Gillian Flynn and Lena Waithe will launch imprints with Zando, the independent publisher founded last year by Molly Stern, the New York Times reports.
Gone Girl author Flynn and actor, screenwriter, and producer Waithe (Queen and Slim) are the first writers to partner with the press, which is led by former Crown publisher Stern.
Flynn’s imprint, Gillian Flynn Books, will focus on fiction, nonfiction, and true crime. “I love being a writer and now I’m thrilled to be working with Molly as a publisher, helping distinctive voices find all the readers out there who are craving the unique,” Flynn said in a statement quoted by Deadline.
Waithe will lead Hillman Grad Books, focusing on literary fiction, memoirs, and books for young readers. “Our mission is to introduce people to authors they may not have otherwise heard of,” Waithe told the Times.
Each imprint will publish four to six books over a span of three years.
“Lena Waithe and Gillian Flynn are dream publishing partners for Zando,” Stern said in a statement. “I’m no different from millions of other readers who know what these remarkable creators stand for, respect their unique vision and trust their taste. Lena and Gillian are cultural pioneers who devour and celebrate exciting new literary work and share my desire to support new voices.”
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
