Huqua Press
www.huquapress.com
Founded in 2010 by former L.A Weekly publisher and community newspaper owner/editor, Judith A. Proffer (M17 Vice Chair), Huqua Press (HP) is a white glove publishing house to foster talent and creativity while making a meaningful difference in the process. It develops titles that ignite and nurture the senses, feed the mind and nourish the soul. The company strives to create a home for writers who dream of impacting the world with their thoughts and prose, striking a compelling balance of information and inspiration. Huqua publications Illuminate, Inspire, Inform, Engage and Entertain.
HP features a diverse catalogue that includes culinary, juvenile, fiction and popular culture titles. Proffer seeks authors and works that uplift, inspire, inform and engage.
Judith’s twenty-five year newspaper career includes nearly two decades in the alternative press (where she was publisher of LA Weekly) followed by co-ownership of the Sun Community Newspaper chain in Southern California. While at the LA Weekly, she spearheaded the LA Weekly book imprint with St. Martin’s Press, sweetening her already growing interest in a new publishing paradigm. She followed that formidable chapter of her career with her co-ownership of the Sun Community Newspaper chain in the San Fernando Valley.
In 2015, Huqua Press released the first in a series of books by legacy and contemporary music recording artists – artfully illustrated editions for all ages bringing seminal lyrics to life. The debut title in the series was Dog and Butterfly by Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart). This title is an illustrated children's book along with a new, acoustic recording of this timeless hit. Huqua has 3x Grammy winner, Brandi Carlile's Caroline. (with a dedication from Elton John) going to mass market late 2021. Huqua Press’ sister company, Padaro Press, has partnered with Backbeat Kids, the musician’s children book division of Rowman & Littlefield/Globe Pequot (https://rowman.com/) to release Our House to the world on March 2, 2021.
Featured titles in the Huqua Press portfolio include Caroline by Brandi Carlie, Dog & Butterfly by Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart), The Wit and Wisdom of Gracie by Patti Davis, Our House by Graham Nash, The Lotus Kitchen by Gwen Kenneally and Places by Thaao Penghlis. She is the editor of I Hope You Dance, The Power of Spirit and Song (and co-produced the I Hope You Dance documentary), Judith Proffer co-authored When We Stayed Home (a covid-19 survival book for children).
Proffer was honored by the Los Angeles Business Journal and the San Fernando Valley Business Journal as one of the leading “Women Who Make A Difference” in Southern California. Additionally, she was honored by Friends of the Family for her family centric community work. Judith has taught writing workshops to children, adults and incarcerated at-risk youths. She teamed with Hollywood Caterer Gwen Kenneally to establish Magpie Mini Pies, an artisanal petite pie company with proceeds benefiting local non-profits.
In 2021, HP is launching The Word Garden, a non-profit writing resource for non-writers authored by Judith.
With each project, Huqua Press (HP) assembles a creative team best suited to realize the spirit of the book. HP has a talented hive of artists, designers, copyeditors, proofreaders, filmmakers (for book trailers), publicists and even an outreach coordinator, whom we enlist to take a thought - or a finished manuscript - and deliver a shiny new book (well, sometimes it's a matte cover) into the hands of the reader.
The Huqua Press company mantra is "Small Press/Big Ideas".
