Jenkins Group
Professional services
UnclaimedAn American custom book-publishing, marketing, and publishing-services company based in Traverse City, Michigan.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Jenkins Group, Inc. is an American company that provides custom book-publishing and marketing services. It is based in Traverse City, Michigan, and operates in the publishing-services segment rather than primarily as a conventional trade publisher built around a single consumer-facing list. Its work is associated with helping authors, organizations, and other publishing clients develop, produce, promote, distribute, and otherwise commercialize books and related publishing projects. The business traces its origins to 1988, when it operated through two service names: Publisher's Design Service and Publisher's Distribution Service. These names indicate the early emphasis on practical production and distribution support for publishers and authors. The company was incorporated as Jenkins Group in 1995, bringing those activities under a unified corporate identity. Public descriptions characterize the organization as both a book publisher and a marketing company, with its value proposition centered on customized publishing assistance rather than a narrowly defined editorial genre. A major part of Jenkins Group's public profile comes from its portfolio of book-award programs. The Independent Publisher Book Awards, commonly known as the IPPY Awards, began in 1996 and recognize independently published English-language books. The program includes general, electronic-book, and regional categories covering North America, Europe, and Oceania. Its stated purpose is to give visibility to independent authors and publishers whose work may not receive attention from larger publishing institutions. Jenkins Group subsequently created specialist awards serving distinct readerships and publishing communities. The Moonbeam Children's Book Awards, founded in 2006, focus on children's books across more than 40 categories. The Axiom Business Book Awards, launched in 2007, recognize business books in 23 categories. The Living Now Book Awards, established in 2008, cover lifestyle, home, self-improvement, and world-improvement publishing; the program later added a digital-media category and Evergreen Book Medals for books created in the new millennium that contribute to positive global change. The eLit Book Awards, begun in 2009, focus on electronic publishing and include categories for digital books and other electronic publishing formats. The Illumination Book Awards, introduced in 2013, recognize authors and works in Christian publishing. The awards have helped position Jenkins Group as an intermediary between independent creators and the wider publishing ecosystem. They also create promotional opportunities for participating authors and publishers through medals, publicity, and award-related recognition. However, the programs have attracted criticism from author-industry observers. Writer Beware and the Alliance of Independent Authors have questioned the commercial structure of the contests, including the extent of merchandise marketing and upselling directed at winners and entrants. These criticisms are part of the public discussion surrounding Jenkins Group's awards activities, but do not by themselves establish a legal finding of wrongdoing. In 2023, Jenkins Group was associated with two publishing-industry podcasts: Concept to Cover, hosted by Leah Nicholson, and Behind The Cover, hosted by Amy Shamroe. The programs broaden the organization's media presence by featuring editors, writers, ghostwriters, award-winning authors, and other publishing professionals. Overall, Jenkins Group's identity combines outsourced publishing support, book marketing, award administration, and publishing-focused media. Detailed information about its ownership, executive leadership, financial performance, and current corporate status is not established in the supplied reference material.
History
Jenkins Group began in 1988 in Michigan under the names Publisher's Design Service and Publisher's Distribution Service. The two original operations reflected the practical needs of authors and publishers: preparing books for publication and helping move completed titles into distribution channels. In 1995, the business was incorporated as Jenkins Group, creating the corporate identity under which its publishing and marketing activities became more widely known. Rather than being described chiefly as a conventional trade house with a large list of mass-market titles, Jenkins Group developed around customized publishing support. Its activities have included book publishing and marketing services, enabling clients to obtain assistance with the development, production, promotion, and distribution of books. This model places the company within the broader ecosystem of independent publishing and outsourced publishing services, where authors, institutions, and smaller publishers may seek specialist help that is not available through their own internal teams. The company expanded its public role by establishing a series of book-award programs. The Independent Publisher Book Awards, created in 1996 and often called the IPPY Awards, became an early and prominent program for independently published English-language books. It includes general awards, electronic-book categories, and regional awards for North America, Europe, and Oceania. The program's focus on independent publishing gave authors and smaller presses a route to external recognition outside the largest commercial publishing awards. Jenkins Group added awards aimed at particular subject areas and audiences over the following years. The Moonbeam Children's Book Awards began in 2006 and recognize children's books in more than 40 categories. Since 2010, its ceremony has been held in connection with the Traverse City Children's Book Festival. The Axiom Business Book Awards followed in 2007, covering innovative business writing across 23 categories. In 2008, Jenkins Group introduced the Living Now Book Awards for lifestyle, home, self-improvement, and world-improvement books. That program later added a digital-media category in 2021 and introduced Evergreen Book Medals in 2016 for books from the new millennium that promote positive global change. The eLit Book Awards began in 2009 and address electronic publishing. Their scope extends beyond conventional e-books to other digital publishing forms, including author websites and book trailers. In 2013, Jenkins Group added the Illumination Book Awards, which recognize authors and titles in Christian publishing. Collectively, these programs cover independent publishing, children's literature, business, lifestyle and self-improvement, digital media, and Christian books. They also reinforce Jenkins Group's role as a provider of recognition and promotional infrastructure for publishing communities. The awards portfolio has not been free from criticism. Writer Beware, an advocacy project associated with the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, listed Jenkins Group's contests among awards programs it viewed as potentially benefiting organizers more than winners. The criticism focused particularly on merchandise offered to winners and what the organization characterized as extensive additional selling. The Alliance of Independent Authors assigned the Jenkins Group awards its lowest rating category and raised concerns about marketing and upselling, as well as statements suggesting that judges might not read every submitted book. These are reported criticisms from publishing observers and should be distinguished from proven legal or regulatory violations. In 2023, Jenkins Group broadened its media-related activity through Concept to Cover and Behind The Cover, two podcasts centered on the professional and creative dimensions of publishing. Concept to Cover features editors, writers, ghostwriters, and other industry participants, while Behind The Cover presents award-winning authors and discussions about the work behind published books. The available reference material does not establish the company's current ownership, executive team, financial results, or whether all historical programs remain active. Its documented identity is that of a Michigan-based book-publishing and marketing-services company with a substantial association with independent publishing awards.
- 2023
Publishing podcasts established
[1]Concept to Cover and Behind The Cover were established as podcasts featuring authors and other publishing professionals.
- 2021
Living Now adds digital-media category
[1]The Living Now awards expanded their scope with a digital-media category.
- 2016
Evergreen Book Medals introduced
[1]The Living Now program added Evergreen Medals for qualifying books created in the new millennium and associated with positive global change.
- 2013
Illumination Book Awards introduced
[1]Jenkins Group added an awards program focused on Christian publishing.
- 2010
Moonbeam ceremony linked with Traverse City Children's Book Festival
[1]The Moonbeam awards ceremony began being held as part of the Traverse City Children's Book Festival.
- 2009
eLit Book Awards launched
[1]The eLit program began covering electronic publishing, including e-books and other digital publishing formats.
- 2008
Living Now Book Awards launched
[1]The Living Now awards began recognizing lifestyle, home, self-improvement, and world-improvement books.
- 2007
Axiom Business Book Awards established
[1]The Axiom program was introduced to recognize business books in 23 categories.
- 2006
Moonbeam Children's Book Awards founded
[1]Jenkins Group launched a children's-book awards program spanning more than 40 categories.
- 1996
Independent Publisher Book Awards founded
[1]The IPPY Awards began recognizing independently published English-language titles across general, electronic, and regional categories.
Products and positioning
A specialized publishing-services partner for authors, independent publishers, organizations, and niche publishing communities, with additional visibility through award programs and publishing-industry media.
Publishing services
Custom book publishing services
Jenkins Group is described as providing customized book-publishing support rather than operating only as a conventional trade publisher. The service model is intended for clients that need assistance developing and bringing books to market, potentially combining production, publishing coordination, marketing, and distribution capabilities. Specific service packages and current availability are not established in the supplied material.
Publishing services · 1988
Book marketing and distribution services
The company's origins included Publisher's Distribution Service, and public descriptions identify Jenkins Group as a book marketing company. Its activities therefore include support intended to help books reach audiences and sales channels. The available reference does not provide a detailed list of distribution partners, marketing formats, or geographic sales figures.
Book awards · 1996
Independent Publisher Book Awards
The IPPY Awards recognize independently published English-language books. The program includes general categories, e-book categories, and regional divisions covering North America, Europe, and Oceania. It is designed to provide visibility to independent authors and publishers across a broad range of subjects and formats.
Book awards · 2006
Moonbeam Children's Book Awards
The Moonbeam awards focus on children's books that may receive less attention from larger, general-purpose contests. The program contains more than 40 categories and has held its ceremony in conjunction with the Traverse City Children's Book Festival since 2010.
Book awards · 2007
Axiom Business Book Awards
The Axiom awards recognize new and innovative business books across 23 categories. The program extends Jenkins Group's awards activity into management, business, entrepreneurship, and related professional subjects.
Book awards · 2008
Living Now Book Awards
Living Now medals recognize books in lifestyle, home, self-improvement, and world-improvement fields. The program later added digital media and Evergreen Book Medals, broadening its remit to newer formats and books associated with positive global change.
Digital publishing awards · 2009
eLit Book Awards
The eLit awards cover electronic publishing in 66 categories. In addition to electronic books, the program recognizes other digital publishing products such as author websites and book trailers.
Book awards · 2013
Illumination Book Awards
The Illumination awards recognize leading authors and titles in Christian publishing. They represent Jenkins Group's specialist-awards approach applied to a defined faith-based publishing market.
Publishing podcast · 2023
Concept to Cover
Concept to Cover is a publishing-industry podcast established in 2023 and hosted by Leah Nicholson. Its stated subject matter includes editors, writers, ghostwriters, and other leaders involved in creating and bringing books to market.
Publishing podcast · 2023
Behind The Cover
Behind The Cover is a podcast established in 2023 and hosted by Amy Shamroe. It features award-winning authors and explores the work and processes behind published books and the wider publishing industry.
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