Catapult Book Group has completed the acquisition of Hawthorne Books & Literary Arts, a Portland-based independent press known for its catalog of acclaimed literary works. The imprint will join Catapult, Counterpoint Press, and Soft Skull Press as the fourth publishing brand within the Catapult portfolio. The acquisition includes Hawthorne’s full catalog and trademark.
The deal further strengthens Catapult’s position within the independent publishing landscape. Catapult, founded by Elizabeth R. Koch and operating under Unlikely Collaborators Inc., will integrate Hawthorne into its publishing ecosystem while continuing to highlight authors whose narratives explore emotional depth, perspective, and complexity. As part of the transition, distribution for Hawthorne will shift from Publishers Group West to Penguin Random House, Catapult’s existing distribution partner. Hawthorne is expected to continue releasing new titles, with its first post-acquisition acquisition slated for Fall 2026.
Founded in 2001 by Publisher and Executive Editor Rhonda Hughes, Hawthorne has built an established backlist featuring notable titles such as Lidia Yuknavitch’s The Chronology of Water—now adapted into a major motion picture directed by Kristen Stewart—Poe Ballantine’s Love and Terror on the Howling Plains of Nowhere, Frank Meeink and Jody M. Roy’s Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead, and Sidney Morrison’s recent novel Frederick Douglass. Catapult will now oversee this catalog as part of its expanding literary portfolio.
Hughes will continue with the organization, taking on the role of Contributing Editor for Hawthorne Books. She will acquire new titles for the imprint while reporting to Catapult Editorial Director Dan Smetanka.
Catapult emphasized alignment between the two publishers’ missions and editorial philosophies, highlighting how Hawthorne’s track record complements Catapult’s goal of amplifying thoughtful, resonant storytelling. The merger brings together two publishers recognized for championing authors who examine lived experience through a reflective and emotionally rich lens.
Catapult continues to evolve as a collective comprising Catapult, Counterpoint Press, Soft Skull Press, and Hawthorne Books. Its authors have earned significant recognition, including the International Booker Prize, the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and the National Book Critics Circle Award, as well as multiple National Book Award nominations.
KEY QUOTES:
“We were immediately drawn to how closely Hawthorne’s sensibility mirrors our own. Hawthorne has long published writers who probe beneath the surface of experience, work that echoes Catapult’s mission to illuminate complexity and broaden perspective. Bringing our lists together strengthens our shared commitment to stories that resonate on both an emotional and reflective level and ensures readers have more opportunities to discover writing that is insightful and meaningful.”
Alyson Forbes, Publisher, Catapult
“Having Hawthorne become an imprint alongside such esteemed publishers as Catapult, Counterpoint Press, and Soft Skull Press—and having the opportunity to work with the remarkable Catapult team—is both a joy and an honor for me and for our authors. This new chapter has reaffirmed my deep appreciation for the art and spirit of publishing.”
Rhonda Hughes, Publisher and Executive Editor, Hawthorne Books
