Author Founds Independent Small Press to Publish Outstanding Fiction



Historical fiction author Joan M. Shoup, who writes as J. M. Hochstetler, recently founded an independent small press. Sheaf House Publishers (www.sheafhouse.com) focuses on publishing outstanding fiction by authors with fresh, authentic voices.

As publisher and editorial director, Shoup is looking for excellently written novels that offer a powerful redemptive message for readers. That doesn't necessarily mean they have to mention God, Shoup says, though they must be based on a Judeo-Christian worldview. "I love to read and to write stories that don't try to answer all the unanswerable questions of life, but that point readers toward the Answer. So naturally that's the kind of stories I want to publish."

"Unfortunately, authors whose dream is to write the stories of their hearts, rather than focusing on what's currently hot in the market, generally receive little encouragement or interest," she adds. "Why Because they aren't considered bestseller material."

Most publishers give their authors little control over what, when, and how they publish and what markets their work reaches. "When my first two books were published by a well-known publisher, I ran into numerous frustrations and roadblocks in trying to get the stories into the hands of readers," Shoup explains. "My experience was not only disillusioning, it was also sadly common."

What has increasingly troubled Shoup is that, where Christian publishing once focused more on the ministry of reaching the market with the gospel, now sales and marketing considerations dominate the business. "I finally decided what was needed was a new vision in inspirational publishing," she says. Thus Sheaf House was born.

Shoup notes, "I'm gambling that I can keep production costs low enough to offer my authors higher than average royalties, while still producing beautifully produced books at a competitive price. I've already gotten considerable feedback that I've accomplished my goal with my first release. Readers tell me they're very impressed with the quality of the writing, editing, and production."

Sheaf House is committed to publishing edgy, gritty stories real people can relate to, stories that offer a message of hope and healing along with enjoyable entertainment. The first Sheaf House release is one Shoup wrote herself as J. M. Hochstetler. An inspirational miracle story titled One Holy Night, it hit the market in April 2008 and is receiving excellent reviews.

A young adult romance by Michelle Sutton titled It's Not About Me and a cozy mystery, The Case of the Bouncing Grandma, by A. K. Arenz release this fall. They will be followed in January 2009 by Wind of the Spirit, book 3 of J. M. Hochstetler's American Patriot Series. Multi-published author Kathi Macias's heart-wrenching novel My Son, John follows in the spring. Additional projects are under development.

Distributed by APG Sales and Distribution (800-327-5113), Sheaf House books are available through bookstores, online retailers such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Target, and on the Sheaf House Web site (www.sheafhouse.com). Shoup plans to promote aggressively online.

Joan M. Shoup was an editor at The United Methodist Publishing House for twelve years. Writing as J. M. Hochstetler, she is the author of Daughter of Liberty and Native Son, books 1 and 2 of the American Patriot Series, set during the American Revolution, in addition to One Holy Night.

Sheaf House is an upcoming new boutique publisher located in the Nashville, Tennessee, area. For more information about upcoming releases, go to www.sheafhouse.com. To schedule an interview, contact Joan M. Shoup.

CONTACT:

Joan M. Shoup

615-812-6039

www.sheafhouse.com





Author Founds Independent Small Press to Publish Outstanding Fiction




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