Archway Publishing
Archway Publishing is a Simon & Schuster-partnered self-publishing imprint operated by Author Solutions from Bloomington, Indiana, offering genre-specific publishing packages in design, formatting, editorial, and marketing to individual fiction, nonfiction, children's, and business authors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersBloomington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Archway Publishing does
Archway Publishing is a self-publishing imprint established in 2012 as a partnership between Simon & Schuster and Author Solutions, LLC. It operates from 1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, Indiana (USA) under a trademark license from Simon & Schuster, while Author Solutions provides the underlying publishing services. Archway targets individual authors across four primary segments — Fiction, Nonfiction, Children's, and Business — offering genre-specific publishing packages that bundle design, formatting, editorial, and marketing services into assisted self-publishing products. Authors retain ownership of their content, and high-performing titles are reviewed quarterly by Simon & Schuster for potential acquisition into traditional S&S imprints, creating an asymmetric upside pathway from self-published to traditionally published status.
The company's revenue model is professional services: authors receive a free publishing consultation and purchase tiered publishing packages on a quote-based pricing structure not publicly disclosed. Distribution flows through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Simon & Schuster's brick-and-mortar retail network, giving Archway institutional distribution access uncommon among independent self-publishers. The technology stack is conventional, built on nopCommerce for the online bookstore and Google Analytics for web measurement, with no proprietary AI/ML capabilities disclosed. Marketing channels include author testimonials, a $100 referral program, Simon & Schuster co-branded webinars, and a free downloadable publishing guide, with publishing consultants responding to inquiries within eight business hours.
Cumulatively, Archway states it has published over 60,000 authors, maintains a 4.4 out of 5 Google reviews rating, and is currently active, evidenced by 19+ new title launches between January and May 2026 across all four verticals. The company is privately held under Author Solutions, LLC, with no disclosed venture capital or private equity backing and no public financial reporting. The imprint's competitive positioning rests almost entirely on the Simon & Schuster co-brand, the quarterly acquisition review mechanism, and access to S&S's distribution and editorial expertise for co-branded webinars.
Archway Publishing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Archway Publishing
- Legal name
- Author Solutions, LLC
- Website
- https://archwaypublishing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Archway Publishing is a Simon & Schuster-partnered self-publishing imprint operated by Author Solutions from Bloomington, Indiana, offering genre-specific publishing packages in design, formatting, editorial, and marketing to individual fiction, nonfiction, children's, and business authors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Archway Publishing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Self-Publishing Services
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Author Service Marketplaces & Aggregators (Vetting, Bundled Services) (MPAJAJAB)
Keywords
Where Archway Publishing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bloomington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Archway Publishing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Self-publishing packages and services: Authors pay for publishing packages that include design, formatting, editorial, and marketing services. Packages are tailored for different book categories including fiction, nonfiction, business, and children's books.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Archway Publishing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Archway Publishing provides professional self-publishing services through genre-specific publishing packages that bundle book design, formatting, editorial, and marketing services for individual authors. The company operates as a self-publishing imprint under a trademark license from Simon & Schuster, with Author Solutions delivering the actual publishing services. Authors pay for these publishing packages to produce professionally produced books distributed through major retailers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Product overview
Archway Publishing is a self-publishing platform operated by Author Solutions under a partnership with Simon & Schuster. The company offers a portfolio of publishing packages tailored to different genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Business, Children's, and Color books. Each package combines design, formatting, editorial, and marketing services to help authors professionally publish their books. The core offering is built around these genre-specific publishing packages, supplemented by services including a Simon & Schuster acquisition opportunity for high-performing titles, a referral program ($100 per referred author), BookStub redemption for e-books, and free publishing consultations. Authors retain ownership of their content while receiving professional support throughout the publishing process.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fiction Publishing Package
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 60,000 authors have been published through Archway Publishing
Companies that use Archway Publishing
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Archway Publishing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Archway Publishing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Simon & SchustercoreSimon & Schuster, with nearly 100 years of publishing experience, partnered with Author Solutions to create Archway Publishing. Simon & Schuster provides design guidelines, has introduced unique self-publishing services, designed tailored publishing packages, and reviews Archway titles quarterly for potential acquisition. While Simon & Schuster provides guidance and helps develop publishing packages, the actual services are provided by Author Solutions.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Archway Publishing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AuthorHouse: Sister Author Solutions imprint offering bundled self-publishing services (design, editing, marketing) with similar genre-specific packages. Directly comparable business model, pricing opacity, and parent company.
- iUniverse: Another Author Solutions imprint providing assisted self-publishing packages. Identical operating model under the same parent, making it the closest functional competitor for the same author customer base.
- Xlibris: Author Solutions imprint offering self-publishing packages across fiction, nonfiction, and children's books. Direct peer operating the same service stack under shared Author Solutions infrastructure.
- Trafford Publishing: Author Solutions imprint focused on assisted self-publishing with editorial, design, and distribution services. Directly comparable offering targeting the same author personas as Archway.
- BookBaby: Independent assisted self-publishing service offering design, formatting, editing, and distribution packages. Closest non-Author Solutions direct competitor with similar genre-agnostic package model.
- Lulu: Self-publishing platform offering print-on-demand, distribution, and a la carte services. Comparable in providing authors with professional production and retail distribution, though more DIY-leaning than Archway.
Broad incumbents
- Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing: Dominant free self-publishing platform that defines the price floor for the category. Not a bundled-services competitor but sets the alternative authors weigh against Archway's paid packages.
- IngramSpark: Largest print-on-demand and distribution platform serving independent and self-publishers. Overlaps with Archway on distribution reach (retail availability) but is infrastructure-level rather than bundled services.
- Barnes & Noble Press: Free self-publishing platform from a major retailer. Competes indirectly by offering authors a low-cost route to one of Archway's key distribution channels (Barnes & Noble).
Emerging players
- Draft2Digital: Indie-focused ebook distribution and formatting services. Comparable on the formatting/distribution layer but lacks Archway's full-service editorial and marketing offerings.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Archway Publishing social profiles
Digital presenceArchway Publishing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Archway Publishing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Archway Publishing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Archway Publishing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Archway Publishing
What does Archway Publishing do?
Archway Publishing provides professional self-publishing services through genre-specific publishing packages that bundle book design, formatting, editorial, and marketing services for individual authors. The company operates as a self-publishing imprint under a trademark license from Simon & Schuster, with Author Solutions delivering the actual publishing services. Authors pay for these publishing packages to produce professionally produced books distributed through major retailers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Is Archway Publishing a public or private company?
Archway Publishing is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Archway Publishing founded?
Archway Publishing was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Archway Publishing based?
Archway Publishing is headquartered in Bloomington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Archway Publishing make money?
One revenue line is on record: self-publishing packages and services.
Who are Archway Publishing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AuthorHouse, iUniverse, Xlibris, Trafford Publishing, BookBaby and Lulu. Broad incumbents are Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, IngramSpark and Barnes & Noble Press. Draft2Digital is listed as an emerging player.
Does Archway Publishing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Archway Publishing.
What industry is Archway Publishing in?
Archway Publishing's product category is Self-Publishing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAJAB, Author Service Marketplaces & Aggregators (Vetting, Bundled Services). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.