Exisle Publishing To Join Simon & Schuster as a Distributed Publisher in Australia and New Zealand
Chatswood, NSW, Australia — Exisle Publishing, one of Australia’s most energetic independent non-fiction and children’s publishers, has announced it will become a distribution client of Simon & Schuster in Australia and New Zealand from 1 June 2026.
Founded in 1991 by Gareth St John Thomas, Exisle has built an international reputation for influential self-help and lifestyle titles, including The Happiness Trap by Dr Russ Harris, Stop Talking, Start Influencing by Jared Cooney Horvath, and The Australian Beekeeping Manual by Robert Owen. Its award-winning children’s imprint, EK Books, is celebrated for “books with heart on issues that matter” that address difficult topics.
Simon & Schuster Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Jane Curry welcomed the partnership.
“We are pleased to welcome Exisle Publishing as a valued distribution client. I have known the list for many years and look forward to working together to grow their business in Australia and New Zealand.”
Nathan Thomas, Managing Editor of Exisle Publishing, said the partnership honours Exisle’s independent roots while creating new commercial momentum.
“My father founded Exisle with a clear mission, to publish books that serve communities and readers that larger publishers often overlook. Partnering with Simon & Schuster while remaining independent gives us the best of both worlds. Our distinctive publishing voice combined with their extraordinary sales reach and trade relationships gives our authors a powerful platform to share their stories.”
Exisle is refining its publishing focus to build on its strengths in self-help, lifestyle, gift, and memoir, focusing on titles that serve defined communities with the potential for broader appeal. From June, the company will roll out a reinvigorated self-help and lifestyle-led frontlist alongside a vigorous children’s programme.
Clear Continuity for Trade Partners at HEDS
As Exisle’s books were already at HEDS, which also warehouses for Simon & Schuster, there will be simple continuity of process for trade partners.
Ordering both before and after 1 June 2026 will continue via:
Exisle’s freelance sales representatives will remain active through May, with Simon & Schuster’s sales team assuming representation from 1 June 2026.
Returns will continue to be accepted and processed as usual throughout the transition.
About Exisle Publishing
Exisle Publishing (1991) is a family-owned independent Australian and New Zealand publisher specialising in self-help, lifestyle and gift books, with a global reputation for thoughtful, practical titles that make a meaningful difference in readers’ lives. Its books have been translated into more than thirty languages worldwide. Exisle publishes simultaneously across major English-language markets, with distribution into the United Kingdom, Europe and North America handled through Ingram’s Two Rivers platform.
More information:
exislepublishing.com
ekbooks.org
Media enquiries: