What you write
should not disappear.
J Merrill Publishing exists because authors deserve a publisher that believes in them — not just a service that processes their manuscript.
Helping Authors
Help Themselves.
J Merrill Publishing, Inc. is a full-service, author-focused publishing company committed to excellence, empowerment, and inclusivity. Founded by Jackie Smith, Jr. in Columbus, OH, our mission is to give every author access to professional-grade publishing — without the gatekeeping.
We believe every author deserves a publishing home — not just a transaction. We walk with our authors through every stage of their journey: from manuscript evaluation through publication, launch, and long-term career building.
We believe in transparency, high standards, and publishing solutions that evolve with technology — from AI-powered production to the enterprise-grade distribution infrastructure of our Ingram Content partnership, giving our authors access to global retail, library, and wholesale channels that most independent publishers can't offer.
Founded in December 2018 by Jackie Smith Jr. after publishing his first two books, J Merrill Publishing was built on a simple conviction: that authors deserve a true partner — not just a vendor. Authors retain full ownership of their intellectual property. We retain no rights to any manuscript, title, or creative work published through our services. 70% of royalties stay with the author.
The principles that
govern everything we do
One of four divisions.
One unified system.
J Merrill Publishing is Division 01 of the J Merrill One enterprise platform — a unified system that also includes J Merrill Financial, J Merrill Foundation, and J Merrill Productions. Every division shares one data layer, one governance model, and one intelligence infrastructure.
Authors who publish with JMP have a natural pathway into the broader JM1 ecosystem — estate planning to protect their intellectual property, media production to amplify their message, and community impact to extend their legacy.
Explore J Merrill One ↗Ready to join the family?
Tell us about your book and your vision. We'll build a plan around your goals.