At WorkingLit, we’re invested in mutually supporting independent presses so we can all succeed. One of our dear publisher accounts, Blue Cactus Press, has been on board as WorkingLit has grown. We asked Chris Vega, founder: Why indie publishing? Why WorkingLit?
WorkingLit: Tell us the story of your press!
Chris Vega: Blue Cactus Press is about nine years old, and our catalog consists of about 25 books (I can’t believe that as I type it!). In the past, we had 3 or 4 employees, but now, administratively, I run the press alone. That being said, I work with a pool of about 15 editors, designers, consultants, and printers to make our books. We make about 4 books and 2 zines each year.
WL: A question near and dear to our hearts at WorkingLit: Why start your own press/stay independent?
CV: I started my own press because I didn’t want to go through the slog of the traditional publishing process, which can take years, hundreds of submissions, and hella resources. I knew I’d rather devote my energy to making the damn thing, to turning a manuscript into a book and just giving it a go. So I did! I love bringing ideas out into the world with the right group of people. It’s so satisfying!
I stay independent because I enjoy my autonomy and freedom as a body on this earth. And I love bringing exactly the right people onto a project, thinking about who could also benefit from being on a project or whose artistic or professional expertise could elevate a work beyond its current manifestation. Also, I am a single parent, so I need a high level of flexibility in my worklife to accommodate my kiddo’s needs.
WL: How do you distribute your books?
CV: I distribute directly to bookstores for B2B transactions either via email, or in-person. I love reaching out to bookstores while travelling or bopping around town. Face-to-face interactions really fill my cup! Otherwise we’re all a bunch of book nerds hanging out alone, staring at computer screens (boring!).
I also distribute directly to customers at IRL markets, book fairs, and festivals. I love tabling at outdoor events literary festivals in my region.
WL: When did you first hear about WorkingLit?
CV: I heard about Working Lit from Joe and Elly, probably at PNBA 🙂 about 4 years ago.
WL: …And what were some sticking points for your press that WorkingLit has fixed?
CV: Manual entering of book sales data and calculating royalties in excel! The margin for error in doing those two tasks was high, and I had to set up my own formulas for tracking sales over time. It was time-consuming and inaccurate. And, then I still had to email authors royalty data. Now, working lit does handles two of those tasks, and makes the third incredibly easy. Slam dunk.
WL: Let’s get into the nitty gritty. Can you talk about how you use a specific feature of WorkingLit’s, such as Products or Royalties? How have these features cut down on the time you would otherwise spend on these systems manually?
CV: I’ve started leaning more and more on the Royalties feature because each of our book royalty agreements is specific to the author, how long they’ve been with the press, whether their books have paid out in the past, how many products they’ve debuted with us, and the particular financial agreement made for a product. Since using Working Lit, I’ve been able to completely walk away from Microsoft Excel as a means of compiling data, tracking book sales, and calculating royalties.
WL: What’s up next for your press? Any big news to share or books you’re looking forward to?
CV: We’re making our first children’s picture book next year, and our first bilingual poetry collection in Farsi/English next year! I am so excited because both of these projects will stretch my skillset and will expand (and fill editorial gaps within) our catalog at the press.
WL: Lastly, let’s complete the circle of independent literary spaces. Give a shout out to your favorite independent bookstore!
CV: King’s Bookstore in Tacoma, WA
Waucoma Books in Hood River, OR
Chris Vega (they/them) is the founder and publisher at Blue Cactus Press, where they make books that spark dialogue about liberation alongside authors, artists, and entrepreneurs from historically marginalized groups. Chris is also a two-spirit Chicana poet from the U.S./Mexico borderlands. Currently, they live on Puyallup and Nisqually land with their daughter, Catalina.
Through their publishing practice, Chris hopes to stimulate local creative economy, build wealth among People of Color, and tell stories that allow people to reimagine themselves and the world around them. Chris’ latest poetry collection, Decay, was co-written and co-published with Conner Bouchard-Roberts of Winter Texts and Blue Cactus Press in 2025. Chris’ previous books include the poetry collections Vega and Maps (2023 and 2017, Blue Cactus Press).
Prior to publishing, Chris served in the U.S. Army as a Chinese-Mandarin Linguist. They hold undergraduate degrees in Anthropology (New Mexico State University, 2010) and Chinese Mandarin Language (Defense Language Institute, 2012). They will graduate from Seattle University’s Master of Business Administration program in December 2025.
Chris believes revolution starts at home.
Blue Cactus Press is a grassroots publishing house crafting books that serve as community resources, by collaborators from historically marginalized groups. We create books that encourage community conversations and move us toward liberation.
Find Blue Cactus Press online at www.bluecactuspress.com or on Facebook and Instagram at @Bluecactuspress.