Atria Books
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Judith Curr |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Libby McGuire (Publisher and Senior Vice President) |
| Products | Books, ebooks, audiobooks |
| Parent | Simon & Schuster |
Atria Publishing Group operates as a general interest publishing division within Simon & Schuster. Originating as Atria Books in 2002, the group expanded internally at Simon & Schuster to encompass multiple imprints, including Atria Books, Atria Trade Paperbacks, Atria Books Espanol, Atria Unbound, Washington Square Press, Emily Bestler Books, Atria/Beyond Words, Cash Money Content, Howard Books, Marble Arch Press, Strebor Books, 37 Ink, Keywords Press, and Enliven Books. The group is distinguished for its innovative imprint strategies and collaborative publishing agreements with African-American authors, alongside its ventures into digital and alternative print formats.
As of 2021, Libby McGuire holds the position of Publisher and Senior Vice President at Atria Publishing Group.
Early years
Judith Curr founded Atria Books in 2002. The term "Atria" was chosen to symbolize a nurturing environment where ideas can thrive, reflecting Curr’s ambition to connect authors with readers effectively. Establishing a new imprint within the longstanding Simon & Schuster (established 1924), Curr selected a name starting with "A" to secure priority placement in internal listings.
In 2005, Simon & Schuster acquired Strebor Books International, an imprint recognized for popular fiction by African-American writers such as erotica author Zane. Zane continued her role as publisher for the Maryland-based imprint. Originally founded independently in 1999, Strebor Books faced bankruptcy under publisher Kristina Laferne Roberts in 2013.
Atria pioneered digital integration in 2009 by partnering with Vook, becoming the first publisher to adopt their platform. Curr oversaw the release of the initial four Vooks that combined print and digital content. This collaboration resulted in the development of the Atria Smartbook—a printed book enhanced with QR codes that link readers to supplementary material—enabling comprehensive tracking of reader interaction and broadening commercial opportunities.
2010s
Atria Books offers a broad spectrum of fiction and nonfiction titles that include initiatives supporting diverse voices, internet celebrities, and authors who initially self-published. Editors sometimes receive their own imprints; for example, Emily Bestler was granted one in 2011.
In 2011, Atria entered into a co-publishing agreement with Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams, founders of Cash Money Records, establishing the Miami-based imprint Cash Money Content to leverage book promotion at music events.
By 2012, approximately one-quarter of Atria’s 98-title catalog was dedicated to an African-American publishing program overseen by Vice President Malaika Adero. Prominent authors within this initiative include Walter Mosley, Farai Chideya, Blair Underwood, and Vickie Stringer. The Strebor Books imprint—founded by Zane in 1999—also operates under Atria’s umbrella. Additionally, Atria Books Espanol serves Hispanic readers through English and Spanish-language publications.
In 2012, Simon & Schuster restructured its adult imprints into four core groups with Atria as one; during this process, the religious-focused Howard imprint was integrated into Atria Publishing Group. That same year marked a partnership with UK-based Short Books to launch Marble Arch Press, aimed at introducing international authors to American audiences.
In 2013, Atria unveiled 37 INK to concentrate on diverse voices and African-American authors. The subsequent year saw the creation of Keywords Press to publish works by internet influencers such as Shay Butler (ShayCarl), Shane Dawson, Justine Ezarik (iJustine), Connor Franta, and Joey Graceffa through collaboration with United Talent Agency (UTA). Many releases were developed through direct fan involvement. This initiative was recognized by The New York Times as mainstream media’s acknowledgment of YouTube stars’ commercial viability.
Atria showcased significant reader engagement in 2014 when social media campaigns generating over 5,000 posts convinced the publisher to issue a printed edition of Colleen Hoover’s free e-novella #FindingCinderella.
The company also emphasizes acquiring successful self-published authors; in 2013 it signed contracts for eighteen titles from eight such writers, revising their ebooks for newly released editions. Selection priorities include emotional resonance found in online reader reviews.
In 2015, Atria introduced Crave (ThisIsCrave.com), an app and subscription platform delivering daily audio segments of romance novels. That year also marked the launch of Enliven Books—a spiritual and wellness imprint led by author and tea entrepreneur Zhena Muzyka—operated from her yurt in Ojai, California. Muzyka chose the name based on an intuitive sense meaning "to add color" or "to uplift."
Imprints
- 37 INK, dedicated to publishing African-American and diverse voices
- Atria Books, a general interest publishing division
- Atria Español, specializing in Spanish-language titles for the U.S. market
- Atria Trade Paperbacks, producing general trade paperback editions
- Atria Unbound, offering digital versions of Atria’s catalog
- Beyond Words, a joint venture with Atria Books focusing on mind-body-spirit publications such as The Secret
- Cash Money Content, a collaborative effort with Cash Money Records
- Emily Bestler Books, a publisher of both fiction and nonfiction works
- Enliven Books, concentrating on Spirituality and Wellness genres
- Howard Books, a publisher of Christian literature
- Keywords Press, specializing in works authored by Internet influencers
- Marble Arch Press, co-published with UK-based Short Books
- One Signal Publishers, emphasizing nonfiction titles
- Simon Element, publishing books related to cooking, health and wellness, finance, and personal growth
- Skybound Books, a partnership with Skybound Entertainment
- Strebor Books, focusing on African-American and Black Erotica literature
- Washington Square Press, established in 1959, offering classic and contemporary fiction in paperback format
Notable authors
Prominent writers associated with Atria Books include: