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Leisure Books was a
mass market paperback A paperback (softcover, softback) book is one with a thick paper or paperboard cover, also known as wrappers, and often held together with glue rather than stitches or staples. In contrast, hardback (hardcover) books are bound with cardboar ...
publisher specializing in horror and thrillers that operated from 1957 to 2010. In the company's early years, it also published
fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...
,
science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...
,
Westerns The Western is a genre of fiction typically set in the American frontier (commonly referred to as the "Old West" or the "Wild West") between the California Gold Rush of 1849 and the closing of the frontier in 1890, and commonly associated wit ...
, and the Wildlife Treasury card series. Leisure Books offered a
book sales club A book sales club is a subscription-based method of selling and purchasing books. It is more often called simply a book club, a term that is also used to describe a book discussion club, which can cause confusion. Business model Each member of a ...
service. Typically, two free books were provided as an initial inducement. After that two books were sent on a monthly basis. Readers would have ten days to keep or return. If kept there would be a discount on the purchase price. From around 1982 onward, Leisure Books was an imprint of
Dorchester Publishing Dorchester Publishing was a publisher of mass market paperback books. Although mostly known for romance, Dorchester also published horror, thriller and Western titles. Publication lines Dorchester was the original publisher of the '' Hard Case ...
, shifting the company's focus away from fantasy and science fiction and more towards horror. As such, Leisure published novels and collections by a number of horror's notable
author In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is referred to as authorship. Therefore, a sculpt ...
s, including
Douglas Clegg Douglas Clegg (born April 1, 1958) is an American horror and dark fantasy author, and a pioneer in the field of e-publishing. He maintains a strong Internet presence through his website. Early life Born in Alexandria, Virginia to a "family of ...
,
Stacy Dittrich Stacy Dittrich (born March 2, 1973), a former police detective from Ohio, is an American mystery novelist and true crime author. Career Dittrich, a graduate of Lexington High School (Ohio), Lexington High School, retired from the Richland Count ...
,
Ray Garton Ray Garton Jr. (December 2, 1962April 21, 2024) was an American author of horror fiction for adults and young adults. He wrote at least 68 books; the best-known, ''Live Girls'', was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award. Personal life Ray Garton ...
, J. F. Gonzalez,
Brian Keene Brian Keene (born September 22, 1967) is an American author and podcaster, primarily known for his work in horror, dark fantasy, crime fiction, and comic books. He has won the 2014 World Horror Grandmaster Award and two Bram Stoker Awards. In ad ...
,
Jack Ketchum Dallas William Mayr (November 10, 1946 – January 24, 2018), better known by his pen name Jack Ketchum, was an American horror fiction author. He was the recipient of four Bram Stoker Awards and three further nominations. His novels inclu ...
,
Richard Laymon Richard Carl Laymon (January 14, 1947 – February 14, 2001) was an American author of suspense and horror fiction, particularly within the splatterpunk subgenre. Life and career Laymon was born and raised outside of Chicago, Illinois, then l ...
, Deborah LeBlanc, Edward Lee, Ronald Malfi,
Graham Masterton Graham Masterton (born 16 January 1946, in Edinburgh) is a British author known primarily for horror fiction. Originally editor of ''Mayfair'' and the British edition of '' Penthouse'', his debut novel, ''The Manitou'', was published in 1976. T ...
, T. V. Olsen, and
Sarah Pinborough Sarah Pinborough is an English author and screenwriter of over 20 Young adult fiction, YA and adult works. She is known for her Thriller (genre), thriller, fantasy and cross-genre novels. Biography Pinborough was born in Buckinghamshire, Eng ...
. Leisure horror titles won numerous awards, including the
Bram Stoker Award The Bram Stoker Award is a recognition presented annually by the Horror Writers Association (HWA) for "superior achievement" in dark fantasy and horror writing. History The Awards were established in 1987 and have been presented annually since ...
and the
International Horror Guild Award The International Horror Guild Award (also known as the IHG Award) was an accolade recognizing excellence in the field of horror/dark fantasy, presented by the International Horror Guild (IHG) from 1995 to 2008. The IHG Awards were determined by ...
. In addition, a Leisure title was given the 2002
World Fantasy Award The World Fantasy Awards are a set of awards given each year for the best fantasy fiction published during the previous calendar year. Organized and overseen by the World Fantasy Convention, the awards are given each year at the eponymous ann ...
.


History

Harry Shorten Harry Shorten (1914–1991) was an American writer, editor, and book publisher best known for the Comic strip syndication, syndicated gag cartoon ''There Oughta Be a Law!'', as well as his work with Archie Comics, and his long association with Arch ...
founded Leisure Books in 1957.Shorten entry
''Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928-1999''. Accessed Feb. 25, 2017.
Leisure's
Westerns The Western is a genre of fiction typically set in the American frontier (commonly referred to as the "Old West" or the "Wild West") between the California Gold Rush of 1849 and the closing of the frontier in 1890, and commonly associated wit ...
line notably featured re-issues of the work of
Max Brand Frederick Schiller Faust (May 29, 1892 – May 12, 1944) was an American writer known primarily for his Western (genre), Western stories using the pseudonym Max Brand. As Max Brand, he also created the popular fictional character of young ...
, among others. The company published six titles in
Nelson DeMille Nelson Richard DeMille (August 23, 1943 – September 17, 2024) was an American author of Adventure fiction, action adventure and Thriller (genre), suspense novels. His novels include ''Plum Island (novel), Plum Island'', ''The Charm School (nov ...
(as Jack Cannon)'s Joe Ryker Series in 1975–1976. Leisure Books published the Wildlife Treasury educational animal encyclopedia for young children between 1975 and 1981. Beginning in 1976, Leisure Books published
Gardner Fox Gardner Francis Cooper Fox (May 20, 1911 – December 24, 1986) was an American writer known best for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. He is estimated to have written more than 4,000 comics stories, including 1,500 for DC ...
's fantasy series featuring the barbarian Kyrik: ''Warlock Warrior'', ''Kyrik Fights the Demon World'', ''Kyrik and the Wizard's Sword'', and ''Kyrik and the Lost Queen''. By the year 2000, Leisure Books was the only American publisher with a line of horror books. Effective September 2010, Leisure Books, along with the remainder of Dorchester's mass market paperback lines, were canceled as print publications. Future titles were slated to be available only as e-books. After pushback from authors over cancelled and unfulfilled contracts,. Leisure suspended operations entirely; the parent company Dorchester shortly went out of business.


Selected list of titles by author


1957–1981

*
Nelson DeMille Nelson Richard DeMille (August 23, 1943 – September 17, 2024) was an American author of Adventure fiction, action adventure and Thriller (genre), suspense novels. His novels include ''Plum Island (novel), Plum Island'', ''The Charm School (nov ...
(as Jack Cannon): ** Joe Ryker Series *** '' The Sniper'' (1974) *** '' The Hammer of God'' (1974) *** '' The Agent of Death'' (1975) *** '' The Smack Man'' (1975) *** '' The Cannibal'' (1975) *** '' The Night of the Phoenix'' (1975) * R. V. Fodor and G. J.Taylor, : ** ''Impact!'' (1979) *
Gardner Fox Gardner Francis Cooper Fox (May 20, 1911 – December 24, 1986) was an American writer known best for creating numerous comic book characters for DC Comics. He is estimated to have written more than 4,000 comics stories, including 1,500 for DC ...
: ** Kyrik Series: ***''Kyrik: Warlock Warrior'' (1975) *** ''Kyrik Fights the Demon World'' (1975) *** ''Kyrik and the Wizard's Sword'' (1976) *** ''Kyrik and the Lost Queen'' (1976) * William Greenleaf ** ''Time Jumper'' (1980) *
L. Ron Hubbard Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (March 13, 1911 – January 24, 1986) was an American author and the founder of Scientology. A prolific writer of pulp science fiction and fantasy novels in his early career, in 1950 he authored the pseudoscie ...
** ''
Death's Deputy ''Death's Deputy'' is a fantasy novel by author L. Ron Hubbard. ''Death's Deputy'' was first published in book form in 1948 by Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc. in an edition of 700 copies. The novel originally appeared in the February 1940 iss ...
'' (Fantasy Publishing Company, Inc., 1948; mass market paperback re-issue by Leisure Books, 1971) * Lloyd Kropp: ** ''The Drift'' (Doubleday, 1969; mass market paperback reprints in 1971 elmont Booksand 1979 eisure Books


1982–2010

* Christopher Belton: ** ''Isolation'' (2003) ** ''Nowhere to Run'' (2004) *
Raymond Benson Raymond Benson (born 1955) is an American writer known for his James Bond novels published between 1997 and 2003. Early life and education Benson was born in Midland, Texas and graduated from Permian High School in Odessa in 1973. In primary sc ...
: ** '' Sweetie's Diamonds'' (Five Star/Thomson Gale, 2006; mass market paperback edition by Leisure Books, 2007) ** '' A Hard Day's Death'' (2008) ** '' Dark Side of the Morgue'' (March 2009) *
Parris Afton Bonds Parris Afton Bonds is an American historical romantic fiction novelist. She is the co-founder of Romance Writers of America. Bonds started her professional writing career in the early 1970s with her first sale to ''Modern Secretary'' magazine, ...
: ** ''Spinster's Song'' (1992) *
Mort Castle Mort Castle (born 1946) is an American horror fiction, horror author with more than 500 short stories and 17 books to his credit, including ''Cursed Be the Child'' (Leisure Books, 1994) and ''The Strangers''. Castle's first novel was published i ...
: ** ''Cursed Be the Child'' (1994) * Simon Clark: ** ''Ghost Monster'' (2009) ** ''Darkness Demands'' (2001) ** ''Blood Crazy'' (1995) Hodder Headline, reissued by Leisure Books, 2001, *
Douglas Clegg Douglas Clegg (born April 1, 1958) is an American horror and dark fantasy author, and a pioneer in the field of e-publishing. He maintains a strong Internet presence through his website. Early life Born in Alexandria, Virginia to a "family of ...
: ** ''The Halloween Man'' (1998) ** ''The Nightmare Chronicles'' (1999) ** ''You Come When I Call You'' (2000) ** ''Mischief'' (2000) ** ''The Infinite'' (2001) — sequel to ''The Nightmare House'' (which was published by Cemetery Dance) ** ''Naomi'' (2001) * Wes DeMott: ** ''The Fund'' (2004) ** ''Heat Sync'' (2006) *
Dennis Etchison Dennis William Etchison (March 30, 1943 – May 29, 2019) was an American writer and editor of fantasy and horror fiction.
: ** (editor) '' The Museum of Horrors'' (2001) * John Everson: ** ''Covenant'' (Delirium Books, 2004; Leisure Books, 2008) ** ''Sacrifice'' (Delirium Books, 2007; Leisure Books, 2009) ** ''The 13th'' (Necro Publications, 2009; Leisure Books, 2009) ** ''Siren'' (Bad Moon Books, 2010; Leisure Books, 2010) *
Christine Feehan Christine Feehan (born Christine King in Ukiah, California) is an American author of paranormal romance, paranormal military thrillers, and fantasy. She is a #1 ''New York Times'', #1 ''Publishers Weekly'', and International bestselling author ...
: ** ''Lair of the Lion'' (2002) ** '' Dark Guardian'' (2002) ** '' Dark Destiny'' (2004) * Brian James Freeman: ** (as James Kidman) ''Black Fire'' (Cemetery Dance Publications, hardcover, and Leisure Books, paperback 2004) * Steve Gerlach: ** ''Rage'' (
2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...
): Wild Roses Productions. ( January 2004): Bloodletting Press. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 300-copy limited hardcover. (
2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...
): Leisure Books. Published as a mass market paperback. *
Zane Grey Pearl Zane Grey (January 31, 1872 – October 23, 1939) was an American author and dentist. He is known for his popular adventure novels and stories associated with the Western genre in literature and the arts; he idealized the American frontier ...
: ** ''
Tonto Basin The Tonto Basin, also known as Pleasant Valley, covers the main drainage basin of Tonto Creek and its tributaries in central Arizona, at the southwest of the Mogollon Rim, the higher elevation '' transition zone'' across central and eastern Ariz ...
'' (1921; mass market paperback by Leisure Books, 2006) * Teri A. Jacobs: ** ''The Void'' (2002) * Ruby Jean Jensen (as R.J. Hendrickson): ** ''Hear the Children Cry'' (1982) *
Brian Keene Brian Keene (born September 22, 1967) is an American author and podcaster, primarily known for his work in horror, dark fantasy, crime fiction, and comic books. He has won the 2014 World Horror Grandmaster Award and two Bram Stoker Awards. In ad ...
: ** ''
Ghoul In folklore, a ghoul (from , ') is a demon-like being or monstrous humanoid, often associated with graveyards and the consumption of human flesh. In the legends or tales in which they appear, a ghoul is far more ill-mannered and foul than go ...
'' ( February 2007) ** ''
Dead Sea The Dead Sea (; or ; ), also known by #Names, other names, is a landlocked salt lake bordered by Jordan to the east, the Israeli-occupied West Bank to the west and Israel to the southwest. It lies in the endorheic basin of the Jordan Rift Valle ...
'' (
August 2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
) ** ''Darkness On the Edge of Town'' (
October 2008 2008 was designated as: * International Year of Languages * International Year of Planet Earth * International Year of the Potato * International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued t ...
) ** ''Castaways'' ( February 2009) ** ''Urban Gothic'' ( August 2009) ** The Rising Series *** '' The Rising'' ( April 2003): Delirium Books ( January 2004) *** '' City of the Dead'' ( January 2005): Delirium Books( June 2005) ** Earthworm Gods series *** Earthworm Gods (September 2005): Delirium Books, Republished as ''The Conqueror Worms'' (May 2006): Leisure Books, Republished again under its intended title ''Earthworm Gods'' (December 2012) Deadite Press ** Levi Stoltzfus Series *** '' Dark Hollow'' ( July 2006): (released in hardcover as ''The Rutting Season'') Bloodletting Press. ( February 2008) *** ''Ghost Walk'' ( August 2008) *** ''A Gathering of Crows'' ( August 2010) * Nate Kenyon: ** ''Bloodstone'' (Five Star Publishing, 2006; Leisure Books, 2008) ** ''The Reach'' (2008) ** ''The Bone Factory'' (July 2009) ** ''Sparrow Rock'' (May 2010) *
Jack Ketchum Dallas William Mayr (November 10, 1946 – January 24, 2018), better known by his pen name Jack Ketchum, was an American horror fiction author. He was the recipient of four Bram Stoker Awards and three further nominations. His novels inclu ...
: ** '' The Girl Next Door'' (Warner Books, 1989; mass market paperback by Leisure Books) ** ''The Lost'' (2001) ** ''Peaceable Kingdom'' (2003) ** ''Old Flames'' (2008) ** (co-written with
Lucky McKee Edward Lucky McKee (born November 1, 1975) is an American director, writer, and actor, largely known for the 2002 cult film ''May''. He is best known for his work in horror films. Life and career McKee was born in Jenny Lind, California. He ha ...
) ''The Woman'' (2010) *
Richard Laymon Richard Carl Laymon (January 14, 1947 – February 14, 2001) was an American author of suspense and horror fiction, particularly within the splatterpunk subgenre. Life and career Laymon was born and raised outside of Chicago, Illinois, then l ...
: ** '' Among the Missing'' (Headline Publishing Group & Leisure Books, 1999) * Deborah LeBlanc: **''Family Inheritance'' (2004) **''Grave Intent'' (2005) **''A House Divided'' (2006) ** ''Morbid Curiosity'' (2007) **''Water Witch'' (2008) * Edward Lee: ** ''Infernal Angel'' (
2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...
):
Cemetery Dance Publications Cemetery Dance is an American company known for their specialty press publisher of horror and dark suspense and their horror magazine of the same name. Cemetery Dance was founded by Richard Chizmar, a horror author, while he was in college. Ce ...
. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 750-copy limited hardcover. ( January 2004): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback. ** ''Messenger'' ( August 2004): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback. ** ''The Backwoods'' (
October 2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995–2005) ...
): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback. ** ''Flesh Gothic'' ( February 2005): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback. ** ''Gast'' (2007) (
October 2009 2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joh ...
): Leisure Books. Revised, retitled ''Black Train'', and published as a Mass Market Paperback. ** ''House Infernal'' ( October 2007): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback. ** ''Brides of the Impaler'' (
September 2008 2008 was designated as: * International Year of Languages * International Year of Planet Earth * International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued th ...
): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback. ** ''Golemesque'' ( March 2009): Necro Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 300-copy limited hardcover. ( April 2009): Leisure Books. Published as ''Golem'' as a Mass Market Paperback. * Ronald Malfi: ** ''
Snow Snow consists of individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere—usually within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on the ground where they undergo further changes. It consists of frozen crystalline water througho ...
'' (March 2010) * James A. Moore: ** ''Fireworks'' ( Meisha Merlin Publishing, 2001 and Leisure Books, 2003) ** ''Under the Overtree'' (Meisha Merlin Publishing, 2000 and Leisure Books, 2002) ** Chris Corin series *** ''Possessions'' (2004) *** ''Rabid Growth'' (2005) * T. V. Olsen: ** ''The Stalking Moon'',
Doubleday (publisher) Doubleday is an American publishing company. It was founded as the Doubleday & McClure Company in 1897. By 1947, it was the largest book publisher in the United States. It published the work of mostly U.S. authors under a number of imprints and ...
1965, new ed. Leisure Books 5/2010, ** ''Mission to the West'', Ace 1/1973, new ed. Leisure 9/1997, ** ''Starbuck's Brand'', Belmont Tower 1974, new ed. Leisure 11/1997, ** ''Westward They Rode'', Ace 1/1976, new ed. Leisure 7/1996, ** ''Track the Man Down'', Manor Books 1976, new ed. Leisure 10/1998, *
Sarah Pinborough Sarah Pinborough is an English author and screenwriter of over 20 Young adult fiction, YA and adult works. She is known for her Thriller (genre), thriller, fantasy and cross-genre novels. Biography Pinborough was born in Buckinghamshire, Eng ...
: ** ''The Hidden'' (2004) ** ''The Reckoning'' (2005) ** ''Breeding Ground'' (2006) — End-of-the world novel where most of the population is wiped out by giant spiders that human women have given birth to ** ''The Taken'' (2007) — ghostly revenge novel ** ''Tower Hill'' (2008) — about a small town in America in supernatural peril of
Biblical The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) biblical languages ...
proportions ** ''Feeding Ground'' (2009) — sequel to ''Breeding Ground'' *
Brian Pinkerton Brian Pinkerton is an American author of fiction in the suspense, thriller, mystery, science fiction and horror genres. He received his B.A. from the University of Iowa and Master's Degree from Northwestern University. Select bibliography Novels ...
: ** ''Abducted'' (2004) ** ''Vengeance'' (2005) *
Al Sarrantonio Al Sarrantonio (May 25, 1952 – January 27, 2025) was an American horror and science fiction writer, editor, and publisher who authored more than 50 books and 90 short stories. He also edited numerous anthologies. Background and education Sar ...
: ** The Orangefield Cycle *** ''Halloweenland'' (Leisure Books Mass Market Paperback 2007; Cemetery Dance limited edition hardcover, 2009; Crossroad Press e-book, 2012) - A novel length book that includes elements of ''The Baby'' and much more new material (the Leisure paperback also includes the original version of ''The Baby'' as a bonus). *
John Skipp John Skipp (born May 20, 1957) is a splatterpunk horror and fantasy author and anthology editor, as well as a songwriter, screenwriter, film director, and film producer. He collaborated with Craig Spector on multiple novels, and has also colla ...
: ** ''The Long Last Call'' (2006, Cemetery Dance Publications; Limited edition hardcover / Leisure Books, 2007; paperback) * T. M. Wright: ** ''Sleepeasy'' (Victor Gollancz 1993, Leisure, 2001)


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leisure Books Book publishing companies of the United States Publishing companies established in 1957 1957 establishments in New York (state) Defunct book publishing companies of the United States 2010 disestablishments in New York (state)