Morgan James Publishing
Morgan James Publishing is an American independent publisher and distributor focused on nonfiction, fiction, faith-based books, and children's titles.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Morgan James Publishing is an American independent book publisher and distributor founded in Virginia in 2003 by David L. Hancock. The company operates across several commercially oriented publishing categories, including business and entrepreneurship nonfiction, general nonfiction, fiction, faith-related books, and children's publishing. Its catalog and author-acquisition approach have given it a position between a conventional trade publisher and more author-participatory publishing models. In its early period, Morgan James used a hybrid approach that combined elements of traditional publishing with a subsidy-publisher model. In this arrangement, some entrepreneurial nonfiction authors paid fees in advance against anticipated publisher royalties. The model was particularly associated with business and personal-development books, where authors often brought an established professional network, platform, or audience-development capability to the publishing relationship. The company also developed a notable relationship with Jay Conrad Levinson, the author associated with Guerrilla Marketing, and published a series of nonfiction works with him. This helped reinforce Morgan James's identity in practical business publishing and entrepreneurial advice. The publisher has pursued visibility through author-led books, direct and digital commerce, and partnerships intended to expand how books are discovered and purchased. In December 2008, it was invited by NASDAQ to participate in the opening-bell ceremony in connection with recognition of Eva Haller's book Do Your Giving While You Are Living, a title Morgan James promoted. In September 2013, the company introduced an e-book bundling program. In February 2015, it entered a partnership with Aerbook and the Aer.io Retail Network to provide excerpts and facilitate title sales through social-media channels. In August 2018, Morgan James announced a partnership with Publica, reflecting continued interest in digital publishing and distribution infrastructure. Morgan James has reported receiving approximately 5,000 manuscript proposals per year and publishing about 150 of them on average. The company has therefore presented itself as selective while maintaining a comparatively broad flow of submissions. Its publishing list includes works by authors such as Brendon Burchard, Joel Comm, and Diane DiResta. Two Morgan James titles cited in reference material reached The New York Times bestseller list in the Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous category: Jeff Walker's Launch: An Internet Millionaire's Secret Formula To Sell Almost Anything Online, Build A Business You Love, And Live The Life Of Your Dreams, and Brendon Burchard's The Millionaire Messenger: Make a Difference and a Fortune Sharing Your Advice. The company has also been recognized by Publishers Weekly as one of the fastest-growing independent publishers in 2014, 2015, and 2018. Available reference material does not establish a public parent company, stock-market listing, current chief executive, revenue figure, or precise present-day headquarters. Morgan James is best understood as an independent, English-language publishing house whose differentiation rests on commercially focused nonfiction, author entrepreneurship, hybrid publishing practices, and experimentation with digital merchandising and distribution.
History
Morgan James Publishing was established in Virginia in 2003 by David L. Hancock. From the beginning, it developed as an independent publisher with a strong emphasis on practical nonfiction, especially books addressing entrepreneurship, business development, marketing, leadership, and personal achievement. Its early operating model was described as a hybrid of conventional publishing and subsidy publishing. Under that approach, certain entrepreneurial nonfiction authors paid fees in advance against publisher royalties, creating a publishing relationship that relied partly on author participation and partly on the publisher's editorial, production, and distribution functions. The company strengthened its business-publishing profile through a partnership with Jay Conrad Levinson, the author associated with the Guerrilla Marketing series. Morgan James and Levinson published a number of nonfiction books together, helping the company build recognition among authors and readers interested in small-business marketing and entrepreneurial practice. Its list later included authors such as Brendon Burchard, Joel Comm, and Diane DiResta. In December 2008, Morgan James was invited by NASDAQ to participate in the opening-bell ceremony and to recognize Eva Haller's Do Your Giving While You Are Living, a book the company promoted. The event provided institutional visibility for the independent publisher and illustrated the role of author-led promotion in its business model. Morgan James continued to experiment with digital formats and routes to market. In September 2013, it launched an e-book bundling program. In February 2015, it entered a partnering agreement with Aerbook and the Aer.io Retail Network, allowing the publisher to offer excerpts and support title sales through social-media activity. In August 2018, it announced a partnership with Publica, another step toward using digital infrastructure in publishing and distribution. The company has reported receiving roughly 5,000 manuscript proposals annually and accepting and publishing an average of about 150. This reported ratio indicates a selective acquisition process despite the high volume of submissions. Morgan James's catalog spans nonfiction, fiction, faith, and children's books, although its public identity has been especially associated with entrepreneurial and advice-oriented nonfiction. Two of its titles were reported as having reached The New York Times bestseller list in the Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous category: Jeff Walker's Launch and Brendon Burchard's The Millionaire Messenger. Publishers Weekly identified Morgan James as one of the fastest-growing independent publishers in 2014, 2015, and 2018. The available reference material does not provide reliable information about ownership changes, financial performance, a public listing, current senior management, or a definitive current headquarters. Accordingly, the company is documented here as an independent American publisher with a broad English-language list, an author-participatory heritage, and a history of digital-commerce partnerships.
- 2018
Publica partnership announced
[1]The publisher announced a partnership with Publica involving digital publishing and distribution capabilities.
- 2015
Aerbook and Aer.io partnership
[1]Morgan James partnered with Aerbook and the Aer.io Retail Network to distribute excerpts and support social-media sales.
- 2013
E-book bundling program introduced
[1]The publisher launched an e-book bundling initiative to extend its digital offering.
- 2008
NASDAQ opening-bell recognition
[1]Morgan James participated in a NASDAQ opening-bell event associated with Eva Haller's Do Your Giving While You Are Living.
- 2003
Company founded in Virginia
[1]David L. Hancock founded Morgan James Publishing as an independent American publishing company.
Products and positioning
An independent, author-oriented publisher combining commercially focused trade publishing with entrepreneurial nonfiction, broad category coverage, and digital and social-commerce distribution initiatives.
Nonfiction
Business and entrepreneurship nonfiction
A central part of the Morgan James list, covering entrepreneurship, business building, marketing, leadership, professional development, and advice from practitioners. These books often use author expertise and personal platforms as important elements of their commercial positioning.
Nonfiction
General nonfiction and self-help
Morgan James publishes practical nonfiction and personal-development titles designed to provide advice, methods, or inspiration to general readers. The category includes advice-oriented works that have been associated with the publisher's New York Times-listed titles.
Fiction
Fiction
Fiction is one of the categories identified for the Morgan James publishing program. The available reference material does not specify particular fiction imprints, genres, or leading series.
Special-interest publishing
Faith and children's publishing
The company also publishes faith-related and children's books, extending its list beyond its best-known business and entrepreneurial nonfiction. Specific imprints and representative titles are not established in the supplied references.
Digital publishing · 2013
E-book bundles
Introduced in 2013, the e-book bundling program packaged electronic content in a format intended to broaden the value proposition and discoverability of Morgan James digital titles.
Brand decisions
2018
Partnership with PublicaStrategyBackground
The publisher continued to develop digital publishing and distribution relationships.
Action taken
Morgan James announced a partnership with Publica.
Aftermath
The supplied references do not describe the partnership's detailed scope or financial results.
2015
Partnership with Aerbook and Aer.ioStrategyBackground
Morgan James sought additional ways to connect book excerpts and purchasing opportunities with social-media activity.
Action taken
The publisher partnered with Aerbook and the Aer.io Retail Network to offer excerpts and support title sales through social media.
Aftermath
No quantified commercial outcome is provided in the available source material.
2013
Launch of the e-book bundling programProduct launchBackground
Digital reading and online book commerce were becoming increasingly important to publishers and authors.
Action taken
Morgan James introduced an e-book bundling program for its digital publishing activity.
Aftermath
The available references do not quantify the program's sales or operational results.
Sources2 sources
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