HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Workman Publishing Company, Inc., is an American publisher of trade books founded by Peter Workman. The company is comprised of either
imprints Imprint or imprinting may refer to: Entertainment * ''Imprint'' (TV series), Canadian television series * "Imprint" (''Masters of Horror''), episode of TV show ''Masters of Horror'' * ''Imprint'' (film), a 2007 independent drama/thriller film ...
: Workman, Workman Children’s, Workman Calendars, Artisan, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill and Algonquin Young Readers, Storey Publishing, and Timber Press. From the beginning Workman focused on publishing adult and children’s non-fiction, and its titles and brands rank among the best-known in their fields, including: the WHAT TO EXPECT pregnancy and childcare guide; the educational series, '' Brain Quest'' and ''The Big Fat Notebooks;'' travel books like '' 1,000 Places to See Before You Die'' and '' Atlas Obscura''; humor including ''The Complete Preppy Handbook'' and ''Bad Cat;'' award-winning cookbooks: ''The Noma Guide to Fermentation, The French Laundry Cookbook, Sheet Pan Suppers,'' ''The Silver Palate Cookbook,
The Barbecue Bible ''The Barbecue Bible'' by Steven Raichlen (1998, Workman), is the flagship title in a series of cookbooks written on grilling, barbecue, and other forms of outdoor cooking. Rather than focusing specifically on one style of barbecue, Raichlen doc ...
;'' and novels including ''How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents'''', Water for Elephants'' and the Young Adult Newberry Medalist, ''
The Girl Who Drank the Moon ''The Girl Who Drank the Moon'' is a 2016 children's book by Kelly Barnhill. The book tells how Luna, after being raised by a witch named Xan, must figure out how to handle the magical powers she was accidentally given. She must control her pow ...
''. Workman also publishes calendars, including The Original Page-a-Day Calendars. After over 50 years as an independent, family-owned company, Workman Publishing Company, Inc., joined The Hachette Book Group in 2021. Its primary offices are in New York City.


History

After a short stint packaging books for Ballantine, Peter Workman founded Workman Publishing with his wife, Carolan, in 1968. The first book published under the Workman imprint was ''Richard Hittelman’s 28-Day Yoga Exercise Plan'', which is still in print. In 1975 Workman published its first ''New York Times'' bestseller, ''B. Kliban’s'' ''Cat'', a collection of humorous illustrations that also inspired the company expand into calendar publishing with ''Cat'' as its first wall calendar. In 1979, Workman’s creative director, Paul Hanson, created the Page-a-Day Calendar. In the years since, Page-a-Day Calendars have shipped over 100 million copies. The following decades saw a succession of titles that had strong sales and strong cultural impact, beginning in with '' The Official Preppy Handbook'' (1980) and continuing with ''In and Out of the Garden'' (1981), ''The Silver Palate Cookbook'' (1982), ''What to Expect When You’re Expecting'' (1984), ''The Book of Questions'' (1987), ''All I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat'' (1990), '' Good Omens'' (1990, the first and only novel published under the Workman imprint), Brain Quest (1992), Boynton On Board
board books A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. With the narrative told primarily through text, they are distinct from comics, which do so primarily through sequential images. The images ...
(1993), ''Shoes'' (1996), Fandex (1998), ''The Cake Mix Doctor'' (1999), ''How to Grill'' (2001), '' 1,000 Places to See Before You Die'' and ''Stitch N Bitch'' (2003), ''Gallop!'' (2007), Indestructibles (2009), ''Safari'' and ''Steal Like an Artist'' (2012), and a trifecta in 2016, including the launch of two brands— The Big Fat Notebooks and Paint by Sticker—and '' Atlas Obscura''. Throughout its history, Workman has specialized in quirky but useful books, often with unusual formats. It published its first “book-plus” in 1983: ''How to Kazoo'' came with a real kazoo. Among its million-copy children’s bestsellers are ''The Bug and Bug Bottle—''the book came in a collecting bottle—and ''The Kids’ Book of Chess'' which came with a full chess set. The '' Brain Quest'' brand started with two decks of grommeted cards sold in a box. ''Indestructibles'' books are printed on a Tyvek-like paper that makes them rip-proof, chew-proof, washable and 100% non-toxic. The multi-million copy ''Scanimation'' and ''Photicular'' brands both have pages with moving images. In 2020, Workman and its imprints expanded into the jigsaw puzzle business. For years Workman’s unofficial motto was “no book before its time,” which reflected Peter Workman’s obsession with getting every part of a book right before sending it out into the world. It’s a good part of the reason that one out of three Workman books have over 100,000 copies in print, and that approximately 80% of its business is “ backlist”—sales generated by books that stay in print for years. Peter Workman died in 2013. In 2015, Workman appointed Dan Reynolds, former President and Publisher of Storey Publishing, as its new President and
CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
. In September, 2021, Carolan Workman sold the company to the Hachette Book Group.


Imprints and distribution


Imprints

Artisan In 1994 Peter Workman founded his second company, Artisan, with the mission to publish subjects that can best be expressed visually, whether through photography,
illustration An illustration is a decoration, interpretation or visual explanation of a text, concept or process, designed for integration in print and digital published media, such as posters, flyers, magazines, books, teaching materials, animations, vid ...
, or
graphic design Graphic design is a profession, academic discipline and applied art whose activity consists in projecting visual communications intended to transmit specific messages to social groups, with specific objectives. Graphic design is an interdiscipli ...
. The company focuses on cooking, design, crafts and hobbies, and expanding the boundaries of general nonfiction. It seeks out authors who are thought-leaders and tastemakers, and works hand-in-hand with them to create physical books that are beautiful in their own right. Artisan’s first significant bestseller was Thomas Keller’s '' The French Laundry Cookbook'', and recent ''New York Times'' bestsellers include ''The Noma Guide to Fermentation,'' Grace Bonney’s ''In the Company of Women'', ''John Derian Picture Book'', ''The Dogist'', ''The Kinfolk Home'', and ''The New Health Rules''. Other notable authors include Sean Brock, Cheryl Day,
Joshua McFadden Joshua () or Yehoshua ( ''Yəhōšuaʿ'', Tiberian: ''Yŏhōšuaʿ,'' lit. 'Yahweh is salvation') ''Yēšūaʿ''; syr, ܝܫܘܥ ܒܪ ܢܘܢ ''Yəšūʿ bar Nōn''; el, Ἰησοῦς, ar , يُوشَعُ ٱبْنُ نُونٍ '' Yūšaʿ ...
,
Lucinda Scala Quinn Lucinda may refer to: * Lucinda (given name), people with the given name ''Lucinda'' * Lucinda, Queensland, a town in Australia * ''Lucinda (steam yacht)'', a steam yacht of the Queensland Government * ''Lucinda'' (novel), a novel by P. D. Manvil ...
, Einat Admony,
David Tanis David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
, and Naomi Duguid. Algonquin Algonquin Books was founded in
Chapel Hill, North Carolina Chapel Hill is a town in Orange, Durham and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Its population was 61,960 in the 2020 census, making Chapel Hill the 17th-largest municipality in the state. Chapel Hill, Durham, and the state ca ...
, in 1983 with a goal of publishing quality fiction and nonfiction by unpublished young writers. Although it started as a small Southern house, over the years it has garnered national attention for a diverse range of renowned authors, including Julia Alvarez, Kaye Gibbons, Chimamanda Adichie, Robert Morgan, Lee Smith, Tayari Jones,
Kaitlyn Greenidge Kaitlyn Greenidge is an American writer. She received a 2017 Whiting Awards, Whiting Award for Fiction for her debut novel, ''We Love You, Charlie Freeman''. Her second book is a historical novel called ''Libertie'' (2021). Early life and educa ...
, Daniel Wallace, and Amy Stewart, among others. In 1989, Algonquin was acquired by Workman Publishing. Today, it has offices in New York City and Chapel Hill and its numerous bestsellers and prizewinners include '' Water for Elephants'', ''A Reliable Wife'', '' Love, Loss, and What I Wore'', '' Big Fish'', '' Last Child in the Woods'', '' The Leavers'', '' In the Time of the Butterflies'', ''
An American Marriage ''An American Marriage'' is a novel by the American author Tayari Jones. It is her fourth novel and was published by Algonquin Books on February 6, 2018. In February 2018, the novel was chosen for Oprah's Book Club 2.0. The novel also won the 2019 ...
'', Dan Rather's ''What Unites Us'', and ''The Book of Delights''. Algonquin also publishes the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, a biannual prize established by author
Barbara Kingsolver Barbara Kingsolver (born April 8, 1955) is an American novelist, essayist and poet. She was raised in rural Kentucky and lived briefly in the Congo in her early childhood. Kingsolver earned degrees in biology at DePauw University and the Univers ...
whose winners include Hillary Jordan's '' Mudbound'', Heidi Durrow's ''The Girl Who Fell from the Sky'', Lisa Ko’s '' The Leavers'',
Katharine Seligman Katherine, also spelled Catherine, and other variations are feminine names. They are popular in Christian countries because of their derivation from the name of one of the first Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria. In the early Christ ...
's ''At the Edge of the Haight'', and
Jamila Minnicks Gleason Jamila ( ar, جميلة) is a feminine given name of Arabic origin. It is the feminine form of the masculine Arabic given name Jamil, which comes from the Arabic word ''jamāl'' (Arabic: جَمَال), meaning beauty. The name is popular on a glo ...
's ''Moonrise Over New Jessup''. Algonquin Young Readers Algonquin Young Readers was founded in 2011 by Peter Workman and then Algonquin publisher, Elisabeth Scharlatt, as an imprint of Algonquin Books to publish books of enduring value for young readers, including narrative
fiction Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying individuals, events, or places that are imaginary, or in ways that are imaginary. Fictional portrayals are thus inconsistent with history, fact, or plausibility. In a traditi ...
and non-fiction, picture books, and graphic novels. In 2017, an Algonquin Young Readers novel, ''
The Girl Who Drank the Moon ''The Girl Who Drank the Moon'' is a 2016 children's book by Kelly Barnhill. The book tells how Luna, after being raised by a witch named Xan, must figure out how to handle the magical powers she was accidentally given. She must control her pow ...
'', by Kelly Barnhill, won the
John Newbery Medal The John Newbery Medal, frequently shortened to the Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of "the most distinguished contr ...
for the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature in the prior year. ''Furia'''','' by Yamilé Mendez, won the 2021 Pura Belpré Award for the best presentation of the Latin experience in a book for young adults. Algonquin Young Readers titles have also won Edgar Allan Poe awards for best YA and juvenile mystery, and have been nominated for the National Book Award for young people’s literature. Algonquin Young Readers authors include Kelly Barnhill,
Elizabeth C. Bunce Elizabeth C. Bunce is an American author who writes mysteries, fantasy, and ghost stories featuring strong female characters. Best known for her Edgar Award-winning Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery series and her novel ''A Curse Dark as Gold'', her books ...
(Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries),
Kelly Jensen Kelly may refer to: Art and entertainment * Kelly (Kelly Price album) * Kelly (Andrea Faustini album) * ''Kelly'' (musical), a 1965 musical by Mark Charlap * "Kelly" (song), a 2018 single by Kelly Rowland * ''Kelly'' (film), a 1981 Canadia ...
''(Don’t) Call Me Crazy'', Samantha Mabry ''(All the Wind in the World''), Amy Timberlake (Skunk and Badger series), and Genzaburo Yoshino (''How Do You Live?''). Storey Publishing In 1983 John Storey bought Garden Way Publishing from Garden Way and changed the name to Storey Publishing. The company specializes in highly illustrated
do-it-yourself "Do it yourself" ("DIY") is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things by oneself without the direct aid of professionals or certified experts. Academic research has described DIY as behaviors where "individuals use raw and semi ...
books for adults and children, with a focus on farming, gardening, crafts, cooking, nature appreciation, backyard building, and natural wellness and herbal medicine. Popular titles include Rosemary Gladstar's ''Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide'', ''Fermented Vegetables'', ''The Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail,'' ''Cooking Class,'' ''Ocean Anatomy,'' and ''The year-Round Vegetable Gardener''. Storey's authors include Julia Rothman, Maia Toll, Catherine Newman,
Ty Allan Jackson Ty (stylized as ty) is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. It was founded by Ty Warner in 1986. It designs, develops and sells products, most notably Beanie Babies, exclusively to speci ...
, and the Xerces Society. Storey is based in North Adams, Massachusetts. Timber Timber Press was founded in 1978 and is based in Portland, Oregon. It was acquired by Workman Publishing in 2006. Timber publishes books for
gardeners A gardener is someone who practices gardening, either professionally or as a hobby. Description A gardener is any person involved in gardening, arguably the oldest occupation, from the hobbyist in a residential garden, the home-owner supplem ...
, both amateur and professional, nature enthusiasts, environmentalists, and
popular science ''Popular Science'' (also known as ''PopSci'') is an American digital magazine carrying popular science content, which refers to articles for the general reader on science and technology subjects. ''Popular Science'' has won over 58 awards, incl ...
readers. It also has a robust regional program. Some of their popular titles include ''Bringing Nature Home'' and ''Nature’s Best Hope'' by
Douglas Tallamy Douglas Tallamy is an American entomologist, ecologist and conservationist. He is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. He has written and co-authored several books, as well as many paper ...
, ''Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life'' by
Marta McDowell Marta McDowell is an American author. She worked as a horticulturist for five years at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum. She is on the Board of the New Jersey Historical Garden Foundation at the Cross Estate. Books *''Unearthing The Secret Garden: The ...
,
Michael Dirr Michael A. Dirr, Ph.D is a horticulturist and a professor of horticulture at the University of Georgia. He is an expert on woody plants. Education and experience Dirr earned a Bachelors in Science degree in Plant Physiology and a Masters in Science ...
’s ''Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs'', and ''Teaming with Microbes'' by
Jeff Lowenfels Jeff is a masculine name, often a short form (hypocorism) of the English given name Jefferson or Jeffrey, which comes from a medieval variant of Geoffrey. Music * DJ Jazzy Jeff, American DJ/turntablist record producer Jeffrey Allen Townes * ...
.


References


External links

* {{Authority control Hachette (publisher) books Publishing companies established in 1968 Publishing companies of the United States 1968 establishments in New York City Literary publishing companies Publishing companies based in New York City