The 11 companies that made PW’s list of fast-growing independent publishers in 2013 include four first-timers, four companies reappearing on the list after falling off for a year or two, and three companies that made the 2012 list.
Morgan James Publishing roughly doubled its output between 2011 and 2013 through a number of initiatives headlined by the start of three divisions: Morgan James Faith, Morgan James Kids, and Morgan James Fiction. Founder David Hancock says the company also was able to attract more authors through increasing its presence at different events where company executives spoke on “entrepreneurial publishing.” In addition to higher title output, increased e-book sales contributed to the overall gain, Hancock says. For every 100 trade paperbacks Morgan James sold of a nonfiction title, it sold 25 e-books, while for fiction it was selling 50 e-books for every 100 paperbacks. The company also added more hardcovers to its product mix, helping to lift revenue.
Frontlist nonfiction titles that did well last year included Subliminally Exposed and Grow Regardless of Your Business’s Size, Your Industry or the Economy and Despite the Government. A stellar backlist performer was 35 Dumb Things Well-Intended People Say. Hancock says he hopes to release 200 titles in 2014 and is excited about benefitting from sales through Scribd’s subscription service.