An independent imprint for authors of consequence
Books built to last.
Bolt Publishing is a selective imprint for authors whose work deserves the full weight of a publishing house: the craft, the standards, and the mark on the spine, without giving up ownership of the book.
The mark
Look for the bolt.
Every book Bolt publishes carries the Bolt mark on its spine and its copyright page. It’s a signal to readers, to booksellers, and to the press that this book met a standard before it met the world. The imprint puts its name next to the author’s because it is prepared to stand behind the book.
A house puts its name on a book for one reason: it believes the book will still matter in 10 years.
The imprint
Three things, done properly.
Positioning
Before a page is designed, Bolt works out what the book is for. Title, subtitle, structure, the reader it’s written for, and the place it holds in the author’s larger body of work. A well-positioned book sells itself for a decade. A poorly positioned one needs a campaign every quarter.
Publishing
Developmental and line editing, interior typesetting, cover design, ISBN and imprint registration, print and digital distribution through every major channel. Built to the production standards of the big houses, and reviewed by an editor before it ships.
The mark
The Bolt colophon on the spine, the title page, and the copyright page. Inclusion in the Bolt catalog. The author retains full rights, full royalties, and final say on every decision. The imprint lends its name, not its ownership.
You wrote the book. Bolt makes sure the world takes it as seriously as you do.
Selection
A small number of titles each year. On purpose.
A mark only means something if it’s not on everything. Bolt takes on a limited list so every book gets an editor’s full attention and a place in a catalog the imprint would put its own name on.
Bolt looks for 3 things.
You’ve spent years in the work the book is about, and people already pay for your judgment.
There is a specific person this book will change, and you can describe them.
The book is a foundation for what you’ll build next: your practice, your firm, your platform, your next book.
If that’s you, Bolt would like to read your proposal. If it isn’t yet, selfpublishing.com is the right place to begin, and the editors will say so.
From Bolt
The list.
Forthcoming and recent titles published under the Bolt mark. The editions below are placeholders until the first list is announced.
Full catalog available to booksellers and press on request.
Why an imprint
Three ways to publish a serious book.
| Consideration | Traditional house | Bolt | On your own |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who owns the rights | The publisher | You | You |
| Royalty on a $28 hardcover | About $2–4 | Yours, in full | Yours, in full |
| Time to shelf | 18–24 months | 6–9 months | Whenever you finish |
| Editorial standard | Theirs | Bolt’s, and yours | Whatever you can hire |
| A mark on the spine | Yes | Yes | No |
| Says no to books | Constantly | Yes | Never |
The house’s standards. The independent’s ownership. That’s the whole idea.
Inquire
Tell us about the book.
Every inquiry is read by an editor, who responds within 3 business days. If Bolt is the right home for your book, the next step is a conversation. If it isn’t, you’ll hear that plainly, along with somewhere useful to go instead.