{{Short description|American book publisher}} {{promo|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = Blue Star Press, LLC. | type = Private | founded = 2015 | founder = {{unbulleted list|Peter Licalzi|Camden Hendricks}} | hq_location_city = {{unbulleted list|Bend, OR}} | key_people = {{unbulleted list|Peter Licalzi (CEO)|Camden Hendricks (Founder)|Clare Whitehead (COO)|Lindsay Wilkes-Edrington (CCO)|Brenna Licalzi (CSO)|Lindsay White (CMO)|Ashley Walsh (President)}} | homepage = {{URL|bluestarpress.com}} }}
'''Blue Star Press''' is an American publishing company that specializes in adult nonfiction, children’s books, games, and gift products. The company publishes titles under two imprints: Blue Star Press and Paige Tate & Co.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Caroline |date=2019-09-01 |title=Welcome Blue Star Press! |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouseretail.com/2019/09/01/welcome-blue-star-press/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Penguin Random House Retail |language=en}}</ref> It is headquartered in Bend, OR.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bulletin |first=Kathleen McLaughlin • The |date=2019-08-11 |title=Bend is getting more space for coworking |url=https://www.bendbulletin.com/business/bend-is-getting-more-space-for-coworking/article_a735ed40-ad53-5d36-adf1-5006357d6f50.html |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=The Bulletin |language=en}}</ref>
== History ==
The company, which began as Blue Star Coloring in 2015, was founded by CEO Peter Licalzi and Camden Hendricks.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sanantoniomag.com/March-2016/Color-Me-A-Success/|title=Color Me A Success — San Antonio Magazine — March 2016 – San Antonio, TX|website=www.sanantoniomag.com|date=29 February 2016|access-date=2016-06-16}}</ref> It has published over 200 books since its formation in March 2015,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-adult-coloring-meditation-20151211-story.html|title=Orlando adults erase their stresses through coloring|last=Sentinel|first=Orlando|website=OrlandoSentinel.com|date=12 December 2015 |access-date=2016-06-16}}</ref> including several ''New York Times'' bestsellers and a ''USA Today'' Bestseller.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.penguinrandomhouseretail.com/2019/09/01/welcome-blue-star-press/|title=Welcome Blue Star Press!|date=2019-09-01|website=Penguin Random House Retail|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref> In 2019, the company announced a partnership with Penguin Random House Publisher Services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3461|title=Shelf Awareness for Thursday, March 28, 2019|last=Herbert|first=Julián|website=www.shelf-awareness.com|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref> The multi-year deal allows Penguin Random House Publisher Services to sell and distribute all of Blue Star Press' frontlist and backlist book titles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=2225|title=PRH Publisher Services, Blue Star Press Agree|website=PublishersWeekly.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref> In 2020, 2021, and 2022, the company was named one of the industry's fastest-growing publishers by Publishers Weekly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/82926-fast-growing-independent-publishers-2020.html|website=www.publishersweekly.com|access-date=2020-04-08|title=Fast-Growing Independent Publishers, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Milliot |first1=Jim |last2=Kirch {{!}} |first2=Claire |title=Fast-Growing Independent Publishers, 2021 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/86175-fast-growing-independent-publishers-2021.html |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fast-Growing Independent Publishers, 2022 |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/89118-fast-growing-independent-publishers-2022.html |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Books and Games == Blue Star Press specializes in subjects such as creative how-to, arts & crafts, health & wellness, coloring, witty nonfiction, children's, and gift books. It publishes under two imprints: Blue Star Press and Paige Tate & Co.. It is also the parent company to Sasquatch Books, a book publisher based in the Pacific Northwest. Blue Star Press acquired Sasquatch Books and their children's imprint Little Bigfoot from Penguin Random House in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Milliot {{!}} |first=Jim |title=Blue Star Press Buys Sasquatch Books from PRH |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/industry-deals/article/95193-blue-star-press-buys-sasquatch-books-from-prh.html |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref>
Bestselling titles include ''Our Big Book of Words'' and ''Our Little Adventures'' by Tabitha Paige;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Little Adventures Book Set |url=https://foxhollowstudios.com/products/our-little-adventures-book-set |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Fox Hollow Studios |language=en}}</ref> ''Mom's Story'' and ''Dad's Story'' by Korie Herold;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beautifully Organized by Nikki Boyd: 9781944515683 {{!}} PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624302/beautifully-organized-by-nikki-boyd/9781944515683 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=PenguinRandomhouse.com |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Watercolor Workbook'' by Sarah Simon;<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-11 |title=Watercolour painting for beginners |url=https://www.prima.co.uk/craft/easy-craft-ideas/a40752659/watercolour-painting/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Prima |language=en-GB}}</ref> and ''Mocktail Party'' by Diana Licalzi and Kerry Benson.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Drinking for Two {{!}} The Sober Dietitians |url=https://thesoberdietitians.com/drinking-for-two |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=thesoberdietitians.com}}</ref> The company focuses heavily on building brands and series with many of its authors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Publishers Extend Key Franchises with Fun and Games |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/93102-publishers-extend-key-franchises-with-fun-and-games.html |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref>
The company also publishes games including Millennial Lotería, a modern take on the Mexican bingo game;<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-30 |title=This L.A.-Based Artist Says His 'Millennial Lotería' Series Represents Different Aspects of Latinidad |url=https://remezcla.com/culture/la-based-guatemalan-artist-mike-alfaro-millennial-loteria-series-latinidad/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Remezcla |language=en-US}}</ref> Tragos, a Latino party card game;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tragos Games Tragos Latino Party Card Game |url=https://www.target.com/p/tragos-games-tragos-latino-party-card-game/-/A-87877076 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=www.target.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and Get Loud, a competitive bilingual guessing game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tragos Games Get Loud Bilingual Game |url=https://www.target.com/p/tragos-games-get-loud-bilingual-game/-/A-87877073 |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=www.target.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2023 the Blue Star Press children's book ''You Stole My Name'', authored by Dennis McGregor, was named one of Kirkus Review's best indie books of the year.
In 2023, PubWest also recognized several Blue Star Press titles with Design Awards, including ''The Artist's Drawing Book'' (How-to/Crafts, Gold), ''Watercolor Workbook'' (How-to/Crafts, Bronze), and ''You Stole My Name'' (Children's Picture Book, Bronze). In 2024, Pubwest awarded Sasquatch Books titles ''Feasts of Good Fortune'' with bronze in the Cookbook Category and ''Field Notes From a Fungi Forager'' with Gold in specialty gifts. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://pubwest.org/Book-Design-2024 | title=Book Design Awards Winners }}</ref>
In 2025, ''The Sound of Seattle: 101 Songs that Shaped a City'' by Eva Walker and Jacob Uitti was nominated for the 2025 Association for Recorded Sound Collections Awards for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research.
Blue Star Press also produces custom products for brands including Whataburger,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-03 |title=Whataburger art contest comes through with flying colors |url=https://www.nrn.com/blog/whataburger-art-contest-comes-through-flying-colors |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Nation's Restaurant News |language=en}}</ref> Mosh and Canon.<ref>{{Cite press release |last=Inc |first=Canon U. S. A. |title=Canon U.S.A. Introduces Exclusive Printable Coloring Pages Designed By Johanna Basford, Blue Star Coloring And Design Originals |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/canon-usa-introduces-exclusive-printable-coloring-pages-designed-by-johanna-basford-blue-star-coloring-and-design-originals-300338821.html |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref>
Blue Star Press has been featured on The Today Show,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.today.com/shop/target-mothers-day-gifts-2025-rcna201600 | title=Score these stylish Mother's Day gifts in time for the holiday — a Staub kitchen deal, jewelry, more | date=7 May 2025 }}</ref> ABC News,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/video/manage-kids-anxiety-stress-start-school-year-113294333 | title=Video How to manage kids' anxiety and stress at the start of the school year | website=ABC News }}</ref> The New York Times<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/gifts/best-toys-gifts-for-8-year-olds/ | title=The 43 Best Gifts for 8-Year-Olds | work=The New York Times | date=4 December 2024 }}</ref> and USA Today<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2015/12/17/sa-based-start-up-blue-star-coloring-books-for-adults-featured-in-usa-today|title=SA-based Start-up Blue Star Coloring Books (for Adults) Featured in 'USA Today'|last=Reagan|first=Mark|website=San Antonio Current|access-date=2016-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2015/12/13/adult-coloring-books-stress/76916842/|title=Adult coloring books promise stress relief|website=USA TODAY|access-date=2016-06-16}}</ref> and worked with authors including NBC News Special Anchor Maria Shriver<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/health/alzheimer-s-disease-coloring-book-created-maria-shriver-t112805|title=Maria Shriver creates first coloring book for people with Alzheimer's|website=TODAY.com|date=20 June 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref> and Olympian Kara Goucher.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.endurancesportswire.com/kara-goucher-debuts-strong-a-runners-guide-to-increasing-confidence-and-becoming-the-best-version-of-you/|title=Kara Goucher Debuts Strong: A Runner's Guide to Increasing Confidence and Becoming the Best Version of You|date=2018-08-14|website=Endurance Sportswire|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref> The company currently works with around 45 independent artists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sanantoniomag.com/March-2016/Color-Me-A-Success/|title=Color Me A Success – San Antonio Magazine – March 2016 – San Antonio, TX|website=www.sanantoniomag.com|date=29 February 2016|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref>
== See also == * Coloring book
== References == <references />
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.bluestarpress.com/}} {{Authority control}} Category:Companies based in Bend, Oregon Category:Book publishing companies based in Oregon Category:Drawing Category:Painting Category:Publishing companies established in 2015 Category:American companies established in 2015 Category:2015 establishments in Oregon