Jonathan Karp

Writing in The Washington Post this weekend, Twelve publisher Jonathan Karp levels a precise, sober critique of the publishing industry in which he predicts that "quality" books built on years of work will eventually regain their value in the marketplace. Karp's piece, an articulation of what has been the implicit philosophy behind the 12-books-a-year business model of his imprint, argues that as much as high-minded traditionalists in the business like to invoke it, the distinction between highbrow and lowbrow is an obsolete one. He draws instead a line between books that are conceived with expedience in mind to those which are "built to last.  read more »

Former editor-in-chief of Reader’s Digest Jackie Leo and Williams College math professor Edward Burger are teaming up to write a book about the history of the number ‘7’ for Twelve Books, an imprint of Hachette Book Group USA started in 2005 that defines itself by its small list of titles and selectivity.  read more »

Back when the writers' strike was keeping him out of work, actor Rob Lowe decided it'd be fun to write a book about his life. And so he wrote up a proposal, and with the help of Richard Abate of the Endeavor Talent Agency, submitted it in early February to publishers all over town. Mr. Lowe was a big hit, according to Mr. Abate, impressing editors with his insistence on writing the book himself instead of hiring a ghostwriter like most celebrities do for their memoirs.

After an intense auction, the book had a buyer in Jonathan Karp, publisher of the upstart Hachette Book Group imprint Twelve. Mr. Karp, who publishes just one book every month, beat out formidable bids from several other major houses, agreeing to pay Mr. Lowe what several knowledgeable sources said was about a million dollars.

The deal was just about ready to go—Mr. Abate had informed Mr. Karp that he had prevailed in the auction and contract negotiations were under way—when, on Wednesday the 13th, the writers' strike up and ended, and Mr. Lowe suddenly became an actor again.  read more »

Less than six months after leaving his job as executive editor-in-chief of the Random House Publishing Group, Daniel Menaker has signed a book deal with his former colleague, Twelve publisher Jonathan Karp, to write A Good Talk, a primer on how to hold a good conversation, Publishers Weekly reports. 

Mr. Karp served under Mr. Menaker at Random House for about two years before leaving to start his own imprint at Hachette Book Group USA.  read more »