Hello, again, Reader.
Last time, I was able to share some great sources for seeking the right publishing company for you. Now, I’d like to present some of my knowledge of traditional publishing – if you choose that route – to help you become more aware of what is out there.
Of All Things . . .
Before proceeding, Reader, you have to know that there are, what we call, the Big Five in publishing. The top five publishing companies are Macmillan, Hachette, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster.
The Big Five control a huge chunk of the literary market. This being said – and because they are traditional publishing companies – you’ll need a literary agent, or you won’t even be considered. TCKPublishing offers a wonderful checklist for recruiting literary agents in their post “How to Get a Literary Agent to Represent You: The Complete Guide for Authors.”
The Big Five
Reader, join me below for brief discussions of each of the Big Five publishers.
1. Macmillan
Macmillan Publishing was founded in London, England in 1843, now 176 years ago, and has offices in 41 countries around the world. Macmillan especially caters to authors with work dedicated to learning and education. Typically, they publish books, academic journals, and magazines.
Although Macmillan’s headquarters is stationed in London, they do have a New York Location in the Flatiron Building located at 176 5th Avenue (New York, NY 10010).
Some reputable authors published by Macmillan include Lewis Carroll, Alfred Tennyson, and Thomas Hardy. You can learn more about Macmillan Publishing on the appropriate web page.
2. Hachette
Hachette Book Group was founded in 1996 in the United States with humble French origins. Current headquarters is located in New York City, and several other offices are located in major cities throughout the country. Hachette seeks to “publish great books well” per their mission statement, and mainly caters to authors with work for educational purposes, although they publish a selection of genres, as well.
Headquarters for Hachette Book Group is located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104.
Some reputable authors published by Hachette include James Patterson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jeremy Carter, and Cleve Jones. You can learn more about Hachette Book Group on the appropriate web page.
3. Harper Collins
Harper Collins Publishers was founded 30 years ago in 1989 with headquarters in New York City. It is also the second largest consumer book publisher in the world. Harper Collins puts authors and their work at the center of their company and strives to keep up with all technological advancements.
Headquarters for Harper Collins Publishers is located at 195 Broadway, New York, NY 100007.
Some reputable authors published by Harper Collins include Megan Abbot, Buzz Aldrin, and Stephen King. You can learn more about Harper Collins Publishers on the appropriate web page.
4. Penguin Random House
Penguin Random House Publishing was founded five years ago in 2013. Penguin Random House meets its mission “to foster a universal passion for reading by partnering with authors to help create stories and communicate ideas that inform, entertain, and inspire, and to connect them with readers everywhere” and is also the number one publishing company in the world.
Headquarters for Penguin Random House is located at 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.
Some reputable authors published by Penguin Random House include Sarah J. Maas, Rachel Veil, and Ahmed Saadawi. You can learn more about Penguin Random House on the appropriate web page.
5. Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster Publishing was founded in 1924, about 95 years ago, and has headquarters located in New York City. They publish approximately 2000 titles annually and have received 56 Pulitzer Prizes.
Headquarters for Simon & Schuster is located at 1230 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020.
Some reputable authors published by Simon & Schuster include Alec Baldwin, Molly Bang, and Elizabeth Bear. You can learn more about Simon & Schuster on the appropriate web page.
More About the Big Five
For more information, Reader, see additional web pages about the Big Five in publishing below.
- What the Big 5’s Financial Reports Reveal About the State of Traditional Publishing
- The Big 5 Trade Book Publishers
- The Big Five Family Tree: Book Publishers
Share Your Thoughts!
So, what did you think of the Big Five in publishing? Are you still thinking of publishing traditionally? Remember not to be too overwhelmed by all traditional publishing has to offer because, even if you find yourself overwhelmed by the Big Five, this does not mean that you won’t be successful in your own right through other publishing companies.
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