The entrepreneurial spirit is all about spotlighting the dreamers, doers, and innovators who build something entirely their own. In the book world, that spirit often shows up in authors who decide not just to write stories, but to publish them as well.
From bestselling icons turning their success into new opportunities for emerging voices, to indie authors who built small presses from scratch, these 11 publishing houses and imprints prove that storytelling can be just as entrepreneurial as it is artistic.
Publishing Powerhouses: The Authors Who Built Empires
Brandon Sanderson — Dragonsteel Entertainment
After shattering Kickstarter records with multimillion-dollar campaigns, Brandon Sanderson turned his storytelling empire into Dragonsteel Entertainment, a full-scale operation that publishes, produces, and distributes his own novels. It’s a model of creative independence — one where the author controls every stage of production, from editing to fulfillment.
Dragonsteel Entertainment has brought readers a range of Sanderson’s creations, including The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook, The Way of Kings Prime, and Trees of the Emerald Sea, showcasing the breadth of his imaginative worlds.
James Patterson — Jimmy Patterson Books
James Patterson built a publishing empire on his name alone, so it’s no surprise that his Jimmy Patterson imprint (with Little, Brown) is dedicated to sharing the spotlight. The imprint focuses on children’s and YA books that inspire a love of reading — and Patterson donates profits to fund literacy programs across the U.S.
The Jimmy Patterson imprint has brought readers standout titles such as Becoming Muhammad Ali by Kwame Alexander and James Patterson, The Ugly Doodles by Valeria Wicker, and Katt vs. Dogg by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein, offering stories that entertain while inspiring a lifelong love of reading.
Rick Riordan — Rick Riordan Presents
In collaboration with Disney-Hyperion, the Percy Jackson author launched Rick Riordan Presents, an imprint dedicated to publishing middle-grade adventure stories inspired by underrepresented mythologies and cultures. It’s an entrepreneurial effort rooted in mentorship, giving new authors a platform to tell epic tales of their own.
Rick Riordan Presents has introduced readers to exciting middle-grade adventures such as Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares by Tehlor Kay Mejia, and City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda, amplifying underrepresented voices and mythologies for a new generation of storytellers.
Creative Visionaries: Authors Using Imprints for Change
Kwame Alexander — Versify
Founded by poet-author Kwame Alexander, Versify describes its mission as: “accessible and powerful prose and poetry … that celebrate the lives and reflect the possibilities of all children.” Through its home at HarperCollins, Versify publishes picture books, novels, nonfiction, and poetry that explore the beauty, hurdles, and hopefulness of life — books “that will engage, entertain, and empower young people to imagine and create a better world.”
Versify has brought readers memorable titles like The Last Chance for Logan County by Lamar Giles, ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Read by Raúl the Third, and The Many Fortunes of Maya by Nicole D. Collier, offering stories that entertain, inspire, and empower young readers to imagine new possibilities.
Nicola and David Yoon — Joy Revolution
Bestselling YA authors Nicola and David Yoon teamed up with Penguin Random House to create Joy Revolution, an imprint devoted to love stories starring characters of color. Their goal? To publish swoony, joyful, and emotionally rich romances that reflect the diversity of real readers.
Joy Revolution has delivered vibrant love stories like Sinner’s Isle by Angela Montoya, Brewed with Love by Shelly Page, and Lady Knight by Amalie Howard, celebrating romance that reflects diverse voices and real-world experiences.
Gillian Flynn — Gillian Flynn Books
The Gone Girl author’s imprint with Zando focuses on sharp, boundary-pushing fiction with a dark, psychological edge. Flynn curates titles that challenge and intrigue — fiction that pushes boundaries and refuses to be forgotten.
Gillian Flynn’s imprint has published gripping fiction such as The Dark We Know by Wen Yi Lee, One of the Good Guys by Araminta Hall, and Blessed Water by Margot Douaihy, delivering dark, psychological stories that linger long after the final page.
Indie Innovators: Authors Shaping Publishing on Their Own Terms
Dave Eggers — McSweeney’s
Part literary press, part cultural institution, McSweeney’s was founded by Dave Eggers in 1998 as a home for innovative writing and design-forward storytelling. From McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern to beloved indie hits like The Believer, Eggers proved that a passion project could become a cornerstone of modern publishing.
McSweeney’s has brought readers inventive works such as Martha’s Daughter by David Haynes, McSweeney’s ’79, and Pay As You Go by Eskor David Johnson, showcasing the imprint’s commitment to boundary-pushing storytelling and design-forward literature.
Derrick C. Brown — Write Bloody Publishing
Poet Derrick C. Brown launched Write Bloody in 2004 to bring spoken word and performance poetry to the printed page. The press has published more than 150 titles from poets across the globe and continues to champion authentic, electrifying voices outside mainstream publishing.
Write Bloody Publishing has brought readers vibrant poetry collections such as Love Ends in a Tandem Kayak by Derrick C. Brown, Clear Out the Static in Your Attic by Rebecca Bridge and Isla McKetta, and Let Go with the Lights On by Lexi Pelle, celebrating bold, authentic voices from across the globe.
Lucy Score — That’s What She Said Publishing
When romance powerhouse Lucy Score decided to go indie, she founded That’s What She Said Publishing — a company that lets her release books directly to her readers. It’s a masterclass in author-led branding and audience connection, proving that romance writers can build thriving businesses on their own terms.
That’s What She Said Publishing has delivered irresistible romance titles such as Starting Back by Stephanie Rose, Bride or Die by Madison Score, and Love Notes and Lifelines by Avery Maxwell, showcasing Lucy Score’s commitment to connecting readers with swoony, engaging stories.
Kelly Moran & Katie O’Connor — Rowan Prose Publishing
Co-founded by authors Kelly Moran and Katie O’Connor, Rowan Prose was created to bridge the gap between traditional and self-publishing — giving writers the creative freedom of indie publishing with the structure and support of a small press. The company focuses on publishing fresh, trope-forward romances that readers crave but larger houses often overlook.
Rowan Prose Publishing has brought readers engaging romances such as Lovers’ Leap by Rikki Goodwin, The Art of Overthinking by Ellen Zheng, and Decoding the Heart by Stephanie R. Caffrey, offering fresh, trope-forward stories that combine indie creativity with small-press support.
Danielle Dutton — Dorothy, a Publishing Project
Co-founded by author-publisher Danielle Dutton and writer/editor Martin Riker, this St. Louis-based feminist independent press was founded in 2009 and focuses mostly on works of fiction or near-fiction by women. Their model is intentionally narrow — just two new titles each fall — and the press is celebrated for its elegant production, experimental literary voice, and deep editorial care
Dorothy, a Publishing Project, has released striking works such as Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead by Barbara Comyns, My Lesbian Novel by Renee Gladman, and Some of Them Will Carry Me by Giada Scodellaro, exemplifying the press’s commitment to elegant, experimental, and deeply curated feminist fiction.
From blockbuster franchises to tiny, two-person presses, these author-founded publishing houses redefine what it means to be an entrepreneur in the literary world. They remind us that innovation doesn’t just belong to tech start-ups or corporate boardrooms — sometimes, it begins with a writer, an idea, and the courage to publish it themselves.
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