About

Greenleaf Book Group is a publisher and distributor that specializes in the development of independent authors and the growth of small presses. Our publishing model was designed to support the independent author and to make it possible for writers to retain the rights to their work and still compete with the major publishing houses. We have five imprints under the Greenleaf Book Group umbrella: Greenleaf Book Group Press, Emerald Book Company, Live Oak, Inc. 500 Press, and Legacy Book Company.

Greenleaf succeeds by operating within a fresh paradigm. Our publishing models combine the benefits of the major publishers’ traditional approach with the ownership, timeline, and control perks of self-publishing. Greenleaf makes it possible for the authors and small presses we serve to compete with the major publishers’ production quality and profit margins without sacrificing control and independence.

We are one of the few publishers that allows its authors to retain full publication rights while still offering editorial, design, and production quality that matches—often even beats—the major publishing houses. We do not bind our clients to us contractually for any specified time, so our clients have the freedom to move about the industry as they please. Greenleaf clients own their work and navigate their careers on their own terms.

Our publishing model refreshes the industry without demanding unrealistic change. Although many models designed to support independent authors, such as ebooks and print-on-demand technology, have been introduced to the industry, the Greenleaf model is the only one that works within the trade’s infrastructure. Other models try to develop an entirely new system for retailers, consumers, publishers, and authors. As one link of this chain breaks, the entire model fails; independent authors are thrown back to square one. Greenleaf ’s model, on the other hand, does not require change in consumer buying practices or retail ordering and selling practices. Our model relies only on changes by the author and publisher.

Greenleaf offers marketing solutions that produce real results. Groundbreaking in the industry, Greenleaf ’s marketing programs are proven, sales-focused strategies for small presses and independent authors to get books on bookstore shelves, expand and leverage powerful sales platforms, and position their titles for maximum exposure to consumers and the supply chain.


COMPANY HISTORY

Clint Greenleaf started Greenleaf Book Group in 1997 after he graduated from college. During that summer, before he started as a staff accountant at Deloitte, he wrote a book called Attention to Detail: A Gentleman's Guide to Appearance. Despite being written as a joke for his friends, it proved to be successful! Clint developed a passion for publishing and retired from Deloitte after all of seven months at age 22. He turned his full attention to launching Greenleaf Book Group on June 1, 1998.

The business started above Clint's parents' garage in Cleveland, OH. Clint worked only on his books when he first started. Like many new authors and publishers, he educated himself through trial and error on production, distribution and marketing as he learned what (and a lot of what not) to do to create successful releases. As fellow authors learned of Clint's success, they began to seek his guidance to navigate through the complicated publishing process. These authors became Greenleaf's first clients, and most are still with the company today.

After a few years and about 40 titles later, the first employees were hired and Greenleaf opened a San Francisco office. Clint married in 2003 and moved to Chicago with his wife but commuted to the Cleveland office on a regular basis. In the meantime, the San Francisco office moved to Austin, TX .

The booming growth of Austin made the decision to move the business an easy one. In 2004, the headquarters moved to Texas. The logistical center (shipping and warehousing) remains in Cleveland because the centralized location saves time and money in the fulfillment process.

As word of Greenleaf's commitment to the success of independent authors and small presses grew, the company attracted authors from major publishing houses and publishers seeking an alternative to restrictive traditional publishing arrangements. By this time, Greenleaf's track record of award-winning design, robust marketing and eye for marketable content had helped secure solid distribution relationships that created a level playing field with the major publishing houses.

Today, Greenleaf has worked on over one thousand titles including multiple New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers. Greenleaf's 30 full-time employees are critical to the company's continued growth by bringing the extensive experience and business perspective that guide our clients in successful production, distribution and marketing.