Intrigue Publishing – Equal Rights for Good Books

When planning to launch Intrigue Publishing we took a long hard look at the publishing industry, and we didn’t like everything we saw.  One thing that bothered us was the loss of the midlist.
A few decades ago, major publishers nurtured what we call midlist authors - Authors who consistently published acceptable but not bestselling books.  Publishers would publish writers with potential and keep their careers alive as long as they weren’t big money losers.  Often those writers would find a solid audience and step forward from that midlist to become best sellers, but it took time.
Today’s business model for big publishers seems to be to ignore those solid performers in a never-ending search for the blockbuster!  They will find a book they believe has blockbuster potential and back it with huge promotion, advertising and distribution resources.  This sometimes results in a self-fulfilling prophesy, but after a million dollar advance and another million in promotion a book can sell very well and still lose money.
Well, we’re not chasing the blockbuster.  We’re looking for solid authors who can turn out solid books.  Of course, those books must clear certain hurdles for us to apply our resources.  But since we don’t have millions, we don’t’ expect Stephen King.  Yet.
So, what makes an Intrigue Publishing book?    Each book will entertain its readers. Each book will be worthy of the attention of discerning book reviewers. Each book will appeal to a mass market with major sales potential. That one side of the deal we will make with each novel we publish.  What will that book get in return?
Each book will be carefully edited, designed, and produced. Each book will have a month-long launch in which it is our sole focus. Each book will have a national publicity campaign. Each book will have both a print and a digital strategy. Each book will be promoted well into its publishing life. These novels will all be part of the Intrigue Publishing family.  And like with people, you may not LIKE all your children equally, but you have to LOVE them all equally.  Every book we put in the marketplace will get an equal chance to shine, and receive our best effort.  And who knows… by letting the readers judge which is best we just might accidentally stumble onto the next Steven King.