Who we are
An independent house, built by writers.
We started Kingsley because too many good books were dying in a Google Doc — not from lack of a story, but from lack of time, structure, and anyone to answer the question of what happens next.
Our position
We are not a publisher.
We work for you.
A traditional publisher buys your rights and pays you a royalty. A vanity press charges you and keeps a share of sales. We do neither. You pay us for professional work, once, and then the book is entirely yours — copyright, ISBN, retail accounts and every cent it earns.
That arrangement also means our incentive is simple. We are not hoping your book sells enough to recoup an advance. We are hoping you recommend us to the next author, which only happens if the book is good.
Your voice, not ours
Every project begins with interviews, and a voice sample you approve before drafting starts.
Honest scoping
We regularly tell authors their idea is too broad, or the book should be shorter. Before they pay, not after.
Total confidentiality
Everyone who touches a manuscript signs an NDA. We are never credited and never name clients without permission.
Built to be read
Covers, metadata and categories decided against live retail data, because a finished book nobody finds is only half the job.
How we work
Four commitments
we actually keep.
Nothing starts unapproved
Each stage is gated. The next chapter does not begin until you have signed off the last one.
One person accountable
A single project manager owns your timeline. You are never handed between departments.
No surprise invoices
Third-party costs are quoted upfront and passed through at cost, never marked up.
We will say no
If we are not the right house for your book, we tell you on the first call and point you somewhere better.
The team
Who works
on your book.
A core editorial team in New York, supported by a vetted network of genre specialists. You always know who is writing your book.
Maya Whitfield
Founder & Head of Ghostwriting. Eighteen years in trade non-fiction and memoir.
James Okafor
Director of Editorial. Former commissioning editor, now runs our developmental team.
Lena Ruiz
Head of Design. Covers and interiors across every genre we publish.
Theo Bianchi
Publishing & Marketing Lead. Metadata, retail strategy and launch campaigns.
Come and meet the team.
A free 30-minute call with the people who would actually work on your book.