Winter Lion Publishing was born not in a boardroom, but in the quiet hours between life’s demands—in the moments when stories stir and refuse to be forgotten. Founded by Joe Esposito, a lifelong writer, Winter Lion is less a company and more a calling: a future publishing home for books that stir the consciousness and reflect the shared beauty and ache of the human experience.
This is a one-person publishing venture—for now. Joe wears every hat: writer, editor, creative director, and dreamer. The name Winter Lion Publishing reflects both resilience and reflection: winter as a season of pause and introspection; the lion as quiet strength and enduring voice.
Winter Lion’s mission is to publish fiction that lives in the in-between—between joy and sorrow, memory and moment, fantasy and imagination. It will champion work that is deeply personal and quietly powerful while also seeking the wildly outrageous and fantastic stories burning in the minds of authors everywhere.
Though the path is independent, the vision expansive, and the road long, as press grows, so will its reach—one day offering opportunities to authors whose voices yearn to be heard.
It isn’t just about printing books. It’s about telling stories that can set a soul on fire.
About Joe Esposito
Joe Esposito is an emerging voice in literary fiction with a gift for turning the mundane into something meaningful. A native New Yorker with deep roots in Brooklyn and Florida, his writing explores themes of loss, redemption, aging, and the delicate complexities of human connection.
After several fulfilling careers, Joe found his writer's voice not by chasing publication, but by quietly observing and reflecting on life as we all do. Stories within him demanded to be told, so he simply started writing. The Painted Sand, his debut novel, is a raw and poetic testament to the quiet, often painful moments that shape a life. He believes stories are magical wonders. They excite and frighten us, illuminate the darkness and envelop us in their warm, compassionate touch. They allow us to question what we know, or come to know what we've always questioned. The very act of reading not only bridges time and distance, but connects hearts and minds as well.
As the founder of Winter Lion Publishing, giving back will be a part of its mission.
5% of all net proceeds and 10% from hardcover purchases via IngramSpark's link goes to organizations making a difference in the world.
We proudly support the following causes:
