Open Road Integrated Media has launched Re-Discovery Lit, a new imprint that will republish out-of-print and reverted books.
Open Road will market the books through its Ignition service, which promotes both backlist and frontlist titles directly to consumers for about 100 publishers. “As we continue to help publishers reach new readers for their previously published books, it became clear to us that republishing worthy out-of-print and reverted titles is another way we can serve the industry,” said Open Road chairman David Steinberger, in a statement.
Mara Anastas has been named publisher of Re-Discovery Lit, and is leading a three-person team at the imprint. Open Road is acquiring print, e-book, and audio rights for no advance, but will pay royalties. Before Re-Discovery agrees to buy a title, it puts the book through its “vetting engine” to see if has any characteristics of previous titles that have benefitted from Open Road’s marketing efforts, Steinberger said.
Re-Discovery is launching with about 200 books on its list. In addition to selling e-books directly from its platform, any print orders from booksellers will be fulfilled by Ingram.
A sample of the titles currently being republished by Re-Discovery Lit include A Single Rose and Threats and Promises by Barbara Delinsky; Ring Around the Sun and The Visitors by Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author Clifford D. Simak; and Roger Angell’s Season Ticket and A Day in the Life of Roger. Re-Discovery Lit has also signed an agreement with Alloy Entertainment to republish select Alloy series. Among those series are the young adult series Fingerprints by Melinda Metz and the thriller series Who Killed Peggy Sue? by Eileen Goudge.
CAA’s Amanda “Binky” Urban, who represents Roger Angell, said in a statement that “Open Road’s technology is proven to lift sales of previously published books, and it is wonderful that these works by Roger can continue to find a new audience of readers.”
