The news follows the globally praised release of Whoopi’s award-winning and bestselling memoir Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me (Blackstone), which held a several-month-long run on The New York Times bestsellers list.
The EGOT-winning actress and author of more than two dozen genre-spanning books—including comedic and biographical works, children’s, entertainment, and a graphic novel—will curate the WhoopInk imprint focused on bringing fresh, diverse new talent to the marketplace, revisiting the works of beloved authors, and releasing eagerly awaited new influential memoirs. Blackstone will initially acquire a selection of several genre-spanning titles mirroring Whoopi’s passion for literature that is inclusive, heartfelt, richly crafted, generationally relatable, often comedic, and always insightful. Whoopi will be intimately involved in the publishing process, including selection, acquisition, cover design, and promotion. The first two books in the multiple-award-winning classic mystery series Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives by Rick Bleiweiss will become part of the imprint, as well as The Cupid Killer and Other Murderers, the next Scorbion book, coming early 2027.
Her own future works will also be included under the imprint, including a follow-up to Bits and Pieces and a new nonfiction title coauthored by her longtime Whoop, Inc., business partner of thirty-plus years, Tom Leonardis, divulging never-before-heard stories from traveling the globe—taking us inside the Vatican to meet the late Pope Francis, among other personal and professional highlights—and bringing readers behind-the-scenes of her iconic career.
Just in time for Mother’s Day 2026, Blackstone released the paperback edition of Bits and Pieces. This new format has
been revised and updated to reflect Whoopi’s more intimate and humorous narration of her award-winning audiobook.
Over the course of her four-decade career, Goldberg was the first Black entertainer to achieve EGOT status and currently stands among an elite club of artists to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. She will continue her trailblazing efforts with WhoopInk, tapping into her extensive network to champion and protect the future of literature and the arts.
“I’m personally looking forward to finding new authors, working with established authors, and bringing influential voices into a curated imprint. I’m looking forward to working with Blackstone, who have been a powerhouse in the audio space and have been flourishing in print over the past years. WhoopInk will cater to audiobook lovers, like me, and get important stories into more hands and ears across the globe.”
The deal was negotiated between Whoopi Goldberg and Whoop, Inc., with Blackstone’s CEO Josh Stanton, President Anthony Goff, Head of New Business Rick Bleiweiss, and WME Literary Agent Mel Berger.
Anthony Goff shared, “Whoopi is an audiophile to her core—always wearing her headphones, streaming one of the ten thousand–plus audiobooks currently downloaded on her phone. I’ve had the great honor of working with Whoopi over the years, getting to know how loving she is to everyone around her, and discussing her deep-rooted dedication to the arts. She is well-read with exquisite taste of what defines a great book. I look forward to curating an important list of works with Whoopi, Tom, and her team as we look to impact the future of this great industry together.”
