Company History

Key Books was founded in 2013 and is based in Athens, Greece. Both its founders, Vlassis Maronitis and Vassilis Vardakas, are seasoned professionals with a strong printed press background. In a market full of publishers focusing on literature, Key Books founders opted to go in another, less traveled, direction, specializing in non-fiction books. The idea behind the publishing house’s name is that we believe that the world is full of beautiful rooms which we could enter if we have the right keys. Our aim is to publish “keys” for these rooms, books that help unlock our minds in every conceivable way.

 

Areas of Interest

Our catalogue covers such topics as art, creativity, true stories, biographies, psychology, self-help, business books and children’s books. In recent years, Key Books has made a name for itself as one of the leading publishers of Greek self development and life coaching authors. This success has been instrumental in attracting creators from all walks of life, who are keen to share their true-life experiences with the Greek readership.

 

Future Goals

Our goal for the coming years is to expand our pool of Greek writers, providing original material for markets abroad.

 

One area of special interest to us is Greek children’s books. In collaboration with some of the leading design agencies in the country, we aim to expand our ever growing catalogue of children’s books, which we deeply believe deserve to be published abroad, as well. After all, if there’s one genre that speaks to readers of all cultures and backgrounds, that’s children’s literature.

 

In addition to that, we are always striving to introduce the best of what the international market has to offer in our areas of interest to the Greek readers.

 

 

Company Milestones

October 2013

Key Books publish the New York Times Bestseller Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon

 

November 2013

Key Books publish Wild by Cheryl Strayed, a few months prior to the tie-in movie

 

April 2014

Key Books publish Damn Good Advice by George Lois

 

November 2014

Key Books publish the international bestseller Quiet by Susan Cain

 

November 2015

Key Books publish the international bestseller Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

 

December 2015

Key Books publish The Revenant by Michael Punke, the true story that inspired the motion film picture.

 

July 2016

Key Books publish The Icarus Deception by marketing guru Seth Godin

 

October 2016

Key Books acquires the exclusive Greek translation right to the TED Books series.

 

June 2018

Key Books publish the #1 Bestseller The Gift by Stefanos Xenakis. With more than 200,000 copies sold nationwide, it is considered the most successful book in the recent history of Greek publishing.

 

November 2018

Key Books publish the international bestseller Drive by Daniel H. Pink

November 2019

Key Books publish the international bestsellers The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and Give and Take by Adam Grant.

 

June 2020

Key Books publish The Gift 2 by Stefanos Xenakis. Like its predecessor, it reaches the top of the country’s bestselling lists.

 

September 2020

International rights for The Gift by Stefanos Xenakis sold to more than 20 countries. Set for initial international releases in Summer 21, the book has been picked up by such notable world publishers as Harper Collins, Rizzoli, Random House, Gallimard etc.

 

November 2020

Key Books publish the international bestseller 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson.

March 2021

Joselito Pedron’s Cat by Nikos Paleologos and Kostis Sotirakos is included in the esteemed White Ravens International Book Selection for Children and Young Readers.

June 2021

Key Books publish How to Fit All of Ancient History in an Elevator by Archaeostoryteller. Τhe book soon reaches the top spot at the national best-selling lists.

 

November 2021

Key Books publish the international bestsellers #AskGaryVee by Gary Vaynerchuk and Principles by Ray Dalio.

June 2022

International rights for How to Fit All of Ancient History in an Elevator by Archaeostoryteller sold to more than 12 countries.