The Wheatmark Story

Wheatmark, Inc., was founded in 1999 by Sam Henrie, a publishing entrepreneur who believed that what makes a book successful is not who publishes it, but rather:

• Quality content
• Access to the “apparatus” of publishing, and
• Savvy marketing

Sam’s goal was to provide independent authors with a viable alternative to the traditional publishing route. His solution: combine digital printing technologies and Internet-based distribution channels with the talents and expertise of experienced publishing professionals, thus providing a trade-quality publishing experience to independent authors at a fraction of the time, effort, and money they’d spend doing it entirely on their own.

To date we have published more than 1,000 titles. And thanks to our highly personalized service and unparalleled professionalism, we’re proud to say that the majority of our business comes from referrals and satisfied Wheatmark authors who return to publish their second or third (and sometimes more) books with us!

Who Is Wheatmark?

We are a team of book-publishing professionals dedicated to helping self-publishing authors compete more effectively in today’s marketplace. Some of the people that make up the Wheatmark team:

Sam Henrie, President and Founder. Prior to founding Wheatmark in 1999, Sam worked in a variety of management roles in the personal computer networking industry in Tucson and Amsterdam.  Sam is a graduate, with departmental honors, of Haverford College, Haverford, PA. A frequent speaker on the subjects of book marketing, book publicity, and self-publishing, Sam’s expertise includes new directions in production, distribution, publicity, and marketing in the world of book publishing. Sam is president of the Arizona Book Publishing Association.

Atilla Vékony, Publishing Information Manager. Atilla has been with Wheatmark since 2000, working with authors and educating them about publishing. He holds two master’s degrees—one in history and the other in information resources and library science—both from the University of Arizona.

Grael Norton, Publishing Consultant. Grael specializes in helping writers design the business of selling their books. Prior to joining Wheatmark, he worked as an editorial assistant for Fodor's Travel Guides, a division of Random House, and ran an Internet-based information business. The author of one produced and four unproduced screenplays, Grael also holds a BA in French and Romance philology from Columbia University.

Susan Wenger, Book Editor and Designer. Susan began her publishing career as a freelance copyeditor. By the time she joined Wheatmark in 2003, her background included positions as an editor and writer for magazines and corporate websites. Susan holds a master’s degree from the University of Arizona.

Lori Sellstrom, Book Editor and Designer. Now approaching her third year with Wheatmark, Lori previously worked as an editor, reporter, layout designer, and photographer for a newspaper in Northern California. Lori holds a BA in information and communication studies with an emphasis in journalism, as well as a double minor in creative writing and political science from California State University, Chico.

Hayley Love, Book Editor and Designer. Hayley has been with Wheatmark for over two years. Prior to joining Wheatmark, Hayley worked as a proofreader for Westchester Book Group, a company providing typesetting and editorial services for clients including St. Martin's, Tor, Penguin, and HarperCollins. Hayley has a BA in English and anthropology from the University of Connecticut.

Kathleen Santo, Online Bookstore Manager. Kathleen spent more than a decade with the marketing division of IBM before joining Wheatmark. She holds an MBA from the University of Arizona and an undergraduate degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Kat Meyer, Marketing Services. A fifteen-year veteran of the publishing industry, Kat has been with Wheatmark since 2004 and currently manages the Great Expectations program. Her background includes both editorial and marketing experience working for a number of publishers, including Harcourt Brace, Communication Skill Builders, the University of Arizona Press, Rio Nuevo Publishers, and the RGU Group. Kat holds a BA from the University of Arizona.

Our company headquarters are based in Tucson, Arizona, and every aspect of our operation (from design and production to customer service) is handled within the United States. Click here for Wheatmark contact information.

Our Authors

Wheatmark authors come from every walk of life and every corner of the globe, and publish on a wide variety of subjects. Among our authors you’ll find business leaders, politicians, educators, athletes, lawyers, medical professionals, scientists, artists, homemakers, journalists, students, and retirees. Our authors publish in categories as diverse as: business, health, self-help, history, how-to, regional, academic, religion, memoir, inspirational, children’s illustrated books, fiction, and much, much more. The reasons why our authors venture into publishing are every bit as diverse as they are—but whether they wish to boost their professional clout and visibility or see their “Great American Novel” in print, we strive to help each of our authors achieve their unique vision of publishing success.

[Read what Wheatmark authors say about their publishing experience]

Customer Satisfaction

At Wheatmark the lines of communication between author and publisher are always open. Authors work closely with their respective book editors and are able to visit, call, or email with requests at any time during or after the publishing process. Wheatmark is committed to providing the highest level of customer service in the industry; therefore, Wheatmark professionals promptly return all calls and email messages.

Wheatmark would be pleased to consider your publishing project. Are you ready to get published?