Authors With Their Own Publishing Imprints (And What Books to Read From Them)

The second book released by Roxane Gay Books is a vibrant, sexy, queer contemporary romance about an artist named Glory who, while working tirelessly to gain a foothold in the art world, inherits a Harlem brownstone in need of a lot of work. Glory teams up with Parkie, a driven appraiser who also has something to gain from the property, but as they explore the home’s history and hidden treasures, they discover Glory’s late Aunt Lucille had some fascinating secrets.

The most recent release from Roxane Gay Books is a layered mystery/thriller about suburban secrets and dangerously toxic friendships. Jackie and Theresa have been best friends since they met in a maternity ward. Theresa has the perfect life Jackie craves: the sweet and well-behaved daughter, the ability to stay thin, and an adoring husband — with whom Jackie has a torrid affair. When Theresa is found brutally murdered, both of their family’s dark secrets come to the surface.

Gillian Flynn Books’s second release combines a mystery plot with elements of horror, sci-fi, and satire. Anisa is tired of living off of her parents and translating Bollywood films when her true dream is translating high-brow literature. When she hears about a language school that promises to teach her full fluency in any language in just over a week, it seems too good to be true. Anisa quickly learns that her new school is hiding a terrible secret. It’s a darkly funny, thought-provoking, unforgettable novel.

Gillian Flynn’s thrillers have a compelling ability to question what goes on behind closed doors for seemingly normal families. That’s also a powerful theme in this upcoming thriller by Araminta Hall. Cole has always thought of himself as one of the good guys, so he was distraught when the marriage he poured his heart into fell apart. After moving to the countryside, he thinks he might have found his new soulmate in his neighbor Leonora, an introverted artist. But when two young women protesting gendered violence go missing in Cole and Leonora’s area, they find themselves the center of the investigation and realize there’s a lot they don’t know about each other.

One of Joy Revolution Books’s first releases is a scandalous YA regency romance by Amalie Howard. Queen Bee tells the story of Lady Ela Dalvi, who has been hiding away in the English countryside ever since being betrayed and publicly humiliated by her best friend over a boy. Determined to get her revenge on her traitorous friend, Ela disguises herself as an intriguing single heiress and reenters the social scene. But when she encounters the only man she ever loved, Ela questions if it’s really revenge she wants or something else entirely.

Lots of beloved authors got in on the Joy Revolution Books party with this short story anthology set around an epic house party. Seniors from across the social stratosphere at Florence Hills High all come together for one last blowout at a megamansion, and romantic tensions are high. Stories from Angeline Boulley, Natasha Díaz, Ryan La Sala, and more weave together a diverse portrait of young adults looking for love and connection before taking their next big steps after high school.

This Versify graphic novel comes from the mind of YouTube Slime Queen Karina Garcia. Three friends run a colorful slime shop, but little do they know that at night when the store is closed, the slime comes to life for squishy adventures. It’s a story of friendship, silly humor, and zombie slime. Who could ask for anything more?

The Many Fortunes of Maya is a middle grade novel starring 12-year-old Maya, who collects fortune cookie wisdom to help her solve her life’s biggest questions. Maya crafts a “Wheel of Fortunes,” a spinning cardboard circle with her fortune cookie collection to use whenever she feels uncertain of her future. But as she uses it, Maya wonders if she’s brave enough to write her own fortune and shape her own destiny.

Dawn Quigley has written three books in the Jo Jo Makoons children’s chapter book series with Heartdrum. In her latest, Jo Jo has been learning about being active and healthy in school. When a snowstorm wins her a day off from class, Jo Jo uses it to get the other children and elders in her Ojibwe community to take part in an epic Winter Olympics competition.

In addition to excellent children’s and middle grade books, Heartdrum also publishes excellent YA novels, like this one starring an Ojibwe teen named Tre Brun. After the devastating loss of his brother, Tre throws himself wholeheartedly into Red Lake Reservation’s high school basketball team. He dreams of playing in the NBA, and when Tre’s brother’s friends bring him into their group, the state championship might be within reach.

In this second half of the Shadow Brujas duology, J.C. Cervantes takes readers on a magical journey through Mayan mythology. Ren Santiago chose death over becoming an evil queen of the Aztec Lords of Night. Now, she must return to the land of the living to save her friends, but she’ll have to bargain with the queen of the underworld to get there.

Roseanne A. Brown introduced the world to Ghanaian folklore-inspired preteen vampire hunter in Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting. Now Serwa is back, and her world is upended when she learns she’s part vampire herself. She looks to her beloved aunt for advice on embracing her vampire side, and her aunt gives her an even bigger mission: freeing her grandmother’s spirit from a drum in the Smithsonian Museum of African Art.