We were lucky to catch up with Terri Wright recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Terri, thanks for joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

I have been involved in all aspects of book production from concept through completion throughout my publishing career. I also understand the importance of nurturing ideas and taking the necessary time and steps to grow a book to its best potential. To survive in an environment that revolves around schedules and meeting deadlines on a constant basis, I have found that a regular meditation practice has helped me keep focus and balance, often among very stressful circumstances.

Being a meditator, I have also travelled to India. It was an experience from my trip to India, combined with my intricate knowledge of book production, that became the vision for my book producing company, and it’s name, Book Lotus Productions.

I had brought gifts for a rural school in a very poor Indian community serving deaf and blind children. However, the only way to get there was on the back of a motor bike driven by a young man through the countryside over dirt roads for nearly an hour to the middle of nowhere– and I didn’t speak the language. With hesitancy, and a leap of faith, I decided to take a risk and see where this adventure led. During the next hour, I rode through remote communities of people surviving without modern conveniences, but living seemingly happy, simple lives. Amidst the poverty, we rode for miles alongside muddy lotus ponds with giant floating leaves and stems rising above the surface revealing magnificent red lotus flowers. The juxtaposition of hardship and beauty told a story of its own. When we arrived at the school, the sheer gratitude of a dozen special-needs children clamoring and bowing at my feet brought me to tears. I’ve never forgotten that day.

The highest goal of meditation is enlightenment which became the root of my mission statement with Book Lotus Productions:
To promote the growth of the human spirit by creating high-quality books with authentic voices that connect us, change us, and carry us toward a sustainable future.

And the 1000-petal lotus of the crown chakra keeps my vision alive. That is:
To tell the stories of 1,000 voices through books and media that connect hearts and minds together, and help shape a more enlightened future.

That unexpected journey along miles of lotus ponds in India planted a seed of inspiration that took more than a decade to blossom.

For me, a lotus seed is like the inspiration or creative concept behind a book.
And the red lotus flower represents heart, passion, and generosity.

Like a lotus seed buried beneath a muddy pond, creative ideas are hidden until a catalyst starts the growth process. That catalyst is Book Lotus Productions.

Bringing the essence of the lotus flower to my work, all projects are infused with heart: I love what I do. Every project is treated with passion for its best potential. And with every project I give back by recommending sustainable solutions for production, printing, and manufacturing.

At Book Lotus Productions, years of experience, insight, and know-how go into recognizing exceptional ideas and nurturing their development into fine publications. I knew when I started my company that all of my publishing experience, a visionary outlook, and the desire to help people tell their stories was a winning combination. Being accepted into the NYC-based, American Book Producers Association, also gave me the validation I needed to stand strong among the best.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was fortunate to start my early career in publishing working with a team of young entrepreneurs who had the means to bring together the best of talent in design, editorial, and production. This bustling, creative environment saw no limits, save the goal of achieving the best possible magazines. Yet, a few years later, I sought to move on to a local Press that published the works of contemporary writers, including the legendary Henry Miller (during the last few years of his life), and eclectic authors from within the Santa Barbara literary community. Here, literary works were often printed by letterpress in the downstairs print shop where I learned the fine art of bookmaking and creating “l’art pour l’art. Again, creativity grew out of a love for the craft of writing and the possibilities of building fine publications and nurturing author relationships. My third stint in publishing grew with another local company that hired me to build their design and production department–a position that lasted for another decade. Here I learned the nuts and bolts of growing and managing a production department, and had a stake in research and development of the corporate publishing program. These early experiences helped build the foundation that would eventually give me the confidence to launch my own creative services business after my son was born. I had learned every aspect of running a publishing business for someone else. So the question naturally arose: Why can’t I do this for myself? So I stepped out with my design portfolio in hand to publishers in the San Francisco Bay area when I was 6 months pregnant. I had written 10 query letters, received 6 interviews, and acquired 4 clients that kept me busy for nearly thirty years. While I have always worked for top-level publishing companies, side gigs for independent authors also filled my plate. When the industry began to change with the advent of desktop-publishing, I found myself gravitating toward custom, individual publishing, and consultation services. So while I’ve been self-employed since 1990, my company has become more refined.

In 2022, I rebranded as Book Lotus Productions, LLC, a creative services company where I am the Owner/Creative Director, Book Producer, Designer, and Consultant. My current focus is high-quality assisted self-publishing, custom corporate and nonprofit publishing, advertising production, and coffee-table photography books. On occasion, I also bridge the gap between authors and publishers acting as a literary agent.

Book Lotus Productions designs and produces high-quality books, eBooks, publications, and innovative media. We develop and grow ideas, build content, and create and deliver outstandingly beautiful, award-winning products. Collaborating with authors, publishers, organizations, institutions, and corporate clients, we bring unique, untold stories to life.

Our tagline is Collaborative Publishing Ventures, and this is particularly significant because I value teamwork and have a large network of freelancers who can perform all aspects of publishing services from writing and editorial to illustration, photography, page layout, digital solutions, and print manufacturing. We provide creative services from concept to completion, or any part in-between to produce fine quality book productions. Beyond the printed book we produce collateral media, and can build book websites, video trailers, and help authors develop marketing relationships with publicity partners.

We treat every project, whether big or small, with the same care and quality. We are also keenly aware of how publishing affects the environment, and are dedicated to fostering sustainability in publishing. We always recommend sustainable options to clients, and are strong supporters of the Green Book Alliance.

The story behind my logo stems from the lotus flower–often called the Flower of Life because of its association with the cycles of life.

Just as a lotus flower emerges from muddy waters and blooms in daylight, Book Lotus Productions will work closely with clients throughout the process to grow their ideas and bring the final product to light. Every book or proposal is developed to its highest potential through collaboration with our network of industry professionals.

Book Lotus Productions manages every step in the production process—writing, editing, design, illustration, layout, and printing—resulting in a beautiful product with a strong message.

At Book Lotus Productions, we bring stories to life. And we love asking our clients: what story can we help you tell?

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

That I can produce every project using the highest quality materials, within budget, and meet the publication deadlines.

I learned early on that it is not always possible to have a perfectly balanced triad of synchronicity on every project. Inevitably, one of the three: quality, schedule, or costs is at risk. It was the VP of the publishing company I worked for as a Production Manager that taught me to ask a difficult question at every turn: Is this adequate? With a staff of nine creatives (who always wanted the best), and at it’s peak producing over 50 books, 12 quarterly journals, and hundreds of marketing pieces, something had to give.

This lesson has proved an invaluable tool throughout my career, and now, with my own company, it’s even more important to be able to balance the triad with creative solutions, compromising when necessary, while maintaining the quality standards I strive for.

Have you ever had to pivot?

As a freelancer, I felt my business was solid with a thirty-year stint as one of the top design vendors in the college educational publishing market of the San Francisco Bay and Boston arenas. I had prioritized my clients and given most of my resources to one firm, and spread myself between both coasts. Due to changes in technology and outsourcing to international companies, printed books gave way to growing digital platforms, and my luck changed. I literally fell to the bottom in one night. My largest client had gone bankrupt and I was left with extensive overdue receivables, no avenue to recoup the damages, and no work on the horizon.

The biggest lesson I learned as a business owner with this event was “not to put all your eggs in one basket” and to never loose sight of the community you live in. I had lost touch with the riches and resources of my own community. I had lost touch with the heart of Santa Barbara where my creative career began. Not knowing what the future held, it was my husband and son who encouraged me to rebrand and finally take the leap to start the business I’d always dreamed of.

Today, with Book Lotus Productions, I find myself surrounded again by the energy of a creative community where the magic of ideas continues to grow with possibilities. I have found that community networking is at the heart of success where people share their passions, talents, and goals together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://booklotus.com
• Instagram: @booklotusproductions
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terriwright1/
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits

Personal portrait by Jensen Sutta. Permission to reproduce books and covers granted by agreement with authors. © Book Lotus Productions, LLC.