the history. And this undertaking eventually resulted in my first nonfiction book on the history of Chinese Americans in Los Angeles.

IBPA: You’re very modest in not mentioning that your book The Lonely Queue: The Forgotten History of the Courageous Chinese Americans in Los Angeles, won a Clarion Award and is a recommended reading title in California and American history curricula.

Icy: Thank you. I founded East West Discovery Press in 2000 to address the lack of diversity in children's literature. Our publishing program primarily focuses on bilingual children's books to support newcomers, dual-language learners, and world language programs in schools and libraries nationwide.

IBPA:  What determines the titles or languages you choose to publish?

Icy regularly presents at schools on the subject of Chinese Americans in California.

Icy: As a small independent publisher, we prioritize untold stories that highlight social justice, human rights issues, and diverse cultural experiences—especially those that are underrepresented. Currently, we focus on publishing in high-interest languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. To meet the critical language needs of schools and libraries, we also published titles in languages like Arabic, Hmong, and Nepali.

IBPA: We hear that you also take your mission beyond the needs of schools and libraries...as far as the border, in fact. Tell us about this.

Icy: A few years ago, in an effort to bring comfort and human dignity to the displaced children held near the border, we collaborated with a non-profit agency to provide hundreds of bilingual Spanish books to a detention center in Texas.

Icy and the students of Rio Vista Elementary School with a copy of her book, Mei Ling in China City.

IBPA: Looking at your catalog, East West Discovery Press has published and distributed books in languages including Hmong, Armenian, Arabic, Khmer, Ukrainian....how do you source for content from such under-represented languages in the U.S. publishing market?

Icy: As a book distributor, we are able to expand on our mission by working with reputable publishers worldwide, so we’re able to offer books in over 60 languages.

IBPA: Do you have any tips for marketing to educational markets?

Icy: I will share strategies on marketing non-English books to institutions like schools and libraries during our session at PubU, and I encourage authors and independent publishers with non-English titles to attend. For those looking to market bilingual or monolingual foreign language books to the educational markets, I recommend investing in a booth at key bilingual education conferences.

IBPA: Can you name a few?

Icy: Of course. Bilingual education conferences include the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE). In 2024, this event attracted over 5,000 attendees. There’s also the Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) conference in October 2025 in Dallas, TX, and the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) Conference in February 2026, in Chicago, IL.

IBPA: These are great resources, Icy, thank you. We’re sure the folks who attend your session at PubU will pick up even more valuable information. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. We wish you all the best and we’ll see you in St. Paul in May!

IBPA Publishing University

The #1 annual conference for indie publishers, IBPA Publishing University, is coming to Minneapolis-St. Paul this May 15-17, 2025! There’ll be tracks for established publishers, newer publishers, and author-publishers; and three amazing keynote presentations. Maria A. Pallante (AAP) will present The Pillars of Publishing – Copyright and Freedom of Expression; and Brooke Warner (She Writes Press), Jonathan Merkh (Forefront Books), Angela Engel (The Collective Book Studio), and Dr. Ayo Sekai (Universal Write Publications) will join in a panel discussion about Rethinking Business Models. There's also a keynote panel on AI and Publishing - Opportunities, Challenges, and Transformation moderated by Keith Riegert (Stable Book Group/Perfect Bound), with Mary Rasenberger (Authors Guild), Amanda Zila (Inkbloom), and Trip Adler (Created by Humans). Join us! For more information, visit www.publishinguniversity.org/.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,100 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

At IBPA Publishing University this May, Dr. Ayo Sekai joins a distinguished panel of indie publishers who are exploring new and different publishing models—the panelists include     Jonathan Merkh (Forefront Books), Brooke Warner (She Writes Press), and Angela Engel (The Collective Book Studio)—in a keynote presentation titled “Rethinking Business Models.” The publishers will discuss why publishing today must evolve in a shifting industry and what alternative models they are pursuing that could replace traditional publishing as we know it.

Ayo is the founder of Universal Write Publications (UWP), a publisher that stands on the forefront of intellectual leadership in Black scholarship. Through a publishing model that prioritizes rigor, impact, and accessibility, UWP is reshaping how Black academic thought is published. We spoke with her about her publishing mission, and what independent publishers can learn from her panel session at PubU.

IBPA: Hi Ayo, we’re excited to have you join the keynote panel at IBPA Publishing University. Let’s start with Universal Write Publications...what sets your company apart?

In her Ph.D regalia with Howard University president Dr. Ben Vincent III.

Ayo: UWP was founded on the principle that Black scholars are not a niche, but an essential force in shaping intellectual discourse in society. Our mission is to publish works that advance Black academic excellence, ensuring that scholarship by Black authors is not only published but widely read, cited, and integrated into research and curricula.  

IBPA: You focus on a very specific niche—Black academic scholarship. Tell us about the books that UWP publishes.

Ayo: We publish authors who are leading voices in their fields—scholars whose research challenges dominant narratives and expands intellectual traditions. Our catalog includes works in African studies, political science, psychology, education, and cultural theory, among others. Books like SKH: From Black Psychology to the Science of Being by Dr. Wade Nobles and Revolutionary Pedagogy by Molefi Kete Asante exemplify our commitment to publishing scholarship that is both transformative and enduring.

IBPA: Your path to publishing is unique—you were first an academic, and publishing was not your primary career focus. What led you to create UWP?

Ayo: My journey started with a frustration that many Black scholars share—mainstream academic publishers often control the narrative of whose work is deemed worthy of publication and distribution. I saw firsthand how vital research was overlooked or buried because it did not align with dominant frameworks. Instead of waiting for the system to change, I built a model that prioritizes Black scholarship on its own terms. UWP exists to ensure that Black intellectual thought is not just published, but that it thrives.

IBPA: This year’s keynote focuses on alternative business models. How is UWP breaking from traditional structures?

Ayo: Traditional academic publishing is slow, restrictive, and often dismissive of non-Western frameworks—especially when it comes to scholarship that disrupts, challenges, and teaches. At UWP, publishing isn’t just about producing books—it’s about preserving, amplifying, and sustaining our intellectual traditions. The traditional publishing model treats books as products. We see them as legacies that must be safeguarded and positioned to influence future generations.

We are the stewards of our own knowledge. My brother Paul [Coates, publisher of Black Classics Press] and Kassahun [Checole, publisher of Africa World Press, Inc. & The Red Sea Press, Inc.] have books in print that were first published over a hundred years ago, and they are just as relevant today. That’s because Black scholarship has always carried the weight of documenting, teaching, and shifting history—even when institutions ignore or erase it. UWP exists not just to publish but to ensure that Black intellectual work is protected, honored, and positioned to shape the future.

This is why our approach to the author-publisher relationship is different. Through tools like the UWP Author Impact Guide, we help our authors circumvent the gatekeeping of mainstream academic publishing. These books are often overlooked not because they lack quality, but because the industry decides whose knowledge is prioritized.

Ayo with the senior executive team of Sage Publishing. Left of her (in red jacket) is Sage CEO, Blaise R. Simqu.

IBPA: Speaking of partnerships, UWP has collaborated with Sage Publishing, a major force in the academic publishing world. And also teamed up with EBSCO. How have these partnerships reinforced your mission, and what does it offer to both parties?

Ayo: Our partnership with Sage was built on a shared vision—ensuring that critical research reaches the widest audience possible. While UWP remains independent, Sage’s support allowed us to expand our reach and explore new institutional channels. For Sage, this partnership represents an opportunity to engage more deeply with Black scholarship while benefiting from the thought leadership we bring.

By teaming up with EBSCO, UWP is making its titles more widely available to academic institutions around the world, including WorldCat.org, which will direct you to your closest library and display how many copies are available to borrow.

IBPA: What’s next for Universal Write Publications?

Ayo: We are expanding in several exciting ways. One of our most significant initiatives is The Researcher, a leadership platform designed to connect Black scholars with the tools, networks, and strategies they need to thrive beyond publishing. It equips them with research dissemination strategies, visibility opportunities, and industry insights to ensure their work has impact far beyond the book itself.

Additionally, we are growing our Little Black Book series, which focuses on methodologies for research on people of African descent. This series challenges and decolonizes outdated research frameworks by centering culturally valid, humanizing, life-affirming, and liberatory methods. Traditional research methods often erase the lived experiences and knowledge systems of Black communities, reinforcing Eurocentric perspectives.

At Barnes & Nobles, April 2024 - launching her book A2: A Scholarly Poeticial Science Discourse.

Through The Researcher and The Little Black Book series, we are publishing books that reshape how knowledge is produced, validated, and disseminated in academic spaces. Our goal is to create lasting change in the way Black scholarship is integrated into research and education.

IBPA: As we wrap up, what excites you most about the future of independent publishing, and what do you hope to bring to IBPA Publishing University?

Ayo: Independent publishing is where real innovation happens. We are not bound by outdated models, and that gives us the freedom to be bold in how we approach publishing. I’m excited to be in conversation with other indie publishers who are redefining the landscape. At IBPA Publishing University, I look forward to sharing insights, challenging assumptions, and hopefully inspiring more publishers to rethink their approach to serving scholars, authors, and readers in impactful ways.

IBPA: Thank you so much Ayo, for taking the time to chat with us. We look forward to your panel at PubU in May!

IBPA Publishing University

The #1 annual conference for indie publishers, IBPA Publishing University, is coming to Minneapolis-St. Paul this May 15-17, 2025! There’ll be tracks for established publishers, newer publishers, and author-publishers; and three amazing keynote presentations. Maria A. Pallante (AAP) will present “The Pillars of Publishing – Copyright and Freedom of Expression”; and Brooke Warner (She Writes Press), Jonathan Merkh (Forefront Books), Angela Engel (The Collective Book Studio), and Dr. Ayo Sekai (Universal Write Publications) will join in a panel discussion about “Rethinking Business Models.” Join us! For more information, visit www.publishinguniversity.org/.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

At IBPA Publishing University this May, attendees who register for the full conference will be able to attend one of four in-depth pre-conference workshops on May 15. One of these four workshops is titled Grants, Funding and More for Under-Resourced Publishers which will be led by Joylynn Ross and Brandy Miller, both from Path To Publishing. Joylynn and Brandy have both lived the experience of overcoming an underfunded business and learned where to find the resources to push forward their publishing mission, lessons which they will share with workshop attendees. We connected with Joylynn and Brandy to learn more about their journeys and what attendees can gain from attending their PubU workshop.

IBPA: Hi Joylynn and Brandy, we’re very excited that you’re going to be co-presenting this workshop at Publishing University. But first, tell us a bit about your backgrounds in publishing…

Brandy and Joylynn.

Brandy Miller: I went from publishing The Poverty Diaries in 2014 to writing and publishing Turning Problems into Profits in 2019 – with an updated version forthcoming. I, too, took my own experiences, which included being homeless, of learning to turn my problems into profits, and leveraged that to write a book I knew could save lives, shape history, and change the world. Now I bring those same strategies to my work as the Director of Program Development for Joylynn's Path To Publishing brand, as the co-founder of our Path To Connections brand, and as the Chief Acquisitions Editor for PTP Press, our traditional publishing imprint.

IBPA: Tell us about your company. What is your mission?

Joylynn: Path To Publishing strives to empower authors to not publish like the pros, but to actually be publishing pros. We do this through our publishing services such as ghostwriting, editing and formatting, cover design, writing and publishing coaching and instruction, literary leadership training, marketing and PR services, distribution set up, copyright and Library of Congress registrations, and literary consulting and training. What makes us unique and stand out is that education is a must in our process when working with clients. We don’t ever want to hold their success or money hostage. We want to teach them how to win, with or without us.

IBPA:  As for PTP Press, what types of books do you publish?

Joylynn making a presentation.

Brandy: At PTP Press, we take fiction and leverage it to build programs that help people see their lives, and the people around them, in a different light. For example, we took The Price We Pay by Nikki T. Anthony—a 2024 Silver IBPA  Benjamin Franklin Award winner—and built the B.E. S.E.E.N. Bias Education & Training program around it. It leverages fiction to show people the impact of their biases and the biases of others, and techniques for identifying, addressing, challenging, and overcoming harmful biases. We’re all about teaching and showing our fellow authors and publishers how to turn the messages in their books into a movement…regardless of the genre. We refer to this as “publishing as a pro and with a purpose.”

IBPA: Let’s talk about your PubU workshop “Grants, Funding and More for Under-Resourced Publishers”. Who is the type of publisher who should attend?

Brandy: We might be prejudiced, but we believe every publisher of books, including authors, should attend the workshop, especially in today’s economic climate. This includes large publishers so that they can pass on this crucial information to their authors.

Joylynn: We have a philosophy: “Never let money be the reason you didn’t make the difference you were born to make.” Toward that end, the workshop is designed to help attendees find and take advantage of the strategic paths available to fund their books and book businesses, support their literary endeavors, build and grow their team, and reduce the expenses of publishing and running a business so that they can make sure their voice – and the voice of their authors - gets heard no matter what’s in their wallet.

IBPA: Can well-resourced publishers attend this workshop too?

Brandy: Yes, even if a publisher feels they are adequately resourced, send a team member to mine the gems that are going to be shared and then pass them on to your authors who may actually be under-resourced. Sponsor your authors who may need this information. Because, when the author wins, the literary/publishing business wins.

IBPA: What can attendees who attend your workshop expect to take away from it? What will be some of the topics you’ll cover?

Joylynn: Here are the topics and takeaways from this workshop. For example, attendees will learn…

• The power of connections in helping you secure funding, opportunities, and other resources.
• Where to find grants and funding opportunities – or how to create your own.
• How to tell your business and personal story to lenders, investors, and banks in order to access capital.
• How to find opportunities for no-cost to low-cost marketing and promotion.
• What to put into your grant and funding applications to make sure you get moved to the top.
• How to define and determine profitability and assets outside of your “numbers story.”
• How to prepare your grant and funding application to increase your chances of a “yes.”
• How to build/hire/grow a team with no cost or little cost to you.

IBPA: Tell us about your individual publishing journeys. Why did you co-found Path To Publishing?

Brandy teaching a class.

Joylynn: I got tired of watching independent authors and publishers seeking assistance with the writing and publishing of their books get taken advantage of by literary sharks. By people who “knew” how to do a thing but wasn’t an expert at doing the thing. Overselling, overpromising, overpricing, all while under delivering. This is one of the reasons I formed Path To Publishing.

And this is one of the main reasons we became members of IBPA. IBPA holds us accountable on making sure we are committed to delivering excellence without doing those very things I accused the literary sharks of. I’ve personally witnessed members have their membership revoked for not adhering to this commitment. IBPA means business when it comes to the business of its members.

IBPA: When did you launch PTP Press?

Joylynn: PTP Press was launched when one of our Path To Publishing clients hired us to help her with the editing and publishing of her fiction book. During the process we saw the huge potential this book’s message had to change the world. Instead of us just educating the author on how to position the title to reach its full potential, we believed in it so much that we wanted to partner in doing so. Authors and publishers don’t always see how impactful a fiction book truly can be. So, we wanted to show that fiction books are more than entertainment – they are vehicles for making a positive social impact.

Brandy: Joylynn and I co-founded Path To Connections as a means of helping authorpreneurs, publishers, and other entrepreneurs and business owners form the kind of strategic connections that allow them to achieve their goals and measure of success no matter what their financial picture may be. And what is the one thing that connects us all? Our stories!

IBPA: I heard you had something exciting happen to you last year at PubU, Joylynn. Do share!

Joylynn: Yes, I can’t wait to return to PubU. Last year at PubU was where I landed a three-book deal! One is for the companion to this workshop—Market Your Book: How to Earn a Living as an Author—which is something I feel every author should have in their Author Toolkit, and something every publisher and literary agent should include in their author welcome or onboarding package. My dreams were made true at PubU24, and now I’m in a position to make somebody else’s come true at PubU25.

IBPA: Thank you both for sharing your stories with us. We wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you on stage in Minneapolis-St. Paul this May.

Brandy: Thank you so much for this opportunity. We’re looking forward to serving at PubU! It’s not only an honor, but also a duty; part of our life assignment. Another chapter in our story!

IBPA Publishing University

The #1 annual conference for indie publishers, IBPA Publishing University, is coming to Minneapolis-St. Paul this May 15-17, 2025! There’ll be tracks for established publishers, newer publishers, and author-publishers; and three amazing keynote presentations. Maria A. Pallante (AAP) will present “The Pillars of Publishing – Copyright and Freedom of Expression”; and Brooke Warner (She Writes Press), Jonathan Merkh (Forefront Books), Angela Engel (The Collective Book Studio), and Dr. Ayo Sekai (Universal Write Publications) will join in a panel discussion about “Rethinking Business Models.” Join us! For more information, visit www.publishinguniversity.org/.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

In 1994, Kate Gale and Mark E. Cull co-founded Red Hen Press from their Los Angeles home, selling nearly all they owned to begin publishing poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction from talented writers. Today, Red Hen Press publishes approximately 25 books each year, with over 550 books released to date and distributed internationally. In their 30 years, the press has transformed into an organization that leads their local community and beyond with literary programs that include author awards, the Los Angeles Review magazine, and the Writing in Schools workshops in low-income schools. We met with co-founder Kate Gale to learn more about their journey.

Red Hen Press co-founder Dr. Kate Gale.

IBPA: Hi Kate, congratulations on your 30th anniversary. Tell us about Red Hen Press’s publishing mission.

Kate Gale: We publish books that reflect the world we live in. We celebrate books by women, writers of the West, BIPOC writers, writers with disabilities, queer writers, and everything in between. We’re proud and honored to be a home for underrepresented writers and stories.

IBPA: We’d love to hear your founding story and how have you evolved over the years.

Kate: We started off publishing poetry, but we quickly changed to poetry and prose, primarily focusing on literary fiction and memoirs. Over the last 10 years, we’ve moved in the direction of more upmarket fiction via novels or short story collections, though all are always featuring stories by and about marginalized communities.

IBPA: What is your publishing model?

Kate: We are a traditional publisher with a standard contract and submissions process. We are one of the few presses in the country that still accept unsolicited manuscripts...meaning that authors do not need to have a literary agent to submit their manuscript to us. We use Submittable to manage our submissions.

IBPA: Red Hen is also pretty well known for its awards program.

Kate: Yes, we host five publication awards: the Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award, the Cai Emmons Fiction Award, the Women’s Prose Award, the Quill Queer Prose Award, and the Ann Petry Award for Black Writers. We want to provide more opportunities for authors to be spotlighted.

A student from Red Hen Press's Writing in Schools program reads at a fundraiser.

IBPA: In addition to the awards program, Red Hen Press is also recognized in the community for your other outreach projects such as the Writing in Schools Program.

Kate: The Writing in the Schools program sends published, professional writers into Title I and low-income schools in the Los Angeles area to provide free poetry classes for the kids. At the end of the school year, we then publish an anthology featuring one poem from each student in the program, making them all published authors.

IBPA: What inspired you to create it?

Kate: Well, our mission is both literature and literacy. We were inspired to create the Writing in the Schools program because of the distressing drop-out rate in the Los Angeles Unified School District at the time. We wanted to figure out a way to combat that, and to inspire our youth to explore self-expression through writing and poetry.

IBPA: Red Hen also manages the Los Angeles Review journal. Tell us more about the aim of this journal.

Kate: The Los Angeles Review is our literary journal, which we started in order to give writers a chance to be published for the first time with smaller pieces or a single poem. The journal also provides new opportunities for recent grads from MFA programs, who act as our editors. The journal is primarily online now, with one “best-of” print issue produced each year. We’re proud of the literary community that Los Angeles Review has and continues to build and are grateful for the chance to feature even more writers at the start of their careers.

Covers from past issues of Red Hen Press's Los Angeles Review journal.

IBPA: Looking back at three decades in publishing, do you have any advice for newer publishers?

Kate: Yes! Building a creative community is magical but it is not for the faint of heart. Make sure you get someone on your team who understands business and marketing.

Have a strategic plan that you update every three years, and if you’re a nonprofit press, have a strong and supportive Board of Directors who can not only inspire you and your team, but who are also willing to help your company succeed however they can.

IBPA: Last question! What would you say contributed to Red Hen’s longevity and success?

Kate: Red Hen Press has survived and thrived for 30 years because of the community around us. Our incredible authors work extremely hard to get the word out about their books, but we’ve also been lucky to have such supportive authors who recommend us to their author friends, building our community even more.

Our strong and dedicated staff, who love the work, keep us afloat. Without them, we would have no books, and without books, we’d have no readers.

And finally, our willingness to take risks has led to incredible and unexpected growth. We look forward to more risks, more incredible authors, and more beautiful stories to share and celebrate over our next 30 years in publishing.

IBPA: Thank you Kate for taking the time to tell us about Red Hen Press’s story. We wish you another great 30 years and more, of success!

Share your unique publishing stories with the IBPA community! For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, and how to submit your spotlight article idea, click here.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

IBPA: Hi Kathy, congratulations on your 10th anniversary! Now, Shout Mouse isn’t just a press, it’s a mission-driven organization that does much  more. Please share with IBPA members all that you guys do...

Kathy Crutcher: Thank you! Yes, Shout Mouse Press is both an arts education nonprofit organization AND a publishing house. Our mission is to support the creation and publication of diverse books by young people for young people.

IBPA: Can you define who are the young people that you serve…?

Kathy: Our authors, who range in age from 12 to 24, are members of communities whose voices are under-represented and increasingly silenced in youth literature. Thus far those author identities include immigrant, incarcerated, teen parent, queer, Black, Latinx, AAPI, Muslim, and intersections thereof.

IBPA: How do you help these creative voices?

Kathy: Through our programs, professional writers and teaching artists work with these young people to write and publish the kind of books that they wish they had had growing up, and that are inspired by their own lived experiences. We ask them to tell stories only they can tell, especially as peers and near-peers to their readers. In the end, our books and programs are intended not just to expand representation in youth literature, but importantly to work towards social justice and activate youth power.

Kathy (second from left) with her first authors, including Kyare (far right) who inspired her to start Shout Mouse.

IBPA: In its 10 years, Shout Mouse titles have earned recognition in various ways. Some have gotten starred reviews or been distributed to libraries nationwide by the Junior Library Guild. Others are amplified by First Book. One title was recently purchased by the New York City Public School system. Tell us more about this.

Kathy: Oh yes! Recently Voces Sin Fronteras: Our Story, Our Truth was picked up by NYCPS to be used as part of their Hidden Voices curriculum. We’re excited because Voces Sin Fronteras is a pretty singular book in the marketplace, created by 16 extraordinary young people, all of whom were recently arrived immigrants from Central America and the Caribbean. These students courageously shared their own stories of immigration in a unique and accessible format: a bilingual graphic memoir collection, with Spanish and English on facing pages, which makes it a great language learning tool. Their mission in publishing this book was to ensure that other young people like them did not feel alone, and to humanize the immigration debates in this country.

IBPA: You founded Shout Mouse 10 years ago. Please share your founding story.

Kathy: I always like to say that the idea for Shout Mouse started with a young man named Kyare. He was a high school student in Washington, DC, working as a reading tutor at a local literacy organization, and he was frustrated with the books he was reading with his elementary school tutees. He said those stories rarely reflected the lives and people of their community—and therefore rarely engaged his students. And he was right, in a big way. At that time, 2014, half of all five-year-olds in this country were people of color, yet fewer than 10 percent of children’s books featured characters like them.

Many of your readers may be familiar with the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement that took off around that same time, for the same reason. Anyway, Kyare thought he and his fellow teen tutors could write better books themselves — and that frustration planted the seed that would grow into SMP.

Their Author Talks program nurtures young people to be speakers, providing training, transportation, and honoraria.

IBPA: How did you and Kyare connect?

Kathy: At the time I was leading a local creative writing program for young people, and I was looking for ways to connect my interest in racial and social justice movements to my work. So when the head of that literacy organization reached out to me to see if I could help make Kyare’s request possible, I said, “Absolutely! And could this be the beta project for something new?” Voila! Shout Mouse Press was born.

Kyare became one of our very first authors, now numbering over 500. And our catalog has grown to 60 publications, ranging from board books to illustrated children’s books to zines to all kinds of YA books: novels, graphic novels, short story collections, memoirs, poetry…We’re always looking to diversify our catalog in all ways—author identities, communities centered, genres, forms, audiences—to engage more and more young people with stories that expand empathy and disrupt bias. And that make all young people feel seen!

IBPA: Let’s switch gears and talk business here for a sec. Some of your books are in schools. What happens when a book is in the public school curriculum? How do schools purchase these books from you and what are the terms like?

Kathy: Some of our books have been featured in individual school curricula before—most notably The Day Tajon Got Shot, a novel-in-stories written by 10 teen girls in DC about the effects of police brutality on a community—but this most recent sale is the greatest volume we’ve seen before. The ebooks of Voces Sin Fronteras were purchased through OverDrive and organized by Ingram’s Digital Sales team. Because the volume was quite high, we provided a slightly bigger discount than usual, but it was still a significant sale for us.

IBPA: How did you get the attention of the schools?

Kathy: It’s hard to say, but the book has won a number of indie press awards, received a starred review in School Library Journal, and had been re-released with a foreword by author Meg Medina, who is a founding member of our Megaphone Board and, most recently, the National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature. One of those things—in addition to the truly unique and courageous content—might have been what initially caught their eye.

IBPA: We would be remiss if we didn’t highlight that, as a mission-driven publisher, you guys do more than publishing. In your annual report, you stated that since your founding, Shout Mouse has distributed more than $370,000 to your authors and their communities. Can you elaborate on that?

Kathy: Of course! That’s one of the statistics I’m actually most proud of. We are committed to valuing young people for their time and talents. Those funds are distributed in a couple ways. One is through our Author Talks program, where our youth authors are routinely invited to serve as guest speakers in school, university, and community spaces. We provide training for these public speaking engagements as well as transportation and honoraria. In addition to being an opportunity to compensate young people for their time, they get to address issues on which they are truly experts but rarely consulted.

Otherwise, we ensure that earned income from book sales is invested directly back into young people themselves: supporting scholarship funds for author communities, salaries for author interns, stipends for participation and publication, and programs that help young people speak up, be heard, and be taken seriously as leaders in their community.

IBPA: Tell us about your team.

The staff of Shout Mouse Press were recognized on the field and screen at Nationals Stadium in Washington DC, where they're based.

Kathy: I’m the founder, and also currently the Executive Director. I have the honor and the joy of supporting a small but mighty team: Alexa on Programs, Dave and Barrett on Publishing, and Chioke on Development and Operations. We also employ 10-15 project-based artists each year: story coaches, illustrators, book designers, etc. We do a lot with a little, and our mouse-with-a-megaphone logo captures that vibe!

IBPA: What do you enjoy most about your job?

Kathy: What do I enjoy? So much. Most importantly, I feel incredibly grateful for the chance to pursue meaningful work with smart, passionate, funny, and justice-minded folks — both my team and our youth authors. And my best moments are when I get to witness those youth authors actively expanding horizons of possibility — like when they read their book in front of a classroom, and their young audience members say, “Wait — you wrote a book? Could I write a book?” At its essence, that’s when this work not only changes expectations of who can be an author, but also revolutionizes whose story matters, whose stories need to be heard. And that’s why we do what we do.

IBPA: Shout Mouse Press was one of five publishers selected to join the first cohort of the IBPA Innovative Voices program. What was the most valuable aspect of the program for you?

Kathy: Our Publishing Manager Dave Ring traveled to Denver last year for IBPA’s Publishing University. Dave came back from the conference very fired up after great conversations with other publishers in the Innovative Voices program, as well as all the printers and other publishing professionals he got to talk shop with. We are always grateful for the community and connections that IBPA provides, and we look forward to much more!

IBPA: Thank you Kathy and Shout Mouse Press for the good work that you do. We at IBPA wish you all the best!

Got an interesting story to share about your publishing journey? You could be selected to be featured in an IBPA Member Spotlight story. Learn more how .

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,500 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

In 2023, IBPA launched Innovative Voices. The program provides guidance and support to five publishers to help them elevate their publishing programs that are serving marginalized communities. In September 2024, the first cohort of publishers graduated from the Innovative Voices program. We caught up with one of the publishers, Tamara Mayo of Taevo Publishing, to learn about her publishing journey and her experience participating in Innovative Voices. 

IBPA: Hi Tamara. Congrats on completing the Innovative Voices program. Please tell us about your business Taevo Publishing, and about your publishing mission?

Tamara Mayo: Our mission is a rebellious one. One that goes beyond trying to provide a platform for underrepresented voices. We believe in storytelling that is bold, raw, and true. Unfortunately, we see too many talented voices being overlooked in the publishing world, particularly those from communities of color. And it breaks our heart because a robust market of readers is right there anxiously waiting for these voices to be elevated and delivered to them – there are just too many powerful gatekeepers blocking the natural flow because of antiquated beliefs and practices.

IBPA: Tell us a little bit about yourself. What was your journey leading to where you are today?

Tamara: Though I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, I never saw publishing as my future. I was preparing to be a psychologist, and I was fully on track to get every degree I could in the field. It wasn’t until my mom published her first book when I was 14 that I had my first real experience with the publishing world. She went through a vanity publisher, and the experience was frustrating. I was shocked to learn that in our Black community, we were told vanity publishers were the only option outside of self-publishing. Watching my mom struggle through this process—especially when her book deserved so much better than the poor formatting and cover design—made me promise myself that I’d never go that route if I ever published a book. In high school, I wrote my first play and then my first novel.

Before she launched Taevo Publishing, Tamara was a police dispatcher who moonlighted as an editor and ghostwriter.

IBPA: Then what changed?

Tamara: Out of curiosity, I started researching how to get an agent and navigate the publishing world. I still swear by the first book on self-publishing I ever read, The Self-Publishing Manual by Dan Poynter. In 2008, while working as a police dispatcher and moonlighting as a developmental editor and ghostwriter, I decided to pursue publishing seriously. After receiving one too many rejection letters, I decided to self-publish my own book. But the turning point came when I read The Well-Fed Self Publisher by Peter Bowerman, and the idea to launch my own publishing house to essentially protect my self-published book took root.

IBPA: You launched Making It Happen Publishing in 2008. Tell us about that.

Tamara: The very first book we ever released was my mom’s book, Abused and Abandoned, which she originally published through a vanity press. Now, the content she wrote was fantastic—her story was raw, real, and powerful. But what that vanity publisher provided in return, using her hard-earned money, was so horrible! The reader within me was like, “Oh my gosh! What is this abomination?” In fact, I still have the original copy she autographed for me all those years ago. That copy stayed with me on my desk through the entire revamping process as the inspiration I needed while I worked to make her book into what it truly deserved to be.

IBPA: You then rebranded the company as Taevo Publishing, and published your second book two years later.

The book that started it. Tamara republished her mother's book under Taevo's imprint.

Tamara: Yes, after rebranding as Taevo Publishing in 2010, I published the sequel to my mom’s book, Too Late To Turn Back, and from there, I finally felt ready to release my own work.

As for the first book I ever wrote, that’s Rise of the Demon Inferno which I initially published in 2015 under the original title of “The Goddess of Flames”. At first, it was meant to be a standalone novel, but by 2019, I knew there was more to the story. So, I re-released it as part of a series called The Eternal Goddess of Flames, renaming the first book Rise of the Demon Inferno.

IBPA: Do share with our readers the lessons you’ve learned so far in the business of publishing.

Tamara: One of the biggest lessons I learned while publishing our first book was the importance of surrounding yourself with the right team. I underestimated how crucial editing, cover design, and marketing were until I dove into the process.

Another thing I learned? Hidden talent is all around you. My friend, Veronica—“Ronnie-V” as I like to call her—was a fellow 911 dispatcher moonlighting as a photographer, and she ended up shooting the new cover for less than $100. Seeing that final product come together was an unforgettable moment. I had taken this book that had been severely mishandled and made it into something beautiful, professional, and worthy of my mom's story.

A side-by-side comparison of her mother's book; published by a vanity press (left) and published by Taevo.

IBPA: Taevo Publishing was one of five publishers chosen for the IBPA’s Innovative Voices Program in 2023. Congratulations on completing one year of the program!

Tamara: This program was a true game changer for Taevo. And to think, I almost didn’t apply. I want to give a huge shoutout to Camille Wanliss, the founder and CEO of Galleyway, a curator of writing opportunities for underserved creators, who was the main catalyst for us applying.

I’d say that this program offers so many valuable gems. From expanded access to valuable resources and learning, to how it forces us to put innovation into action. Being in this program inspired me to experiment with new branding paths and business partnerships within my community, which pushes me to continue to think creatively about how Taevo can expand our impact in the publishing world.

IBPA: What has been the most valuable aspect of the program for you?

Tamara: The most valuable aspect of IBPA’s Innovative Voices program has been the supportive community and increased networking opportunities. It’s rare to find a space where innovation and independence are so fully embraced. I’ve gained insight into the changing landscape of publishing, especially with how to navigate the digital age. But most importantly, I’ve found like-minded publishers who are pushing boundaries, just like me. We were able to bounce ideas off each other and share resources that I could immediately apply to Taevo's projects.

IBPA: What are you most excited about for 2025?

Tamara: First and foremost is the release of Why I Stayed in May 2025—a project that’s so much more than just a book for me. As a survivor of intimate partner violence, this anthology is deeply personal. It’s about giving survivors a platform to share their stories, to be heard, and to be believed. We’re working on a fundraising initiative to donate copies of the book to shelters and organizations that support survivors, and we’re looking for sponsors to help us achieve that, so any support is appreciated. All the information is available on our website: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/why-i-stayed-amplifying-survivor-voices#/

We’re also gearing up for the release of Universes of a Creator, a sci-fi and fantasy anthology that celebrates the imaginative work of BIPOC writers. Additionally, we’re launching a comprehensive directory of BIPOC traditional publishers, agents, and bookstores, which will be a valuable resource for authors looking for representation from people who share their values and experiences. So 2025 will truly be about us expanding our reach and impact, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what’s coming!

IBPA: Looks like it's going to be a busy year ahead! All the best to you Tamara and thanks for taking the time to chat with us. 

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,500 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

IBPA: Hi MJ, happy new year to you! We’re so pleased to have you on IBPA’s board. You bring a lot of expertise in the area of publishing rights. Tell us about what you do.

MJ Courchesne: I am the founder and President of Gryphon Publishing Consulting, LLC. I formed my company after working for years in licensing and permissions for National Geographic. My company’s main goal is to help publishers do more with their products and help them both protect and leverage their intellectual property in smart and effective ways.

IBPA: What IBPA committee are you involved in, in addition to being on the Board of Directors?

MJ: I’m a part of the Legislation & Standards Committee, which was formerly the Advocacy Committee. I’m excited to help continue advocating for members and help shape the future of the publishing industry. When I first joined IBPA, I also served on a review panel for what later became the Membership Committee.

Presenting a session on book rights at the BISG meeting in New York last year.

IBPA: What issues do you feel strongly about, and hope to make an impact on as a board member?

MJ: The publishing landscape is skewed toward the Big 5, and I’m keenly interested in helping to help level the proverbial playing field. I think that indie publishers are producing some of the most interesting and important books, and I really want to help them gain a greater share of the market.

IBPA: What has your journey been like, getting to where you are today in publishing?

MJ: Oh gosh, your question made me I realize that I’ve been in the industry ever since I graduated from college ages ago! I guess time flies when you’re having fun! I started my career believing I was going to be an editor, but soon found myself in marketing. Then after a company reorganization, I moved over to the rights side of things (pun intended) and never looked back!

When I decided to start my company, I knew I would continue to work in rights and permissions for my clients because most publishers do not have a “me” on staff. I really enjoy how each day provides new challenges that allow me to be both analytical and creative depending on the project. For example, in the morning I might put on my detective hat while acquiring permissions or helping a client to determine better procedures for their rights processes. Then in the afternoon, I get my creative juices flowing by crafting an irresistible pitch to a potential licensee on behalf of another client. I am grateful for the chance to do what I love every day.

IBPA: Through your company, Gryphon Publishing Consulting, you advise publishers on their subsidiary rights, permissions, and licensing. What are some common pitfalls or misconceptions that publishers who are approaching their first rights deal should be aware of?

MJ: I find that publishers new to rights and permissions do not feel there’s enough value in pursuing a deal because of the effort that may need to go into it prior to closing or they simply don’t know what to do with the opportunity, so they don’t want to entertain it in the first place. While it’s true that there may not be a huge monetary upside for every deal, publishers need to remember that any permission or license is another tool for the marketing or publicity of a book as well as your brand. One deal can lead to more opportunities in the same way that one fantastic review or award can lead to more sales, bring in new authors, and engage new customers for your press overall.

MJ's garden was featured in Garden Walk Buffalo in July,

IBPA: Please tell us something about yourself that has nothing to do with work or publishing.

MJ: Well, I’m an avid gardener, although not professional by any means. Every year, my husband and I open the gardens around our 1892 Victorian house as part of Garden Walk Buffalo, which is the largest open garden tour event in the US. This past July, we had more than 900 people wander through our yard!

IBPA: Well, we'll say that your unique super power is you can make things grow – plants, flowers...and book rights deals! Thank you for taking the time to chat with us MJ!

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,500 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

Many young people who dream of entering the publishing industry find it difficult to get relevant work experience and a foot in the door. Luckily, at Loyola University Maryland, their publishing program is providing students with hands-on experiences in publishing, which includes the process of producing top quality books worthy of awards. Loyola University Maryland’s Apprentice House Press calls itself the nation’s first completely student-run press. Of their 18-20 titles published last year, the World War Two fiction novel Of White Ashes has the distinction of winning a Silver Award in the Fiction: Historical category in this year’s IBPA Book Awards. We sat down with Kevin Atticks from Apprentice House Press to learn about how the students shape their approach to publishing.

IBPA: Tell us more about Apprentice House Press. What is your publishing mission?

Kevin Atticks: Our press was conceived as an experiential learning opportunity for undergraduates considering a career in publishing. Just like students interested in a career in journalism might join the campus newspaper, Apprentice House Press provides the unique opportunity to gain professional experience in acquisitions, editing, marketing and design.

IBPA: Typically, in a year, how many students staff your press? Do they pick their roles and stick with it—i.e. editor, acquisitions, marketing, production—or do students rotate through all the areas in publishing?

Kevin teaching a publishing class.

Kevin: Students become editors in various departments by enrolling in our courses. Students enrolled in our book marketing and promotions course become promotion editors, those in our book design course become design editors. Sure, some students take all of our courses, but it’s more common for students to engage in our courses that align with their primary interest. A marketing major may take our book marketing course, an English or writing major takes our editing course. We offer opportunities for students who wish to dive deeper into the field through independent study courses.

IBPA: Tell us about Apprentice Press’s publishing model. How does it differ from a traditional university press? What makes your press unique?

Kevin: Our key differentiator is the construct of our staff: we are built entirely upon, and shaped through, the work and interest of our student editors. I am eternally surprised and impressed by their breadth of interests and depth of appreciation for diverse works. In many respects, we work like any other press.

We run a standard acquisitions process, provide an edit of each work, and deliver a professional design. Where we diverge from most presses is with our engagement and collaboration with our authors. Many of our authors have worked with other presses and note how much more deeply we’ve engaged them in the design and marketing plan development.

IBPA: What is your role at Apprentice Press?

Kevin: I play the role of Director, which involves teaching our four courses and leading the administrative functions of the press.

IBPA: Do you pay advances to your authors?

Kevin: It’s something we’re trying to make happen, but for now we do not offer advances.

IBPA: Let’s move onto your winning title, Of White Ashes, by authors Constance Hays Matsumoto and Kent Matsumoto. Tell us more about the story behind it.

Kevin: The book provides a fresh take on an incredibly important time in history. Our student editors were enthralled with the seamless weaving of familial tales amidst the war’s global backdrop. We also love the personal story of Connie and Kent...the history, the research, the passion.

Kevin and a student work on a project at Apprentice House Press.

IBPA: How did the manuscript arrive to your press? In a student-run press like yours, how does the selection process work?

Kevin: We met Connie through the Maryland Writers Association and enjoyed hearing about her work with Kent. The manuscript was reviewed alongside others submitted through our website. We reviewed nearly 200 manuscripts and selected 18 for publication in that cohort. Through the editing and design process, our team worked very closely with Connie and Kent. Their appreciation for our model provided an even richer experience for our students and our program.

IBPA: Is your call for submissions year-round? How many titles do you typically publish in a year?

Kevin: We accept submissions year-round for review between February and April each year. We typically publish 18-20 titles annually.

IBPA: Thanks so much for speaking with us Kevin!

Editor’s note: IBPA is currently accepting entries for all books published in 2024 for the 37th IBPA Book Awards. The deadline to enter is December 16. Get more information and enter here.

Share your unique publishing stories with the IBPA community! Send to adeline@ibpa-online.org. For more details about the types of stories we're seeking, click here.

Though launching a new book isn’t the focus of our Spotlights articles, IBPA is happy to share that exciting news on social media. Please contact ashley@ibpa-online.org with the launch date, your book cover, your book title, your book's genre, a link to where readers can learn more about your book, and your Instagram handle.

Whether you have news or not, all of us at IBPA are cheering you on!

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,500 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.