BAIPA is an educational organization dedicated to elevating the art of the independent author-publisher. Members include creative people who are involved in various aspects of publishing, linking writers with the services they need to publish and sell their work.
Formerly the Marin Small Publishers Association, BAIPA was founded in 1979 in the San Francisco Bay Area and incorporated as a nonprofit public benefit organization in 1981.
We meet virtually on Zoom the first Saturday of every month (except around national holidays) for Q&A, networking, and a speaker on a topic of interest. Our meetings are opportunities to gather information, exchange ideas, share successes and challenges, meet supportive professionals, and ask questions about the rapidly changing industry. Several times a year, we are offering separate workshops on specific topics of interest to indie authors.
Openness and enthusiasm have been the hallmark of the group since its inception.
Several thousand people have joined BAIPA over the years since its founding in 1979 and members have published more than 2000 titles, often with the assistance of fellow members who are editors, designers and publishing consultants. Currently, there are approximately 200 active members and 50-80 people attend our meetings each month.
Our members include:
- Writers (all genres)
- Bloggers
- Editors
- Copywriters
- Copy Editors
- Proofreaders
- Photographers
- Agents
- Artists
- Audiobook Professionals
- Illustrators
- Computer Instructors
- Computing Services Professionals
- Ergonomic Specialists
- Book Shepherds
- Writing Coaches
- Librarians
- Book Designers
- Book Layout Experts
- Book Cover Designers
- Digital Publishing Experts
- Printers
- Print Brokers
- Grammarians
- Distributors
- Publication Consultants
- Reviewers
- Marketing Coaches
- Publicists
- Social Media Mavens
- Web Designers
- Videographers
- Literary Rights Attorneys
- Business Consultants