James Patterson will launch a new dedicated children’s imprint, jimmy patterson, at longtime publisher Little, Brown, that will release eight to 12 middle-grade and young adult titles annually (4-6 of those titles will be Patterson’s, with the other acquisitions to be overseen by him.) “We’re not going to buy a lot of books, but if we buy them, we’re going to publish them with gusto,” Patterson told the NYT in advance of the official announcement at BEA Friday morning. Proceeds from the imprint’s titles will go to scholarships for teachers; helping bookstores; supporting school libraries; increasing the reach of Patterson’s pro-reading website, ReadKiddoRead; and distributing books to kids who can’t afford them.
“James Patterson is a man on a mission: to save lives by making great books available to all kids,” said Hachette Book Group USA ceo Michael Pietsch in the announcement. “This new imprint is an exciting way of combining his force as the world’s best-selling author with his inspiring message about getting kids reading. I can’t think of anyone better equipped with tools and experiences to revolutionize children’s book publishing. With his deep commitment to reading and his let’s-solve-this-problem approach, he is the ideal founder for an imprint that aligns with Hachette Book Group’s tradition of fostering creativity and encouraging risk-taking and innovation.” “I do think I can get a lot more kids reading,” added Patterson. “The mission is simple. Any kid who finishes a Jimmy book will say, ‘Please give me another book.'”