AQ Books Leadership Team

August Quinn is the unapologetic voice behind AQ Books, an independent publishing house built for stories that refuse to be softened, edited down, or made palatable.

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With more than 25 titles released, his work exists at the intersection of identity, desire, grief, disruption, and survival—raw, fearless, and emotionally honest.

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Known for writing what others won’t say out loud, August has built a loyal readership by telling the truth in all its messy, complicated forms. Through AQ Books, he continues to create space for bold voices, real stories, and narratives that never needed permission to exist in the first place.

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Working in close alignment with Chief Operating Officer Jim Castelize III, August helps ensure every release is not only fearless in voice—but built to last beyond the silence it was never meant to survive.

Jim Castelize III is the Chief Operating Officer of AQ Books, where he transforms creative ambition into execution. He builds the systems, strategy, and structure that allow the brand to grow without losing its edge. He makes sure the voice doesn’t just exist—it scales.

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Operating at the intersection of business and creative risk, Jim ensures every release is not only bold, but built to land. His role is simple: make sure the vision works in the real world.

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In addition to overseeing operations, Jim works across both sides of AQ Books—helping align the stories being told with the company being built behind them.