Red Wheel and Hampton Roads Join the Ranks of Independent Publishers Forging New and Creative Ways to Grow in "Interesting" Times

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC announced today it has added Hampton Roads Publishing Company as a distribution client effective June 1, 2009.

San Francisco, CA and Newburyport, MA (PRWEB) May 14, 2009 -- Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC announced today it has added Hampton Roads Publishing Company as a distribution client effective June 1, 2009. In making the announcement, Red Wheel president Michael Kerber said, "What we're doing is essentially a distribution deal with the added benefit of a joint operating agreement. Both of us warehouse our books at Books International, so that's a natural, and Vartan Ajamian of BI is committed to working with us to keep independent publishers independent and ever more successful. We're also combining forces for several back office functions -- eliminating duplication on the operations, accounting, and production side."

Red Wheel publisher Jan Johnson said, "We'll be working cooperatively to edit, design, and produce books, although our acquisitions teams will operate independently. I'm of an age where the word 'collective' comes to mind. We're creating a space and a team where two publishing houses can come together to produce and sell their books more efficiently than either of us could do alone. Maybe it will be more than two."

The combined efforts will operate primarily from Red Wheel's offices in Newburyport and San Francisco. Longtime publishing professional Greg Brandenburgh will oversee the Hampton Roads part of the endeavor and be based in Red Wheel's San Francisco office. He comments, "I'm looking forward to working with Michael and his sales and marketing team to find new outlets for all of our books, especially in the gift market where Red Wheel has much better representation than we do. It's pretty simple. Two heads--and two lists--are better than one."

Johnson continues, "Most of us have worked together before. So this is going to be a quick integration. Caroline Pincus, who's a mainstay of the Weiser/Conari editorial and production teams worked with Greg and me at HarperOne (then HarperSanFrancisco). Michael and Greg and I worked together at Tuttle Publishing. And, of course, Michael and I have been together at Red Wheel/Weiser since our acquisition of Weiser in 2000, where Bonni Hamilton, who will continue in her marketing director role, first joined us. We're putting together a core team like this, along with people like current Hampton Roads president Bob Friedman, who will continue to contribute to the Hampton Roads publishing program, and amazing things are going to happen."

Kerber added, "We're looking to thrive rather than simply survive in this challenging environment. Independent publishers are in the best position to collaborate and find unique ways to work together. Our new relationship with Hampton Roads is one way. I credit Randy Davila, one of Hampton Roads' principals and a publishing newcomer, with working to find creative ways to put this arrangement together."

The imprints will be publishing 75 titles combined per year with upcoming fall and winter titles from Red Wheel/Weiser including 12 Steps That Can Save Your Life by Barb Rogers; The Weiser Field Guide to Ghosts by Raymond Buckland; The Forgiveness Solution by Philip H. Friedman, Ph.D.; and Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows by Melanie Joy, Ph.D. Upcoming fall and winter titles from Hampton Roads will include the first novel from Richard Bach in 10 years, Hypnotizing Maria; and a fable by Neale Donald Walsch titled Santa's God.

Red Wheel/Weiser publishes under the Weiser Books and Conari Press imprints and the combined Red Wheel/Weiser Hampton Roads program will have an active backlist of over 1,200 titles including such bestsellers as Serpent of Light: Beyond 2012 by Drunvalo Melchizedek, Random Acts of Kindness from Conari Press, Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch, Excuse Me Your Life Is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn. Also part of this new relation will be the current distribution clients of both companies, including Nicolas Hays, Ibis Press, Connections Book Publishing Company, Moment Point Press, Skinner House, Namaste Publishing, The Witches' Almanac, and Hierophant.

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