The Glass Spider Publishing Story

The story of Glass Spider Publishing shows that sometimes what we perceive as failure can be an opportunity for growth and discovery.

Once upon a time, all the way back in 2013, I wrote a book with a famous person. Even before the book was finished, word got out and the press came calling. There were CNN appearances. Two of them. In fact, we got so many inquiries from the media that we wound up turning down people like Geraldo Rivera and Art Bell.

When the book was finished, we landed a high-profile agent from one of the most prestigious literary agencies in New York City. Buoyed by the media interest, she pitched the book to every major publisher in North America. And then she pitched it to every small publisher.

Nobody wanted it.

The reason? "Great book," they all said, "but it's not what we're looking for." So we decided to go our own way and self-publish. It was the best decision we could have possibly made.

American Sons: The Untold Story of the Falcon and the Snowman went on to receive international press coverage, win awards, and garner overwhelmingly positive praise from readers. In 2018, Tantor Media acquired the rights to produce the audiobook, and we've even fielded offers to turn the book into a movie. None of that would have ever happened if we had waited around for a traditional publisher to show interest.

As a direct result of the experience, I amassed so much knowledge about the mechanics of independent publishing that I decided to put everything I'd learned to work helping other authors. Authors who, like myself, had great stories to tell but were getting nowhere through traditional channels.

That's how Glass Spider Publishing came to be. At first, it was just me and my wife running the show. Today, we're a small company run by a tight-knit group of professional writers, editors, and designers with a passion for storytelling and the desire to share the secrets of our success with others.

If you're interested in getting your book published but don't know where to start, you've come to the right place. Just click here to send us a message or give us a call. No questions are too simple, and no aspirations are too big—and if we can't help you, we can at least point you in the direction of someone who can.