Our Story

Built by Authors,
For Authors

Empire Publishers was founded on a single belief: every author deserves a publishing partner that fights as hard for their book as they do.

2008

The Beginning

Founded in New York City with a team of three editors, a shared desk, and an unwavering belief that publishing should be democratic.

Our Origin

From One Desk to a Global Publishing House

Empire Publishers was born in 2008 when founder Victoria Walsh — a former acquisitions editor at two major New York publishing houses — watched brilliant manuscript after brilliant manuscript get rejected not because of quality, but because of politics, trends, and corporate risk aversion.

She set out to build a different kind of publishing company — one that treated every author as the architect of their own legacy, not just a product in a catalog.

Eighteen years later, Empire Publishers has helped over 2,400 authors across 120 countries bring their stories to the world — producing 38 bestsellers and earning a 97% author satisfaction rate.

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18 Years of Excellence

Our Journey

2008

Empire Publishers Founded

Victoria Walsh opens Empire Publishers in NYC with a team of three and a mission to democratize publishing.

2010

First Bestseller

Our first New York Times bestseller — "The Quiet Manifesto" by Bernard Cole — puts Empire on the literary map.

2013

Global Distribution Network

We establish distribution partnerships across 40,000+ retail outlets in 80 countries.

2015

Ghostwriting Division Launched

Our elite ghostwriting division helps executives, entrepreneurs, and public figures tell their stories.

2017

500th Book Published

We celebrate our 500th published title and expand our editorial team to 40 specialists across 12 genres.

2019

Digital & Audiobook Expansion

Full audiobook production and digital-first publishing services are added to our portfolio.

2022

Empire Elite Launched

Our premium white-glove package launches, serving high-profile authors with full PR and media campaigns.

2026

2,400+ Authors & Counting

Empire Publishers serves authors across 120+ countries with a team of 80+ publishing professionals.

What We Stand For

Our Core Values

👑

Author Sovereignty

Authors keep 100% of their rights and royalties. Always. We are your service partner, not your gatekeeper.

Uncompromising Quality

We treat every book — whether self-published or traditionally published — with the same level of editorial excellence.

🤝

True Partnership

Your success is our success. We celebrate every milestone with our authors and go beyond the contract to support their goals.

🌍

Global Ambition

We don't think small. Every book we publish is built for the world — positioned for global reach from day one.

💬

Radical Transparency

No hidden fees. No complex royalty structures. No surprises. You always know exactly where your project stands.

🚀

Speed with Integrity

We move fast — but never at the expense of quality. Our 90-day timeline delivers professional results without cutting corners.

The People Behind Your Book

Meet the Empire Team

80+ publishing professionals dedicated to making your book extraordinary.

V

Victoria Walsh

Founder & CEO

Former acquisitions editor at Penguin and HarperCollins. 25 years in publishing. Named "Publishing Innovator of the Year" by Publishers Weekly.

M

Marcus Hale

Editorial Director

Edited 14 New York Times bestsellers. Specialist in business, leadership, and literary fiction. Former editor at Simon & Schuster.

L

Layla Osei

Head of Design

Award-winning cover designer with 300+ covers in print. Her work has appeared in bookstores in 40 countries. Featured in Design Weekly.

D

Derek Santos

Marketing Director

Built bestseller campaigns for 22 books across business, memoir, and fiction. Former VP of Marketing at a Big Five publisher.

A

Amara Diallo

Head of Ghostwriting

Leads our elite ghostwriting division. Has co-written books for Fortune 500 CEOs, athletes, and public figures with full confidentiality.

R

Robert Kim

Head of Distribution

Manages our global distribution network across 40,000+ retailers. Ensures every Empire book is available everywhere readers look.

Media Coverage

Empire in the Press

Forbes

"The Publishing House Disrupting the Old Guard of New York"

Empire Publishers is giving authors a seat at a table they were previously locked out of — and producing bestsellers in the process.

March 2025
Publishers Weekly

"Victoria Walsh Named Publishing Innovator of the Year"

Empire's founder is recognized for her work in democratizing access to professional-quality publishing for independent authors.

January 2025
Inc. Magazine

"How Empire Publishers Built a Bestseller Machine"

With 38 books on major bestseller lists, Empire Publishers has cracked the code on what it takes to launch a book in the modern market.

November 2024

Become Part of the
Empire Story

Your book deserves the team, the process, and the vision that has launched 2,400+ authors. Let's talk.

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