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Indie Groundbreaking Publishers

PRAVUM is Latin for Degeneracy
PRAVUM is Latin for Degeneracy
A new publisher created in and for a pandemic world

by CeCe Richardson / March 2021

We all agree 2020 was a tough year for small businesses, and it's easy to think that nothing good could come from the COVID crisis. But some businesses found a way to thrive through a world-wide pandemic and, unbelievabl …   

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CityFiles Press
CityFiles Press
We Believe in the Power of Words and Pictures

by Jim Barnes / February 2022

CityFiles Press was born in 2003 when Michael Williams walked into Richard Cahan's CityFiles Arts and Books storefront and started talking about books. The pair began to envision a publishing company that would produce ' …   

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Ice Cube Press
Ice Cube Press
30 Years of Big Ideas, Hard Work, and Learning to Adapt and Change

by Jim Barnes / November 2021

Steve Semken takes a brief moment to reflect. Although he may be celebrating thirty years of publishing, as anyone in the entrepreneur world knows, there's no time to stop and rest on what was. A business of any size nee …   

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BenBella Books
BenBella Books
Marketing Is Key

by Jim Barnes / March 2022

 BenBella Books has just turned 20 years old and is going strong, proving to be one of the world'smost vital 'boutique' indie publishers. Founded in 2001, the Dallas-based publisher 'aims to be the publisher of choi …   

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Sounds True
Sounds True
Meeting People Where They Are

by Jim Barnes / August 2020

Throughout the history of book publishing, major innovations have changed the way books are created, distributed and sold. Think Gutenberg's press, Penguin's paperbacks, Amazon's online bookstore…and a 22 year-old …   

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Analog Sea
Analog Sea
An Offline Publisher

Jim Barnes / June 2020

When it comes to independent publishers, there's “indie” and then there's “way indie.” Self-described “offline” publisher, Analog Sea, is one of the “way indie” publishers …   

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Scribe Publishing Company
Scribe Publishing Company
Moving and Shaking It Up In Motown

by Jim Barnes / August 2019

The city of Detroit has been “down and out” since the ‘60s, with race riots, white flight, and corrupt city government giving “Motown” the reputation of a run-down, dangerous place. But all …   

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Allworth Press at 30
Allworth Press at 30
Building a Strong Backlist While Surviving the Digital Revolution

by Jim Barnes / April 2019

It may be hard to define a NYC-based publisher that's been releasing 10-20 titles a year for 30 years as “groundbreaking,” but that's the amazing thing about Allworth Press – it keeps delivering groundb …   

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Charlesbridge
Charlesbridge
Championing Children's Literature and More

by Anais Mohr / JULY 2108

One year from their 30th anniversary, Charlesbridge continues to grow and evolve as a children's book publisher while pursuing new markets. The Boston-based press acquired Imagine Publishing in 2010, which brou …   

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Deca Revives the Publishing Collective
Deca Revives the Publishing Collective
Driving Change through a Decades-Old Model

by Anais Mohr / JUNE 2108

The publishing market is vast, spanning independent presses, the big five, self-publishing and everything in between. Working with the support of a publisher means, in a sense, to cater to what sells. While some writers …   

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Microcosm Publishing of Portland
Microcosm Publishing of Portland
Punk Rock Publishing for a Marginalized Audience

by Jim Barnes / March 2018

Joe Biel started Microcosm Publishing in Portland, Oregon 22 years ago as “a punk rock teenager.” Having grown up during hard times in rust-belt Cleveland, Ohio on a social security income, autistic …   

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University Press of Kentucky Celebrating 75 Years
University Press of Kentucky Celebrating 75 Years
Will Governor Bevin Spoil the Party?

by Jim Barnes / February 2018

The University Press of Kentucky (UPK) is an award-winning and much-admired press widely known for its publishing excellence in the areas of Appalachian cultural history, military history, and the Civil War, along with m …   

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Rethinking Reference Book Publishing
Rethinking Reference Book Publishing
Visible Ink Press Survives and Thrives

By Jim Barnes and Rachel Pasche / September 2017

Over the past 20 years, the Internet and search engines like Google have completely transformed the way we gather information. Remember your public library's reference section, with shelves full of phone books, encyclope …   

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Arbutus Press
Arbutus Press
Michigan's Independent Publisher Since 2002

by Anais Mohr / July 2017

Arbutus Press is a project turned publishing house with the heart and soul of the Midwest. With over 75 titles, including Michigan Notable Book Award winners, the press flourishes in its regional non-fiction niche. …   

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New Directions
New Directions
Instantly Recognizable

by Anais Mohr / March 2017

In the biography of New Directions Publishing's founder, James Laughlin, Literchoor Is My Beat  by Ian S. MacNiven, Laughlin is credited with being the most influential person in the twentieth century on American wr …   

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2016 Publishers in Review
2016 Publishers in Review
A Look Back

by Anais Mohr / February 2017

Our 2016 Indie Groundbreaking Publishers continue to bridge their success into the new year with award recognition for refreshing, significant titles and funding for important projects from enthusiastic supporters. Each …   

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Height of Land Publications
Height of Land Publications
Catalyst of the Backcountry Revolution

by Anais Mohr / October 2017

Publishing can be an uphill battle, but the team at Height of Land Publications continues their trek toward becoming a multimedia platform in the backcountry and outdoor adventure genres. With three successful magazines …   

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Feminist Press
Feminist Press
Elevating Silenced and Marginalized Voices

by Anais Mohr / January 2017

Not only has Feminist Press reached renown amongst feminist publishing for their unique and poignant titles, but their active programming ensures that voices who have been silenced can be heard. Nearing fifty years …   

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Amberjack Publishing
Amberjack Publishing
Binge-Worthy Books

by Anais Mohr / September 2016

Devoted to publishing binge-worthy books, Amberjack Publishing delivers a broadening selection of just-one-more-chapter titles. Amid a slew of up-and-coming independent presses, the recently launched Amberjack Publi …   

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Candlewick Press
Candlewick Press
Lighting the Way

by Anais Mohr / August 2016

Since their establishment in 1991, the publishing powerhouse Candlewick Press has striven to engage children of all ages. Widely known for Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo, National Book Award winner M. T. Anders …   

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Coteau Books
Great Books by Western Writers

by Anais Mohr / July 2016

Specializing in literary fiction, Coteau Books was originally founded to feature feature poetry before the mandate was expanded to include drama, non-fiction and children's literature. “‘Coteau' is, among oth …   

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ECW Press
ECW Press
Curiously Compelling Books

by Anais Mohr / June 2016

When York University grad student Jack David founded the critical journal, Essays on Canadian Writing, in 1974, he saw potential in the publication. After four years of publishing essays, interviews, bibliographies, and …   

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The Recent Independent Alliance
The Recent Independent Alliance
Five Publishers Who Joined the Independent Alliance

by Anais Mohr / May 2016

In January, IP explored the founding publishers of the Independent Alliance; this month features the presses who joined their ranks in the following years. As we've seen, the Independent Alliance is a 'global alliance of …   

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Akashic Books
Akashic Books
Reverse-Gentrification of the Literary World

by Anais Mohr / April 2016

In 1997, Johnny Temple was playing bass guitar in the band Girls Against Boys, touring the world and recording albums. In the wake of one particularly successful year, he and two of his musician friends, Bobby and Mark S …   

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Alma Books
Alma Books
A Publisher with a Soul

by Anais Mohr / March 2016

Alma is the Spanish word for “soul” and Alma Books, renowned for their translations and best sellers, certainly upholds their standard as “a publisher with a soul.” Designed to show “the kin …   

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Coffee House Press
Coffee House Press
Where Good Books are Brewing

by Anais Mohr / February 2016

This month's publisher has broken new ground in publishing in a variety of ways; Coffee House Press is considered one of the top independent publishers around today and has published numerous award-winning titles. From i …   

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Literary Press Group of Canada
Literary Press Group of Canada
Supporting Canadian Literary Publishers Since 1975

by Anais Mohr / December 2016

Independent publishing instills not only a great sense of freedom, but also an inherent risk. The world of small presses faces many challenges from distribution to finding bookstores willing to stock titles. In order to …   

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Milkweed Editions
Transformative Literature for an Engaged Community

by Anais Mohr / November 2016

Specializing in literary fiction, Milkweed Editions was founded in 1980 as a nonprofit with a mission to “identify, nurture and publish transformative literature, and build an engaged community around it,&rdqu …   

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The Original Independent Alliance
The Original Independent Alliance
First Six Publishers in the Independent Alliance

by Anais Mohr / January 2016

Independent publishers face many challenges in today's market. In order to not only survive, but thrive in tough, changing markets, publishers are adapting in strange new ways. One such success is the “Independent …   

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Michael Wiese Productions
Michael Wiese Productions
Influencing Filmmakers and Media Makers Around the World - One Book at a Time

by Anais Mohr / September 2015

In 1976, Michael Wiese Productions was founded in San Francisco with the primary intent to produce films. But when the company's founder and namesake, Michael Wiese, struggled to find a publisher for his non-fiction guid …   

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Brindle & Glass
Brindle & Glass
Canadian Books with a Literary Focus

by Anais Mohr / August 2015

Brindle & Glass was named for the quirky appearance of a beloved 'Catahoula Leopard hound named Paddington (Paddy) Foran with brindle fur and one glass eye,' and the books they publish are just as unique. From Her Vo …   

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Radius Books
Radius Books
Sparking New Conversations About Art

by Anais Mohr / July 2015

Since 2007, Radius Books has grown out of Santa Fe, New Mexico to encompass a global photographic collection of publications. Non-profit Radius Books was launched when photo editor Darius Himes and publicist Joanna Hurle …   

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Screamin' Skull Press
Screamin' Skull Press
To Be Free, Alive, and Unfettered from Conventional Definitions of Literature

by Jillian Bergsma Manning / June 2015

June's Indie Groundbreaking Publisher is a small press in Canada founded by a husband-wife duo of indie authors. Sounds like a quaint little story, doesn't it? But Screamin' Skull Press is anything put quaint. Write …   

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Enclave Publishing
Enclave Publishing
Building a Community for Readers of Christian Speculative Fiction

by Ariel Bronson / April 2015

Enclave Publishing grew out of the bravery to embrace otherness and the confidence to create a space for often-overlooked works of Christian speculative fiction. Jeff Gerke was working in traditional Christian publishing …   

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Advance Publishing
Advance Publishing
Family-Run Publisher Brings Reluctant Readers to the Page

by Ariel Bronson

Carl Sommer is a veteran, an educator, and the founder and president of a machining company, a recording studio, and a book publishing company called Advance Publishing. All of Sommer's businesses are run by family, incl …   

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Hybrid Publishing
Blending Traditional Methods with Self-Publishing and a Little Modern Ingenuity

by Anais Mohr / December 2015

Many writers view the publishing world with three options: hiring an agent to keep their story off a slush pile somewhere in the cogs of the big five publishers (Hachette, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Macmillan, …   

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Two Dollar Radio
Books Too Loud to Ignore

by Anais Mohr / November 2015

Two Dollar Radio, the movement revolutionizing and trailblazing a new breed of indie publishing, celebrates a decade of blazing originality this year with an expansion into film. The powerhouse duo calling the shots have …   

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Gibson House Press
Gibson House Press
On the Road to Independent Publishing

by Anais Mohr / October 2015

When Deborah Robertson founded Gibson House Publishing in 2012, her first publication was her husband's manuscript. After publishing two more novels in his series, she is working to expand the renamed Gibson House Press& …   

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A Recap of 2014
Rounding Out the Year with a Look Back at Our Featured Publishers

by Ariel Bronson

For many of our recent indie groundbreaking publishers, 2014 was a busy year that came to an exciting end. Projects have been funded with the help of generous supporters, and awards have been doled out to new, noteworthy …   

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Rippple Books
Rippple Books
A Modern Producer-to-Public Publisher

by Ariel Bronson

If one man can crowdfund over $55,000 for a little potato salad, what can a man with an idea-sharing vessel of culture and entertainment raise? Ask Cam Jefferys of Rippple Books, and he'll tell you a thing or two about t …   

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Publishing Genius Press
Publishing Genius Press
Giving Readers a Daily Dose of Genius

by Ariel Bronson

Publishing Genius Press (PGP) was created in 2006 when Founding Editor Adam Robinson decided to take his readers' noses out of the pages and into the world.“I've always been interested in publishing, I think, ever …   

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Ice Cube Press
Ice Cube Press
A Midwest Press with Prairie Roots in the Heartland

by Ariel Bronson

Celebrating over 20 years in the business is this month's indie groundbreaking publisher, Ice Cube Press. This “one-man operation” (with a few interns) is proud to be of the Midwest and operates with a lot of …   

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TRISTAN Publishing
TRISTAN Publishing
Giving You A Message to Read About

by Ariel Bronson

The media can be cynical, and it can be easy to get lost in sarcastic irony and satire. That's why this month's indie groundbreaking publisher is a publishing house working for something more meaningful. Enter TRISTAN Pu …   

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Arcade Publishing
Arcade Publishing
An International Focus with an Eye for Quality

by Ariel Bronson

The award-winning authors under Arcade Publishing's roof boast accolades from gold IPPYs to Nobel Prizes. Arcade, now an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, was founded by Richard and Jeanette Seaver in the late '80s and &ld …   

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Archipelago Books
Archipelago Books
A Decade of Translation for Global Understanding

by Ariel Bronson

Over a decade ago, Archipelago Books (Archipelago) was founded by Jill Schoolman as a nonprofit, independent press with a strong and far-reaching ambition. Kendall Storey, the associate editor and publicist at Archipelag …   

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Synergetic Press
Synergetic Press
Books in the Biosphere

by Ariel Bronson

Synergetic Press was started in 1969 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Deborah Parrish Snyder, publisher of Synergetic Press and executive vice president of Global Ecotechnics Corporation, got her start with the company in 1 …   

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Script Lit eBooks
Script Lit eBooks
New Publisher Transforms Unused Screenplays into eBook Novellas

by Craig Manning

At the Academy Awards every year, Hollywood voters give out 24 separate trophies, two of which are designated to screenwriters. But beyond those two prizes—which go to the writers behind the favorite adapted and or …   

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Red Hen Press
Red Hen Press
Awarding Its Community with Creative Literature for Over 18 Years

by Ariel Bronson

Red Hen Press (Red Hen) has only been around since 1994. But over the past eighteen years and counting, it has grown into Southern California's largest independent literary press and one of the biggest on the west coast. …   

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McPherson & Company
McPherson & Company
One Man, Many Hats

by Ariel Bronson

Bruce McPherson, founder of McPherson & Company (McPherson & Co) puts out most of his titles on his own. Talk about true independence! McPherson got the itch to work in publishing in college when he joined a stud …   

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Greenleaf Book Group
Greenleaf Book Group
Pursuing the Business of Building Platforms for New Ideas

by Ariel Bronson

This month's indie groundbreaking publisher won seven Axiom Business Book Awards this year, which is fitting, given that the company was started by a 22-year-old with an eye for what the market needed. In 1997, Clint Gre …   

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Langdon Street Press
Langdon Street Press
Promoting a "Green" Lifestyle and Publishing Their Own Way

by Ariel Bronson

 As we get ready to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, we recognize this month's indie groundbreaking publisher's contributions to “green” living. Langdon Street Press (LSP), an independent publisher in Mi …   

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Beaver's Pond Press
Beaver's Pond Press
Giving Authors the Reins through a Mentorship Approach

by Ariel Bronson

In 1998, Milt “Beaver” Adams founded a company to help everyday people get their quality books published without pulling a thousand strings to get it done. Adams founded Beaver's Pond Press (BPP) at age 70 to …   

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Barefoot Books
Barefoot Books
Building a Barefoot Community for Twenty Years

by Ariel Bronson

Tessa Strickland and Nancy Traversy met for the first time in London in early 1992. By September 1993, they released their first list as the founders of this month's indie groundbreaking publisher: Barefoot Books.Co-foun …   

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Bess Press
Bess Press
A Kama'āina Publisher

by Ariel Bronson

Benjamin Bess started his career in publishing in New York City in 1970. After working there for several years in sales and marketing, his job on a book mobile took him from Maine to Florida a few years later. It was the …   

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She Writes Press
She Writes Press
She Writes, She Publishes

By Ariel Bronson

She Writes, an international writing community of over 20,000 members, brings together women who love to read and who love to write. Members create profiles and, using She Writes as their network, interact with each othe …   

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Hand-Picked Words
Hand-Picked Words
Subscribing to a Community-Supported Publisher

by Ariel Bronson

As independent companies, many indie publishers strive to stray from the conventions and rules of the industry as dictated by the larger or older conglomerates. This month's indie groundbreaker stands those rules on thei …   

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A Look Back
Catch up with some of our recent featured publishers

by Ariel Bronson

We have been featuring publishers from around the country and beyond who are innovators of their craft with a strong passion for the industry that drives their unique missions and goals. The companies that we have featur …   

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The University of Arizona Press
The University of Arizona Press
Finding Success Where Others Crumble

by Ariel Bronson

It's no secret that the past several years have been difficult for university presses. It has been a challenge for many presses to stay afloat and adapt to new industry standards while university budgets shrink. A recent …   

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Paragon House
Paragon House
Addressing Contemporary Issues to Make a Difference

by Ariel Bronson

Paragon House publishes books with an eye to make an impact. By addressing and tackling many of the social and contemporary issues facing readers in today's economy and society, Paragon House does its part to make a diff …   

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The Porcupine's Quill
The Porcupine's Quill
Building Award-Winning Books By Hand Since 1974

by Ariel Bronson

This month's Indie Groundbreaking Publisher, The Porcupine's Quill (PQL), is a small book publishing company in Wellington County, Ontario, Canada that proves that the best way to print isn't always the easiest way. At P …   

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Goosebottom Books
Goosebottom Books
Celebrating Womens History Month with the Right Female Role Models

by Jillian Bergsma

This month's Groundbreaking Indie Publisher, Goosebottom Books, is a brave new press with a mission that is near and dear to the hearts of female readers everywhere. Author and publisher Shirin Yim Bridges, along with th …   

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Dawn Publications
Dawn Publications
Celebrating the Environment and Creating Inspiration

by Ariel Bronson

Dawn Publications is married to its mission to “inspire in children a deeper understanding and appreciation for all life on earth.” From award-winning illustrations to informative yet playful text, the compan …   

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Dzanc Books
Dzanc Books
Promoting Literacy and Pioneering Digitalization of New and Old Printed Works

by Ariel Bronson

Dzanc Books has been in business for seven short years and has already left its mark on the publishing industry by investing in the promotion of literacy in tangible ways, combining its efforts to put out great works of …   

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Sourcebooks, Inc.
Sourcebooks, Inc.
Pushing the Boundaries of Print and Digital Publishing

by Ariel Bronson

Imagine leaving a job at booming ad agency to create a startup in a whole new industry. Now picture the job you're leaving as a career with Leo Burnett (the 9th largest ad agency in the world), and that your startup has …   

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Haymarket Books
Haymarket Books
Celebrating its 10th anniversary and more relevant than ever

by James Messinger

If an “official” Occupy Wall Street book publisher were to be named, it might well be Chicago-based Haymarket Books. Here's an article by Jonathan Messinger, appearing in the November 17th issue of Time Out C …   

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Papadakis
Papadakis
Exciting, Authoritative and Innovative

by Jim Barnes

Papadakis Publisher is an independent, family-owned publishing house located in London and Winterbourne, United Kingdom. Since 1971, Papadakis Publisher and its predecessor Academy Editions have published more than a tho …   

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Open Road Integrated Media
Open Road Integrated Media
"Paving the Road to Digital Success"

by Jillian Bergsma

“Groundbreaking,” “cutting-edge,” “light years ahead of their time” – call them what you will, Open Road Integrated Media is a true leader in digital book technology. Started in …   

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University of Minnesota Press
University of Minnesota Press
Mining the Politics of American Music

by Jillian Bergsma

The University of Minnesota Press is Independent Publisher's first university groundbreaking publisher. What makes Minnesota so different? They seriously rebel against the stereotype of a stuffy academic press (which we …   

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Coffeetown Press
Coffeetown Press
A Feisty Little Seattle Publisher with a Mission

by Jim Barnes

One of the bright spots shining through the cloudy Seattle skyline is Coffeetown Press, a five-year old independent that's published an eclectic catalog of titles so far. The press is the trade publishing arm of Seattle- …   

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Wisconsin Historical Society Press
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
Wisconsin's Oldest Publisher Takes a Fresh Approach to the Past

by Jim Barnes

There are many reasons the citizens of Wisconsin are lucky to live there, and one is that they have such an outstanding publishing house attached to their state historical society. (Okay, sports fans, they're lucky to ha …   

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David R. Godine, Publisher
David R. Godine, Publisher
The Traditional Book Lives On

by Jillian Bergsma

In this day and age, you may not consider sticking to print “groundbreaking,” but David R. Godine, Publisher has a dedication to the physical book that we at Independent Publisher deeply admire. Undaunted by …   

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Cleis Press
Cleis Press
Proving that (Really Good) Sex Sells
Inner Traditions
Inner Traditions
Prospering While Preserving Editorial Integrity

by Nina L. Diamond

It's a rare publisher that starts out as groundbreaking and stays that way. In the midst of on-going industry upheaval, Inner Traditions, founded and still owned and operated by publisher Ehud Sperling, celebrates its 35 …   

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