Nancy and John Grossman, Owners

Nancy Grossman's successfully self-published Placenames of Portsmouth led to the formation of Portsmouth's newest publishing house. A complicated book with more than two hundred images, Nancy had hoped to sell it to a national publisher specializing in photo-rich local histories as the prototype for a new series. When they weren't willing to veer from their established format to serve the needs of this particular book, she and her husband, John, decided to put his twenty years of educational publishing experience to work. The two set to work mastering the ins and outs of self-publishing and on-demand printing. Placenames arrived on the scene in 2005 to immediate local acclaim. When word of their self-publishing success made its way into reviews, other writers started knocking on their door and Back Channel Press was born.

Editorial/Design
Nancy brings a lifelong fascination with the vagaries of the English language in general and writing in particular, a degree in psychology with a minor in English, and the eye of a self-trained artist to bear on the editing and design of books. A compulsive proofreader by nature, she's discovered she was born to be an editor. Ten years in specialized retail plus a somewhat briefer exposure to the world of advertising contribute to her eye for detail and passion for creativity. She is equally at home writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, stage- and screenplays. She has had four young adult novels published with Tor Publishing and also enjoys writing for children.

Production/Business
John brings a lifetime of computer expertise (he helped install the first computer in the US Army!), the above-mentioned twenty years of experience in educational publishing and a Harvard MBA to the enterprise. His level of experience, ability and fascination with computers is well matched by his knowledge of the worlds of both traditional and digital printing. A compulsive comparative shopper, he guarantees you the best price and printer for your book and expert project management from the day you submit your manuscript to the day we deliver. When he isn't busy pestering printers for quotes and shepherding each project through the many steps it takes to turn a manuscript into a book, he develops and maintains websites for Back Channel authors, local organizations and friends.