Meet Erik Shaw | Publisher Extraordinaire to the Stars!
We had the good fortune of connecting with Erik Shaw and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Erik, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
We started to realize back in 2007 that Veterans, in particular, were being exploited for their stories and not compensated fairly by the industry for their time and work. We went through the process and ultimately did not sign a book deal, but it was at that point we realized we could do better and help new writers better understand the industry and be prepared for what comes with being a published author who is looking to make money in this industry. In 2011, we launched Tactical 16 and solely focused on Veterans, but in 2020, we rebranded to “Black Vellum” and refocused our efforts on all writers who need our help. The rebrand has been very rewarding for us, and the opportunity to work with some of the best up-and-coming new writers in the industry has been an honor.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Our team is small but packs a serious punch in this industry, and I always say that pound for pound, we are unrivaled at what we do. When a writer comes to us, their vision for their book is our focus and we absolutely will meet and most times exceed their expectations. Kailey, Kristen, and I put our hearts and souls into these books and it shows upon completion.
We have learned over the years what does not work. We are focused on avoiding the mistakes other publishers continue to make because they put their brand before the needs of the authors, and they nickel and dime some new authors to stay relevant and the new authors rarely notice. We spend a lot of time with our writers, educating them on the good and bad of this industry as we work internally to always be prepared to adapt and mold our capabilities to always meet the author’s needs during their entire publishing process.
In 2023, we opted to go “contract-free,” which is exciting; authors and other publishers can now come to us for assistance as we can literally work with anybody or any company in this industry and not tie down our authors to bad contracts or get tied down to a bad contract with another company. We do what we say, and our clients are happy upon the conclusion of the publishing process. And most importantly, a high percentage of our clients become return clients or send us other writers to work with.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh, man! This is tough because there is so much to do! You can usually find us at Jaks Taproom in Colorado Springs on Fridays, and when it comes to good food, we are big fans of Cowboy Star, Rib and Chop House, Jack Quinns, and any place that serves good tacos. When we are not neck deep in publishing, I am usually running the Sand Creek trail or debating another 14er. I think any chance you can get away from the front range and see the “real” Colorado out west a little bit is always worth it.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We owe so much to so many, but it was visionaries like Larry Richart in Pittsburgh. Pa saw our potential and gave us our first opportunities to do media and get our brand out to the masses. Andrew Och in DC was hugely influential as well. He was a major advocate for our vision and still promotes us on the national stage. In Colorado people like Todd Baldwin (Red Leg Brewing)have always had our back and been there to support us when we needed it. Lastly, Randy Gradisher(Denver Broncos HOF 24) is another huge advocate who has helped us in the past, and his efforts to help others in our community are unrivaled.
Website: https://Www.Blackvellum.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erik_shaw_bvp?igsh=MWFiY2pjcHNkYXJqcQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EShaw24?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
-Chris Lucca
-Celebrity Softball Classic Texas
-Toby Keith
-Cal Ripkin Jr
-Brad Kramer
-Jeff Gordon
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
