Diversion Books

What Diversion Books does

Diversion Books is an independent publishing imprint operating under Diversion Publishing Corp., a privately held corporation founded in 2010 and headquartered in New York. The company publishes general interest non-fiction across categories including history, music, current events, business, sports, true crime, and science, and has expanded into fiction with titles in thriller, science fiction/fantasy, romantasy, and horror. Diversion operates as a multi-format publisher, releasing titles in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook editions.

The company's underlying technology is a standard publishing production stack delivered across print, digital, and audio formats, with no proprietary software or platform described; distribution is outsourced to Simon & Schuster, which handles wholesale logistics via EDI-based ordering (PubEasy, Pubnet, Corporate EDI) to major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Books-A-Million, and independent bookstores. Revenue is generated through one-time book sales at standard retail price points set per format and channel, with title acquisition sourced from literary agents and direct author submissions. The company maintains a lean 1-10 employee organization with an editorial structure segmented by genre, supported by marketing, publicity, and operations functions.

In March 2026, Diversion completed its first international expansion by acquiring UK-based independent publisher Influx Press Ltd., integrating its backlist while preserving editorial identity. Multiple Diversion titles have been recognized as Best Books of the Year by Financial Times, Forbes, and NPR, and authors have appeared on major national media including CBS This Morning, the Today Show, NPR, and The View. The company has no external funding rounds disclosed and is privately held with Scott Waxman serving as Publisher and CEO.

Name

Diversion Books

Legal name

Diversion Publishing Corp

Website

https://diversionbooks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Diversion Books is a New York-based independent publisher under Diversion Publishing Corp, releasing general interest non-fiction and fiction in print, digital, and audio formats via Simon & Schuster distribution. It serves adult readers seeking entertainment and educational content across diverse genres, and expanded internationally with the 2026 Influx Press acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction) (MPAJAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.) (MPAJAAAB), Business, Personal Finance & Careers Trade Publishing (MPAJAAAK)

Keywords

• Independent book publishing
• Fiction and non-fiction
• Print and digital books
• Audiobook publishing
• Book distribution services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: Revenue generated from selling published titles in hardcover, paperback, digital (ebook), and audio formats through traditional retail channels and direct sales.
2. Trade Distribution via Simon & Schuster: Diversion titles are distributed in the trade through Simon & Schuster, generating revenue from wholesale book sales to retailers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Diversion Books is an independent publisher that produces and sells general interest non-fiction (current events, music, history, business, sports, true crime, science) and fiction (science fiction/fantasy, romantasy, mystery/thriller, horror) titles in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. Titles are acquired from agents and authors through editorial submissions and distributed in the trade via Simon & Schuster to retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, and Books-A-Million. The company also operates the acquired UK imprint Influx Press as part of its international expansion.

Product overview

Diversion Books is an independent publishing imprint under Diversion Publishing Corp., operating as a multi-format publisher (print, digital, audio) with a broad portfolio spanning non-fiction (history, music, current events, business, sports, true crime, science) and fiction (Science Fiction/Fantasy, Romantasy, Mystery/Thriller, Horror). Its titles are distributed via Simon & Schuster through major retail channels (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, Books-A-Million, and independent retailers). The company recently expanded internationally through the acquisition of UK-based Influx Press. Core publishing is supplemented by catalogs, press resources, and an acquisitions process for both agented and unagented submissions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Diversion Books Imprint An independent book publishing imprint under Diversion Publishing Corp. that publishes general interest non-fiction (current events, music, history, business, sports, true crime, science) and fiction (Science Fiction/Fantasy, Romantasy, Mystery/Thriller, Horror). Titles are distributed via Simon & Schuster.
• Influx Press A UK-based independent publisher acquired by Diversion Publishing Corp. in March 2026. Its publishing assets and backlist are integrated while editorial identity is maintained, expanding Diversion's international footprint.
• Fiction Titles

Quantifiable outcome

• Best Books of the Year recognition from Financial Times, Forbes, NPR, and other major outlets

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Simon & SchustercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSimon & Schuster serves as the primary trade distribution partner for Diversion Books. All Diversion titles are sold in the trade via Simon & Schuster, which handles wholesale distribution to retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and independent bookstores.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Graywolf Press: Independent nonprofit literary publisher focused on fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Comparable to Diversion as a respected indie imprint with award-winning titles and a curated catalog.
• Melville House: Independent Brooklyn-based publisher of literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry with an indie sensibility. Comparable to Diversion as a small indie imprint publishing across genres with distributed trade sales.
• Grove Atlantic: Independent literary trade publisher based in New York publishing literary fiction and serious nonfiction with comparable distribution through major wholesalers. Directly comparable in scale and editorial model to Diversion Books.
• Akashic Books: Independent Brooklyn-based publisher of literary fiction and nonfiction, particularly urban fiction and noir. Similar in scale and indie publishing model to Diversion Books.
• Catapult: Independent publisher of literary fiction and nonfiction, including genre-adjacent titles. Comparable small indie with multi-format publishing and distributed trade sales.
• Soho Press: Independent New York-based publisher of literary fiction and nonfiction with a focus on crime fiction and international voices. Operates as a comparable small indie imprint with similar distribution and editorial approach.

Others

• Ingram Content Group: Major book distributor and print-on-demand provider serving thousands of independent publishers. Comparable as a critical infrastructure provider for Diversion's distribution model and a peer reference for indie publishing scale.

Broad incumbents

• Chronicle Books: Mid-sized independent publisher based in San Francisco with a broader gift, lifestyle, and trade book catalog. Larger than Diversion but comparable as an indie operating outside the Big 5.
• Workman Publishing: Independent publisher of trade nonfiction, gift, and lifestyle books owned by Hachette. Comparable indie-rooted publishing model with broader catalog scale than Diversion.
• Bloomsbury Publishing: Global independent publisher with strong presence in literary fiction, nonfiction, and genre titles (notably Harry Potter). Comparable to Diversion as an indie operating globally in trade publishing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DiversionBooks
• Facebookfacebook.com/DiversionBooks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diversion-books
• Instagraminstagram.com/diversionbooks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Diversion Books