Books that "bring people together" is how Shana Drehs describes the fiction that Landmark publishes. The VP and editorial director of the Sourcebooks imprint, which turns 25 this year, spoke with PW about how this home for general fiction has evolved, what exciting new titles are on the horizon, and ways it will be innovating in 2026 and beyond.
Much has changed in the publishing landscape since Landmark was launched. In what ways do Landmark's core values continue to resonate?
It’s part of our mission to publish highly discussable general fiction that meets the needs of the reading moment. Landmark is known for publishing fiction that celebrates the vast community of readers with titles that readily bring people together—from book club phenomena to New York Times bestsellers and evergreen viral reads that are discovered over and over by new waves of readers. That has remained true throughout the course of our 25 years. Even as trends change and methods of discovery evolve, Landmark continues to serve as an entry point to the wide world of general fiction in a way that’s accessible and personal and that creates space to connect with others. And as such, a cornerstone of our program are those titles that celebrate the magic of books such as The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek novels, and the upcoming The Memory of Borrowed Books.
What makes Landmark such a great home for authors?
In addition to the innovation and agility that are part and parcel of the Sourcebooks publishing experience, the Landmark imprint offers a boutique spirit with a dedication to craft and title-level strategy. Our carefully curated list is a place for authors—both new and established—who are looking for a publishing partner who will collaborate on building their future. We publish with entrepreneurial energy paired with industry influence. Our tight-knit team works extremely closely with authors to pull back the curtain on the publishing experience, creating strategies that optimize their unique goals and building long-term opportunity every step of the way.
As technology and readers' media consumption habits evolve, what new marketing and outreach strategies have you embraced?
From the ground up, we are fully focused on the reader: What kind of cover will draw them in? Which titles are most alluring? The sales and marketing teams are incredibly involved in packaging each book, which means that every title, cover, and tagline are carefully discussed and considered by multiple departments.
We also want to be at the forefront of new marketing and outreach levers, whether that be TikTok Shop or creating crave-worthy packages. A highlight from this past year was The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark, which featured designed edges made to look like pages on fire. I love that we were able to bring readers a beautiful story in a stunning package—it makes it so much more sharable and turns each book into a collector’s item.
At the end of the day, we know that the most effective marketing strategy is bespoke plans with highly engaged marketers and publicists at the helm, focused on building word-of-mouth buzz, whether it be on social media, in the group chat, or one-on-one at a bookstore. We have a smaller list than many of our competitors, so each author gets a dedicated marketing and publicity contact, and every book gets a custom campaign. This focused attention is such a game changer, and it really allows us to pinpoint the right readership for each book.
How is Landmark continuing to connect with and support indie booksellers?
Landmark really strives to deliver the kinds of books that independent bookstores champion and that hand selling thrives on. We really listen to what they tell us—whether it be that they want more trade paperbacks, more books set in a certain region, or more support with their book club programming. In general, we love to partner with indies on their book club programs. So much so, we actually created an indie-exclusive initiative, Bookmarked for Book Clubs, that makes it easy for indie bookstores to choose Landmark titles for their clubs.
We know that indie booksellers have a lot to do every day and don’t have as much time to pore over catalogs and read through ARCs as they would probably like. Our marketing team focuses on creating bespoke, creative campaigns that really bring each book to life. There are no templates here—our books are thoughtfully pitched to the booksellers we know will love them. It takes so many decades of experience to understand our bookstore partners on that level, and I’m so proud to have a team that has taken the time to form such long-lasting, intimate relationships with booksellers throughout the country. This year, we also added our own indie sales force, which has been such an asset in nurturing those relationships.
What are some shared qualities across all of your titles that make them distinctive?
An excellence in storytelling and a depth and freshness of subject that makes every Landmark novel discussion worthy, no matter the genre. Another unique aspect of being an imprint of Sourcebooks is our geographic perspective in Naperville, Ill., which has allowed us to understand and tap into communities that aren’t as prominent in East Coast publishing. Being situated in the middle of the country offers us access and context for a wide swath of the country with rich storytelling and narratives that aren’t always represented in popular culture. Some of our most loved books tell stories from remote regions of the Midwest and the South that we feel are vital and eye-opening for readers across the country. We also make sure to include a reading group guide in every Landmark title, again serving a community of readers who want to connect through the books they read and who just have to talk about the story.
From your perspective, is it important to be cognizant of readerly trends? Or does Landmark aim to publish more evergreen stories?
Absolutely! We wouldn’t exist without readers, so we need to pay attention to what they’re telling us. As readers evolve, so do their needs and the stories they seek out from us, so we know it’s of utmost importance to listen to them and stay tuned into the cultural zeitgeist while still looking for universal stories that will resonate with audiences for years to come.
One example of this is Stuart Turton’s The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle—Landmark’s top-selling title of all time. This book bucked every trend in the marketplace when it came out. It was such a unique and unexpected mystery that it could scarcely be compared to anything on sale at the time. But we really believed that readers were searching for something unique and different. We also knew it was a book that could make history and set the standard for mysteries for years to come—and that’s exactly what happened. A million copies later, we’re set to release The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (The 7 ½ Anniversary Edition) in March. Because we listen to readers, we know what they want, so we’re giving it to them with a striking gold foil cover, Art Deco–inspired printed edges, new imagery, and exclusive content.
How do you strike a balance between finding new talent and supporting existing authors?
With our intentionally curated mapping and strategic acquisitions, we are able to ensure that all authors—both house authors who are publishing yet another book with us and debut authors new to the program—hold a strategic position on our list. Sourcebooks has always talked about publishing authors, not books, and as such we are dialed in to long-haul success. We’re here to support authors throughout their careers. We are committed to that shared vision and put authentic effort into meeting every author’s goals. Our team dedicates the time to having strategic, data-informed career conversations with every author on our list. We talk about where they want to go, what the market looks like, how we can build those stepping stones in the process to get from where they are to where they’re going. That’s what author advocacy means to us.
Any highlights you can share for 2026?
It’s impossible to choose just one or two highlights! We are kicking things off in 2026 with a bang: the #1 international bestseller The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey just published here in the United States at the end of December. This is a book that encapsulates so much of what Landmark does best: it’s a timeless coming-of-age story, infused with nostalgia and underpinned by a gritty, twisted mystery. It’s the kind of book that you simply cannot stop thinking or talking about once you’ve finished—lyrically written, ferociously honest, and beautifully life-affirming.
Later this month, I’d encourage you to look out for New York Times bestselling author Sophie Hannah’s most daring book yet, No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done, a mind-bending, audacious, and oh-so-brilliant metafictional mystery about a family who goes on the run when their dog is accused of biting a neighborhood girl. It’s one of the most ingenious and original stories I’ve read in quite a long time.
I would also ask readers to look for the new thriller from May Cobb, All the Little Houses. If you’re craving a juicy thriller about mean girls and meaner moms, this one goes down as easy as a spicy margarita. If you were a fan of The Hunting Wives on Netflix, you will absolutely devour this book!
Later this year, we’ll also be publishing The Mountains We Call Home: The Book Woman’s Legacy by New York Times bestselling author Kim Michele Richardson. This is her highly anticipated return to the world of the Packhorse Librarians and her best book yet. One more I want to mention: this Fall, we’re publishing the new thriller by bestselling sensation Clare Mackintosh, It’s Not What You Think. True to its title, it’s a twisted thrill ride that will fool you over and over again as it hurtles you to a shocking conclusion.
What do you envision for Landmark over the next 25 years?
As the cornerstone fiction imprint of Sourcebooks, Landmark has always been, and will continue to be, for the reader. For 25 years, that commitment has guided us, and it will continue to define the next 25. We champion exceptional storytelling, cross-genre appeal, and deep author partnership. Landmark is where the ideas of writers meet the needs of readers, creating stories that demand to be shared.
We publish books that celebrate unsung heroes, introduce unforgettable worlds, and offer joy, hope, and triumph. Our vision is for Landmark to remain the home readers return to, no matter where life takes them. In our next 25 years, we are poised for even greater growth in elevating the next generation of fiction voices and nurturing a community where books and readers are inextricably connected.
