Acorn Publishing
Thinking about publishing with Acorn Publishing? Here’s an independent, sourced look at whether it’s a legitimate hybrid publisher or one to avoid — measured against the IBPA hybrid-publisher criteria, the ALLi Watchdog, and Writer Beware, and last checked on 2026-06-09.
Key findings
- Proceed with caution — meets 9 of the 11 IBPA hybrid-publisher criteria.
- Author pays: $11,500 flat fee (additional charges apply for manuscripts over 95,000 words; editorial services are not included and cost extra).
- Author keeps their rights.
- Distribution: trade distribution.
Our assessment
Acorn Publishing LLC is a California-based hybrid publisher founded in 2015 by authors Holly Kammier and Jessica Therrien. Authors pay a confirmed flat upfront fee of $11,500, with additional charges for manuscripts over 95,000 words and for optional editorial services.
The company's own website contains a documented and unresolved royalty inconsistency: the About Costs page states authors keep 70% of book sales profits, while a 2017 blog post states "If you make $100,000 you get to keep it. We do not take a percentage of that income." Other pages use vague language about keeping "100% of profits" that appears to refer to rights ownership rather than revenue share.
This material ambiguity should be resolved in writing before any contract is signed. Authors are stated to retain all rights and to be able to leave to publish elsewhere at any time, but no public contract language is available to confirm reversion terms.
Distribution is described as "bookstores and ebook distributors worldwide" with Barnes & Noble presence documented, but no specific trade distributor (such as Ingram) is named on the company website, making the depth of trade presence difficult to independently verify. Acorn Publishing is not listed in the ALLi self-publishing service ratings directory at selfpublishingadvice.org.
No Writer Beware listing or SFWA warning exists for this company. No BBB profile with complaints was identified for the Irvine, CA entity.
The company has received verifiable industry recognition: the 2024 Chrysalis BREW Project Nonfiction Publisher of the Year award and the 2025 San Diego Writers Festival Publisher of the Year. The upfront-cost model and the unresolved royalty-claims inconsistency on the company's own website warrant caution; authors should request and carefully review the full contract before proceeding.
This is Glass Elevator’s assessment based on the sources listed below. Facts are attributed; opinions are the watchdogs’ own.
IBPA hybrid criteria
- Defines a clear mission & vision
- Vets submissions (is selective)
- Commits to truth & transparency
- Provides a negotiable, clear contract
- Publishes under its own imprint & ISBNs
- Publishes to industry standards
- Ensures editorial & design quality
- Manages a range of rights
- Provides real distribution
- Demonstrates respectable sales
- Pays higher-than-standard royalties
Watchdog ratings
- ALLi Watchdog
- Not rated
- Writer Beware
- Not listed
No listing or warning found for Acorn Publishing LLC at Writer Beware (writerbeware.blog) as of research date. A separate Writer Beware post about scammers impersonating "Acorn TV" (a streaming service) is unrelated to this publisher.
Observable red flags
- Charges authors to publish
- Vague or hidden pricing
Terms
- Typical cost
- $11,500 flat fee (additional charges apply for manuscripts over 95,000 words; editorial services are not included and cost extra)
- Royalty to author
- 70% of book sales profits per the About Costs page. A 2017 blog post states authors keep all income with no percentage taken — a contradiction that has not been publicly resolved. Prospective authors should request written clarification of current royalty terms before signing.
- Author keeps rights
- Yes
- Distribution
- Trade distribution
- What you get
- Cover design (ebook, paperback, hardcover), interior formatting, proofreading, ISBN and LCCN, worldwide bookstore and ebook platform availability, Amazon optimization and bestseller campaign, social media graphics, press release distributed to 20+ media outlets, email marketing to 100,000+ readers, NetGalley placement, cover reveal and release blog tours, print-on-demand, Barnes & Noble signing opportunities, LA Times Festival of Books participation, foreign rights pitching to overseas publishers, film and TV rights pitching to literary agents, weekly publishing-coordinator check-ins, and access to a private author community
- Website
- www.acornpublishingllc.com/
Acorn Publishing: frequently asked questions
Is Acorn Publishing a legitimate hybrid publisher or a vanity press?
Glass Elevator's assessment is "Proceed with caution." Mixed signals — meets some criteria but not all, or has notable terms to weigh. Do your due diligence. It meets 9 of the 11 IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria.
How much does Acorn Publishing cost?
$11,500 flat fee (additional charges apply for manuscripts over 95,000 words; editorial services are not included and cost extra) Always get the full, itemized price in writing before you commit.
What royalties does Acorn Publishing pay authors?
70% of book sales profits per the About Costs page. A 2017 blog post states authors keep all income with no percentage taken — a contradiction that has not been publicly resolved. Prospective authors should request written clarification of current royalty terms before signing.
Does Acorn Publishing take your rights?
No — authors retain their rights. Still read the contract's rights and termination clauses before signing.
Should I publish with Acorn Publishing?
That's your call, but here's the basis: Mixed signals — meets some criteria but not all, or has notable terms to weigh. Do your due diligence. Compare it against the IBPA checklist and watchdog ratings above, get every term in writing, and remember that traditional trade publishers pay authors rather than charging them.
Sources
- Acorn Publishing – About Costs (pricing, 70% royalty claim) (acornpublishingllc.com)
- Acorn Publishing – How Does It Work (distribution, rights, services overview) (acornpublishingllc.com)
- Acorn Publishing – Publishing Package (full services list) (acornpublishingllc.com)
- Acorn Publishing – What Makes Acorn Different (2017 blog: 100% income claim, rights) (acornpublishingllc.com)
- Acorn Publishing – Our Team (founders Holly Kammier and Jessica Therrien) (acornpublishingllc.com)
- ALLi Best Self-Publishing Services Directory (Acorn Publishing not found) (selfpublishingadvice.org)
- Writer Beware – SFWA (no Acorn Publishing LLC listing found; Acorn TV impersonation scam is unrelated) (writerbeware.blog)
- Wikitia – Acorn Publishing LLC (founding year 2015, Irvine CA, founders) (wikitia.com)
- The World's Best Magazine – Empowering Authors: The Journey of Acorn Publishing (BREW 2024 award, services) (theworldsbestmagazine.com)
- Times of San Diego – Acorn Publishing named 2025 Publisher of the Year by San Diego Writers Festival (timesofsandiego.com)