We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew Ferrell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
To get to the why I started Cloaked Press, we have to start with my first novel. I had queried and submitted to a few publishing houses before deciding to self publish through Createspace. I bought some copies, and approached a local indie bookstore about a signing/commission sales as a member of their Local Author section. When they discovered the book was print on demand from Createspace (an Amazon company), they asked me to pick up the copy I had left for their review and to not contact them again. I was devastated. I thought, them being a small, independent bookstore, they would understand me. I thought I would be accepted as an independent like them.

In talking to some others in online forums, it became clear I was another author sidelined by the fight between independent bookstores and Amazon. The loophole, form a small press to publish under, even if using the various PrintOnDemand services available (including Amazon).

So I did. With the sole intention of publishing my books under the company name so that I could appear more legitimate to the smaller bookstores.

The deeper I dove into the realm of self publishing and forming my own indie press, I wanted to do more. This led me to deciding to lift other aspiring authors. Thus the first call for short story submissions went out. I never thought that I would get enough submissions to fill a book, much less to still be doing this 5 years later. It’s been an incredible journey and I look forward to many more years of making new friends.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Cloaked Press was born out of a love for a good story. Mine initially. A dream to see my name listed with the authors I loved to read. It grew to become more than just my stories. Now I get to lift other voices and share their tales with the world. There are authors who have come back to submit for a subsequent collection, whether they were accepted or not. It makes me proud to see familiar names in my inbox edition after edition. It tells me I am doing something right. I also get excited each time I see a new name, as it gives me the opportunity to read a new perspective. Running Cloaked Press hasn’t always been easy. The first couple of years I wondered if I was making any impact at all, but as each new book launched, I have learned ways to streamline and do better. I’ve learned that even if I am a “one man operation”, it’s ok to contract out some aspects of the business. I am not graphically inclined, so I hire an artist to design the book covers and any other graphics. I now hire a formatter for the books to make them eye catching. Learning to utilize the talents of others (and compensate them fairly), has been integral to continued growth. Cloaked Press went from two collections a year, to 5 yearly anthologies, with a few extra books along the way.

Cloaked Press is about stories. It’s about lifting voices. I may have started as one guy with an idea, but now, there is a Family.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My small town doesn’t have much, but we are close to Green Bay, WI. We would have to try out this little Sushi/Hibachi place downtown. Their all-you-can-eat is incredible. We would probably take a tour of Lambeau Field. A trip up to the wine country of Door County is mandatory. We would visit this little independent bookstore called Other Worlds Books & More – they are the first bookstore to give my company a chance and stock our books regularly. There is a little wildlife sanctuary where you can (sometimes) handfeed geese which also boasts some good picnic spots. If the season is right, we’d also have to spend some time on the water of the lake my wife’s family has camped at for generations. An evening by the fire, swapping stories (or plotting new ones) and having a drink or two is a must.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who deserve to be listed. My Mother and Grandparents fostered a love of reading very early for me. My Grandfather read to me until I memorized the pages enough to know when he tried to skip one. My Grandmother was a huge supporter of any of my endeavors. I know she would be proud of what I am trying to do.

My Wife, my Rock. The person who I couldn’t live without, has been ever supportive of my need for a creative outlet and my continuing drive to lift new voices.

Every author who has joined the Cloaked Press Family is special to me and holds a place in my heart. There are a few close friends however, that I wouldn’t have continued to do this if it weren’t for their encouragement: Mato J Steger, Angel Leya, Sandy Stuckless, Ian Hugh McAllister, and Molly Neely to name a few. Through them I came to join a community online where my list of friends and supporters has grown exponentially.

Website: https://www.cloakedpress.com

Instagram: CloakedPress

Twitter: CloakedPress

Facebook: CloakedPress

Other: My personal/professional Blog is https://www.andrewmferrell.com Personal Twitter is @andrewmferrell

Image Credits
Dana Ferrell, Mato J Steger

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