Hawthorne writes, edits, designs, publishes, and launches books for entrepreneurs, executives, experts, and storytellers. Senior writers only. Full IP to the author. NDA standard.
Our story
In 2017, a close friend of our founder paid $40,000 to a freelance ghostwriter for a memoir. The voice was wrong. The chapters were padded. And buried on page 14 of the contract was a clause assigning the writer 30% of audiobook royalties forever. The book never got finished. The clause never got removed.
That's not a publishing house. That's a trap. So we built one that isn't.
"Authors should keep three things forever: their voice, their rights, and their royalties. We charge a flat fee, we ship the book, and then we get out of the way."
— Elena Hawthorne, FounderHawthorne is built on three rules. Senior writers onlyevery ghostwriter has shipped at least three traditionally-published or bestselling titles. You own everything — copyright, byline, royalties, foreign rights, audiobook rights, film. Always. Money-back at chapter 1 if the voice doesn't fit, we revise, switch writers, or refund. No questions, no exceptions.
Eight years and 250+ books later, those three rules still close the deal.
Mission
We pair authors with senior writers, editors, and designers, walk them through a proven six-step process, and ship books that earn shelf-space without taking the byline, the rights, or the royalties.
Vision
One where the writer's name is on the cover, the rights stay with the family, the royalties flow to the creator, and the publishing house earns its fee, ships the work, and disappears. That's the world we're building.
These aren't aspirations. They're constraints. Every engagement, every chapter, every invoice.
The author owns the book, the byline, and the royalties. Our name doesn't appear unless the author chooses it.
We say no to projects we can't execute well. Better to refer than to deliver a book that won't sell.
NDA standard, signed before discovery if requested. Studio-wide policy: nothing leaves the team without sign-off.
A finished manuscript is the floor, not the ceiling. Launch performance, reviews, and reader impact are how we measure success.
Every writer, editor, and designer is a senior practitioner. No junior staff billed at senior rates. No exceptions.
Milestone-based payments with satisfaction gates at chapter 1, mid-draft, and final. Refunds at any gate.
Four things that separate Hawthorne from the hundred-firm field.
Start My Publishing JourneySenior writers, editors, and designers in NYC, Austin, and LA. Real names, real bios, real Zoom calls.
You keep the byline, copyright, and 100% of the royalties. Our name doesn't appear unless you want it to.
Signed before we see your idea. Studio-wide policy: nothing leaves the team without your written sign-off.
Pay as we ship. Satisfaction gates at chapter 1, mid-draft, and final delivery — money-back if any milestone fails.
A note from our founder
"I started Hawthorne after watching a friend pay a freelance ghostwriter $40,000 for a draft she couldn't use. The voice was wrong. The chapters were padded. The contract said the writer kept 30% of audiobook royalties forever.
That's not a publishing house. That's a trap.
So we built the firm around three rules. Senior writers only. You own everything. Money-back at chapter 1 — no exceptions. Eight years and 250 books later, those three rules still close the deal."
A few of the writers, editors, and designers you'll meet. Filter by role and niche on the team page.
Former senior editor at Penguin Random House. Founded Hawthorne in 2018.
12 published memoirs, NYT-reviewed. Grief, recovery, and family-legacy specialist.
Ex-McKinsey, 8 founder books, 2x WSJ bestseller. Frameworks & thought-leadership.
22 traditionally published novels. 4x USA Today bestseller in romance and thriller.
15 non-fiction titles, 2.5M copies sold. Penguin Random House alumnus.
Award-winning cover designer. AIGA recognized. 80+ traditionally-published covers since 2014.
15 yrs in audiobook production. ACX-trained narrator and engineer. Heads our LA studio.
Ex-Amazon Ads. Has launched 60+ books to Amazon Top-100 in their category.
From first-time authors to seasoned CEOs — our clients use their books to build authority, attract clients, and leave a lasting legacy.
I've been running my consulting firm for 14 years and always knew a book would elevate my positioning. Hawthorne made it real. The ghostwriter they matched me with understood my industry from day one. The final manuscript reads exactly like me — sharp, direct, and full of the frameworks I use with clients. Closed two six-figure engagements before the official launch.
I came in with a half-finished manuscript and no clear direction. The developmental editing process was transformative — they helped me restructure the entire argument without losing my voice. The book is now the anchor of my thought leadership strategy and has been picked up by three business podcasts. Worth every dollar.
Hawthorne handled my business memoir from outline to Amazon launch. The project manager kept everything on schedule and the ghostwriter captured 20 years of entrepreneurial lessons in a way that is genuinely engaging. It's already ranking in two categories on KDP and my speaking inquiries have tripled since launch.
As a business coach, credibility is everything. Publishing my book with Hawthorne gave me a tangible asset I can put in front of every prospective client. The team handled the cover, interior layout, ISBN, and KDP submission flawlessly. I didn't have to touch a single technical detail. Professional from start to finish.
My executive team had been suggesting I write a strategy book for years. Hawthorne turned that idea into a polished, published reality in under five months. The ghostwriter conducted thorough interviews, the editor tightened every chapter, and the cover design looked better than books I've seen from major publishers.
I used Hawthorne's book marketing and Amazon Ads service post-launch. The team built a proper campaign strategy, ran the ads, and optimised the metadata. Within six weeks we hit bestseller status in two categories. The visibility it created for my startup brand was unlike anything I'd achieved through traditional PR.
A 3-minute strategy call is the fastest way to find the right path. No obligation. NDA on request.
