By Lisa Woodward
April 2, 2025
CONROE, TEXAS — In the shadow of publishing giants, a small independent press born from one author’s frustration with traditional publishing is not just surviving but thriving, even after the passing of its visionary founder.
Defiance Press & Publishing, tucked away in Conroe, Texas, is living up to its name in more ways than one. Following the death of founder and CEO David Thomas Roberts in 2024, the company faced an uncertain future. Today, it stands as a testament to resilience and innovation in an industry traditionally dominated by coastal publishing houses.
A Vision Born from Frustration
Roberts, an author himself, founded Defiance Press after his own disillusioning experience with traditional publishing. His first book, “Patriots of Treason,” despite strong sales, faced challenges in the marketplace that Roberts attributed to its conservative perspective.
“My title was deemed ‘too conservative’ to expose at a public university by my own publisher, despite being one of their bestsellers!” Roberts wrote in a company statement before his passing.
That experience prompted Roberts to create a publishing house specifically welcoming to conservative and libertarian voices — authors who often felt marginalized by mainstream publishing.
A Family Legacy Continues
When Roberts passed away in 2024, many industry insiders questioned whether the niche publisher could survive without its founder. Enter Travis Roberts, who stepped up to continue his father’s legacy as CEO, bringing fresh energy while honoring the company’s founding principles.
“My father built this company to give voice to authors who weren’t being served by traditional publishing,” Travis Roberts explained in a recent interview. “Our mission hasn’t changed, but our capabilities have expanded dramatically.”
The younger Roberts made a pivotal decision early in his tenure, appointing industry veteran Lisa Woodward as Publishing Director. With 18 years of experience in the publishing world, Woodward, a former Texan now working remotely from Woodruff, South Carolina, has spearheaded a complete transformation of the company’s operations.
Revolutionary Approach to Author Support
What sets Defiance Press apart in today’s crowded publishing landscape isn’t just its political openness but its revolutionary approach to marketing and author support.
“Traditional publishers expect authors to market themselves, while self-publishing services and vanity presses often take authors’ money and provide little real support,” Woodward explains. “We’re doing something completely different.”
Under Woodward’s leadership, Defiance Press has introduced an industry-first: a comprehensive 2-week author platform training program offered free not only to Defiance authors but to the general public. This program helps writers build their online presence and marketing strategy from the ground up.
Additionally, every Defiance author receives something virtually unheard of in the industry: detailed, customized marketing plans and strategies tailored to their specific book and genre.
“We don’t just publish books; we build author careers,” says Woodward. “Whether it’s a children’s picture book or political analysis, we create marketing assets, platform-specific strategies, and step-by-step implementation guides that authors simply don’t get elsewhere.”
Quality and Community
The revamped Defiance Press has implemented rigorous quality control standards, ensuring professional editing, design, and production across all titles. But perhaps more importantly, they’ve cultivated a sense of community among their authors.
“Many of our new authors come to us through recommendations from existing Defiance writers,” notes Travis Roberts. “That’s one of the highest compliments we could receive.”
Roman Rozell, a former US Army Green Beret and author of “A Dose of Inspiration: Warrior Handbook,” is among those singing Defiance’s praises. His marketing campaign included precisely timed content releases, platform-specific strategies, and community-building support — all included in the standard publishing package.
Looking Forward
As traditional publishing continues to consolidate and self-publishing options proliferate, Defiance Press has carved out a unique position in the market. By combining professional publishing services with genuine marketing expertise and support, they’re building a model that serves authors in ways the industry giants often don’t.
“At Defiance Press, our commitment to our authors is one of integrity, transparency, communication and partnership,” wrote the elder Roberts in what has become the company’s guiding philosophy. “To our readers, we offer high-quality, thought-provoking titles from an ever-growing outstanding family of authors.”
It’s a vision that, thanks to determined leadership and innovative strategies, continues to defy expectations in the publishing world.
For more information about Defiance Press & Publishing, visit their website www.Defiancepress.com.
