When Barnes & Noble tapped Emily Meehan to reinvent the retailer’s publishing operation, she transformed Sterling Publishing into Union Square & Co. And, as chief creative officer and publisher at Union Square & Co., Meehan has created something truly special.
Union Square & Co. has grown into a leading publisher of unique and rewarding titles from a variety of genres, books that feature fresh voices and new perspectives that change or enhance the conversation.
“We want to make books that readers are proud to own and show off, and above all, that make them want to keep turning the pages,” says Union Square & Co. editorial director Amanda Englander. “We see ourselves as a home for debut authors who are just making their mark, as well as for experienced authors who may want to try something a little bit different.”
And at Union Square Kids, which features children’s, middle grade, and YA titles from new and well-established authors and illustrators, the goal is simple: wowing readers.
“We want every single kid to find a book on the UNSQ Kids list that feels deeply special and personal to them,” says Union Square Kids editorial director Tracey Keevan. “These are lofty goals, we know. But they are also important goals... and we love that.”
This newsletter was produced in partnership with Union Square & Co.
Surprising and Inspiring Readers: Close-up on Union Square & Co.
Since launching in January of this year, Union Square & Co. has established itself as a publisher of broad-ranging, unique, and enriching titles across multiple categories and genres. Whether it’s publishing fresh and authentic voices in fantasy, cookbooks, or anything in between, Union Square & Co.’s line of titles surprises and inspires.
Editorial director Amanda Englander spoke about what sets Union Square & Co. apart and the many exciting projects on tap.
Wowing Young Readers: Close-up on Union Square Kids
It’s full steam ahead for Union Square Kids. The publisher’s dynamic line of children’s, middle grade, and YA titles includes well-established authors and illustrators and new voices alike.
Editorial director Tracey Keevan shares the vision behind Union Square Kids, its publishing aspirations, and a few of the many standout titles on the horizon.
Read the Interview
Sheet Pan Sweets by Molly Gilbert
Author of the hit Sheet Pan Suppers, Molly Gilbert returns with 80+ delicious and innovative sheet pan recipes that give effortless ways to create delicious desserts. Molly is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute (now part of the Institute of Culinary Education). She has had roles as a cooking instructor, private chef, and recipe tester in the kitchen of Saveur.
Sheet Pan Sweets publishes Oct. 4.
Welcome, Hustler by Robin Arzon
A bold and empowering journal that encourages readers to write their story and own it, from the VP/Head Instructor at Peloton. Robin has cultivated an immensely engaged audience both on the bike and on Instagram, where she has nearly one million followers. She teaches a MasterClass on mental strength, has been featured in Fortune’s “40 under 40” list, and in 2021, was the first-ever recipient of Glamour magazine’s Daring to Disrupt Award.
Welcome, Hustler publishes Dec. 6.
A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
This series starter was originally self-published. The author made a splash within the BookTok community by publishing A Broken Blade anonymously, offering clues about its origin and revealing herself as the author after two weeks of speculation. The novel is a commercial fantasy—from an Indigenous perspective written by an Indigenous and queer author—that puts a sexy spin on the enemies-to-lovers trope and features expertly crafted worldbuilding.
A Broken Blade publishes Aug. 2.
The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster by Mo Willems
Buckle up for twists, turns, and emotional loop-de-loops in the most roller coaster-y Pigeon book ever! From number one New York Times bestselling, award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems comes the eighth picture book in The Pigeon collection. The Pigeon will be ready. Will you!?
The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster publishes Sept. 6.
Learn MoreWait for Me by Sara Shepard
Number 1 New York Times-bestselling plot-twist queen Sara Shepard returns with an addictive blend of paranormal romance and mystery thriller. Dating New York socialite Marcus Coleman, Casey has had trouble recognizing herself lately. But things only get stranger when she begins to hear a voice in her head: one that warns her of danger and leads her to the sleepy town of Avon, where she recognizes people and places she couldn’t possibly know, including a beguiling local boy who seems important to her past—and her present.
Wait for Me publishes Nov. 1.
Learn MoreNothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont by Nick Brooks
E.T. meets Stranger Things in the kickoff to Nick Brooks’s middle-grade series that weaves contemporary issues of social justice, industrial community struggles, and everyday life in a fast-paced out-of-this-world adventure. When self-proclaimed genius inventor Ethan Fairmont runs into an abandoned car factory to avoid a local bully and accidentally stumbles across his ex-best friend Kareem, new-kid Juan Carlos, and an extraterrestrial visitor, life suddenly gets interesting. Can Ethan and his friends pull off an intergalactic rescue before they’re all found out? Author Nick Brooks is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and former educator. His short film Hoop Dreamin’ earned him the George Lucas Scholar Award and his short film Bee won the James Bridges and Jack Larson Award for Writing and Directing.
Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont publishes Oct. 4.
Learn More1-2-3-4, I Declare a Thumb War by Lisi Harrison and Daniel Kraus
Meet Whisper, Frannie, Sophie, Gemma, and Zuzu, five friends who tell eerie tales by night and navigate middle-school drama by day. Misery Falls, Ore., is abuzz as the 100th anniversary of the electrocution of the town’s most infamous killer, Silas Hoke, approaches. When a mysterious text message leads the girls to the cemetery—where Silas Hoke is buried!—life can’t get any creepier. This slightly scary, extremely addictive story is the first in a five-book series by New York Times bestselling authors Lisi Harrison and Daniel Kraus.
1-2-3-4, I Declare a Thumb War publishes Sept. 6.
Learn MoreRead an Excerpt from Graveyard Girls: 1-2-3-4, I Declare a Thumb War
Check out this exclusive, 19-page excerpt from Lisi Harrison and Daniel Kraus’s 1-2-3-4, I Declare a Thumb War.
Read the ExcerptRead an Excerpt from A Broken Blade
Check out this massive 25-page excerpt from Melissa Blair's A Broken Blade..
Read the ExcerptWin Books From Union Square & Co.
Enter for a chance to win forthcoming books—your choice of a kids’ title or an adult title—courtesy of Union Square & Co.
About Union Square & Co.
Union Square & Co. is a talent-driven publisher whose mission is to promote excellence in contemporary publishing and to honor the vision of our creators by providing best-in-class production, editorial, and design choices. Headquartered in New York City, Union Square & Co., LLC, is a subsidiary of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., and includes imprints Puzzlewright Press, home to pencil-and-paper puzzles, and Sterling Ethos, home to magic and mystic-driven books and products.
For more information, visit unionsquareandco.com.
