The publishing sector has had a challenging week with Independent Publishers Group laying off nine staff members and Penguin Random House downsizing its workforce through buyouts and layoffs. Inkyard Press, the young adult imprint under HarperCollins’ Harlequin Trade Publishing business, will be shut down, which is further terrible news. On August 1st, the workforce will be laid off. This choice was made shortly after PRH shut down its Razorbill imprint, and it coincides with a year in which sales of books for children and young adults have been weak.

Recently, a representative from HarperCollins and Harlequin said that Inkyard used to produce about 2-4 books per month. The HarperCollins Children’s works imprint will now house these works. When asked how many workers will be affected by this transfer, the representative declined to give any information. Some important team members, including senior publishing director Bess Braswell, editors Meghan Maria McCullough, Claire Stetzer, and Olivia Valcarce, as well as senior marketing manager Britt Mitchell, appear to have been let go, according to media sources.

Following some layoffs in the fall of 2022, HarperCollins has revealed plans to decrease its North American staff by 5%. Unfortunately, this will result in the shutdown of the Harper Design imprint and possible job losses at Inkyard. It’s unclear if these layoffs are a continuation of the initial plan to be finished by June 30 or if they represent a completely new wave of layoffs.

Founded in 2009 under the name Harlequin Teen, Inkyard underwent a name change in 2019. The imprint, which had been previously concentrated on young adult literature, began publishing middle grade books in 2021. Adi Alsaid, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Melissa de la Cruz, H.E. Edgmon, Julie Kagawa, Rex Ogle, Aden Polydoros, Gina Showalter, and Eric Smith are just a few of the well-known authors whose works have appeared in Inkyard. The imprint has received recognition for its dedication to supporting diverse authors and literature.