Simon & Schuster and Artists Writers & Artisans (AWA) Studios Announce Book Market Sales and Distribution Agreement

By | February 25, 2021

Simon & Schuster, Inc. has entered into a book market distribution agreement with Artists Writers & Artisans Studios (AWA Studios), a comic book and graphic novel publisher with the aim to give power back to creators with a genre-blending approach to storytelling.

“We are excited to welcome Artists Writers & Artisans Studios to our family of distribution clients,” says Michael Perlman, Vice President, General Manager, Simon & Schuster Publisher Services. “We look forward to helping them expand their presence in the market, and providing them with the best support possible to help them grow their business.”

Although AWA Studios launched its first series in March 2020, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the publisher’s catalog, which includes stories by top creators like J. Michael Straczynzki (THE RESISTANCE, MOTHS), Benjamin Percy (DEVIL’S HIGHWAY, YEAR ZERO), Christa Faust (BAD MOTHER, REDEMPTION), Garth Ennis (MARJORIE FINNEGAN: TEMPORAL CRIMINAL), Frank Cho (FIGHT GIRLS), Ethan Sacks (NBC.com’s COVID CHRONICLES), and more has been embraced by readers worldwide.

AWA Studios CCO, Axel Alonso, formerly the editor-in-chief at Marvel, says, “AWA’s first wave of trade paperbacks performed well above expectations, so I am very excited to enter into a distribution agreement with Simon & Schuster, who will no doubt help us reach an even broader audience.”

“AWA’s pedigree in the foundations of comic book and graphic novel publishing has already paid dividends from fan audiences.  We are delighted to be working with the S&S sales team that has a successful track record in reaching graphic novel readers,” Frank Fochetta, AWA Sales and Distribution, added.

Under the agreement, Simon & Schuster will handle book market sales and distribution to the United States and Canada beginning March 1, 2021. However, AWA Studios will continue their direct market sales and distribution with Diamond Comic Distributors.

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