Publisher Profile: Bookpress Publishing & Media
The CBC asks Anthony Paustian, PhD, President & Managing Partner, questions about the publisher.
How did your publishing house start out?
We started 15 years ago as a publishing house to publish our own work. My partners and I have all had some bad experiences with our Big 5 publishers, so we created a company that was very author-centric. Our company has grown over the years and we now publish about 50 titles per year, and our focus is still authors helping authors.
What is your publishing house most known for?
Our children’s books…we have had some very good success with our children’s book imprint, Launch 39 Books (based on Launch Complex 39 at Kennedy Space Center, where all of the Apollo and shuttle launches took place, and which also launched the imaginations and dreams of many children).
Where in the country is your house based? What do you love about being based there?
We are in Des Moines, Iowa, in the heart of the Midwest. Des Moines is a great city and is often listed by Forbes, Fortune, US News, and others as one of the top ten cities in the country in many categories.
How many employees does your house have?
Approximately 25 employees.
How many books does your house aim to publish per season/year?
30-60 books per year.
Which formats does your house prefer to publish?
Print and digital.
What are some of your house’s publishing priorities over the next few years?
Continued steady, slow growth.
Which title has your house recently rallied behind?
An Unlikely Astronaut by Astronaut, Susan Kilrain, and First Flight by Astronaut, Robert “Hoot” Gibson.
Which title does your house feel deserved more love than it got?
The Bobby the Bear Series.
Which of your frontlist titles would be great for a school or public library?
Most of our titles!
Which of your frontlist titles would be great for a classroom? Which grade?
Most all of our children’s books (Grades K-5).
What else would you like to tell us about your house and the amazing work you all do?
We are a partnership publisher. While we invest the majority of the money to create our titles, our authors are all required to invest at least a smaller portion so they are incentivized to help sell and promote their book. No one cares about the publisher…they care about the author. However, as partners, we work closely together to achieve success.
Thank you, Bookpress Publishing!
