Quirk Books: Difference between revisions
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=== Catalog === | === Catalog === | ||
It is said that "Quirk Book is known for publishing adult horror," but they "also have been known for giftable board books, offbeat nonfiction, and and middle-grade fantasy."<ref name=":3" /> Also, as said in their mission, they publish entertaining, engaging, and unconventional books for adults and children in a variety of genres.<ref name=":0" /> Along with profitable material, the website for Quirk Books also has a Teacher & Librarian Newsletter, events kits, gallery kits, activities, and reading group guides for free as a resource for educators, librarians, parents. etc. <ref>"Resources" ''Quirk Books'' | It is said that "Quirk Book is known for publishing adult horror," but they "also have been known for giftable board books, offbeat nonfiction, and and middle-grade fantasy."<ref name=":3" /> Also, as said in their mission, they publish entertaining, engaging, and unconventional books for adults and children in a variety of genres.<ref name=":0" /> Along with profitable material, the website for Quirk Books also has a Teacher & Librarian Newsletter, events kits, gallery kits, activities, and reading group guides for free as a resource for educators, librarians, parents. etc. <ref>"Resources" ''Quirk Books,'' https://www.quirkbooks.com/resources/. Accessed 8 October 2025.</ref> Publications are categorized by either genre, reading-level, or series, as well as most recent/upcoming publications at the top of the catalog. <ref>"Books" ''Quirk Books'', https://www.quirkbooks.com/books/. Accessed 8 October 2025.</ref> In partnership with Zazzle, along with their books, Quirk Books also sells a variety merchandize including clothing, magnets, stickers, posters, and mugs.<ref>"Quirk Books: Official Merchandise" ''Zazzle''. https://www.zazzle.com/store/quirkbooks. Accessed 8 October 2025.</ref> | ||
=== Notable Titles/Authors === | === Notable Titles/Authors === | ||
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This book, released on March 1st, 2009, sells as a "audcious retelling of English literature's more enduring novel," that of which being ''Pride and Prejudice'' by Jane Austen. The novel involves a terrible plague that falls upon the small village of Meryton where the previously dead have come back to life to terrify its inhabitants. Elizabeth Bennet, a fierce heroine, determines to wipe out all the zombies until she encounters the elusive Mr. Darcy. Throughout the novel, the pair have many moments of civil sparring while they are also violently sparring with zombies on the bloody battle-field. | This book, released on March 1st, 2009, sells as a "audcious retelling of English literature's more enduring novel," that of which being ''Pride and Prejudice'' by Jane Austen. The novel involves a terrible plague that falls upon the small village of Meryton where the previously dead have come back to life to terrify its inhabitants. Elizabeth Bennet, a fierce heroine, determines to wipe out all the zombies until she encounters the elusive Mr. Darcy. Throughout the novel, the pair have many moments of civil sparring while they are also violently sparring with zombies on the bloody battle-field. | ||
The author, Seth Grahame-Smith, is a film and television writer/producer and New York Times bestselling author. He initially wrote from scripts for the History Channel to lyrics for Flava Flav. Seth also wrote a serious of unserious non-fiction books, but this novel was the novel that made him reowned. In fact, many authors wrote their own rendition of satirical classic novels, eventually developing it as a niche genre.<ref>"Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" ''Quirk Books'' | The author, Seth Grahame-Smith, is a film and television writer/producer and New York Times bestselling author. He initially wrote from scripts for the History Channel to lyrics for Flava Flav. Seth also wrote a serious of unserious non-fiction books, but this novel was the novel that made him reowned. In fact, many authors wrote their own rendition of satirical classic novels, eventually developing it as a niche genre.<ref>"Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" ''Quirk Books,''https://www.quirkbooks.com/book/pride-and-prejudice-and-zombies-2/#specs. Accessed 8 October 2025.</ref>This book was also adapted into screen-play format, being directed by Burr Steers, and was released in 2016, in which the poster of the movie won a Golden Trailer award for "Best Horror Poster."<ref>"Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)" ''IMdB'', https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1374989/. Accessed 8 October 2025.</ref> | ||
==== ''Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children'' ==== | ==== ''Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children'' ==== | ||
Revision as of 10:59, 8 October 2025
Background Information
Mission and History
Quirk Books was established in 2002 in Old City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] It was founded by David Borgenict, best-selling author of the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series.[2] It was started as a book packager for publishers such as Chronicle books, but then started publishing its own books, mostly exclusively in the gift books category.[3] Quirk's mission is to publish "seriously entertaining, engaging, and unconventional books for adults and children of a variety of genres," and since the beginning that has been their goal. Though they are headquartered in Philadelphia, they have their books distributed world-wide by Penguin Random House. [1] Brett Cohen, who worked with Quirk Books as their acting president, stepped down in 2021 as the original founder, David Borgenict, stepped back into his role.[4] In the early summer of 2025, Quirk Books laid off several staff members and paused their publishing program as a result of "marketplace and operational practices."[5] However, in October 2025, after being on an acquisitions pause, Quirk Books was sold to Andrew McMeel Publishing, effective as of October 1st, 2025.[6]
Ownership and Structure
As said above, Quirk Books was recently sold to Andrew McMeel Publishing as of October 2025. The original founder and president, David Borgenict, will serve as the publisher under the Quirk Books imprint of Andrews McMeel Publishing. [6] Before the acquisition, Quirk Books acted as an independent incorporated company, and does still currently work for profit. The publishing house was considered small, with only 22 employees as of June 2025. Around this time, 13 employees of Quirk Books elected to form a union with the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia.[7] In 2021, when Brett Cohen stepped down, Borgenict became the president and Jhantheigh Kupihea was promoted to publisher. Monkea Hewlett, who was the vice president and director of sales, also stepped down during this time. Other promotions were as followed: Nicole De Jackmo as the new senior vice president of sales, marketing and publicity, Megan Dipasquale as the vice president of finance, Andie Reid as the art director, Jane Morley as managing editor, and Mandy Sampson as senior production and sales manager. [4]
Financial Information
Since Quirk Books was an incorporated company and is currently in transition of ownership, financial information is unavailable at this time.
News
As said before, Quirk Books was aquired by Andrews McMeels Publishing in October 2025, meaning that they will publish Quirk Book's frontlist and backlist titles. Quirk Books will become an imprint of the company, with Dave Borenicht as the publisher under the imprint. Borenicht seems optimistic, as he says "I’ve been a fan of Andrews McMeel since I was in high school and I opened my first The Far Side calendar. I’m thrilled to be placing Quirk in their hands, and I’m really looking forward to doing some creative, independent publishing together."[8]
Publishing Program
Catalog
It is said that "Quirk Book is known for publishing adult horror," but they "also have been known for giftable board books, offbeat nonfiction, and and middle-grade fantasy."[2] Also, as said in their mission, they publish entertaining, engaging, and unconventional books for adults and children in a variety of genres.[1] Along with profitable material, the website for Quirk Books also has a Teacher & Librarian Newsletter, events kits, gallery kits, activities, and reading group guides for free as a resource for educators, librarians, parents. etc. [9] Publications are categorized by either genre, reading-level, or series, as well as most recent/upcoming publications at the top of the catalog. [10] In partnership with Zazzle, along with their books, Quirk Books also sells a variety merchandize including clothing, magnets, stickers, posters, and mugs.[11]
Notable Titles/Authors
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
This book, released on March 1st, 2009, sells as a "audcious retelling of English literature's more enduring novel," that of which being Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The novel involves a terrible plague that falls upon the small village of Meryton where the previously dead have come back to life to terrify its inhabitants. Elizabeth Bennet, a fierce heroine, determines to wipe out all the zombies until she encounters the elusive Mr. Darcy. Throughout the novel, the pair have many moments of civil sparring while they are also violently sparring with zombies on the bloody battle-field.
The author, Seth Grahame-Smith, is a film and television writer/producer and New York Times bestselling author. He initially wrote from scripts for the History Channel to lyrics for Flava Flav. Seth also wrote a serious of unserious non-fiction books, but this novel was the novel that made him reowned. In fact, many authors wrote their own rendition of satirical classic novels, eventually developing it as a niche genre.[12]This book was also adapted into screen-play format, being directed by Burr Steers, and was released in 2016, in which the poster of the movie won a Golden Trailer award for "Best Horror Poster."[13]
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "About" Quirk Books, https://www.quirkbooks.com/about/. Accessed 8 Oct 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Publisher Profile: Quirk Books" The Children's Book Council, https://www.cbcbooks.org/2025/01/23/publisher-profile-quirk-books/. Accessed 8 October 2025.
- ↑ "Quirks Work at Quirk Books." Publishers Weekly, vol. 264, no. 17, 2017, pp. 4. ProQuest, http://libgateway.susqu.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/quirks-work-at-quirk-books/docview/1892133472/se-2.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Changes at Quirk Books" Locus Magazine, https://locusmag.com/2021/04/changes-at-quirk-books/. Accessed 8 Oct 2025.
- ↑ Hershberger, Katy. "Quirk Lays Off Union Staff, Pauses Editorial Operations." Publishers Lunch, 3 July 2025, https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2025/07/quirk-lays-off-union-staff-pauses-editorial-operations/. Accessed 8 October 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cader, Michael. "Quirk Books is Sold to Andrew McMeel" Publisher's Lunch, 6 October 2025, https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2025/10/quirk-books-is-sold-to-andrews-mcmeel/. Accessed 8 October 2025.
- ↑ Kirch, Claire. "Quirk Books Employees Elect to Form a Union." Publishers Weekly, vol. 272, no. 22, 2025, pp. 7. ProQuest, http://libgateway.susqu.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/quirk-books-employees-elect-form-union/docview/3218442333/se-2.
- ↑ "Andrew McMeel Aquires Quirk" Locus Magazine, https://locusmag.com/2025/10/andrews-mcmeel-acquires-quirk/. Accessed 8 October 2025.
- ↑ "Resources" Quirk Books, https://www.quirkbooks.com/resources/. Accessed 8 October 2025.
- ↑ "Books" Quirk Books, https://www.quirkbooks.com/books/. Accessed 8 October 2025.
- ↑ "Quirk Books: Official Merchandise" Zazzle. https://www.zazzle.com/store/quirkbooks. Accessed 8 October 2025.
- ↑ "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" Quirk Books,https://www.quirkbooks.com/book/pride-and-prejudice-and-zombies-2/#specs. Accessed 8 October 2025.
- ↑ "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)" IMdB, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1374989/. Accessed 8 October 2025.
