FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of publishing company is Fresh Water Press?
Fresh Water Press is a traditional-model book publishing company. This separates us from hybrid publishers that charge authors for expenses incurred in publishing. We are also different from companies that charge writers for self-publishing services. We are also different from university presses in that we operate as an LLC. Fresh Water Press publishes quality literature in both popular and literary genres.
Say someone wants to publish a book with Fresh Water Press. How do they go about that?
It is a competitive process, as Fresh Water Press is looking to discover the great literature of the area. We want to hear pitches from strong writers who are ready to publish their manuscript. Our submission guidelines are available here. Fresh Water Press is looking for book-length work from a single author. We are investing in titles in multiple genres but are not accepting graphic novels or children’s literature currently.
Can anyone submit to Fresh Water Press, or do you need certain credentiala?
Fresh Water Press is open to everyone with a tie to this area of the state. Anyone with a manuscript or book proposal in the desk draw can send us a pitch. We are excited to see what talent exists locally.
Do authors pay to publish with Fresh Water Press?
No, Fresh Water Press invests in book projects we believe in. Authors receive royalties on the books that are sold and incur no costs.
Does Fresh Water Press offer writing coaching and/or editing services?
No, Fresh Water Press does NOT offer writing coaching or editing services, neither paid nor unpaid, for writers who are not Fresh Water Press authors.
For authors whose manuscripts are accepted by Fresh Water Press for publication, we provide editing and writing guidance as part of the publishing process.
Tell me about Fresh Water Press' first book project.
Opening Nights is an entertaining collection of stories centered around the theme of an opening night of a local theater production. Readers will recognize the rich characters authentic to the Lakeshore area and many of the places mentioned in the stories. The collection is twenty years in the making. LaDeDa Books owner Bev Denor is one of the seven authors who first conceived the idea for the book in 2004. She mentioned it to us, and we immediately fell in love with it and made the investment to bring it to fruition.
Where can people buy "Opening Nights"?
We did a local print run at Fricke Printing and have our books for sale locally at LaDeDa Books, Molly’s Cobbler Shop in Sheboygan, the Rahr-West Art Museum, and the Froedtert Holy Family Gift Shop, Yardstick Books in Alogma, the Cedarburg Cultural Center, and Paper Cranes in Two Rivers.
We encourage readers to request a copy from their favorite independent bookstore owner who can purchase it from online distributors. It is available online directly to consumer everywhere books are sold as both an eBook and a paperback.