Simon and Schuster Launches Pocket Star Ebook Imprint

Posted on May 7, 2012

Who doesn't have a fondness for the iconic Pocket Books paperback imprint? It was the first American paperback publisher, founded in early 1939. The imprint changed reading habits in America, as people got used to the idea of toting a handy paperback book with them wherever they went. So it is only fitting that a Pocket Books imprint move into the digital world.

Louise Burke, Executive Vice President and Publisher, announced today that Simon and Schuster has launched Pocket Star which will publish only ebooks. Pocket Star will publish bestselling and debut authors in popular genres including women's fiction, romance, thrillers, urban fantasy, and mystery.

Louise Burke said in a statement, "Similar to how mass market has served as a platform to develop future hardcover authors, it is our mission to use Pocket Star's new digital-only format to establish new voices in the marketplace. An ebook imprint is flexible, cost-effective, cutting-edge and makes sense in today's marketplace. Under the Pocket Star banner we will publish original works including full-length novels and novellas from some of our most popular authors."

Pocket Star's Spring and Summer titles include works from authors V.C. Andrews, Nathan Dodge, Cindy Gerard, Laura Griffin, Sabrina Jeffries, Carrie Lofty, and Michael R. Underwood. Titles that launch in ebook form may be selected to be published in print, as well.

Executive editor Lauren McKenna will be the new Editorial Director of Pocket Star and will oversee all content. You can access the Pocket Star eBook Sampler for free here (pdf file): here. Pocket Books will still publish both print and ebook formats for mass market authors.