Meet Owner Erwin T. Hurst, Sr.

Q: What was your inspiration behind starting KeiterBennett Publishers?
A: KBP was started after I was offered a book deal and I saw the numbers associated with signing to a large publishing company. I didn't like the idea of doing all the work and seeing such a small percentage of the profit. After that it was an easy decision to launch my own independent company, where the success or failure solely rested with the decisions I made. 

Q: What was the first book every published under the company name?
A: Slicker Than Most was the first book ever published under the company name. It was initially published in 2014 and is no longer for sale. Recently, the team has had discussions about republishing the title with an updated cover and a more developed storyline. Slicker Than Most was the first book in a trilogy, and I think now that we know a little bit more about what we want to publish, it makes perfect sense to re-release the book and finish out the trilogy.

Q: What do you hope readers gain from purchasing books published by your company?
A: I hope they understand that buying local allows small businesses like ours to grow. But I truly just want them to gain the understanding that our company is meant to entertain. We only publish books that entertain. There are plenty of companies that publish books to educate. While you may learn something from one of our books. Our first goal is to entertain, and we hope that is what each and every customer gains when they buy from us. 

Q: If you hadn't started a publishing company, what kind of business would you be running?
A: I love being creative, so if it wasn't books, it would have been something in television or films (which we are launching in the future).

Q: Who or what other company has been a major influence on your publishing company?
A: I have several companies (major and independent) that I use as a blueprint to build out what we want to do. I'm a fan of studying what has been done by the greats and using the pieces that we can adjust and adapt to fit what our goals are.

Q: What do you find most appealing about being an author-owned publishing company?
A: It allows me the freedom to publish the kind of books that I wish I could have read as a child growing up. It also allows me to experiment and take chances with titles that people didn't know they needed until we publish them.