During a podcast, Daily Wire host and bestselling author Candace Owens shared that she declined a book deal worth one million dollars from Hachette Book Group because of her moral principles. She explained that the decision came during a critical time when she was negotiating to become a host at the Daily Wire and was pregnant with her first child. She also shared that her husband, an immigrant without a work visa, had uncertain financial prospects.
“One thing that we had banked on was a one million dollar offer that I had received from Hachette, one of the big publishing houses,” said Owens
Owens said that after the success of her first book Blackout, many publishing houses approached her to secure her second book, which was about feminism and focused on women today, with no mention of politics. She said she was excited to receive the offer from Hachette, but her excitement was short-lived following the events of January 6th.
After the attacks on the U.S. Capitol, Owens said people felt intense pressure on social media to distance themselves from former President Donald Trump. Owens claims she received a phone call from her agent, informing her that Hachette was pulling many books with Trump-associated people. Owens said former Trump cabinet member Kellyanne Conway had a book deal revoked by the company.
Her agent advised her that her deal was in limbo because of a tweet she had authored following January 6th, which stated that she had “zero shame” about having supported Donald Trump for the last four years and that she stood unapologetically with every patriot in this country.
“I wasn’t like Kellyanne Conway; I wasn’t in the Trump administration; I’m an influencer on social media. I had a conversation with one of the executives at Hachette on the phone, and I was, of course, level-headed and asked questions. I asked them what I did and why a million-dollar deal was suddenly being put on ice.
Owens said she was informed that Hachette wanted to proceed deal but that she didn’t feel good about it, considering Hachette’s treatment of conservative authors. She and her husband prayed on the decision, which had significant financial implications, and determined they couldn’t proceed with the deal.
“I had survived the test, and they were going to keep the deal, but I didn’t feel good about that,” she said. “It was weird that it was even a question because I hadn’t done anything wrong. I still told my book publisher I don’t feel good about this.”
Owens believed signing with Hachette would have prioritized profit and celebrity above ethics, which she said contradicts her role as a fighter who gives a voice to the voiceless. She ultimately turned down the offer, despite her agent’s plea to reconsider due to perception, distribution, editorial, and time commitment.
