In an agreement with Quirk Productions, Inc., Andrews McMeel Universal has acquired all of Quirk Books’ titles and IP. Under the deal, Quirk has become an imprint of Andrews McMeel Publishing, and as of October 1, AMP has assumed publication of all of Quirk’s frontlist and backlist titles.
Quirk founder and publisher Dave Borgenicht has been named publisher of the Quirk Books imprint at AMP, reporting to AMU president and CEO Kirsty Melville. Sales and distribution of all Quirk titles remain with Penguin Random House Publisher Services. AMP expects to publish 20 to 25 titles annually under the Quirk imprint.
Borgenicht founded Quirk in 2002 to publish his Worst Case Scenario books, which have sold more than 10 million copies. Quirk found quick success publishing what it deemed “irreference” titles and later expanded into multiple genres, including fiction, YA, and children’s books. Its bestselling titles include Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
The Philadelphia-based publisher, however, has struggled in recent years. In July it laid off a significant number of its staff and implemented what Borgenicht described as a six-month publishing pause. Those actions followed the November 2024 departure of Jhanteigh Kupihea as president and publisher and the return of Borgenicht to head the company.
Borgenicht is currently working with the Philadelphia staff to wind down Quirk Productions, Inc. as part of the transition of the imprint to AMP. A spokesperson said the size of the remaining staff is still to be determined, but all will stay on through November.
“Quirk’s witty, entertaining, and irreverent books seamlessly align with Andrews McMeel,” said Melville in a statement. “We similarly tap into the zeitgeist, creating bestselling books that delight, inspire, inform, and entertain readers.”
“I’ve been a fan of Andrews McMeel since I was in high school and I opened my first The Far Side calendar,” said Borgenicht. “I’m thrilled to be placing Quirk in their hands, and I’m really looking forward to doing some creative, independent publishing together.”