Did You Know…

Those books have largely consisted of nonfiction works chronicling the state’s cultural and natural heritage, with a global reputation in military history, natural sciences, nautical archaeology and various other subjects. From archaeological expeditions in the Mexican jungle to stories of valor about Aggie Medal of Honor recipients, the press’s titles simultaneously deliver captivating narratives and serious works of scholarship. In a literary landscape that is as volatile as ever, with the “Big Five” publishing houses scrambling to find the next bestseller, university presses like Texas A&M’s take pride in publishing quality books about art, culture, science and history that commercial publishers may overlook.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the internet, e-books and other technological advancements had radically democratized publishing to the point of removing the need for such a press. After all, it wasn’t long ago that certain stories and ideas wouldn’t see the light of day unless their author could convince a publisher they were worth printing. With the rise of self-publishing making it easier to independently distribute books physically and digitally, what role do academic institutions like Texas A&M have left to play?

“What we provide is trust,” Dew stated. “Every book we publish is peer reviewed by scholars and subject matter experts. If it passes our rigorous editorial process, we publish it with the Block T logo on the spine. We want that to be a mark of quality and pride.” Employing 19 staff members passionate about publishing quality scholarship, the press’s nonprofit operations are funded by sales revenue, university support and generous donors who believe in the power of good books. Beyond academic legitimacy, the press offers authors enhanced creative collaboration and handles marketing and distribution, which often prove costly and complicated for independent authors.

While many university presses trace their roots back more than a century, Texas A&M’s was founded in 1974 at the direction of then-president Jack K. Williams. For two decades prior, he and other administrators had watched The University of Texas at Austin build a bustling press from the ground up under the leadership of director Frank Wardlaw. Considering a university press to be a crown jewel for a major research institution, Williams and longtime university partner John H. Lindsey ’44 lured Wardlaw to Aggieland, tasking him with doing it all over again in College Station.
 

Wardlaw enjoyed institutional support and the close partnership of philanthropic figures like Lindsey and Joe Hiram Moore ’38, but the sparse local creative scene forced him to call upon literary and artistic connections from Austin, as well as Texas A&M’s artist-in-residence, Edward “Buck” Schiwetz ’21, to develop the press’s first handful of titles and establish a foundation for the arts in Aggieland.

Today, the press publishes around 30 to 50 books annually, including retrospectives on artists like Schiwetz, who defined their respective regions and cultural movements. One such book, “Without Getting Killed or Caught: The Life and Music of Guy Clark,” tells the story of one of America’s most influential singer-songwriters through the meticulous research and personal experiences of its author, Tamara Saviano.

A Nashville music industry veteran who once served as Clark’s publicist, Saviano connected to the press through its partnership with Texas State University’s Center for Texas Music History. “I knew if I gave this book to a commercial press, it might’ve been out for a year before going out of print, never to be seen again,” she said. “With Texas A&M’s press, I knew it would be in good hands even after I’m gone.” She is writing a follow-up book for the press that will explore even more of her experiences with legendary musicians.

After its publication in 2016, Saviano’s biography of Guy Clark won the Belmont Book Award, a major prize presented annually by Belmont University for the best book about country music. It joins more than 500 other accolades bestowed on Texas A&M University Press books since its inception, including all major state book awards as well as numerous nationally prestigious awards. But beyond recognition, Dew and his team remain driven to publish and preserve information that matters.

“There is real value in a book,” he said. “Books, publishers, libraries—these are tangible storehouses of human knowledge.” Those details live on in the pages of the press’s many publications, found readily available wherever books are sold. Just look for the Block T on the spine.

Five Decades, Five Bestsellers