The Making of a Publisher
How GFP Helped Kickstart a New Model
Bindery
Bindery founders Meghan Harvey and Matt Kaye have a problem with traditional publishing. Big Five publishers themselves confess to the limitations of outdated predictive models and a risk-averse profit strategy that doesn’t always serve up the books that audiences crave. Not only that, legacy publishing continues to do what it has done for decades: put out the same type of stories and authors.
Drawing on their collective consumer marketing and strategy experience, they created Bindery, an innovative publishing house that elevates popular BookTok creators and makes them part of the process. Instead of hawking the Big Five’s acquisitions for free, these “tastemakers” become acquisitions editors and leaders of their own imprints, rewarding their rapt audiences with curated novels that represent voices and POVs still deemed too risky by the status quo.
As they made their pitches and raised their first round, they were focused on securing investment, building a software platform, onboarding tastemakers, and acquiring their initial authors. Looking ahead, they knew those books would need to be edited, produced, printed, and distributed in order to reach the new readers Bindery was in community with.
“Bindery’s main differentiator as a publisher is the innovative approach we have to acquisitions and marketing by way of our partnerships with book tastemakers,” says Harvey. “As a startup, it has been critical for us to focus our efforts on building the pipes for our unique engine, not reinventing the wheel with functions that are available through external partnerships.” Enter Girl Friday Productions.
Just Add GFP
As GFP’s former chief strategy officer, Harvey was in a unique position to understand the depth of the company’s offerings and how seamlessly the team was able to work with outside publishers and branded firms to help them achieve their publishing goals. For decades, Girl Friday has produced quality branded books for companies like CNN, National Geographic, Amazon Publishing, PBS, HarperCollins, Black Dog and Leventhal, PRH, and more. “We partnered with Girl Friday for our day-to-day title project management, comprehensive editorial, interior design, and offset print production” because, Harvey knew, GFP’s internal team and curated stable of resource partners could give her books the meticulous care and attention they needed throughout the production process.
“As a founder, there are a million things that keep me up at night. But because we partnered with Girl Friday, the quality of our books from cover to cover has thankfully never been one of them.” —Meghan Harvey, cofounder and president, Bindery Books
Author Experience Is Paramount
One of the biggest concerns of any client-centered company is the transition from their known and trusted internal team to an outside firm. GFP knows that there are two key components to making this hand-off successful: a clear operational plan and careful author care. GFP’s decades of experience means every potential question, quandary, and pain point is anticipated. First, GFP worked collaboratively with Bindery to put the right workflows in place. Then, once production work began, GFP’s dedicated publishing managers provided patient, thorough consulting and stewarding of every author’s journey. “GFP is flexible, careful, and smart,” says Harvey. “It has been a pleasure to develop an entirely new type of program with their team.”
In GFP’s work with Bindery, publishing managers kicked off projects with a complex group of external stakeholders: the author, their agent, the tastemaker who had acquired the book, as well as Bindery’s art director and marketing strategist. Every book launched has proven GFP’s ability to not only manage but also wow all involved. Authors and agents alike have praised GFP for making the process feel enriching, professional, and flawless. Author Maren Chase sums up their experience praising Girl Friday for making “the publishing process feel endlessly smooth, even when I’m certain it was anything but!”
In Bindery’s case, their focus is on acquiring authors whose stories go underrepresented in traditional publishing. Every author, as well as their worlds and characters, received respectful attention to detail and to the importance of those stories resonating with a diverse readership. Some titles received extra care in the form of cultural sensitivity reads or editors representing the author’s background. All enjoyed the support of a production company that champions diverse messages and storytelling.
“Shout-out to the editing and production teams! Thank you for making this feel like a ‘real novel’ even before I held a physical copy.”
—Ugochi Agoawike, author of Black as Diamond
“Gracious and patient, you have made it look easy and have kept everyone on track. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and for answering all my questions with unwavering enthusiasm. I feel incredibly lucky to be working with such a talented team.”
—Esperanza Hope Snyder, author of Orange Wine
“Having you as my editor has fundamentally shaped this book for the better. The entire Girl Friday team has worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Thank you for everything you’ve done for this book.”
—Tiffany Wang, author of Tempest’s Queen
“Thanks to the Girl Friday team for all the time and care you’ve poured into this book. Getting this book to print has been perfectly seamless, thanks to all of you.”
—Sam Bansil, author of Black Salt Queen
Publishing Plus
GFP is not just a packager or book producer but also an award-winning hybrid publisher. Operating under the Flashpoint Books imprint, GFP is part of global distributor Ingram’s exclusive Two Rivers subdivision. Girl Friday’s established distribution relationship meant access for Bindery to Ingram’s stable of sales reps, marketing and sales platform Edelweiss, global warehousing and distribution, sell-in to key accounts and wholesalers, and more. Taken together, GFP offered the complete suite of knowledge, staffing, infrastructure, and relationships, with Bindery’s brand remaining at center.
In addition to stellar production, Harvey appreciates that GFP “facilitated immediate access to cross-channel global distribution by zipping us in as an imprint under their established relationship.” This turn-key solution for both production and distribution enabled Bindery to jump from startup to publisher.
Bindery presented their titles alongside Flashpoint during spring and fall sales conferences, and GFP handled all metadata input, liaised to the distributor, managed inventory, and tracked sales and royalties. More than just providing access to traditional distribution and sales channels, GFP’s legacy of quality proved an asset as well. To Harvey, “the partnership offered Bindery the legitimacy of Girl Friday’s stellar production reputation, which allowed us to attract both tastemakers as well as authors and agents to our new program and kickstart our relationship with the book trade.”
The Results Are In
Bindery has published two complete seasons to critical acclaim—including an LA Times bestseller—with future seasons in production. The publisher has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Elle, Publishers Weekly, and more. All books were published in various formats including special limited editions available through exclusive channels. As Bindery has gained traction and their list has grown, so too has the relationship with GFP. After beginning under GFP’s distribution arm, Bindery has acquired their own direct distribution account with Two Rivers. GFP remains their essential and exclusive editorial, production, and print partner.