Filter Press, LLC

01/24/2025

If you haven't discovered Rocky Mountain Reader, maybe it's time. The site reviews Colorado authors' new books and reports on all things literary within the state. The most recent issue features an interview with Filter Press Publisher Julie VanLaanen by veteran Colorado Springs journalists Linda Duval.

Welcome to Rocky Mountain Reader! We’re here because we value books and authors and the freedom to exchange ideas and explore new worlds through reading. We’re here to highlight the vast and varied landscape of literary arts in our home state of Colorado.

11/20/2024

Meet Colorado Book Award winner J. v. L. Bell at Covered Treasures Bookstore in Monument, Colorado, this Saturday, November 23. She'll sign Women of the Colorado Gold Rush Era from 1:00 to 3:00. Just so happens that J. v. L. Bell is also owner/ publisher at Filter Press, LLC, a publishing company that had its beginnings in 1956 in Palmer Lake.

10/23/2024

Friends--
If you haven’t discovered Rocky Mountain Reader, it is a wonderful source of reviews and information about Colorado authors and books. We’re huge fans and were delighted with the review of Colorado Women of the Gold Rush Era. Read the review by Shannon Lawrence here https://rockymountainreader.org/category/book-reviews/page/2/. Thanks, RMR!

06/27/2024

Colorado Book Awards June 15, 2024, and the winner in the history category is WOMEN OF THE COLORADO GOLD RUSH ERA by J.v.L. Bell and Jan Gunia!
What an honor. Congratulations to Julie and Jan. Well deserved!

04/04/2024

Filter Press is pleased to announce the release of The Bonedigger’s Daughter by Sheryl Peterson, a delightful children’s book based on the life of Sadie F***h.

In the late 1800s, Sadie and her father discovered and excavated dinosaur bones near Cañon City, Colorado, discovering the first nearly complete Stegosaurus skeleton. Their discoveries changed our understanding of dinosaurs and embroiled them in the dinosaur bone wars.

The book combines Colorado history and Natural History and can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Come meet author Sheryl Peterson at her book release events:
• April 20th Noon – 3 pm at Covered Treasures Bookstore, Monument
• April 21st 11 am – 3 pm at the Denver Children’s Museum
• April 26th 5:30 pm at The Tattered Cover, Aspen Grove location
• April 27th Noon – 2 pm at the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience, Cañon City

Unable to make one of these events? The book can be purchased from Filter Press (get 10% off your order by using the discount code Dino), purchased from your local bookstore, or ordered online.

ISBN: 978-0-86541-261-3 (paperback) $14.95
ISBN: 978-0-86541-262-0 (hardcover) $24.95

02/01/2024

In her January 28 Regional Books column in the Denver Post, Colorado’s favorite author Sandra Dallas spotlighted our latest release, WOMEN OF THE COLORADO GOLD RUSH ERA by J.v.L. Bell and Jan Gunia.
It’s always a kick to see a FP book reviewed, but when Sandra Dallas respects a work, it’s special. We’re grateful.
And, oh yes! The book is available by request at your local bookstore or from online book sellers.

01/16/2024

These two beautiful creatures stopped by to visit publisher Julie VanLannen at the world headquarters of Filter Press in Westcliffe, Colorado. Bobcat sightings are not unusual in the area, but they seldom come this close to a home. They must know that Julie has a soft spot for wild creatures.

12/18/2023

Filter Press Publisher Julie VanLannen visited Denver Museum of Nature and Science with a copy of BONEDIGGER’s DAUGHTER: Sarah (Sadie) Ellen F***h to compare the cover image to the actual display in the Museum. From Julie’s smile it’s easy to conclude that the cover photo does justice to the display.
Sarah F***h had a lot to do with the beginnings of dinosaur bone collecting. Her father, Marshall F***h, collected bones for paleontologists in the East. Sadie was his ‘right hand girl:’ cleaning, sorting, labeling, packing bones, and finding dinosaur fossils on her own. The two discovered the first complete Stegosaurus skeleton.
BONEDIGGER’s DAUGHTER will be released from Filter Press in April 2024.

11/20/2023

The Filter Press family of writers and readers notes the passing of Mary Peace Finley (1938 – 2023). Mary was author of several titles in the Filter Press catalog and winner of numerous literary awards, including Colorado Humanities’ Colorado Book Award. Her books appeared in many lists of recommended books for children and were widely reviewed. Mary is best known for her Santa Fe Trail Trilogy for upper elementary and middle school students. She knew the Santa Fe Trail well having grown up in Fowler, Colorado. Her life began on the Plains and some of her heart remained there throughout her life. In a 2019 essay, she wrote, “The dust of Colorado prairies runs in my veins. Through words, it reshapes into a landscape of roiling black dust clouds, parched petroglyphs, pictographs, and wind-polished pottery shards, . . . Prairie dust evokes its own tight-lipped humor, its own stifled speech, its own context, content, and becomes itself a major character in my writing.”
Mary was mother to three adopted children, who became her own upon her marriage to Rev. Wallace Finley in 1968. She was a full partner in Wally’s varied ministries. They were married 51 years before Wally’s death in 2019.
Mary enjoyed fishing in mountain streams, camping in a small RV with Wally, many trips to Mexico and Hawaii, wandering trails looking for minerals, and playing Native American flute, which she did beautifully without any formal instruction. She lived a life full to the brim and is sorely missed by her many friends in the book world.

06/09/2022

Two events for the price of one! Actually they are both free. See you in Palmer Lake, Details follow.

Flyer for the June 16 program.

10/26/2021

Great to see John Stansfield out and presenting his wonderful programs again! Learned so much about Stephen H. Long.

10/19/2021

Sarah Byrn Rickman is amazing!

Winnie the Pooh never flew a twin-engine B-26 or C-60 transport plane in World War II.

10/07/2021

Meet Henry, the star of HENRY'S DENVER PALACE, this Saturday, October 9, 1:00-3:00 at Hooked on Books, 12 E. Bijou St, Colorado Springs. He'll be 'signing' copies of this charming new book by Debra Faulkner. It's all about the fabulous Brown Palace Hotel. Henry's bringing along his pal Sean Frech and the book's photographer Christina Cookson. Henry's personal note, "Smell you there!"

09/20/2021

Henry is the most frequent four-legged guest at Denver's Brown Palace Hotel and Spa. The book he inspired is 'hot off the press.'

09/20/2021

Henry's Denver Palace is now available. Two-year-old Labrador, Henry, narrates the children's history of Brown Palace Hotel. Project started in March 2020 and was slowed to a halt during You Know What. Now in print and fabulous. So good to work with author Debra Faulkner again. Photo is from Saturday's launch, Brown Palace Hotel & Spa.

03/09/2021

Happy International Women’s Day!! Today (and everyday) we celebrate women across the world - past, present, and future. Without the courage and strength of our foremothers, we here at Filter Press would not even be able to read, let alone share the stories of those whose paths we follow in and those whose stories that have yet to be told. Thank you to ALL of those who identify as a woman; your voice is heard and celebrated. 🔥❤️👩🏻‍🤝‍👩🏾