Blue Star Press
{{Short description|American book publisher}}
Blue Star Press is an American publishing company that specializes in adult nonfiction, children’s books, games, and gift products. The company publishes titles under two imprints: Blue Star Press and Paige Tate & Co.{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Caroline |date=2019-09-01 |title=Welcome Blue Star Press! |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouseretail.com/2019/09/01/welcome-blue-star-press/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Penguin Random House Retail |language=en}} It is headquartered in Bend, OR.{{Cite web |last=Bulletin |first=Kathleen McLaughlin • The |date=2019-08-11 |title=Bend is getting more space for coworking |url=https://www.bendbulletin.com/business/bend-is-getting-more-space-for-coworking/article_a735ed40-ad53-5d36-adf1-5006357d6f50.html |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=The Bulletin |language=en}}
History
{{Infobox company
| name = Blue Star Press, LLC.
| type = Private
| founded = 2015
| founder = {{unbulleted list|Peter Licalzi|Camden Hendricks}}
| hq_location_city = {{unbulleted list|Bend, OR}}
| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Peter Licalzi (CEO)|Camden Hendricks (President)|Clare Whitehead (COO)|Lindsay Wilkes-Edrington (CCO)|Brenna Licalzi (CSO)|Lindsay White (CMO)|Ashley Walsh (CRO)}}
| homepage = {{URL|bluestarpress.com}}
}}
The company, which began as Blue Star Coloring in 2015, was founded by CEO Peter Licalzi and president Camden Hendricks.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sanantoniomag.com/March-2016/Color-Me-A-Success/|title=Color Me A Success — San Antonio Magazine — March 2016 – San Antonio, TX|website=www.sanantoniomag.com|date=29 February 2016|access-date=2016-06-16}} It has published over 200 books since its formation in March 2015,{{Cite web|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-adult-coloring-meditation-20151211-story.html|title=Orlando adults erase their stresses through coloring|last=Sentinel|first=Orlando|website=OrlandoSentinel.com|access-date=2016-06-16}} including several New York Times bestsellers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.penguinrandomhouseretail.com/2019/09/01/welcome-blue-star-press/|title=Welcome Blue Star Press!|date=2019-09-01|website=Penguin Random House Retail|access-date=2019-09-13}} In 2019, the company announced a partnership with Penguin Random House Publisher Services.{{Cite web|url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3461|title=Shelf Awareness for Thursday, March 28, 2019|last=Herbert|first=Julián|website=www.shelf-awareness.com|access-date=2019-09-13}} The multi-year deal allows Penguin Random House Publisher Services to sell and distribute all of Blue Star Press' frontlist and backlist book titles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=2225|title=PRH Publisher Services, Blue Star Press Agree|website=PublishersWeekly.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-13}} In 2020, 2021, and 2022, the company was named one of the industry's fastest-growing publishers by Publishers Weekly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/82926-fast-growing-independent-publishers-2020.html|website=www.publishersweekly.com|access-date=2020-04-08|title=Fast-Growing Independent Publishers, 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Milliot |first=Jim |last2=Kirch {{!}} |first2=Claire |title=Fast-Growing Independent Publishers, 2021 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/86175-fast-growing-independent-publishers-2021.html |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Fast-Growing Independent Publishers, 2022 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/89118-fast-growing-independent-publishers-2022.html |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}
Books and Games
Blue Star Press specializes in subjects such as creative how-to, arts & crafts, health & wellness, coloring, witty nonfiction, children's, and gift books. It publishes under two imprints: Blue Star Press and Paige Tate & Co. It is also the parent company to Sasquatch Books, a book publisher based in the Pacific Northwest. Blue Star Press acquired Sasquatch from Penguin Random House in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Milliot {{!}} |first=Jim |title=Blue Star Press Buys Sasquatch Books from PRH |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/industry-deals/article/95193-blue-star-press-buys-sasquatch-books-from-prh.html |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}
Bestselling titles include Our Little Adventures by Tabitha Paige;{{Cite web |title=Our Little Adventures Book Set |url=https://foxhollowstudios.com/products/our-little-adventures-book-set |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Fox Hollow Studios |language=en}} Beautifully Organized by Nikki Boyd;{{Cite web |title=Beautifully Organized by Nikki Boyd: 9781944515683 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624302/beautifully-organized-by-nikki-boyd/9781944515683 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=PenguinRandomhouse.com |language=en-US}} Watercolor Workbook by Sarah Simon;{{Cite web |date=2024-01-11 |title=Watercolour painting for beginners |url=https://www.prima.co.uk/craft/easy-craft-ideas/a40752659/watercolour-painting/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Prima |language=en-GB}} and Drinking for Two by Diana Licalzi and Kerry Benson.{{Cite web |title=Drinking for Two {{!}} The Sober Dietitians |url=https://thesoberdietitians.com/drinking-for-two |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=thesoberdietitians.com}} The company focuses heavily on building brands and series with many of its authors.{{Cite web |title=Publishers Extend Key Franchises with Fun and Games |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/93102-publishers-extend-key-franchises-with-fun-and-games.html |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}
The company also publishes games including Millennial Lotería, a modern take on the Mexican bingo game;{{Cite web |date=2020-12-30 |title=This L.A.-Based Artist Says His 'Millennial Lotería' Series Represents Different Aspects of Latinidad |url=https://remezcla.com/culture/la-based-guatemalan-artist-mike-alfaro-millennial-loteria-series-latinidad/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Remezcla |language=en-US}} Tragos, a Latino party card game;{{Cite web |title=Tragos Games Tragos Latino Party Card Game |url=https://www.target.com/p/tragos-games-tragos-latino-party-card-game/-/A-87877076 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=www.target.com |language=en-US}} and Get Loud, a competitive bilingual guessing game.{{Cite web |title=Tragos Games Get Loud Bilingual Game |url=https://www.target.com/p/tragos-games-get-loud-bilingual-game/-/A-87877073 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=www.target.com |language=en-US}}
In 2023 the Blue Star Press children's book You Stole My Name, authored by Dennis McGregor, was named one of Kirkus Review's best indie books of the year.
In 2023 PubWest also recognized several Blue Star Press title with Design Awards, including The Artist's Drawing Book (How-to/Crafts, Gold), Watercolor Workbook (How-to/Crafts, Bronze), and You Stole My Name (Children's Picture Book, Bronze).
Blue Star Press also produces custom products for brands including Whataburger {{Cite web |date=2016-05-03 |title=Whataburger art contest comes through with flying colors |url=https://www.nrn.com/blog/whataburger-art-contest-comes-through-flying-colors |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Nation's Restaurant News |language=en}} and Canon.{{Cite web |last=Inc |first=Canon U. S. A. |title=Canon U.S.A. Introduces Exclusive Printable Coloring Pages Designed By Johanna Basford, Blue Star Coloring And Design Originals |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/canon-usa-introduces-exclusive-printable-coloring-pages-designed-by-johanna-basford-blue-star-coloring-and-design-originals-300338821.html |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}
Blue Star Press has been featured in USA Today{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2015/12/17/sa-based-start-up-blue-star-coloring-books-for-adults-featured-in-usa-today|title=SA-based Start-up Blue Star Coloring Books (for Adults) Featured in 'USA Today'|last=Reagan|first=Mark|website=San Antonio Current|access-date=2016-06-16}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2015/12/13/adult-coloring-books-stress/76916842/|title=Adult coloring books promise stress relief|website=USA TODAY|access-date=2016-06-16}} and worked with authors including NBC News Special Anchor Maria Shriver{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/health/alzheimer-s-disease-coloring-book-created-maria-shriver-t112805|title=Maria Shriver creates first coloring book for people with Alzheimer's|website=TODAY.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-13}} and Olympian Kara Goucher.{{Cite web|url=https://www.endurancesportswire.com/kara-goucher-debuts-strong-a-runners-guide-to-increasing-confidence-and-becoming-the-best-version-of-you/|title=Kara Goucher Debuts Strong: A Runner's Guide to Increasing Confidence and Becoming the Best Version of You|date=2018-08-14|website=Endurance Sportswire|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-13}} The company currently works with around 45 independent artists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sanantoniomag.com/March-2016/Color-Me-A-Success/|title=Color Me A Success – San Antonio Magazine – March 2016 – San Antonio, TX|website=www.sanantoniomag.com|date=29 February 2016|access-date=2019-09-13}}
See also
References
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.bluestarpress.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Companies based in Bend, Oregon
Category:Book publishing companies based in Oregon
Category:Publishing companies established in 2015
Category:American companies established in 2015
Category:2015 establishments in Oregon
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