Bonus Books

Bonus Books is an American book-publishing brand headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Its publishing program has focused primarily on practical and specialist nonfiction, particularly how-to books and works dealing with casino gambling, sports biographies, broadcasting, journalism, popular culture, and terrorism financing. The company has also published titles addressing professional skills and applied knowledge, giving the list a more focused and subject-driven profile than that of a general trade publisher. The business was established in the 1970s and was originally based in Chicago, Illinois. Its early publishing activity is associated with nonfiction subjects that could be marketed to readers seeking practical guidance, professional reference material, or specialized cultural and sports coverage. The company’s catalog has included books for gamblers and casino enthusiasts, journalism and broadcasting professionals, sports readers, and readers interested in entertainment history and public affairs. A significant ownership and location change occurred in 2002, when Bonus Books was acquired by Jeffrey Stern, a Los Angeles publishing executive who had previously published Details magazine. Following the acquisition, the company moved from Chicago to Los Angeles. Stern’s background in magazine publishing and the Los Angeles media environment complemented Bonus Books’ interest in broadcasting, journalism, entertainment, and popular culture, while the brand retained its emphasis on focused nonfiction subjects. Bonus Books has been reported to publish approximately 30 books per year. The imprint’s authors have included Frank Scoblete, known for casino-gambling books, and John Grochowski, also associated with gambling and casino advice. Representative titles include The Slot Machine Answer Book, Best Newspaper Writing, Broadcast Voice Handbook, Covering Catastrophe, Get the Edge, The Divorce Lawyers’ Guide to Staying Married, Straight Whisky: A Living History of Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll on the Sunset Strip, and Funding Evil: How Terrorism Is Financed and How to Stop It. These titles illustrate the range of the list, from professional and instructional publishing to narrative nonfiction and topical analysis. Bonus Books has also used Volt Press as an additional imprint. The relationship between the main Bonus Books name and Volt Press reflects a portfolio approach in which related nonfiction subjects can be presented under distinct publishing labels. Bonus Books is currently owned by Rowman & Littlefield, an independent academic and trade publishing group. Under that ownership, the brand remains part of a larger publishing house while continuing to be identified with specialized nonfiction rather than mass-market fiction or a broad consumer-products portfolio.

Bonus Books was established in the 1970s as an American book publisher. It was initially based in Chicago, Illinois, and developed a catalog centered on specialized nonfiction rather than a broad fiction list. Its subjects included casino gambling, sports biographies, broadcasting, journalism, and other practical or topical areas. This focus allowed the company to serve identifiable professional, enthusiast, and reference-oriented readerships. The company underwent a major ownership and geographic transition in 2002. It was acquired by Jeffrey Stern, a Los Angeles publishing executive who had previously published Details magazine. After the acquisition, Bonus Books moved its base from Chicago to Los Angeles. The change connected the publisher more closely with Southern California’s media and entertainment environment while preserving the brand’s established nonfiction orientation. Bonus Books’ catalog has included instructional works for broadcasters and journalists, books about gambling and casino strategy, sports-related biographies, and narrative or investigative nonfiction. Frequently associated authors have included Frank Scoblete and John Grochowski, whose work contributed to the publisher’s casino-gambling list. Other books in the catalog have addressed newspaper writing, crisis reporting, divorce-law practice, the Sunset Strip’s entertainment history, and the financing of terrorism. The resulting list combines professional handbooks, consumer advice, biographies, cultural history, and public-affairs analysis. The publisher has been described as issuing approximately 30 books annually. It has also operated or used Volt Press as an additional imprint. This imprint structure gave the broader publishing operation another label for selected nonfiction projects while Bonus Books remained the principal identity associated with the company. Bonus Books is currently owned by Rowman & Littlefield. Its place within that larger independent publishing group gives the brand access to an established publishing-house structure while retaining a distinct identity for focused nonfiction. Publicly available reference material does not establish a precise founding year, a complete succession of executives, or detailed annual financial results.

• 2002

  Ownership and headquarters change

  [1]Bonus Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Los Angeles publishing executive Jeffrey Stern acquires Bonus Books, and the company moves from Chicago to Los Angeles.

• 1970

  Bonus Books is established

  [1]Bonus Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Bonus Books is founded as an American publisher, initially operating from Chicago and developing a list of specialized nonfiction.

• Volt Press becomes an additional imprint

  [1]Bonus Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Volt Press is identified as an additional imprint associated with the Bonus Books publishing operation.

• Bonus Books becomes part of Rowman & Littlefield

  [1]Bonus Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Rowman & Littlefield becomes the current owner of Bonus Books.

A specialist nonfiction publisher serving readers interested in practical guidance, professional media skills, casino gambling, sports, entertainment history, and topical public-affairs subjects.

• Casino gambling guide

  The Slot Machine Answer Book

  A practical reference title focused on slot machines and casino gambling. It represents Bonus Books’ recurring emphasis on enthusiast-oriented advice and specialized gaming nonfiction.

• Journalism reference

  Best Newspaper Writing

  A professional-oriented title concerned with newspaper writing. Its inclusion reflects the publisher’s interest in journalism education, newsroom practice, and applied communication skills.

• Broadcasting handbook

  Broadcast Voice Handbook

  A handbook for broadcasting-related voice and presentation practice. The book fits Bonus Books’ nonfiction program of practical guides for media professionals and aspiring broadcasters.

• Journalism and reporting

  Covering Catastrophe

  A nonfiction work addressing the reporting or coverage of catastrophic events. It illustrates the publisher’s interest in specialized journalism subjects and demanding professional situations.

• Current affairs and terrorism studies

  Funding Evil: How Terrorism Is Financed and How to Stop It

  A topical nonfiction title examining how terrorism is financed and discussing ways to disrupt those financial networks. It broadens the catalog beyond instructional manuals into public-affairs analysis.

• Popular culture and entertainment history

  Straight Whisky: A Living History of Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll on the Sunset Strip

  A cultural history of the Sunset Strip and its associations with nightlife, music, sex, and drugs. The title reflects Bonus Books’ Los Angeles-linked interest in entertainment and popular culture.

• Legal and relationship advice

  The Divorce Lawyers’ Guide to Staying Married

  A practical advice title framed around marriage and the perspective of divorce lawyers. It represents the publisher’s willingness to develop accessible guides built around professional expertise.

• Self-help and practical advice

  Get the Edge

  A practical nonfiction title positioned around gaining an advantage or improving performance. Its inclusion is consistent with Bonus Books’ how-to and self-improvement-oriented publishing.

• 2002

  Acquisition by Jeffrey SternM&A

  Background

  Bonus Books was an established Chicago-based publisher with a specialist nonfiction list when Los Angeles publishing executive Jeffrey Stern acquired it.

  Action taken

  Stern purchased the company and relocated its base from Chicago to Los Angeles.

  Aftermath

  The move established Bonus Books in Los Angeles and kept the brand active as a focused nonfiction publisher.

  Source

• Use of Volt Press as an additional imprintStrategy

  Background

  Bonus Books maintained a specialized nonfiction publishing program spanning practical guides, professional subjects, and topical works.

  Action taken

  The company used Volt Press as an additional imprint within its publishing operation.

  Aftermath

  The imprint structure provided an additional label for selected books, although public reference material does not specify its full editorial scope.

  Source

1. 1Bonus Booksen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Bonus Books catalog searchrowman.com