When Megan Fitzpatrick joined Lost Art Press as its first employee and editor, it cemented a professional alliance two decades in the making. Long before this formal partnership, Fitzpatrick and Christopher Schwarz collaborated inside the high-pressure publishing offices of Popular Woodworking magazine. Their joint trajectory reshaped how educational woodworking content, hand-tool tutorials, and independent publishing operate today. By stripping away corporate media fluff and focusing entirely on practitioner-led craftsmanship, their working relationship changed modern woodworking media.
Understanding the depth of this partnership requires looking at how two distinct careers intertwined. Christopher Schwarz spent years building a dominant voice in hand-tool woodworking before co-founding Lost Art Press to resurrect historical treatises and print uncompromisingly high-quality books. Megan Fitzpatrick rose from marketing to managing editor of Popular Woodworking, earning a reputation for rigorous editing and sharp craftsmanship. When they reunited under the Lost Art Press banner, they created a resilient publishing model built on mutual trust, shared aesthetic values, and a deep respect for the physical craft.
Roots at F&W Media and Popular Woodworking
The partnership began in the late 1990s at F&W Media, where Fitzpatrick worked on the marketing side while Schwarz navigated the editorial trenches of enthusiast magazines. Early interactions set a direct tone. Fitzpatrick famously held editorial staff accountable for missed deadlines, earning Schwarz's immediate respect for her backbone.
As Schwarz eventually took the reins as editor of Popular Woodworking, Fitzpatrick transitioned directly into the editorial workflow. Under their combined influence, the magazine pivoted away from generic project plans toward deep dives into traditional hand tools, historical joinery, and workbench construction. They championed rigorous research, encouraging readers to build furniture designed to last centuries rather than flat-pack novelties meant to last a season. As reported in detailed articles by Reuters, the effects are widespread.
This era established their core operating dynamic:
- Uncompromising Editorial Standards: Refusing to compromise technical accuracy for advertising dollars.
- Hands-on Craftsmanship: Both editors actively built, tested, and taught what they published.
- Direct Voice: Abandoning corporate PR speak in favor of honest, conversational author guidance.
The Evolution of Lost Art Press
By 2011, Schwarz stepped away from traditional magazine publishing to focus on Lost Art Press full-time alongside co-founder John Hoffman. For years, the press operated leanly, focusing on facsimile reprints of rare woodworking texts and original manuals on campaign furniture, roubo workbenches, and Windsor chairs.
As the catalog expanded to dozens of titles and complex international supply chains, the operational load grew heavy. Schwarz resisted corporate scaling because he wanted to avoid managing large staffs or controlling livelihoods. The solution required someone who understood the brand's DNA completely. In January 2022, Fitzpatrick stepped in as Employee #1 and editor of Lost Art Press.
This transition allowed Schwarz to step back from day-to-day administrative burdens and return heavily to writing books and blogging. Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick took charge of production, editing, and teaching commitments. Their partnership transformed Lost Art Press from a niche publisher into a powerhouse of independent craft education.
Industry Impact on Independent Publishing
The collaboration between Fitzpatrick and Schwarz proved that niche publishers could bypass mainstream corporate media structures entirely. Traditional publishing houses often rely on trend-chasing, low-cost overseas printing, and heavy ad-revenue models. Lost Art Press inverted this playbook by utilizing sewn bindings, acid-free paper, cloth covers, and direct-to-consumer sales.
Their industry impact manifests across several key areas:
- Revival of Historical Techniques: Rescuing out-of-print texts from the 18th and 19th centuries and making them accessible to modern makers.
- The Independent Press Blueprint: Demonstrating that a micro-publisher can maintain high production values without venture capital or corporate oversight.
- Empowering Authors: Giving independent craftspeople a platform to write deeply technical books without editorial dilution.
By treating books as permanent physical artifacts rather than disposable media, they inspired a wave of independent creators to launch small-scale publishing ventures across other traditional trades like blacksmithing, tailoring, and stonemasonry.
Common Misconceptions About the Partnership
Observers outside the craft publishing world often misunderstand how this partnership functions. Clarifying these points reveals the reality behind their success.
It Is Not a Corporate Hierarchy
Many assume Schwarz acts as the sole boss dictating terms. In reality, their relationship operates on peer-level trust built over twenty years. Fitzpatrick directs the editorial vision and operational flow of Lost Art Press autonomously, freeing Schwarz to focus on research and writing.
They Did Not Invent Hand-Tool Woodworking
While they popularized the modern resurgence of hand tools, their contribution lies in curation, testing, and translation. They took historical methods buried in archives and tested them in modern workshops to prove their practical viability.
Print Is Not Dead to Them
Some critics questioned the viability of investing heavily in physical book production during a digital shift. Fitzpatrick and Schwarz proved that if an object possesses exceptional tactile quality and genuine utility, readers will invest in physical copies over digital screens.
For more insights into contemporary craft publishing standards, you can explore resources from the Library of Congress and historical manufacturing archives via the Smithsonian Institution. To read their ongoing essays and workshop notes directly, visit the Lost Art Press Blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long have Megan Fitzpatrick and Christopher Schwarz worked together?
They have worked together for roughly 20 years, beginning with their early days at F&W Media in the late 1990s through their tenure at Popular Woodworking and now at Lost Art Press.
What is Megan Fitzpatrick's role at Lost Art Press?
Megan Fitzpatrick serves as the editor and primary operational driver, managing book production, editing manuscripts, and coordinating logistics for the press.
Why did Megan Fitzpatrick leave Popular Woodworking?
Fitzpatrick eventually transitioned out of traditional corporate publishing to join Lost Art Press, allowing her to align fully with an independent, craft-focused publishing model that rejects traditional media dilution.
How does Lost Art Press maintain its publishing quality?
Lost Art Press relies on heavy sewn bindings, high-grade paper, durable cloth covers, and direct sales models, bypassing traditional publishing middlemen to ensure complete control over product quality.
