About United Writers Press
Vally M. Sharpe, M.A. Owner
I started United Writers Press in 2005 while I was president of the Georgia Writers Association (2004-2007). Self-publishing was just gaining traction because of advances in printing technology and was frequently disparaged by traditional publishers and booksellers as "vanity publishing." Kindles and smartphones would not exist for another two years but expanded the opportunities for writers to get their works read. Prior to my own self-publishing experience, I was a practicing psychotherapist for 15 years, after which I was employed in marketing and IT management, and started the company to use those skills to bridge the gap between the creative side of the craft of writing and the business side of book publishing and selling, providing independent publishers with quality pre-press services, serving as the interface between clients and printing establishments and providing guidance through the maze of options for getting books and ebooks to market on Amazon and through other distributors.
In addition to publishing under the United Writers Press banner, UWP also publishes under other imprints, including Home House Press, the Charleston (SC) City Press, and FPS.
I do the majority of the editing and technical work but I stay informed of industry changes, challenges, and opportunities so as to best assist aspiring authors in achieving their goals, whether they seek to produce a family history or a best-selling novel. I do the majority of the editing and technical work and assist clients with establishing accounts at Amazon and other print-on-demand printing facilities, but regularly team with other book designers, independent booksellers, literary publicists, and traditional distributors who help me keep my ear to the ground. A sampling of some of the people and businesses I work regularly with are shown below.
Gold Leaf Literary Asheville, N.C.
Lauren Harr and Caroline Christopoulos, owners
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Fiction Addiction Bookstore Greenville, S.C.
Jill Hendrix, owner
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King Printing Co., Inc. Lowell, Mass.
Adi Chinai, Owner
Independent Book Publishers Association
3,500-Member Organization
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Pathway Book Service
Flat fee fulfillment to Ingram and Follett as well as Amazon
A&R Printing Services Paperbacks & General Printing
Artis & Renay Butts, owners