American publisher Babylon Books is celebrating 15 years in publishing as it prepares to release its 100th title, Jack & Nikita, a Cold War historical novel by No. 1 New York Times bestselling author David L. Robbins. The forthcoming book marks a milestone for the publishing house founded by author William Bernhardt, whose growing catalogue brings together fiction and nonfiction that have found readers across the United States and beyond.
Babylon began with a focus on fiction, publishing fantasy writers including Tamara Grantham and Cary Herwig. Among its notable successes is Betsey Kulakowski’s Veritas Codex series, whose first instalment reached No. 1 on an Amazon bestseller list, according to the publisher. With the ninth book now approaching publication, the series illustrates Babylon’s commitment to sustained relationships with its authors. Bernhardt describes the founding principle as a belief that rigorous editorial standards can go hand in hand with meaningful support for writers and their long-term careers.
The move into nonfiction opened further routes to readers. John Wooley’s Twentieth-Century Honky-Tonk, about the historic Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma, reached well beyond its anticipated regional audience, attracting orders from across the United States and overseas, including strong sales in Australia. Hannibal B. Johnson’s 10 Ways We Can Advance Social Justice also became a strong performer, supported by reader recommendations and the author’s popularity as a public speaker. Both books demonstrated how works rooted in a particular place or subject can connect with interested readers across borders.
Bernhardt’s involvement in the writing community also extends to WriterCon, the annual conference he founded to bring writers together with editors, publishers, literary agents and other industry professionals. Following its 19th gathering in Oklahoma City in September 2026, the conference will mark its 20th anniversary in 2027. Babylon, meanwhile, plans to develop its author roster, expand established series and acquire new work. For Bernhardt, the significance of the 100th title lies in the writers and stories behind the catalogue, and in sustaining a publishing house where authors can build lasting careers and readers can discover books they might not encounter elsewhere.
