Who we are
Sandy Smith - Editorial Director
With over thirty years of experience as an editor and author, Sandy has helped shape stories for some of the world’s most respected publishers, including Macmillan, Bloomsbury USA, Wiley, Simon and Schuster, and Penguin Random House as well as scores of indie authors. She brings a lifelong love of literature, a deep understanding of story, and a keen editorial eye to every project.
At Big Bear Press, Sandy leads the editorial process from acquisition through publication, working alongside Jimmy to identify the right voices for the press. Her editorial intention is to develop manuscripts into the best expression of those voices.
Big Bear Press was founded on the combined strengths of Sandy’s love of writing and her deep history in the publishing industry and Jimmy’s passion for business. Together, they are building a press that supports writers who create meaningful, well-crafted work. The focus is on good writing first: well-developed characters, strong prose, and fantastic storytelling.
Our mission is simple: to publish excellent stories that not only entertain but also uplift, challenge, and endure. We want to honor our authors and our readers by celebrating human imagination and prioritizing craftsmanship.
Jimmy Gabany - Publisher
Jimmy has spent twenty-five years in operations leadership, most of it building functions that did not exist before he arrived. He negotiates and manages vendor contracts for a global product organization, and he has run his own businesses since 2009. He co-founded the Ursa Major Group with Sandy, of which Big Bear Press is a key part.
Jimmy grew up on a steady diet of science fiction and fantasy and has never stopped consuming it. Tolkien and Herbert came first, and he has been adding to the shelf ever since. His lifelong passion for sci-fi and fantasy translates into his enthusiasm for reading every submission Big Bear Press receives.
At Big Bear Press, he runs acquisitions, contracts, and the business side so Sandy can focus on the editorial work. Jimmy handles author agreements and compensation.
Our Ethos and Aesthetic
Our first title will be released in Fall 2026, marking the beginning of Big Bear’s publishing journey.
What We Publish:
Big Bear Press features long-form and anthologized speculative fiction: i.e., science fiction, fantasy, isekai, gamelit, litRPG, et al. Although elements of mystery, crime, romance, and horror are welcome in our books, we do not publish stories where these genres predominate.
We publish work that celebrates human creativity, evidences attention to craftsmanship, and gives something of value to readers in exchange for their time and money. We desire our books to be fun to read, memorable, thought-provoking, and, at their core, reflective of a moral worldview.
Some of our books may contain occasional foul language or mature themes. Please see the Content and Character section below. We do not publish children’s books at this time.
AI Statement:
We do NOT publish work that uses AI in any capacity. Every work we publish must be the author’s original effort, created without the use of AI to plan, generate, edit, or otherwise manipulate text. Please do not use AI to write your query, cover letter, pitch, or bio, either. Your authentic human voice is much more valuable to us than an over-polished robot voice.
Please note: If you are offered a publication contract with us, you will be required to provide a signature certifying that you have not used AI.
Editing and Promotion:
We are a traditional press. As such, every work we publish receives professional editing and proofreading at no cost to the author. Authors have the opportunity to review edits.
Your job is to write; ours is to produce the best possible version of your work. To this end, we strive to be collaborative, working closely with our authors. This is true of both editing and promotion. You can expect us to be accessible and enthusiastic partners.
Be assured that our editorial practice is to preserve your unique voice while making the reader experience as smooth and inviting as possible.
Big Bear Press promotes and markets our books diligently, and we ask our authors to participate actively in the promotion of their work. What this looks like is different for every author—we want you to feel comfortable promoting your work, so you may choose the avenues that feel most natural and enjoyable. Some options: social media, newsletters, blog posts, signings, etc.
Compensation:
Payment is unique to each project. It may take the form of royalties (books), an advance plus royalties (books), or a flat fee (anthologized works). Some projects may be eligible for a bonus structure. Contracts are negotiated and signed before production begins.
Content and Character:
We champion writers of faith who write honestly about the human condition. Such work may include aspects of the human condition that are par for the course of living in a world subject to corruption, including occasional depictions of sexual and violent behavior and foul language. We do not publish work that glorifies depravity or presents it as something that lacks consequence: “Moral literature does not avoid evil as a subject, but it finds ways to discredit it” (Leland Ryken, Windows to the World, p. 164).
In short, we think “[L]iterature can embody a moral viewpoint by negative example, that is, by exposing the evil of the immoral behavior that is present. Moral literature not only presents exemplary characters but also realistically portrays evil and depravity” (Leland Ryken, Windows to the World, p. 160). Speaking about Flannery O’Connor, James F. Farnham sums this up nicely: “She reflects the beauty of virtue by showing the ugliness of its absence.”
Depiction of such things as sex and violence should occur only in the service of the story, whether accomplishing authentic characterization or plot integrity, and never just for the sake of titillation.
We’re suckers for a transgressive protagonist with a redemptive arc. Show us “the action of grace in territory held largely by the devil” (Flannery O’Connor, Mystery and Manners).
That said, please note that there is a line we do not cross. Big Bear Press does not publish work that graphically depicts depraved acts, including, but not limited to: incest, rape, pedophilia, bestiality, necrophilia, animal torture, blasphemy.
Submissions:
Please see our Submissions page for submission guidelines and calls for submissions. We read everything we receive. Though we cannot provide feedback on projects we decline, every submission receives a reply.
Contact Us:
Please see our Contact page for our contact form.