With the internet easing manuscript bombardment of traditional publishing houses, and the likelihood of getting a book deal with one of the Big Five being quite low, budding writers are seeking alternative avenues. Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing have stepped in to lower the barrier of entry for new authors and have aided in the popularity of self publishing, which has increased by 264% in the last five years. For writers seeking more guidance and buy-in from experienced professionals, independent publishing is the middle ground that offers them greater ownership over their projects, as well as built-in resources.
Enchanted Lion Books
Breathing life into books from around the world since 2003, Enchanted Lion Books is an independent children’s publisher based in Brooklyn. In the early days, the firm mainly focused on translating international works, but later on it made room for first-time American authors and broadened its editorial scope with middle grade reads as well. The common thread among everything published by Enchanted Lion are the rich illustrations that adorn the pages.
A Harvard graduate and daughter of an illustrated nonfiction publisher, Claudia Bedrick says illustrations are “windows into the text and the first thing the eye gravitates towards.” From Japan, Belgium, France, New Zealand, and lands in between, the picture books Bedrick and her team choose to print are lively and imaginative. They take young readers far and wide into different corners of the earth, hopefully giving them a sense of home no matter where they go.
Two Dollar Radio
A family-run outfit wearing hats as a publisher, bookstore, and micro-budget film production company, Two Dollar Radio has moved from San Diego to Brooklyn and now resides in Columbus, Ohio. Husband and wife Eric Obenauf and Eliza Wood-Obenauf aim to preserve the artistic and cultural spirit of the publishing industry through their small indie business. As such, originality and creativity are valued over fitting into conventional standards.
Two Dollar Radio’s books have received acclaim from the National Book Foundation, the Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times, among other prominent reviewers and best-of lists. In order to maintain quality output and commit laser focus to each title, the operation strictly publishes six titles a year.
Two Dollar Radio Headquarters, a brick-and-mortar bookstore and cafe, stocks books published in-house and otherwise and even has a section dedicated to local writers. The shop’s cafe consists of vegan world-inspired comfort food served all day. Additionally, the space lends itself to writing workshops, community events, and various book clubs.
The common thread among everything published by Enchanted Lion are the rich illustrations that adorn the pages.
Future Tense Books
A publisher that relocated three times before landing in Oregon, Future Tense Books has remained steadfast in its mission to “create real art” since the early ‘90s. From humble beginnings Xeroxing chapbooks to publishing hardback memoirs, Future Tense has substantiated its stake in the market and is a local Portland legend.
Showcasing new and groundbreaking writers, Kevin Sampsell is the chief editor and publisher while Emma Alden is the assistant editor. An author himself, Sampsell has written a few books including a novel, a short story collection, and a book of collages and poems. He is also a freelance editor and bookstore employee of Powell’s Books.
The reverence that Future Tense has for the authors it’s published over the years is evidenced in its online Hall of Fame, which pays homage to books that are no longer in print. The small business also applauds previous employees who’ve lent their various talents. Honoring the past but forging on toward the future, the indie publisher recently started working with Seattle-based distributor Asterism. Recently published books are also distributed by online art dealer Antiquated Future.
Acorn Publishing
Frustrated by their experiences with the book industry, Holly Kammier and Jessica Therrien decided to self-publish their novels under their own LLC, Acorn Publishing. Both books made it on Barnes & Noble top performer lists, which reassured the women that if they could succeed with their own book publications, they could help others do the same.
In addition to the excitement Therrien and Kammier shared over this new journey, they were also raising young children. Living in different California counties, this venture allowed them to work from home, giving them flexibility to also tend to their kids. Since 2015, the hybrid publisher has brought to market over 200 books, 25 of which have international deals. Now that Acorn has made a name for itself domestically, it’s working on earning a world-renowned reputation with a growing staff and roster of writers who connect remotely from all over the United States.
Passionate about literature from a young age, Kammier recalls that her favorite book was “The Little Engine That Could.” Looking ahead to her small business’s future, she said, “I feel like our company is 'The Little Engine That Could.'"
Turner Publishing Company
Despite currently publishing over 5,000 titles and growing its catalog since 1984, Turner Publishing Company has remained independent. The small business’s list spans genres in various formats, both fiction and nonfiction. Todd Bottorff acquired the small business in 2002 and converted it from a primarily specialty and historic book publisher to be more trade-oriented.
Over the years, Turner Publishing has acquired titles from large companies such as Ancestry, Wiley, and Mango Publishing, amounting to over a dozen imprints ranging in category from fiction books fit for adaptation to business books for nonprofits. In 2009, Bottorff acquired the rights to 431 titles formerly published by Cumberland House Press.
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