Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group has acquired North Country Books for an undisclosed price. Based in Utica, N.Y., North Country has a backlist of about 200 titles. The house's focus is on publishing titles about the Adirondacks and Upstate New York histories, folklore, biographies, children's books, photography books, and mysteries. The company also distributed books and related products from other companies into New York State and northern New England.
Founded in 1965, the publisher has been owned by the Igoe family since 1977, when Bob Igoe acquired an ownership stake. Following the disruptions caused by the pandemic, Rob Igoe Jr., who assumed full ownership in 2005, decided it was time to sell the business.
With the sale, North Country Books will become part of Rowman & Littlefield’s Globe Pequot division. Jake Bonar, acquisitions editor at Rowman & Littlefield’s Prometheus imprint, will oversee the program. Under Bonar, who is based in upstate New York, Rowman & Littlefield will continue to add to the North Country list, said Rowman & Littlefield CEO Jed Lyons.
Distribution for North Country has already shifted to Rowman & Littlefield’s distribution arm, National Book Network. Titles about the Adirondacks will also be available through Blue Line Book Exchange of Lake Placid, N.Y. Blue Line Book Exchange took on much of the distribution side of North Country Books last year.
