Forefront Books
Thinking about publishing with Forefront Books? 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 8 of the 11 IBPA hybrid-publisher criteria.
- Author pays: Not publicly disclosed; author pays an upfront fee (amount negotiated per project).
- Author keeps their rights.
- Distribution: trade distribution.
Our assessment
Forefront Books is a Nashville-based hybrid publisher founded in 2018 by Jonathan Merkh, a former VP and Publisher at Thomas Nelson and at Simon & Schuster's Howard Books division. The company operates a selective model — submissions require passing an editorial review — and distributes exclusively through Simon & Schuster under a formal distribution agreement, placing titles with brick-and-mortar retailers.
This constitutes genuine trade distribution, independently confirmed by Forefront's own distribution page and by Simon & Schuster's publisher listing. Authors are confirmed by the company to retain intellectual property rights.
Merkh stated at founding (Publishers Weekly, 2018) that authors pay a one-time fee with profit-sharing splits tied to platform size; specific fee amounts and royalty percentages remain undisclosed publicly. The company was named Publishers Weekly's 2nd fastest-growing independent publisher for the year ending 2022 (based on a 216% sales increase over 2020–2022) and is a confirmed 2023 Inc. 5000 honoree.
Forefront operates seven named imprints as white-label publishing partnerships — StoryBrand Books, Mission Driven Press, Frederick Douglass Books, Worth Books, Maxwell Leadership Publishing, K-LOVE Books, and Quaderer Books — all confirmed by independent press announcements and Forefront's own partnerships page. These are partnership imprint brands, not separate legal entities or prior names for the company.
No ALLi Watchdog rating was found in the ALLi services database as of June 2026. Writer Beware carries no listing or advisory, confirmed by a direct fetch of the Writer Beware blog.
No BBB profile was located. The primary caution for prospective authors is the complete absence of any public pricing schedule and undisclosed royalty rates; authors should request a full written fee schedule and contract terms before committing.
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 on the Writer Beware blog (writerbeware.blog) or the SFWA Writer Beware pages as of June 2026. Independent fetch of the Writer Beware blog homepage confirmed no mention of Forefront Books.
Observable red flags
- Charges authors to publish
- Vague or hidden pricing
Terms
- Typical cost
- Not publicly disclosed; author pays an upfront fee (amount negotiated per project)
- Royalty to author
- Not publicly disclosed; described as profit-sharing with higher splits for authors with larger platforms; negotiated per project
- Author keeps rights
- Yes
- Distribution
- Trade distribution
- What you get
- Full editorial services (developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, ghostwriting); cover and interior design; print, e-book, and audiobook production; active trade distribution through Simon & Schuster to brick-and-mortar and online retailers; export sales and international rights management via a dedicated translation-rights agent; marketing and publicity guidance; author retains IP rights.
- Website
- www.forefrontbooks.com
Forefront Books: frequently asked questions
Is Forefront Books 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 8 of the 11 IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria.
How much does Forefront Books cost?
Not publicly disclosed; author pays an upfront fee (amount negotiated per project) Always get the full, itemized price in writing before you commit.
What royalties does Forefront Books pay authors?
Not publicly disclosed; described as profit-sharing with higher splits for authors with larger platforms; negotiated per project
Does Forefront Books take your rights?
No — authors retain their rights. Still read the contract's rights and termination clauses before signing.
Should I publish with Forefront Books?
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
- Forefront Books official site — publishing overview (forefrontbooks.com)
- Forefront Books — distribution page (S&S relationship) (forefrontbooks.com)
- Forefront Books — partnerships / imprints page (forefrontbooks.com)
- Publishers Weekly — Merkh Forms Hybrid Publisher (founding article, 2018) (publishersweekly.com)
- Publishers Weekly — Merkh Joining Simon and Schuster's Howard Books (2009) (publishersweekly.com)
- Publishers Weekly — Forefront 2nd Fastest-Growing Independent Publisher (2022 year-end) (forefrontbooks.com)
- Publishers Weekly — Fast-Growing Independent Publishers 2023 (article confirming 216% growth) (publishersweekly.com)
- Inc. 5000 — Forefront Books 2023 honoree (inc.com)
- Publishers Weekly — Forefront Books, Donald Miller Launch StoryBrand Books Imprint (publishersweekly.com)
- PR Newswire — Forefront Books and FDFI Launch Frederick Douglass Books (prnewswire.com)
- PR Newswire — Worth Media Expands Into Book Publishing With Forefront Books (prnewswire.com)
- ALLi Self-Publishing Services Watchdog (Forefront Books not listed) (selfpublishingadvice.org)
- Writer Beware blog (Forefront Books not listed) (writerbeware.blog)