In this episode of Behind the Publisher’s Desk, Colin Mustful shares a wide-ranging update from a particularly busy season at History Through Fiction and HTF Publishing. He talks about upcoming book festivals and the practical realities of exhibiting—from travel, inventory, and outdoor weather protection to liability insurance—and reflects on what it means to keep showing up for readers while managing the costs of independent publishing.
Colin also gives an inside look at the systems being built to support the press as it grows. He discusses the work of three volunteer readers who help with acquisitions, the arrival of a new intern and an operations manager, the short story contest’s longlist, and preparations for the Historical Fiction Virtual Book Festival, which has already attracted around 200 registrants. He also reflects on a community education class that had to be cancelled because of low enrollment, plans to repurpose that curriculum, and an upcoming book-marketing workshop where he will share lessons from both successful and unsuccessful investments.
Along the way, Colin talks about using writing sprints in The Working Writer to make progress on his own novel, a more complicated-than-expected audiobook production, and the many books moving through the publishing pipeline—including Exalted Objects, Circus of the Vanishing Elephant, All Different Kinds of Free, The Death of Driftwood, Captain M, Operation Okapi, and Not Ours to Keep. He closes with updates on the 2027 Santa Fe writing retreat and the early planning for the 2028 History Through Fiction Conference. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to build an independent press while balancing growth, sustainability, creative work, and community, this episode offers an honest look at the many moving parts behind the scenes.
