“When our books released and we began hitting bestseller lists, we realized we could share our experience with other talented authors. That was a big moment for all of us. Huge. We knew we were onto something, and we decided to take on more authors.”
– Jessica Therrien and Holly Kammier
Jessica Therrien and Holly Kammier’s dissatisfaction with the traditional publishing industry led to the creation of Acorn Publishing. Holly, leveraging her experience as a journalist and publicist, became disenchanted when a traditional publisher showed interest in her memoir but demanded significant changes. Meanwhile, Jessica, after achieving notable success with her YA series Children of the Gods, faced setbacks when her publisher mistakenly categorized the second book as a romance, causing a drop in sales due to misplacement in the market.
Driven by a desire to take control of their own publishing processes, Jessica and Holly founded Acorn Publishing. Their initial releases, Holly’s compelling 2015 novel Kingston Court, which quickly climbed to the Barnes & Noble top 50 list for all fiction, and Jessica’s Children of the Gods series, which secured the third spot on the Barnes & Noble teen bestseller list, demonstrated the potential of their new venture. Recognizing that their successful formula could benefit other writers, they decided to extend their imprint to include works by other authors.
Today, nearly ten years later, Acorn Publishing has released over a hundred books and built a dedicated team of industry professionals, establishing itself as a recourse for authors seeking more control over their publishing journey. A notable milestone for Acorn Publishing was winning the BREW Nonfiction Book Excellence Award 2024 Publisher of the Year. This prestigious recognition was awarded following the success of My Unexpected Life After Diagnosis by Jennifer Gasner, which won the BREW Nonfiction Book Excellence Award 2024 Book of the Year.
This exclusive interview explores how Jessica Therrien and Holly Kammier have empowered authors through Acorn Publishing, transformed the traditional publishing paradigm, and proven that with the right support, authors can thrive.
TWB: Can you share with us the pivotal moments that led to the creation of Acorn Publishing?
Jessica and Holly: We originally created Acorn Publishing because we were frustrated with the traditional publishing world. We wanted to publish our own books on our own terms, on a faster timeline, and hold onto the majority of our rights and profits. It was all about us.
But when our books released and we began hitting bestseller lists, we realized we could share our experience with other talented authors. Before we felt comfortable opening up our imprint to the public, we offered to publish one of Holly’s former content editing clients. Alyssa Petersel had written a beautiful travel memoir called Somehow I Am Different that wasn’t getting any traction with literary agents, so she said, “Why not?” and gave us a try. Her book won a Kirkus Indie Book of the Year award and was named a New York Book Festival winner. That was a big moment for all of us. Huge. We knew we were onto something, and we decided to take on more authors.
TWB: Holly, as a former journalist and weather anchor, how did your background influence your approach to publishing and storytelling?
Holly: My career in broadcast news taught me all about the importance of a polished presentation, professionalism, and timeliness. Every day, you are assigned at least one new story to cover. A good journalist has a matter of hours to figure out how to capture a viewer’s attention while informing the public of critical information that only the local news will truthfully report, and you must do so while maintaining your integrity. I carry this attitude and dedication into every book we publish. I want to get our books out into the world while the story is still fresh and relevant, and publish it in a way that is honest, will garner the widest possible readership, and strengthen the author’s reputation and career.
TWB: Jessica, your experience with mislabeling and its impact on your book sales is a common challenge for authors. How did this shape your perspective on the publishing industry?
Jessica: My traditional publisher placed the online version of the second book in my YA fantasy trilogy in the romance category. Fans couldn’t find book two, and that one wrong decision killed the momentum of my release. I learned how very important every single detail is in the publishing process. Nothing can be taken for granted. It all matters.
TWB: What inspired you both to venture into publishing instead of solely focusing on your own writing careers?
Jessica and Holly: For Jess, it was simple. She wanted to have a lot more control over the publishing process. The only way she knew how to do that was to start her own imprint.
For Holly, her motivation started off being all about time. She didn’t want to spend years looking for an agent, and then, if she got lucky and landed a good one, spend more time waiting for a potential publisher to accept her work. Holly worried her story could become dated, and she also didn’t want to possibly spend a decade waiting for someone to say she was good enough. It felt empowering to put her work out into the world while her dad was still alive to see it happen.
In the end, neither of us believes any other publisher could have created better books than the ones we published. Our novels sold thousands upon thousands of copies, and we didn’t have to share the majority of our profits with a publishing house or a literary agent, nor did we have to give up the majority of our rights. We found a better way.
TWB: Holly, could you tell us more about the workshops and conferences you lead, and how they contribute to Acorn Publishing’s mission?
Holly: This is one of my favorite parts of my job. In addition to teaching writers about the publishing options available to them today, I love getting out in the world and meeting writers face to face, hearing their personal stories, reading their work, and learning more about what they are looking for from a publisher. I’m always on the search for great talent, and I also learn so much from my time spent out in the field.
Whenever I teach at a conference or festival, I make it a point to sit in on workshops and share my own writing. It keeps me humble. It reminds me how vulnerable writers feel when sharing their work with strangers. If we stay locked up in our glass castles for too long, we lose touch with what truly matters.
TWB: Jessica, your YA series, “Children of the Gods,” achieved significant success. How did this success influence your vision for Acorn Publishing?
Jessica: I learned that you need an exceptional cover (the cover gets the clicks), an outstanding blurb (the blurb gets the buys), and then … you must market the heck out of your work. These days, most traditional publishers offer very little marketing. Marketing is complicated, time-consuming, and expensive, but I understood that if we were going to make Acorn Publishing a standout success, we needed to not only create extraordinary books but also throw ourselves into marketing.
I know how good it feels to have your work read and appreciated, and it means the world to me that we help our authors experience this gift.
TWB: Congratulations on winning the BREW Nonfiction Book Excellence Award 2024 Publisher of the Year! Can you share with us the significance of this award for you?
Jessica and Holly: When we first received the email notifying us that we had been selected as the BREW’s Publisher of the Year, we had to read the message twice. There might have been some jumping up and down involved and maybe a tear or three shed. Jess and I have spent the past decade working hard to build an imprint that elevates our writers as well as our industry, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the recognition.
TWB: Could you highlight some of the milestones or accomplishments of Acorn Publishing that you are particularly proud of, especially considering your recent recognition as Publisher of the Year?
Jessica and Holly: There have been a lot of wonderful milestones along the way that continue to convince us we are on the right path. Seeing our authors hit bestselling categories and win important awards tells us we are doing right by our authors. Securing international publishing deals for our authors feels like a game changer. We don’t know of any other hybrids doing this. Then, this year, we helped one of our authors get three of his Acorn Publishing books optioned for television. That was another exhilarating moment where we looked at each other and said, “We are doing what the big publishing houses are doing, and our authors are keeping the majority of their rights and profits at the same time.” It’s disruptive. Writers don’t have to figure it all out for themselves or rely on the old guard and give up their control to get their work out into the world in a meaningful way.
TWB: Holly, as the acquisitions editor, what criteria do you look for when selecting manuscripts to publish under Acorn Publishing?
Holly: I look for quality writing that improves the human experience, whether that be through sheer entertainment or enlightenment. Words create worlds. I strive to shape a better world.
TWB: Jessica, what advice would you give to aspiring authors based on your journey with Acorn Publishing?
Jessica: So many of us writers are deeply insecure, and we look toward industry professionals to validate our work. Don’t settle for the first person with a fancy title who tells you that you’re good enough to join the club. Do your research. Insist on a publisher that not only creates exceptionally polished books but also gives you a significant say in the creative process. You’ve earned it. Believe in yourself and in your writing.
Jennifer Gasner’s book, “My Unexpected Life After Diagnosis,” won the BREW Nonfiction Book Excellence Award 2024 Book of the Year leading to Acorn Publishing’s win of the BREW Nonfiction Book Excellence Award 2024 Publisher of the Year title. (Caption and photo credit: Acorn Publishing) 
“Acorn Publishing New Slogan” (Caption and image credit: Acorn Publishing) 
“Warwick’s booksigning for Acorn book, Where the Seams Meet” (Caption and photo credit: Acorn Publishing) 
“Blue on White” (Caption and image credit: Acorn Publishing) 
“LA Times Festival of Books group photo” (Caption and photo credit: Acorn Publishing) 
“Holly and Jessica” (Caption and photo credit: Acorn Publishing) 
“Acorn Author ranked as a USA Today Bestselling Author” (Caption and photo credit: Acorn Publishing) 
“Acorn author Phyllis Schwartz on Fox News” (Caption and photo credit: Acorn Publishing) 
“Acorn author Paul Greer appearing on Channel 8” (Caption and photo credit: Acorn Publishing) 
“Acorn Author E.P. Sery at B & N book signing” (Caption and photo credit: Acorn Publishing) 
“Acorn author Dennis K. Crosby at an author speaking event at Comicon” (Caption and photo credit: Acorn Publishing) 
“White on Black Acorn Logo” (Caption and image credit: Acorn Publishing)
TWB: Lastly, could you share any upcoming projects or initiatives from Acorn Publishing that readers and aspiring authors can look forward to?
Jessica and Holly: We have some very big plans in the works. Keep an eye on our website for details.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“In the end, neither of us believes any other publisher could have created better books than the ones we published. Our novels sold thousands upon thousands of copies, and we didn’t have to share the majority of our profits with a publishing house or a literary agent, nor did we have to give up the majority of our rights. We found a better way.”
– Jessica Therrien and Holly Kammier
Useful Links
- Acorn Publishing website
- Know more about the BREW Book, Blog, and Poetry Awards here
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