MISSION

Extraordinary Books (EB) is a not-for-profit publisher with a radical mission: to disrupt the publishing industry and return it to what it was meant to be – a place for passion, not profit.

Today, six conglomerates dominate global publishing. They own once-independent houses founded by pioneers like Allen Lane, Victor Gollancz, Sylvia Beach and George Weidenfeld – people driven not by shareholders, but by ideas, creativity and courage. That spirit has been buried under profit margins and marketing formulas. EB exists to dig it back up.


What We Stand For

We reject the closed doors of mainstream publishing. No agents required. No ‘unsolicited submissions’ rejections. No algorithms dictating which voices get heard. At EB, if you have an extraordinary book, you are welcome.

We reject the myth that publishing is a one-way transaction. Authors are not clients; they are partners. That’s why we split profits 50/50. And because EB is not-for-profit, our share goes straight back into supporting new authors, not into executive bonuses.

We reject the industry’s obsession with platforms and celebrity. Books should be chosen because they matter, not because they’re easy to sell. That’s why our submissions are reviewed by an editorial collective of readers – open to anyone who loves books. Each submission is matched with readers who share a genuine passion for the subject.


Our Principles

  • Open access: Submissions are free and transparent, open to anyone with extraordinary work.
  • Democratic assessment: Readers, not corporations, decide what deserves to be published.
  • Equitable partnership: Profits are shared fairly — half to the author, half reinvested in future books.
  • Equal opportunity: Every published book receives the same marketing and PR support, no matter the author’s following.

 

Why Extraordinary Books?

Because publishing doesn’t need more gatekeepers. It needs more courage.

Because great writing is everywhere – not just where agents and algorithms are looking.

Because authors deserve respect, fairness and partnership.

Extraordinary Books is proud to stand against the status quo. We are here to take risks, to challenge the industry, and to make space for voices that would otherwise be shut out.

If you’re an author with something extraordinary to share, or a reader who wants to join the fight to reshape publishing, we want to hear from you.

What makes a book ‘extraordinary’?

We’re drawn to books that stand apart, and yours does because of your unique background, lived experience, specialist knowledge or rare access. You might have an unusual life story, or an unexpected professional frame of reference. Either way, your book cannot be replicated.

If the subject itself isn’t new, the way it’s approached is. We’re interested in fresh angles on familiar topics – books that reframe what we think we already know, offering insights we didn’t see coming.

Other times, it’s the subject that’s surprising: overlooked, underexplored or simply not taken seriously enough, until now. We’re looking for original perspectives, where novelty serves a purpose and leads to new ways of thinking.

In fiction especially, we value formal and essential boldness. This doesn’t just mean elegant writing, but storytelling that breaks boundaries or considers structure in innovative ways. Your story will flow from deep research, personal insight or an inventive narrative approach. We’re especially excited by writing that, creatively or intellectually, opens up new territory or re-maps familiar ground.

What genres do you publish?

We publish books based on their distinctiveness, full stop.

We welcome niche or unconventional books, and works that defy categorisation, drawing from different fields, voices, genres or cultural frameworks to create something truly new.

We don’t chase trends or try to cram books into rigid boxes. If your project doesn’t seem like a fit anywhere else, it might be perfect for us.

What makes you different from traditional publishers?

We’re driven by values, not profit margins. We were founded to resist industry consolidation and give authors an alternative to the standard publishing model – one that’s fair, bold and uncompromising.

How does EB being a not-for-profit affect my book’s potential?

To be clear, the company is not for profit: Extraordinary Books’ lack of a profit imperative frees us to take risks and pursue exceptional books. Our drive for profit on behalf of the books / authors themselves, on the other hand, is unwavering: we want all our authors to do phenomenally well, and to this end we pledge equal marketing resources per title, across the board.

How does profit-sharing work?

Our profit-sharing model is simple, transparent and author-friendly. Once a book starts generating income, we first deduct any direct, invoiced costs related to its production and promotion (such as editing, cover design, printing and marketing campaigns). After those costs are recouped, the remaining net profit is split 50/50 between the author and the publisher.

Authors will always know exactly where they stand, and there are no hidden fees or confusing royalty tiers – just a straightforward, equal partnership in the book’s success.

Will you accept authors with platforms and social media followings?

Of course; we are committed to publishing unique books regardless of whether or not authors are well placed in terms of platform, but whatever advantages an author brings with them will be factored into the marketing of their book for maximum success.

How is my submission assessed?

To begin with, our editorial team will review the 500-word summary of your work submitted by you or your literary representative. Projects that present as truly unique will be passed to the editorial collective, and read by a number of reader-assessors whose experience and preferences align with the book’s subject, themes, style, etc. Their assessments will be fed back to the editorial team, and a decision will be made then.

What is the editorial collective?

As part of our mission to democratise the publishing process, we combine the work of experienced commissioning editors with input from the collective, which comprises carefully profiled readers of all backgrounds united by a passion for books. This structure helps us discover and support singular works.

Can I take part in the editorial collective?

Everyone is welcome. A detailed application form will be made available on our website; until then, email info@extraordinarybooks.co.uk and write EDITORIAL COLLECTIVE in the subject heading.

[ COMING SOON ]

EXTRAORDINARY BOOKS

 

 

Commercial Manager (Sales & Rights)

 

Location: West London / Hybrid
Contract: Full-time
Salary: £40,000-£45,000 (dependent on experience)
Reporting to: Publisher / Managing Director
Deadline: 31 March 2026

 

About Extraordinary Books

Extraordinary Books (EB) is a not-for-profit trade publisher founded to challenge how publishing works. We believe the industry has become structurally risk-averse – too often prioritising predictable returns over bold ideas. EB was created to rebalance that equation. Our model removes the pressure of shareholder profit and replaces it with a commitment to quality, partnership and long-term cultural value. Submissions are open. Authors do not need agents or platforms. Decisions are informed by an editorial collective of engaged readers. Every book we publish receives equal marketing investment, and profits are shared 50/50 between author and publisher, with our share reinvested into future titles.

 

Launched in 2025, EB has established its publishing programme and core commercial partnerships. We are now focused on strengthening revenue performance, expanding rights and international reach, and developing our direct-to-consumer capability as part of our next phase of growth. Joining EB at this stage means helping shape not just a list of books, but the commercial trajectory of a new publishing model.

 

 

The Role

We are seeking a Commercial Manager (Sales & Rights) to lead and grow Extraordinary Books’ revenue streams. This is a pivotal senior role responsible for shaping and delivering our commercial strategy. You will take ownership of sales performance across UK and international trade, manage distributor and retail relationships, drive rights exploitation and develop our direct-to-consumer channels. Working closely with the Publisher, you will set annual revenue targets, build forecasting frameworks and identify opportunities for growth across markets and formats. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution: you will negotiate, analyse, build systems and deliver results.

 

Key Responsibilities

  • Set and deliver annual revenue targets across trade sales, export, rights and direct-to-consumer channels
  • Lead distributor, retailer and sales partner relationships to maximise visibility, sell-through and market reach
  • Drive subsidiary rights strategy and negotiate and manage rights agreements
  • Develop forecasting, reporting and commercial analysis frameworks to inform strategic decision-making
  • Oversee royalties, metadata and revenue tracking to ensure operational accuracy and efficiency
  • Contribute commercial insight to acquisitions, pricing, formats and scalable growth planning

About You

You are commercially astute, strategic and motivated by growth. You enjoy working at both conceptual and practical levels, setting direction while ensuring detail is correct.

 

You will likely have:

  • 5+ years’ experience in publishing sales or a commercial role within the book industry
  • A strong understanding of the book supply chain and distributor reporting
  • Experience negotiating or administering subsidiary rights
  • Confidence working with sales data, forecasting and financial reporting
  • Familiarity with royalty systems and ONIX/metadata processes
  • Strong analytical skills and advanced Excel/Sheets capability

You are comfortable operating autonomously, taking ownership and making decisions. You are excited by the opportunity to build systems and strategy in a growing organisation, and you care about the cultural impact of the books you help bring to market.

 

What we offer

  • The opportunity to shape the commercial future of a mission-driven publisher at an early stage
  • Genuine strategic responsibility and autonomy
  • A collaborative, supportive and values-led working environment
  • Scope for role expansion as the organisation grows

Benefits

  • 32 days’ paid holiday (including bank holidays)
  • Flexible and hybrid Working
  • Pension scheme
  • Discretionary bonus
  • Birthday leave 
  • One paid volunteer day

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a short covering letter to admin@extraordinarybooks.co.uk by 31 March 2026.

 

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from those underrepresented in publishing.