We help authors professionally self-publish books
AuthorImprints is an award-winning self-publishing services company that has helped more than 400 authors professionally publish books using their own imprint. Unlike hybrid publishing, clients retain ownership, control, and all royalties.
Here’s how we differ from other self-publishing services firms:
- Your book is published under the name of your imprint. That means you never have to abandon your hard-earned reader reviews and your book can be printed by any printer.
- The fees you pay provide you unrestricted access to the publishing files we create to produce your book. Our print books are professionally designed using Adobe InDesign and you may request the files at any time for use in any way. There are no hidden charges or transfer fees. (Read here why this is important.)
- We produce eBooks in Kindle (mobi) and EPUB formats. Your EPUB file is guaranteed to pass EPUB validation.
- We take no royalties or commissions. All accounts are established in your name and payments for book sales are made directly to you by the retailer or distributor.
- You always purchase print books at cost; there are no mark-ups or extra fees beyond what the printer charges.
Independent publishing is a team effort
The publishing steps between writing and the virtual bookshelf are varied and complex: print-book design, eBook programming, cover design, editing, indexing, distribution to bookstores, online metadata selection and optimization, book registration, audiobook creation, and marketing.
We provide as many or as few of these services as you require—but never as a package.
Above all, the process is about positioning your book for long-term success. This translates into improving sales opportunities now, while protecting your investment for the long-term.
AuthorImprints is based in Carlsbad, California, and includes a team of highly skilled professionals.
Meet the team
David Wogahn
David (he/him) is the president and founder of AuthorImprints, the author of six books, and the author of the first eBook training course offered by LinkedIn Learning) (2014; formerly Lynda.com).
He is a frequent speaker and trainer, and has given presentations for Jane Friedman, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, among other publishing professional organizations.
David has a 40-year career managing and implementing technology systems, most frequently as they relate to media businesses and publishing. Prior to founding Sellbox Inc. (parent of AuthorImprints) in 2002, he held C-level positions with a college student website portal and a VC-backed college sports media company known today as CBS College Sports Network.
The latter was founded after leaving Times Mirror, parent of the Los Angeles Times, where David served as a VP of multimedia publishing. Prior to Times Mirror, he managed the IBM donation to the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
Learn more here about the origin of AuthorImprints, or here for more on David's background.
David is a member of the Authors Guild.
Kerri Esten
Kerri Esten (she/her) has been a graphic designer working primarily in the fields of book publishing, advertising, newspapers, and periodicals for more than 30 years. In addition to her composition skills, she is renowned for her organizational talents and her ability to bring order to complex or chaotic publishing projects (and we’ve had more than a few!).
Kerri and her husband Chris live in the Tehachapi Mountains of Southern California, and the neighbors include mule deer, elk, bobcats, gray foxes, hummingbirds, hawks, and so much more. In the summer of 2018 they had about 40 California condors—25% of the state's entire population of wild condors—spend a day bathing and roosting at their home.
Kerri has been an integral part of a number of community organizations, ranging from wildlife protection to historical preservation. When not busy with work or community projects, Kerri and her husband like to roam Europe and the British Isles.
Manon Wogahn
Manon (she/her) is our publishing operations manager and helps clients create and promote their books. You’ll often find her proofing print books and eBooks, planning book marketing promotions, and if she’s lucky, designing a book cover or two. She has additional experience producing marketing materials, maintaining websites and social media, and managing mailing lists.
When not working with books, Manon can be found reading mystery books and writing the Cluesletter, her biweekly email newsletter dedicated to the mystery genre. Each issue includes mystery-related news, new releases, podcasts, eBook deals, and an interview with a featured author.
Manon holds a bachelor’s degree in art history from Chapman University, which she credits for her obsessions with beautiful books and the Chicago Manual of Style. As for the mystery obsession, she can only blame Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, and her own nosy inclinations.
Locally, she is a member of San Diego Professional Editors Network (SDPEN.com) and Publishers & Writers of San Diego, and serves as a club officer for her Toastmasters International club.
Katie Barry
Katie Barry (she/her) is an editor and copywriter with more than 15 years of experience. Her focus is nonfiction—with an emphasis on business and marketing/advertising.
Her love of the written word dates back to second grade when she started to write a mystery about the disappearance of her elementary school. Although her parents lost this obvious masterpiece, her love of words and communication never left her.
With an MBA from The George Washington University (with an unofficial focus on marketing) and certificates in editing, medical editing and writing, Katie's continuing education efforts strengthen her ability to convey her clients' messages clearly and concisely.
Katie is actively involved in the editorial community. She served on the board of the San Diego Professional Editors Network (SDPEN.com) for four years. She is also a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA).
Erin Willard
Erin Willard (she/her) is a copy editor who specializes in working with independent authors in a variety of genres, including fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, science fiction, fantasy, romance, historical fiction, mystery, thriller, young adult, middle grade, and children’s books. She also enjoys (and strongly encourages) copyediting authors’ promotional materials, including back covers, emails, newsletters, and blog posts.
A San Diego native, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from San Diego State University, her copyediting certificate from the University of California, San Diego, and her paralegal certificate from the University of San Diego, though she hopes to never rely upon the latter again, considering her paralegal work a long-ago sixteen-year blip in her life. Copyediting is her dream career, as it allows her to use her love of reading to help smooth out the little bumps that might interfere with future readers’ experience of an otherwise wonderful book.
Erin recently served on the San Diego Professional Editors Network (SD/PEN) board of directors for four years, two of those as co-president. She is also an active member of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA); ACES, the Society for Editing; and the Association of Independent Publishing Professionals (AIPP); and is an active participant in many editorial networking and continuing-education groups.
Paula Fitzgerald
Paula (she/her) is an editor and proofreader with over two decades of experience in publishing. She started in magazine journalism as an editor/writer and was eventually recruited to edit books, which she loves. Her focus is fiction, nonfiction (psychology, health, self-help, educational materials, and religion/spirituality), memoir, historical fiction, and creative nonfiction.
A native of San Diego, she holds a B.A. in political science from UCLA, an M.A. in literature and writing from Cal State University, San Marcos, and a copyediting certificate from UCSD. She continues to take editorial courses so she can better help her clients tell compelling stories with clarity and precision.
Paula is actively engaged in the editorial community. She served on the board of the San Diego Professional Editors Network (SDPEN.com) for four years and is a member of ACES: The Society for Editing, the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), and Publishers and Writers of San Diego (PWSD).
Diane Rush
Diane (she/her) has a bachelor of arts degree in communication from the University of California, San Diego, and a certificate in copyediting from their extended studies division. She has worked in nonfiction and fiction, copyediting memoirs, newsletters, books of photographic collections, writings related to classical music, books on finance, and romance novels. She finds a special joy in helping beginning authors get their stories out to the world.
She is a member of the San Diego Professional Editors Network (SDPEN.com) and served on their board of directors for four years, first as copy editor of the newsletter and then as managing editor. She is also a member of ACES: The Society for Editing.
In addition, Diane substitutes for high school library staff as time permits and enjoys volunteering there as well.
Leslie Lehr
Leslie Lehr works with both debut and bestselling authors to help strengthen stories into page-turning books that readers and critics adore. Known for her focus on structure, she also highlights advanced prose techniques that can make your book stand out from the pack.
Lehr, who works independently and as the Novel Consultant for Truby Writers Studio, taught for over a decade at the esteemed Writers Program at UCLA, contributes to the series Just Write, speaks at conferences around the country, and judges the Women’s Fiction Association's Rising Star Competition.
As an award-winning author and essayist who republishes her backlist with AuthorImprints, Lehr understands the struggle. Originally from Ohio, she moved to California where she graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, earned an MFA from Antioch, and belongs to the Author’s Guild, Pen, Women in Film, and The Writers Guild.
Lehr works by the hour, the manuscript, or the series outline in most genres with the exception of crime, horror, sci fi, and children’s books. When she isn’t working, she’s usually reading – and calling it research.
Leslie Schwartz
Leslie Schwartz is the author of two award-winning, bestselling novels, Jumping the Green and Angels Crest, and a memoir, The Lost Chapters; Finding Recovery and Renewal One Book at a Time. Her two novels have been translated into 13 languages. Angels Crest was also adapted for the screen and premiered in theaters under the same name.
She’s won many awards and grants for her writing, among them, the James Jones Award for Best First Novel and Kalliope Magazine’s Woman Writer of the Year. Her essays and short stories have garnered nominations for both the Pushcart Prize and the Best American Essays.
For the last three decades, Schwartz has taught writing at UCLA Extension, University Of Iowa Summer Writing Program, and in private workshops. She is widely sought out for her book coaching and developmental editing skills. Most of her author clients have published their work, many through the Big Five in New York, as well as in smaller presses and through independent publishing. She has an MFA in writing.
Carter Wogahn
Carter Wogahn (he/him) is a student of sound fascinated with sound’s abilities to transport listeners. Beginning as a musician, Carter’s interests have since expanded into the areas of music production, sound design, and audio storytelling.
In addition to producing numerous audiobooks, he works as a sound designer, his credits including Stanzi Potenza’s What Fresh Hell Is This?, People magazine’s People Every Day, and SoFi’s Who Dares Wins. He also sound designed for Fred Greenhalgh on Realm’s fiction podcast If I Go Missing the Witches Did It.
Carter began his career after receiving his B.A. in Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts from UC San Diego with a minor in Digital Video and Film Production. Outside of his audio work, Carter spends his free time reading, playing music, and engaging in other spoken-word audio endeavors, including producing and sound designing scripted audio fiction podcasts.
Annie Middleton
Annie (she/her) got her start in website design and programming at an internet service provider in 1997. During her eight years at the company, she built everything from basic brochure sites to highly customized eCommerce applications.
Today, Annie and her team draw on their 20+ years of internet experience to stay on top of trends in website design and online marketing to provide custom solutions to fit any author’s needs and budget. In keeping with an AuthorImprints core philosophy, Annie loves efficiency. She doesn’t like wasting money—hers or yours!
Annie enjoys traveling (national parks!) and learning new things (so many podcasts, so little time). She adds, “If you need a well written, entertaining, informative audio book (and have about 18 hours), try: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.”