Publishers

Our publisher members publish books from outside authors, even though some may have begun as self-publishing concerns and a few may continue to publish books written by company staff. Our larger publishers include Atlantic Publishing, Ocean Publishing, University of Florida Press, Rainbow Books, Inc., and others.  

Self-Publishers

Self-publishers are authors who have taken publishing matters into their own hands; in fact, they do everything a traditional publisher does. Many popular coventure publishing companies assert that, by publishing with them, an author is becoming a self-publisher. It is important to note that to be a true self-publisher, the author must own the publishing company (and the ISBN of its book). The Association of American Publishers, the premier trade association for the book publishing industy and one of FPA’s affiliate organizations, describes the different types of publishers — including self-publishers — at its website BookJobs.com, a site for young people interested in internships or careers at publishing houses.

Authors

At FPA, authors are very important, and we have many author members. Almost all of our publisher members began as authors, and we understand the plight of authors — from those whose books were published by major presses to those published by coventure presses — in helping to create demand for their books. As a result, we welcome authors of all persuasions. One caveat for potential author members, however: authors should not Join FPA with the expectation of finding a publisher for their manuscripts by virtue of joining. Most publishers specify, either on their websites or by requesting writers guidelines by mail, how they want to be approached with a manuscript. Potential author members would want to Join FPA to learn more about their role in production, marketing, promotion and sales of their titles.

Vendors

Vendors are those companies that provide services to publishers. Vendors include book manufacturers, editors, illustrators, photographers, proofreaders, typesetters, PR firms — anyone with a product or service to sell to publishers, self-publishers or authors. Our vendor members display their wares at our conferences, and they frequently sponsor our event breaks and meals. Indeed, FPA vendors are partners in our quest to help members successfully create and sell quality products.