St. Martin's Press
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1952 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Key people | George Witte (editor in chief), Jennifer Enderlin (publisher), Sally Richardson (chairman) |
| Products | Books |
| Parent | Macmillan Publishers (a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC) |
St. Martin's Press stands as a prominent publishing house based in the Equitable Building located in Manhattan, New York City. Recognized among the largest English-language publishers, it issues approximately 700 new books each year through six distinct imprints. The editorial leadership is headed by George Witte as editor in chief, with Jennifer Enderlin holding the publisher role since 2016 and Sally Richardson appointed as chairman in 2018.
The publisher’s imprints serve various segments of the market: St. Martin's Press produces mainstream and bestselling works; St. Martin's Griffin focuses on mainstream paperback fiction and nonfiction; Minotaur is dedicated to mystery, suspense, and thriller genres; Castle Point Books specializes in niche nonfiction; St. Martin's Essentials delivers lifestyle-related content; and Wednesday Books targets the young adult fiction audience.
History
Following the divestment of its interest in Macmillan US in 1951, UK-based Macmillan Publishers established St. Martin's Press in 1952, naming it after London’s St Martin's Lane, where Macmillan’s headquarters were situated. St. Martin's later acquired Tor-Forge Books, which concentrates on science fiction, fantasy, and thriller titles. In 1995, Macmillan was acquired by Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC, a division of Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck—a family-owned publishing conglomerate headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany—that also owns imprints such as Farrar, Straus and Giroux and Holt Publishers.
Among the authors published by St. Martin's Press are notable names like Mary Kay Andrews, Casey McQuiston, Bill O'Reilly, C. J. Box, Linda Castillo, Ann Cleeves, Kristin Hannah, Louise Penny, Nora Roberts, and Rainbow Rowell. The company also produces the New York Times crossword puzzle book series. Its textbook division, known as Bedford-St. Martin's, was launched in 1981. Notably, in 1984, St. Martin's became the pioneering major trade publisher to issue hardcover editions via its own mass-market paperback division.
In October 2023, St. Martin's Press encountered controversy after an employee’s anti-Palestine comments were made public online, sparking criticism within the literary community. Creators on Palestinian BookTok reported experiencing disparities in receiving promotional copies compared to their white counterparts. This controversy led to the creation of Readers for Accountability, a group advocating for a marketing boycott and calling for increased support for Arab and Palestinian authors. By January 2024, their petition had amassed over 8,000 signatures, growing to nearly 10,000 by August 2024.
In August 2024, concerns regarding influencer privacy emerged when St. Martin's Press distributed PR packages containing an unexpected sex toy to influencers, intensifying ongoing discussions about privacy and safety issues connected to the previous controversy.
Imprints
- St. Martin's Press – publishes mainstream and bestselling books.
- St. Martin's Griffin – issues mainstream trade paperback titles including romance.
- Minotaur – focuses on mystery, suspense, and thriller genres; offers a $10,000 contract through the "Malice Domestic" First Traditional Mystery Contest.
- Castle Point Books – specializes in niche nonfiction.
- St. Martin's Essentials – provides lifestyle-oriented publications.
- Wednesday Books – dedicated to young adult fiction.