St. Martin's Press
Macmillan Publishers of the UK founded St. Martin's Press in 1952. The new company took its name from a London street called St Martin's Lane. This was where Macmillan had been headquartered before selling its US stake in 1951. The Equitable Building in Manhattan now houses the publisher's headquarters. George Witte serves as the current editor in chief. Jennifer Enderlin became publisher in 2016. Sally Richardson was appointed chairman in 2018.
Holtzbrinck Publishers acquired Macmillan in 1995. Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck, a family-owned concern based in Stuttgart, Germany, controls this group. They also own Farrar, Straus and Giroux and Holt Publishers. These acquisitions brought significant structural changes to the American operation. The German firm expanded its reach into English-language publishing through these purchases. St. Martin's Press continued operations under this new ownership structure while maintaining its identity.
The publisher brings out approximately 700 titles annually across six distinct imprints. Minotaur focuses on mystery, suspense, and thrillers. Winners of the Malice Domestic First Traditional Mystery Contest receive a $10,000 one-book contract from Minotaur. Castle Point Books handles specialty nonfiction. St. Martin's Essentials covers lifestyle topics. Wednesday Books publishes young adult fiction. St. Martin's Griffin releases mainstream trade paperback books including romance. The main imprint itself handles bestseller books and general fiction.
St. Martin's Press became the first major trade-book publisher to release hardcover books through its own mass-market paperback division in 1984. This decision created St. Martin's Mass Market Paperback Co., Inc. The strategy allowed them to control distribution channels more directly. It represented a significant shift in how large publishers approached their output. Other companies followed similar models later, but this was an early adoption of integrated publishing methods.
October 2023 saw social media posts by a St. Martin's Press employee regarding the Gaza war draw attention from the online book community. A Palestinian BookTok member posted screenshots showing anti-Palestine remarks made by that employee. She noted her requests for titles were regularly denied or ignored despite being on the influencer list. White creators seemed to have no issue receiving requested books according to her experience. Many Arab and Muslim creators shared similar experiences with the company.
Readers for Accountability formed as a response to the October 2023 incident. Their campaign modeled itself after the HarperCollins union strike. The group encouraged a marketing and promotional boycott against the publisher. A petition calling for policy changes received over 8,000 signatures by January 2024. By August 2024, nearly 10,000 people had signed the demand for support of Arab and Palestinian creators. In August 2024, concerns about influencer privacy emerged when PR boxes included sex toys without disclosure.
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Common questions
When was St. Martin's Press founded and by whom?
Macmillan Publishers of the UK founded St. Martin's Press in 1952. The company took its name from a London street called St Martin's Lane where Macmillan had been headquartered before selling its US stake in 1951.
Who owns St. Martin's Press today and when did they acquire it?
Holtzbrinck Publishers acquired Macmillan in 1995. Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck, a family-owned concern based in Stuttgart, Germany, controls this group and expanded its reach into English-language publishing through these purchases.
What are the six distinct imprints operated by St. Martin's Press?
The publisher brings out approximately 700 titles annually across Minotaur, Castle Point Books, St. Martin's Essentials, Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Griffin, and the main imprint itself. Each division handles specific genres ranging from mystery to young adult fiction and mainstream trade paperbacks.
Which famous authors have published books with St. Martin's Press?
Mary Kay Andrews writes for the company alongside Casey McQuiston while Bill O'Reilly and C. J. Box contribute to their catalog. Kristin Hannah, Nora Roberts, Louise Penny, Rainbow Rowell, Ian K. Smith, Sally Hepworth, Ben Coes, N. Leigh Dunlap, and Jocko Willink also write for the press.
When did St. Martin's Press start releasing hardcover books through its own mass-market paperback division?
St. Martin's Press became the first major trade-book publisher to release hardcover books through its own mass-market paperback division in 1984. This decision created St. Martin's Mass Market Paperback Co., Inc. and allowed them to control distribution channels more directly.
What happened at St. Martin's Press in October 2023 regarding social media posts?
October 2023 saw social media posts by a St. Martin's Press employee regarding the Gaza war draw attention from the online book community. A Palestinian BookTok member posted screenshots showing anti-Palestine remarks made by that employee which led to the formation of Readers for Accountability as a response.