Introducing Shiny Happy People. . .

By Sara Thompto & Kristin Bivens

Mission Statement

Passionate about each person's individual process for crafting and creating unique works of art, Shiny Happy People Publishing brings to the public books, stationery, and gifts. Our products are recognizable for their edgy and vibrant appearance, the content recognizable for its diversity, openness to life, and inherent depth, and the overall experience of Shiny Happy People Publishing recognizable by its high quality, both of product and presentation.

Sara "Tiptoe" Thompto
Bivie and I met in college; both journalism majors, both trying to work our way toward a career in a creative environment where we could write and express ourselves. At the time, our passion was print journalism, which isn’t a booming market. And, when you go to school for a dying industry a person can become easily jaded. Luckily, I’m not someone who easily gives up on my goals; when I feel as if I am losing a battle, I only fight harder. In the end I came to a conclusion: instead of making my goals smaller, I needed to make them larger. 

The good thing about Bivie and I is we are soulmates in friendship and tend to experience similar creative needs. In my mind, this is where the spark for something greater came from, something where we could put forth our ideas and maybe even help others get their art and passion out for others to see. 

Shiny Happy People Publishing isn’t only for the writers like Bivie and myself, it’s for the designers, the artists, and the innovators. It’s for the people who work hard and pour themselves into a creation, and know it must be out there for others to see and experience. 

Bivie and I are passionate people. We feel everything one hundred percent and we wouldn’t want it any other way. We’re strong, we have our opinions, we believe in quality, we believe in hard work. It’s my simple hope to not only have people come to us who believe in those values, but who can also add to the brand and share in on the experience. 

Tiptoe outside her apartment in Sacramento, CA

Kristin "Bivie" Bivens 

When I started writing my book, I didn’t really give much thought to where I’d actually get it published. I never thought about who would want to publish it, or if it would even be good enough to be published. 

These are all things a writer, at least a writer like me, doesn’t think about. Or, that’s at least the type of writer I want to see contact Shiny Happy People Publishing, the kind of writer who writes because it is simply what they do. The end result is beyond their thought process. Because it has to be written, regardless of if anyone ever reads it.

Tiptoe and I are the type of people that appreciate good writing, we believe writing is art and we believe in the process and the journey and the goodness of art. We believe strongly in following one’s dreams, which is the only reason why we’re here, starting Shiny Happy People Publishing. We believe in ourselves, in our abilities and we want other artists to feel the same way. We want to have an outlet for people to give their art and writing to the world.

Tiptoe and I are pretty edgy, so we want art that pushes boundaries, makes you laugh, creates emotion. There will be no cheap pornos in SHPP’s catalog. I want the troubled ones, I want the ones who have taken years to write a book but finally finished it, I want the exciting, positive, fun people. I want a sense of humour. I want honesty. These are the kind of artists this world needs. Here at SHPP, we want to help the world fill that need.

Bivie, drinking a beer in Madison, WI.

What’s Coming Next

Shiny Happy People Publishing will be posting blogs every first and third Wednesday as part of a series. Each series will last two months for a total of four posts per topic. Our first series is on e-books versus printed books, and will have four blogs ranging on topics from opinions, to what e-readers are most worth your money. 

Check back between “series” posts to read more on the world of publishing, and more information about what’s coming next with Shiny Happy People Publishing!

Together we make Shiny Happy People.