About Inkwater Press
A division of First Books®, Inkwater Press® has published hundreds of fine fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children’s book titles.
Collectively, our staff has more than 100 years of publishing experience. Our diverse backgrounds include editing, graphic design, web programming, book retailing, journalism, elementary education, music composition and performance, travel, book marketing, film production and library administration. Combined with our shared passion for the written word, this allows us to provide our authors with the best of our talents. We produce high-quality books and build enduring relationships with our customers, our authors and our vendors.
At Inkwater Press we pride ourselves not only on the quality of our work but on how we work. We invite you to check with the Better Business Bureau before contacting us – we are proud to say we have a spotless record.
If you have a question or comment for the founder and president, Jeremy Solomon, please feel free to send him an email via jeremy@inkwaterpress.com.
Jeremy Solomon was the founding administrator of Practicing Attorneys for Law Students (PALS) in New York City and is the co-author of three books. He received a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed the Radcliffe Publishing Procedures Course at Harvard University.
Sean Jones has over 16 years of experience in bookselling, customer service, and bookstore management. Sean has opened bookstores and trained management teams all over the United States as well as the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, and has worked extensively with authors and artists throughout his career. Sean has a BS in History from Portland State University, and a BS in Sociology from the University of Oregon. He has also worked on independent talk radio.
Linda Franklin – After earning a BA in English at Yale University, Linda moved directly into publishing, working as an editor in a university setting as well as for numerous book publishers. A voracious reader and book group leader/participant for the last eighteen years, Linda has been editing adult fiction and nonfiction, children’s books, and educational materials for over three decades.
Steve Thieme – Steve brings 25 years of marketing experience to Inkwater. He’s developed creative approaches to increase the visibility of products by using press exposure, advertising, book signings, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Webcasts, tradeshows, newsletters, TV, radio, videos, Pay-Per-Click, Web banners, speeches/public appearances, direct mail, email, YouTube, fliers, and contests—but so far no skywriting. He earned a Communications degree from the University of Washington in the pre-internet era; back then publicity involved little more than pounding on jungle drums, but his unwavering drive to learn has allowed him to stay current with virtually all techniques to execute marketing campaigns.
Masha Shubin – A quintessential Renaissance woman, Masha Shubin has over fifteen years of experience in web and graphic design, with additional experience ranging from customer service to computer programming to marketing to management. As Art Director for First Books/Inkwater Press, she makes full use of her creativity and skills in graphic design. She has worked as photographer, goodwill ambassador, mascot performer, movie producer, author, and theater director.
Emily Dueker – Fun-loving and optimistic, Emily comes to Inkwater Press with a background in photography, graphic design and video. Emily is a graduate of Pacific University and a native of Seattle with a passion for books, art and people. She enjoys the creative adventure of designing and the ever-changing styles and technologies.
Vanessa Verrill – An avid reader, Vanessa has a BA in Speech Communication and an MA in Teaching from Willamette University. She has worked in both Germany and South Korea as well as in customer service-based positions throughout the United States. Moving here from Helena, Montana, where she was the Membership Coordinator for the Montana Historical Society and worked directly with the Montana Historical Society Press, Vanessa brings with her a variety of skills learned from years in the school systems, non-profits, and large corporations.
Alan Bellman has over thirty years of financial experience in the printing and publishing industries. He has experience in the areas of estimating, cost accounting, finance and business management. He has earned degrees from the University of Michigan and The Ohio State University.
