Interview with Patricia Sealy, Publisher, Highbridge Press

Patricia, thanks for joining us! Tell us how and why Highbridge Press got started.

My sister and I are former literary agents and most of our clients were unpublished authors. We found it difficult to place their work because the major houses weren't receptive to publishing new authors and seemed to be concentrating their efforts on publishing celebrity books as well as books by established authors who they felt would be easy to market.

Since the big houses aren't willing to develop and nurture unpublished authors and we knew we had manuscripts of many talented writers, in 1999, we decided to become publishers. We felt our unpublished authors work could sell if marketed properly.

Did you have a mission in mind when you began producing books?

Even though we're a small press, we can offer the public books with fresh ideas, books that are well written and entertaining but have been rejected by major houses only because the authors don't have any significant writing credits and experience.

In what formats are your books published?

We publish trade paperback books, books that can purchased at a bookstore, online through Amazon.com or directly through Highbridge Press. We don't publish any electronic versions of our titles.

Do you do print-on-demand books? How does that work for you?

We use the print-on-demand method of publishing. It works well because we don't have to worry about warehousing costs and remainders. It's a very cost effective method of publishing.

How are your books distributed?

For bookstore and Amazon.com ordering, our distributor is Ingram. For books purchased directly from Highbridge Press, which are autographed by our authors, Ingram ships the books to Highbridge Press and we ship directly to the customer.

Tell us how you advertise. Where do the dollars go, primarily?

Most of our advertising is done through the Internet. We're gotten free publicity by contacting zines, message boards and reading groups and having our authors participate in chat sessions. Our efforts have been very successful because we can do business internationally with all English speaking countries.

Most of our advertising budget is spent on printing and mailing sell sheets to bookstores throughout North America and foreign English speaking countries.

Who are some of the authors you've contracted with? What releases do you have out or soon out?

We have one mystery that will be available this spring (May 2000) THE LAST DAYS MURDER LIST by Alice Holman, which is an African-American contemporary murder mystery caper.

Additionally, other titles available from Highbridge Press which aren't mysteries are:
BEHIND THE THRONE by Martin Dougherty, a medieval adventure novel (May 2000)
THE EIGHTH HOUSE by Karen Sealy, a contemporary suspense thriller (June 2000)
CLOSE TO HOME, a suspense novel by T.A. Stone (October 2000)
CHILDREN OF THE MORNING SUN, a young adult novel, by William Barnhill (October 2000)
FIELDS OF FIRE, a Vietnam War novel by Michael Shapiro (November 2000)
SO THESE ARE THE GOOD TIMES? a non-fiction financial self-help book by Arnold Olenick
What is the price range for your releases?

All our books are trade paperback and cost $19.95.
How can readers purchase your books?

Our books can be purchased in bookstores and online through Amazon.com and directly from the Highbridge Press website.

Do you have a website with more information?

To view author pages, obtain information about submission guidelines or order autographed copies of the books, go to www.highbridgepress.com

Interview with Alice Holman, author

What led you to a small press? Were you previously published by a mainstream house?

I had experienced plenty of rejection as I attempted to get my foot in the door with the larger presses. It became increasingly depressing as I watched the take-over of press after press after press. I was also noticing that the best way to get a book published was to be famous, rich or accused of a crime in order to get a quick, get-rich-quick book out there. Since I was none of those things, I had to find alternate routes. I am grateful that Highbridge Press has enough faith in what I am producing to give me a chance.

And I have not been published by a mainstream house.

What's it like writing for a small press?

So far, everything has been wonderful. I get comments. Support. Karen has been great about giving me perspective on the publishing situation when all seems so gloomy sometimes.

Do you receive advances and royalties?

I am just getting started, but no. And that's fine.

Tell us about your experiences promoting a small-press release.

So far, Highbridge Press has done a lot of work getting the word out - especially over the internet. Friends who have run across my name have emailed me to let me know they saw the book out there. And these were people I haven't mentioned the book to so that was impressive. I am looking forward to a continued good relationship with the people at Highbridge Press.

Patricia and Alice, thannk you for joining us! Readers, check out the Highbridge Press website for information on their releases.

June 12, 2000