Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by s Equity
The future, remembered.
June Cohen spent her career chasing what’s next, at Wired and at TED, where she helped bring TED Talks online. Then, just as AI arrived, she turned around and looked back thousands of years. A couple of years ago, June and I sat next to each other at a dinner and fell into a long conversation about the future, but not the one I expected. This one was grounded in remembering, rooted in ancient practices that have been vital to human thriving across time, culture, and geography.
Stay calm, people!
My list of past jobs makes people think I might be good at finance. Joke’s on them! It’s not that I’m bad with money (I’m frugal to the bone), it’s just that I’d really rather think about anything else. And yet here I am, genuinely delighted to tell you about our latest bestseller, Stay Calm: Learn to Embrace Uncertainty in Investing and Life by David Booth.
Review of Maya
Seed Takes Root Anand Gandhi Zain Memon Authors Equity (327pp) 979-889331189-1 Clarion Rating: 4 out of 5 Unwinding a complex, beautiful mythology on a distant planet, the elegant fantasy novel Maya centers a competition to secure a deity-ruler’s spot. In Anand Gandhi and Zain Memon’s immersive fantasy novel Maya, seven species fight for power on a planet governed by immortal god-rulers.
More than stained edges.
In book publishing, there is one unifying experience we all have in common: everyone you know who doesn’t work in the industry assumes you are an editor. Distant family, Hinge dates, and your Trader Joe’s cashier all proclaim, “Oh cool, so you read all day and fix typos and stuff?” Those who actually are editors have to cope with this in their own way. (Do they even try to explain this isn’t what their days look like?
Anand Gandhi and Zain Memon’s ‘Maya: Seed Takes Root’ branches out globally on 25 August
What if the future could be predicted, edited and quietly rewritten before anyone noticed? That question sits at the heart of Maya: Seed Takes Root, the ambitious science-fantasy debut from filmmaker Anand Gandhi and game designer Zain Memon, which is set for a global release on 25 August. Conceived in India and published by New York-based Authors Equity ahead of worldwide distribution by Simon & Schuster, the novel arrives with the sort of momentum most debut authors only dream about.
Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad... and How Great Companies Stay Great
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows. $18.67 with 42 percent savings -42% $18.67 List Price: $32.00List Price: $32.00$32.00 The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days.
One founder's anxiety
and what Incorruptible taught me about protecting what you build Way back in 2011, I found myself riveted listening to an author talk about his publishing experience. The author was Eric Ries, and the book was The Lean Startup — just then in its infancy but already en route to becoming the “little blue bible” of Silicon Valley. We publishers were thick in the throes of the digital transition.
Raising resilient kids in a noisy world
Hi, everyone! I’m Sarah Christensen Fu and I run digital marketing and ad/promo here at Authors Equity. Publishing and parenthood came into my life at around the same time — I was fresh out of NYU when my first baby was modeling Penguin-branded onesies on the company website. When my next pregnancy turned out to be twins—twins!—my partner and I were suddenly carrying a double stroller up and down subway stairs and figuring out which one of us had to leave work first to relieve our nanny.
That’s Show Biz, Kid: 7 Juicy Memoirs by Former Child Stars
Authors Equity In Rookie, singer-actor Joshua Bassett pulls back the curtain on what really happens when the world watches a teenager navigate fame, addiction, and mental health struggles in real time. Written in verse with raw vulnerability, the memoir traces his journey from his darkest moments — addiction, suicidal ideation, and the crushing weight of public scrutiny — to the hard-won lessons of recovery.
Who would you be if you weren't afraid?
Joshua Bassett came into our lives almost a year ago, when agent and friend of AE Albert Lee sent through a proposal filled with words like “Gen Z” and “TikTok” and “bombshells” and “mega!” We liked those words. But we were skeptical. A memoir from a then 24-year-old? Would it extend beyond his (rabid) Disney fan base? What wisdom could he possibly impart on those of us outside of the Generation Z? Then we met Josh. And man, does he have heart.
Making ambitious things
Hi all, Rose here. My lucky job is to shepherd many of our books from finished draft to finished book. My favorite part is working with the authors themselves: not surprisingly, each of them brings a completely different perspective to this part of the creative workflow.
Indie Publisher Standouts
My any measure, independent publishing is in a period of tremendous change. Flat sales, higher costs, and distribution and supply chain disruptions have roiled the marketplace. With that in mind, PW spoke with six publishers about how they powered through the turmoil to grow their businesses. These publishers all share one trait: their founders came from larger houses and discovered ways to at least tweak standard industry practices.
2025 Indie Publisher Standouts
My any measure, independent publishing is in a period of tremendous change. Flat sales, higher costs, and distribution and supply chain disruptions have roiled the marketplace. With that in mind, PW spoke with six publishers about how they powered through the turmoil to grow their businesses. These publishers all share one trait: their founders came from larger houses and discovered ways to at least tweak standard industry practices.
We're two! (Tantrum-free, mostly.)
Somehow it’s now been two years since we launched Authors Equity. There are some good parallels with being a (tantrum-free) toddler. We continue to learn at a furious rate (often from our authors); we continue to make new friends (so many wonderful partners!). Sometimes we trip up, but we shrug it off and move on to the next adventure. And we eat a lot of cookies. Since our last birthday, we’ve published thirteen new AE books, one boxed set, and three card decks.
The H word
Hi all, Nina here, with my first post — and a bone to pick with a word. I'm not usually one for grievances, but for book people, words matter. Since we launched Authors Equity, journalists have often reached for the shorthand “hybrid publisher” to describe us. It makes us squirm — and here’s why. In the book world, “hybrid” is used as a catch-all for companies that sit somewhere between traditional publishing and self-publishing.
Don't Believe Everything You Think
Joseph Nguyen, author of Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking is the Beginning & End of Suffering Hi all. Today's another New Release Tuesday, which this week means the launch of our expanded and repackaged edition of Joseph Nguyen's wildly successful Don't Believe Everything You Think, now available in bookstores from coast to coast (to coast: we've launched it in Australia, too!).
She’s here! Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff from 831 Stories, on sale today. Hi, all! When last you heard from us, we were riding the high of announcing Authors Equity, unveiling our first list of authors and books, and settling into the “one-room-schoolhouse” that is our very petite office (I’m happy to report that thanks to Nina’s nesting instincts, it now has all the things you want in an office, including a bar cart).
Let it rip.
New Bethlehem is as beautiful and safe and perfect a town as exists in the United States, as beautiful and safe and perfect a town as exists anywhere in the world. But no beauty exists without flaws, however hidden. Absolute safety is but an illusion. No matter what we think or see or believe or feel, perfection isn’t real.
frequently asked questions
We’ve received many excellent questions about partnering with Authors Equity. Below are answers to some of the most common ones. We’ll continue to add to this list – so be sure to check back for updates. How do I submit my manuscript for publication? We appreciate your interest in publishing with Authors Equity. To ensure you’re well-represented, we ask that you work with a literary agent or someone else who has experience in publishing contract law. How do I find an agent?
This book will change the way you think.
This is Strategy, by Seth Godin, on sale today. Hi, all! Greetings from the desk/kitchen table of Carly Gorga, CMO and proud employee numero uno of Authors Equity. I've been on this journey since January and have loved almost every second of my time here. That's because I'm learning so. damn. much. Of course from my colleagues, but also from the authors themselves.
You can't hand-deliver books to Rock Center.
Hi, all. A year ago today, I was part of a tiny sleep-deprived band setting out on the streets of midtown Manhattan to test a theory. The theory was simply this: after chasing scale for most of our corporate careers, we thought we could get further faster by running the other way. You can run faster when running in branded track jackets. Instead of getting big, we’d go deep. Deep into a small list of books with a small list of authors.
LYX has entered the chat
This week, we launched our first book in partnership with LYX [pronounced “luxe”], Germany’s #1 New Adult Romance imprint. If you follow the category, you probably already know LYX—they’re the publisher behind Maxton Hall, one of the biggest breakout hits in recent years. Now, beginning with Anywhereby Sarah Sprinz, which hit stores on Tuesday, we’re bringing their proven bestsellers to North America on a publishing schedule designed for how romance readers actually consume content—FAST.
Sometimes we just need to have fun.
Good grief, the world is dark. I don't need to list the many ways we're being bombarded by horrors—you know them already. And no matter how much you love your work, they call it work for a reason. Even if you happen to be joyfully reveling in breaking the rules via a disruptive startup, and even if you have the best colleagues in the world, and even if you get to work in service to the most delightful collection of artistic collaborators, that doesn't mean you don't need a break sometimes.
A year of books (and gifs)
Craig Young here, head of sales at Authors Equity. I’ve pried the Substack pen from Carly and Madeline so I can share a little sales cheer here at the end of our first full year with books in the market. Let’s face it: it’s all well and good to shake things up, but if we don’t actually sell the books, then… who cares, right? In one capacity or another, I’ve been working on selling books for a few decades now.
They work hard for the money.
JL Collins signing copies of The Simple Path to Wealth. Hi all. I know that telling you I love authors sounds like I'm stating the obvious, but most people say they got into publishing for the books. For me, when I think about why I've stayed in this business, it's not so much the books as the people who write them. Why? Are they happy, sunny, easy personalities? Rarely! Instead, they're smart, funny, critical of themselves, and discerning about others.
The right question can change everything: Inside Rachel Hollis's new book
Photo credit: Alexa Sorensen Dear Readers, In her bestselling books and probing podcast interviews, Rachel Hollis has always given us the answers we need to navigate life's ups and downs. She dives in feet first—she cartwheels, falls down, and picks herself up—offering laugh-out-loud humor and stories from her own life along with advice. Throughout, she shows how 150% scary all of it can feel.
A landmark anthology that matters more than ever.
Dear Friends, You are readers who understand the power of books to change us. You know bone deep how certain books—through their voices, their truths—compel us to listen, and inspire us to share them with others. These are the special books of our lives. They gather us into community. Deeply moving, compelling, sometimes raw, always compassionate, Sing the Truth, on sale today, is just that kind of book.
AI and publishing
Hi all. While we didn't intend to publish a new post every time we released a new book, that's the groove we've settled into. The nice thing is that it gives us a chance to reflect on the ways that working with each of these very different authors allows us to address a different aspect of the business we're building.
Have joint pain? Start here.
Joint pain has a funny way of sneaking up on us. It often shows up gradually: a hip that aches longer than usual after a run. A low back that quietly dictates how long you can sit, walk, or stand without thinking about it. A knee that just… doesn’t feel right. We’re told this is just part of getting older, and over time, many of us stop questioning it and accept it as part of life. Built from Broken by Scott Hogan approaches pain differently.
What does it mean to be truly free?
It's a big week here at Authors Equity. Not only are we officially back in full swing after Publishing Summer Break (though over here in startup land, we never really stopped!), but we celebrated a truly special publication day.
We swore we'd stay away from political books...
Hi everyone, This is my first appearance on Substack, but since I've been at Authors Equity from the beginning, I'd like to share a bit about a book we’re publishing today that was one of our first acquisitions. When Madeline reached out to me about creating a new publishing venture, one of our first conversations was about the list we'd try to build.
I Thought I Was Good at NYT Games
B&N Edition of Puzzle Mania! Like many of you, I’ve been playing New York Times Games for years—Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee (in that order). I texted my scores. I dunked on my family. I thought I was pretty smart. I thought wrong. On Monday night, our team went to the Barnes & Noble launch event for Puzzle Mania! in NYC and saw true puzzle heads in action. People were shouting out “Wordle in One” answers before I even registered the letters on the screen.
Ranking 2025’s Bestselling Adult Publishers
The dominance of the Big Five publishers over national bestseller lists is nothing new. It's such a given, in fact, that last week the Independent Publisher Caucus launched the Independent Press Top 40 bestseller list in tandem with the American Booksellers Association, with the aim of shining a spotlight on books from independent publishers that would otherwise be unable to crack those lists.
Ranking 2025’s Bestselling Adult Publishers
The dominance of the Big Five publishers over national bestseller lists is nothing new. It's such a given, in fact, that last week the Independent Publisher Caucus launched the Independent Press Top 40 bestseller list in tandem with the American Booksellers Association, with the aim of shining a spotlight on books from independent publishers that would otherwise be unable to crack those lists.
books-nov-dec
State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed...
Welcome!
Ahoy there! Quick question: What would you do if you found yourself and three colleagues stranded for two weeks on a tiny lifeboat in the middle of the ocean with no fresh water to drink and only a few cans of tinned turnips? You’d get real hungry, real fast. But then what? What would you do to survive—and how would society judge you for it? If you’re interested in excavating these kinds of questions and confronting your deepest moral limits, then you’ve come to the right place.
Authors Equity Bets on German New Adult Romance Imprint
Hybrid publishing startup Authors Equity has partnered with German new adult romance imprint LYX Books to bring bestselling LYX titles to North American readers. The two publishers plan to introduce a total of four different LYX series in the first six months of the partnership, with all installments release on a bimonthly schedule.
Library Journal
. May 2025. 288p. ed. by Laura Pegram. ISBN 9798893310252. pap. $18.
25 years of showing up.
Seth didn't just write about permission marketing – he lives it. His blog and corresponding newsletter represent perhaps the longest-running and most successful demonstration of the very strategy he introduced to the world 25 years ago. When Seth began his blog in 1999, email newsletters were still a novelty for most businesses.
People Round Up, Early March, 2025
PEOPLE At Penguin Random House, Parisa Ebrahimi will join Riverhead as VP, executive editor, beginning March 24. She was previously at Hogarth. At PRH Christian Publishing, Madison Trammel joined as editorial director, reporting to Laura Barker, VP and publisher. All nonfiction editors acquiring for the WaterBrook, Multnomah, Image and Forum imprints will report to Trammel. He was most recently publisher of B&H Publishing’s academic team.
Ilana Gold Joins Authors Equity as Head of Publicity
Premium online access is only available to PW subscribers. If you have an active subscription and need to set up or change your password, please click here. New to PW? To set up immediate access, click here. NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. PW site license members have access to PW’s subscriber-only website content. If working at an office location and you are not "logged in", simply close and relaunch your preferred browser.
Frankfurt Book Fair 2024: Karp, McIntosh, Shelley Take the Stage
Publishing executives are rarely far from the podium at the Frankfurt Book Fair, but this year, things looked a bit different. Simon & Schuster’s CEO, president, and publisher shared his stage with the publishing veteran turned chairman of media, entertainment, and education at S&S’s new parent, private equity firm KKR.
Who knew I was such a big Substack reader?
The reason I love compiling my popular Sunday Scroll newsletter round-ups is because I really enjoy reading. A lot. As much as I am a writer, I am a reader — and I believe those things are intertwined. If you meet an author, there is a big chance they’ll bring up the book they’re currently reading, or have their nose in something. I just pre-ordered a bunch of novels from the recently unveiled Booker Prize shortlist (and I’m subscribed to on Substack).
Head of Publicity (#39733)
What You'll Do - Collaborate with our CMO and marketing team to launch impactful publicity campaigns - Develop PR strategies that highlight our authors' books and broader narratives - Lead and inspire book teams to deliver high-quality campaigns - Participate in acquisition meetings and work directly with authors - Oversee and grow our influencer program - Coordinate author tours and events What You Bring to the Table - 7-10 years of publicity experience, preferably in publishing or a related...
Craig Young Joins Authors Equity as President of Sales
Aug 19, 2024 Craig Young has joined Authors Equity, the hybrid publishing startup announced earlier this year and headed up by three big-name industry veterans, as president of sales. Young comes to Authors Equity from Little, Brown, where he was VP and deputy publisher until being let go in June.
Against summer reading
The only thing I want to contemplate on a beach are beautiful tan bodies. Or wonder about the lives of old ones, lounging on portable folding chairs, who take a summer seriously because it could be their last. I want to look upon blue until it covers my mind completely. Engage in harmless gossip, waste hours. Remember my old loves and dream up new ones. Lie heavily, as Gainsbourg put it, under the sun exactement.
Our first 100 days
One hundred days ago, Authors Equity opened its doors for business. The most frequently asked question since then: Who are we going to publish? When we launched, many speculated who our “typical” authors would be. As it turns out, there is no single type. As individuals in publishing, we’ve worked across all categories in the past, so it makes sense that there’s range in what appeals to us now. More interesting, though, is the range of authors drawn to us.
People Round Up, Mid June, 2024
PEOPLE Jonathan Shar has been named CEO of Barnes & Noble Education by the company’s board of directors. He succeeds Michael P. Huseby, whose resignation from the position went into effect on June 11th. The National Book Foundation, has elected three new board members, bringing the board total to 23 members: Jonathan Karp, president and CEO of Simon & Schuster, Peggy Koenig, chair emeritus, Abry Partners; and Jahm Najafi, founder and CEO, The Najafi Companies.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with s
Contact s, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack