St. Martin's Press' new mind-body-spirit imprint has been named St. Martin's Essentials. The new imprint was formed last November shortly after Joel Fotinos stepped down as publisher of Penguin Random House’s TarcherPerigee. At the time of Fotinos' appointment St. Martin's offered few details. On Monday morning, the publisher announced the imprint's new name, as well as details about its forthcoming list.
“The potential for the line is enormous,” said SMP chairman Sally Richardson, who hired Fotinos. “It goes beyond what most people think of as mind-body-spirit—it’s a lifestyle line, with books to help people live as fully as possible, mentally, spiritually, and physically.” Added Fotinos, “Publishing bestsellers is not the only goal. We want to publish books that help people live essential lives,” ranging across topics like motivation, mindfulness and meditation, business, and classic mind-body-spirit subjects like crystal healing and shamanism.
The Essential Wisdom Library series launches in April 2019 with Buddhism: An Introduction to the Buddha’s Life, Teachings and Practices by Joan Duncan Oliver and will feature new translations of other spiritual classics. “These will become instant backlist,” Fotinos said, adding that he also wants to find new voices in the category.
Any of SMP’s editors can acquire books for St. Martin's Essentials; the number of titles per year will vary. The debut book, A Future of Faith by Pope Francis (Aug. 7), is based on a series of dialogues with French political reporter Dominique Wolton on topics like immigration, climate change and poverty. Another 40-50 titles are planned for 2019, including The Emotion Code: How to Release Your Trapped Emotions for Health, Love, and Happiness by Bradley Nelson (May), The End of Procrastination by Petr Ludwig and Adela Schicker (Jan. 2019), and St. Francis: His Life, Teachings and Practices by Jon Sweeney (fall 2019).
