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Hachette Book Group and Grand Central Publishing Announce Launch of CARDINAL

SVP, Publisher Reagan Arthur’s New Imprint Previews Its Forthcoming Publications

Cardinal will publish its first title — Catherine Chidgey’s THE BOOK OF GUILT — in Fall 2025, with approximately six titles to follow each year beginning in 2026

New York, NY (March 5, 2025) — Hachette Book Group and Grand Central Publishing are excited to announce today the launch of Cardinal, SVP & Publisher Reagan Arthur’s new imprint, in Fall 2025. Publishing approximately 6 titles per year, with a mix of fiction and narrative nonfiction, Cardinal’s first book – THE BOOK OF GUILT by award-winning novelist Catherine Chidgey — will be published on September 16, 2025. Forthcoming titles include:

  • THE HEIR APPARENT by Rebecca Armitage (Winter 2026)
  • THE GOLDEN BOY by Patricia Finn (Winter 2026)
  • THE GOOD EYE by Jess Gibson (Summer 2026)
  • SKIN CONTACT by Elisa Faison (Summer 2026)
  • GET LOST by Justin Halpern (Summer 2026)
  • THE RISE by Ian Rankin (Fall 2026)
  • SOLO by Marya Hornbacher (Winter 2027)
  • RECORD LOWS by CJ Green (Winter 2027)
  • FORTUNE by Alex Mar (Winter 2027)

Cardinal’s mission is to publish books that entertain and enlighten, across genres and across borders. The books will vary in setting, voice, and audience, but they will always have two cardinal traits in common: excellent writing and brilliant storytelling.   

Arthur said of Cardinal, “I became very fond of cardinals during the pandemic: I loved their cheerful red presence in an often bleak time. I learned that they can symbolize, according to various belief systems, good luck, love, hope, and renewal – things I’m firmly in favor of. And one meaning of the word cardinal is ‘of great importance,’ which is how I regard the books and writers we’ll publish, and our goal of bringing readers books that will brighten the landscapes of their own lives.”

David Shelley, CEO of Hachette Book Group and Hachette UK, said “I couldn’t be more excited about Cardinal. I’m really enjoying reading my way through the launch list. Reagan is an exceptional talent-spotter and tastemaker and I know that Cardinal books will entertain and enlighten millions of readers in the years to come.”

Reagan Arthur rejoined Hachette Book Group in July 2024, where she had previously been publisher of Little, Brown and Company.  Arthur has edited and published books by Kate Atkinson, Bono, Eleanor Catton, Rachel Cusk, Tina Fey, Joshua Ferris, Elin Hilderbrand, Nathan Hill, Attica Locke, Clémence Michallon, James Patterson, George Pelecanos, and Ian Rankin.

About Cardinal

Cardinal aims to bring readers books that entertain and enlighten, across genres and across borders.  They will vary in setting, voice and plot, but they will always have two cardinal – pardon us –traits in common: excellent writing and brilliant storytelling.   

About Grand Central Publishing:

Grand Central Publishing reaches a diverse audience through books that cater to every kind of reader. Its imprints are Balance, Cardinal, Da Capo, Forever, Grand Central, and Legacy Lit. Grand Central Publishing is one of three divisions of the Grand Central Publishing Group, which also includes Hachette Nashville and Union Square & Co.   

About Hachette Book Group: 

Hachette Book Group (HBG) is a leading U.S. general-interest book publisher made up of dozens of esteemed imprints within the publishing groups Basic Books Group, Grand Central Publishing Group, Hachette Audio, Little, Brown and Company, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Orbit and Workman Running Press Group. We also provide custom distribution, fulfillment, and sales services to other publishing companies.

Our books and authors have received the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal, Booker Prize, Nobel Peace Prize and other major honors. 

We are committed to diversity in our company and our publishing programs, and to fostering a culture of inclusion for all our employees and authors. We are proud to be part of Hachette Livre, the world’s third-largest trade and educational publisher. 

Visit hachettebookgroup.com to learn more about HBG imprints. For updated news follow HBG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X.com, and YouTube.

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Contact: 

Matthew Ballast, VP, Executive Director of Publicity

212-364-1237, matthew.ballast@hbgusa.com