MindStir Media

What MindStir Media does

MindStir Media is a hybrid self-publishing company founded in 2009 by USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author J.J. Hebert and headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The company delivers full-service book publishing, distribution, and marketing to independent authors, thought leaders, and SMB clients through a tiered package architecture (Custom, Pro, Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Endorsed) starting at $2,999, with premium hardcover, audiobook, children's book, and full-color variants, plus an executive-tier Authority Launch Program™. Underlying production technology is conventional hybrid-publishing workflow augmented by AI-assisted services for editing and production under human review; no proprietary models, AI platforms, or technology patents are disclosed.

The business model combines one-time package fees with a $199 recurring annual distribution fee (billed one year after publication and recurring through Ingram), supplemented by Affirm-financed installment payments, print-on-demand author copy sales, royalties retained by authors, and a broad add-on menu of marketing/PR services including celebrity endorsements, virtual book tours, podcast booking, social media management, and Times Square announcements. Distribution is anchored by an Ingram Content Group partnership reaching 40,000+ wholesalers, retailers, and libraries in 195 countries, with direct channels through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Powell's, Walmart.com, and library systems.

Go-to-market combines sales-led consultation with community-driven acquisition through celebrity endorsement partnerships (Kevin Harrington, Mariel Hemingway, Jesse Metcalfe, Jason Cerbone, Lil' Romeo), Mariel Hemingway's Book Club, the J.J. Hebert Author Accelerator Facebook group, and the founder's 1M+ Instagram following. MindStir has published over 1,000 titles since founding, with 300+ bestsellers and 65+ award-winners, and has earned three consecutive Inc. 5000 listings (2023-2025), BBB A+ accreditation, and IBPA partner membership. The company is privately held by founder J.J. Hebert with no disclosed funding, M&A activity, or institutional investors, and operates from offices in Portsmouth (HQ), Boston, West Hollywood, and New York City.

Name

MindStir Media

Legal name

MindStir Media, LLC

Website

https://mindstirmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MindStir Media is a hybrid self-publishing company founded in 2009 that offers tiered book publishing, distribution, and marketing packages to independent authors, executives, and SMBs, leveraging celebrity endorsements and Ingram distribution to 40,000+ retail points globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Book Publishing Services

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Book Publishers (513130), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), All Other Publishers (513199)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Book Printing (2732)

akta.pro primary industry

Self-Publishing Platforms (KDP-style Marketplaces & Portals) (MPAJAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Author Marketing, PR & Launch Services (Ads, Book Tours, Influencers) (MPAJAJAL), Editorial & Production Services (Copyediting, Proofreading, Formatting, Typesetting) (MPAJAJAG), Ghostwriting & Collaborative Writing Services (MPAJAJAI), Author Website, Storefront & Direct-to-Reader Commerce (D2C Sales) (MPAJAJAE), Audiobook Self-Publishing & Production Services (Narration, Studio, ACX-style) (MPAJAJAJ)

Keywords

• Self-publishing services
• Book publishing packages
• Book marketing services
• Book distribution
• Author publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

North Hampton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Publishing Service Packages: Tiered publishing packages (Custom, Pro, Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Endorsed) ranging from $2999 and up, offering various levels of editing, design, marketing, and distribution services with mentoring from J.J. Hebert
2. Annual Distribution Fee: $199 annual distribution fee charged one year after original publication date for continued global distribution through Ingram
3. Financing Services: Partnership with Affirm and other lenders to provide financing options for publishing packages, including 6-month 0% interest options for eligible customers
4. Author Copy Sales: Print-on-demand sales of author copies at negotiated rates for published books
5. Book Royalty Distribution: Authors receive royalties for eBook and print sales through distribution network including Amazon and Barnes & Noble
6. Marketing/PR Add-on Services: Additional services including celebrity endorsements, book publicity, social media management, virtual book tours, podcast booking, TV advertising, and press release services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels11 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

MindStir Media is a hybrid self-publishing company that sells tiered book publishing packages starting at $2,999, covering editing, cover and interior design, eBook conversion, printing, and global distribution through Ingram to 40,000+ retailers in 195 countries, with author mentorship from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author J.J. Hebert. The packages are bundled with marketing/PR add-ons and celebrity endorsements from Kevin Harrington, Mariel Hemingway, Jesse Metcalfe, and Jason Cerbone. Complementary lines include hardcover publishing, audiobook production, children's and full-color book packages, the Authority Launch Program™, and Instagram Growth Services.

Product overview

MindStir Media is a hybrid book publishing company offering a comprehensive suite of self-publishing services organized as tiered package offerings. The core product portfolio centers on self-publishing packages (Custom, Pro, Gold, Platinum, Emerald, and Endorsed) that provide book design, editing, eBook conversion, printing, and global distribution. These packages are complemented by specialized services including Hardcover Self-Publishing Packages, Audiobook Publishing, Children's Book Publishing Package, and Full-Color Book Publishing Package. The company also offers an Authority Launch Program for premium executive publishing with bestseller positioning. Marketing/PR Services form a significant add-on module offering book publicity, advertising, social media management, and celebrity endorsements (Kevin Harrington, Mariel Hemingway, Jesse Metcalfe). Additional add-on services include Instagram Growth Services, Financing through Affirm, and Mariel Hemingway's Book Club. The architecture is package-based, where authors select from publishing tiers and can add marketing, celebrity endorsement, or other supplementary services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Self-Publishing Packages (Custom, Pro, Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Endorsed) Tiered publishing service packages offering book design, editing, eBook conversion, printing, distribution, and marketing services. Packages range from Custom to Endorsed, with progressively more services and direct mentorship from USA Today bestseller J.J. Hebert.
• Hardcover Self-Publishing Packages Specialized hardcover publishing packages including Deluxe, Editor+, Children's Book, and Full-Color options for authors seeking premium print formats.
• Audiobook Publishing Audiobook production and publishing services enabling authors to convert their books into audio format for distribution across audio platforms.
• Children's Book Publishing Package Specialized publishing package for children's books including professional illustrations and age-appropriate design services.
• Full-Color Book Publishing Package Publishing service for full-color illustrated books and coffee-table style publications with premium color printing options.
• Book Distribution Global book distribution services reaching 40,000+ wholesalers, retailers, and libraries in 195 countries through partnerships with major booksellers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and international distributors.
• Authority Launch Program™ Premium executive publishing program offering Amazon bestseller positioning, high-end endorsement, industry visibility, and executive-level publishing and promotions for authors seeking elevated market impact.
• Marketing/PR Services Comprehensive marketing and public relations services including book publicity, PR placements, New Readers Campaign, Reader Surge Program™, TV advertising, social media publicist, author website development, podcast booking, Goodreads profile, Amazon author page, press releases, virtual book tours, book reviews, and online/traditional advertising.
• Celebrity Book Endorsements Celebrity endorsement and influencer marketing packages connecting authors with Shark Tank's Kevin Harrington, actress Mariel Hemingway, Desperate Housewives star Jesse Metcalfe, and The Sopranos' Jason Cerbone for book forewords and promotional videos.
• Financing Services Payment financing options through Affirm and other lenders enabling authors to pay for publishing services over time, with potential 0% interest options for qualified applicants.
• Instagram Growth Services Done-for-you Instagram follower growth and engagement services with packages offering 100,000 followers in 3 months or 500,000 followers in 6 months, including profile optimization and post engagement support.
• Mariel Hemingway's Book Club Official book club operated in partnership with actress and bestselling author Mariel Hemingway, featuring selected books promoted on social media and the official book club webpage.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ bestsellers produced for published authors
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Kevin Harrington (Shark Tank)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOriginal Shark Tank investor and USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author partnered with MindStir Media. Provides endorsement packages where Kevin writes forewords and creates promotional videos for select books published through the Endorsed Package. Partnership positions MindStir as credible, Shark Tank-backed publishing company.
• Mariel HemingwayflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOscar-nominated actress, bestselling author of six books, and granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway partnered with MindStir Media. Provides Endorsed Package with foreword writing and promotional video creation. Jointly launched Mariel Hemingway's Book Club for book promotion. Has 200,000+ combined social media followers.
• Jesse MetcalfecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerActor known for Desperate Housewives, John Tucker Must Die, and Hallmark movies partnered with MindStir Media. Writes forewords for select books and creates promotional videos. Partnership featured in Closer Weekly magazine. Collaboration aims to spotlight select books, boosting their visibility through celebrity endorsement.
• Jason Cerbone (The Sopranos)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerActor from The Sopranos provides celebrity endorsement videos for MindStir Media publishing services. Creates promotional content channeling iconic character Jackie Jr. to recommend the company's publishing packages.
• Lil' Romeo (Romeo Miller)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMulti-talented artist, entrepreneur, and advocate for creativity provides celebrity endorsement for MindStir Media. Shares praise for the company's commitment to excellence, innovation, and empowering stories.
• Ingram Content GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary distribution partner enabling MindStir Media to reach 40,000+ wholesalers, retailers, and libraries in 195 countries. IngramSpark platform handles print-on-demand and digital distribution for all published titles.
• AmazoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary online retail channel for book distribution. MindStir authors' books are sold through Amazon.com with access to Kindle eBook platform and Amazon Author Central.
• Barnes & NoblecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor online and physical bookstore partner for print book distribution. Provides access to BN.com and Barnes & Noble retail locations for published titles.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Forefront Books: Forefront Books is a hybrid publisher specializing in business, leadership, and thought-leadership titles, competing directly with MindStir's Authority Launch Program and executive publishing tier.
• BookBaby: BookBaby is a hybrid self-publishing services company offering editing, design, printing, distribution, and marketing packages for independent authors, directly competing with MindStir's tiered service model across all major book formats.
• Lulu: Lulu is a self-publishing platform and print-on-demand service offering authors tools to publish, distribute, and market books globally, competing with MindStir's Ingram-based distribution and package-based publishing model.
• AuthorHouse: AuthorHouse is a long-established hybrid self-publisher providing editing, design, printing, marketing, and distribution services to independent authors, with a similar package-based offering to MindStir.
• Greenleaf Book Group: Greenleaf is a hybrid publisher offering distribution, marketing, and publishing services to business and thought-leadership authors, comparable to MindStir's Authority Launch Program targeting executives.
• She Writes Press: She Writes Press is a hybrid publishing imprint focused on women authors, offering curated publishing services, distribution, and marketing — directly comparable to MindStir's tiered self-publishing packages.
• BenBella Books: BenBella Books is an independent publisher combining traditional and hybrid publishing models with strong marketing and distribution, competing for the same premium independent author and thought-leadership segments as MindStir.

Broad incumbents

• Post Hill Press: Post Hill Press is a larger independent publisher offering traditional and hybrid publishing with broad distribution, overlapping MindStir's distribution and marketing services at a more institutional scale.
• Hay House: Hay House is an established self-help and wellness publisher offering hybrid publishing and author services at significant scale, comparable to MindStir's nonfiction and authority-building author segment.
• Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing: Amazon KDP is the dominant free self-publishing platform and MindStir's primary indirect competitor; while not a paid-service hybrid publisher, it defines the price floor MindStir must justify with its premium services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mindstirmedia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/mindstirmedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/mindstirmedia
• Instagraminstagram.com/mindstirmedia
• Pinterestpinterest.com/mindstirmedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mindstir-media

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MindStir Media