SANDPOINT -- When Christine Holbert earned a publishing degree from Eastern Washington University in 1998, few jobs available tempted her.

"There aren't many small presses in the country, out in the beautiful areas," she said. "The few that exist don't have money to hire a full-time editor or designer, and I didn't want to live in the city."

So Holbert -- mother of three grown children, former cattle rancher and antiques dealer -- started her own press. In a two-story log cabin overlooking Lake Pend Oreille, Holbert reviews manuscripts, negotiates with authors and designs books in an office she shares with a sociable pet tortoise.

Lost Horse Press publishes four to six volumes each year, mainly poetry and literary fiction. The nonprofit press generates about $60,000 in book sales annually. Holbert, publisher and sole employee, doesn't draw a salary; the revenue from each book goes into the next.

Accolades, however, have been her reward. In 2001, the New York Times' Book Review featured a poetry collection published by the press. ForeWard Magazine, which reviews works by independent presses, has twice included Lost Horse's titles among its "Book of the Year" winners and finalists.

"Here we are in Sandpoint, Idaho, cranking out books in my basement," Holbert said. "You're just proud you can be living in a little town and doing good work. Good books don't always come out of New York."

Industry groups don't track how many small presses operate in the United States, but experts say they produce an increasing number of the 50,000 books published annually.

"The small press movement is really flourishing, driven by people who want to do books that are interesting and unusual," said Marilyn Ross, director of the Small Publishers Association of North America in Buena Vista, Colo. "Big publishers are very unwelcoming to unknown authors. They don't want to take risks."

Lost Horse Press is one of several independent presses in the region. Lynx House Press in Spokane publishes fiction and poetry. The universities -- Eastern Washington, University of Idaho and Washington State -- also operate presses.

Small presses provide an outlet for works without a mainstream audience, said Scott Poole. He's the assistant director of EWU press, and the author of two poetry collections published by Lost Horse.

"It doesn't mean they aren't good books, just that they won't sell 100,000 copies the first year," Poole said. "Without small presses, you'd have Jewel's books, or Madonna's kids books. ... The reward of running a small press is being able to comment on the culture by publishing books that you would like to see out there."

That was a definite draw for Holbert. Lost Horse Press's inaugural title was "Tales of a Dalai Lama," a reprint of Buddhist stories by New Mexico painter-poet Pierre Delattre. Poetry, essays and regional fiction followed.

Holbert's path to publishing began with an undergraduate degree in literature and a flair for design. When she raised cattle, she picked the Scotch Highland breed for its shaggy fur and handlebar horns. During her years as an antique dealer, furniture sold faster when Holbert arranged it in room settings.

"She's a great designer, and she does a beautiful book," said Steve Meyer, sales manager for the University of Idaho Press. "A book is judged by its cover, and without a good cover, your sales are dead."

"Especially in these times, when people spend so much time on the Internet, I think picking up a book has to be a sensual experience," Holbert said. "I also think it adds to the weight of the text."

"Hiding from Salesmen," Poole's second collection of poems, is a squarish volume that fits easily into a palm. The golds and muted greens on the cover reflect the whimsical, light-hearted poems and their deeper meanings, Holbert said.

Designing books is the creative part of publishing. The "odd way that business is conducted in the publishing world" still mystifies Holbert.

"I have not been in another business where you don't get paid when the merchandize is delivered," she said. "I don't get paid for the book until 30 to 60 days after the sale. Some book sellers will try to return a thumbed-through copy that's been on the shelf for two years."

Holbert also finds it surprising that distributors and booksellers collect 80 percent or more of the royalties from book sales.

"That leaves little margin for the publisher, not to mention the author. And they're the ones that create what goes between the covers," Holbert said.

She tries to give authors a larger royalty than the traditional 10 percent. But they also help promote the books. "With small presses, it has to be that way," she said.

A typical print run for Lost Horse Press books is 1,000 to 2,500 copies. For first edition books by new authors, the run might be as small as 300 copies.

Lost Horse titles often sell 10 to 30 copies at a time -- at poetry readings, writers' workshops and book shows. Holbert and Poole are organizers of "Get Lit!" Spokane's annual literary festival. Lost Horse Press also sponsors a variety of writing workshops.

Holbert recently signed a marketing agreement with UI's press, which will give her access to a full-time sales staff. The agreement will help Lost Horse Press get books into larger chains, such as Barnes & Noble.

Holbert's goal is to continue to grow the company, without sacrificing the quality of the books.

"I think independent presses and independent bookstores are the last stand for free speech," Holbert said. "Without them, we'd just have "airport literature."