New Age publishers HJ Kramer and New World Library announced plans for a joint venture under which New World Library will take over HJ Kramer's sales, marketing, subsidiary rights, fullfillment, production and accounting functions, while Hal and Linda Kramer, co-owners of HJK, will continue to manage author relationships and acquire new titles for the HJ Kramer list.
Munro Magruder, associate publisher at New World Library, told PW, "This is a perfect fit. We have the same market. The combination will create a significant player in the New Age, personal growth and spiritual market and give us substantial leverage in marketing and back-office operations." Magruder told PW that HJ Kramer and New World Library will have total annual revenues of more than $7.5 million.
New World Library was founded in 1977 in Novato, Calif. It publishes about 30 books a year and has a backlist of 150 books, audio cassettes and videos by such authors as Deepak Chopra and Mother Teresa. HJ Kramer was founded nearby in 1983. It has about 100 titles on its backlist and three key authors: Dan Millman, Sanaya Roman and John Robbins.
In 2000 HJ Kramer will publish six books, among them a 20th-anniversary edition of Dan Millman's Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Blowing Zen by Ray Brooks, Moments by Hal Kramer and Soulmates by Carolyn Codschild Miller.
