Every successful venture, whether a tech startup or a charitable foundation, is built around a strong leader. Yet whilst technology companies value the ability to predict industry trends, and charities prize the skill of inspiring people to good causes, publishing requires a rather unique combination of leadership qualities.
Running a publishing house demands more than understanding the market and managing a team—it requires an instinct for balancing creative freedom with commercial success, global ambitions with attention to detail, and the ability to speak the language of both science fiction writers and investors. Alexey Kalmykov’s journey demonstrates how this multifaceted approach to leadership can create a thriving international publishing house.
“All our key partners share a passion for science fiction—that’s what drives our relationships. And competition constantly pushes us to find innovative solutions,” says Alexey Kalmykov, a statement that perfectly encapsulates his unique leadership style, where passion for the craft meets sharp business acumen.
When the publisher founded Magic Dome Books, he brought with him an unusual combination of experience: a successful career as a science fiction writer under the pen name Alex Bobl, with novels selling over 125,000 copies, and a position as head of sales at a major company. This dual perspective allowed him to see publishing from two crucial viewpoints—as both author and executive.
His understanding of creative minds helped shape a distinctive approach to publishing. “In this business, it’s crucial to create an environment where authors can focus on what matters most—their writing. Everything else is the publisher’s responsibility,” says Alexey Kalmykov. He implemented this philosophy by establishing clear, transparent business processes where every author knows precisely their rights and opportunities.
Yet in his view, creative freedom and business efficiency are not mutually exclusive. “A successful publishing house must be profitable—this enables growth, discovering new authors, and expanding into new markets,” he emphasises. This ability to harmonise seemingly opposing approaches became a hallmark of his leadership style.
The ability to not only identify problems but propose concrete solutions is a crucial leadership trait. In 2013, Alexey Kalmykov took a bold step: he approached EKSMO, Europe’s largest publisher, with a comprehensive plan to reform author relations. “It was a challenge to the existing system,” he recalls. “The publisher invited me to prove the effectiveness of my ideas in practice by appointing me as a producer of fiction series.”
At EKSMO, Alexey Kalmykov not only launched several successful book series and discovered dozens of new authors but created a fundamentally new model of working with writers. By organising literary competitions, establishing a system for discovering new talent, and launching multi-author projects, he significantly expanded the publisher’s author pool and diversified its portfolio.
It was then that another crucial leadership quality emerged—the ability to unite people around new ideas. Together with EKSMO’s head of science fiction, Dmitry Malkin, and bestselling author Vasily Makhanenko, Alexey Kalmykov pioneered a new genre called LitRPG—a literary format that blends science fiction and fantasy with video game concepts. This venture grew beyond a successful publishing series to become an international literary phenomenon.
The success of LitRPG largely influenced Alexey Kalmykov’s next career move—establishing his own publishing house in Prague. Yet the true test of his leadership came in 2018 with the decision to expand significantly into the German market. Whilst competitors remained cautious, he invested heavily in this new direction. “In business, seeing opportunities isn’t enough—you need the courage to seize them,” he notes. This move required not just financial investment but a complete rethinking of how to operate in the European market.
However, leadership for Alexey Kalmykov isn’t just about bold decisions—it’s about meticulous planning. “Each new market, each new format demands thorough analysis. We constantly study sales data, monitor trends, and engage with readers and authors. This allows us to make decisions based not merely on intuition but on concrete evidence,” he explains his management approach.
Leadership in international publishing primarily means uniting people from different cultures and professions around common goals. Today, Magic Dome Books comprises editors, translators, artists, and producers from various countries, with each new business direction requiring team expansion.
“I’m an enterprising person, always ready to seize the moment. But every new opportunity requires the right people,” explains Alexey Kalmykov about his team-building philosophy. Over the years, he has created a unique structure: two editorial groups, an international network of 50 translators, and a team of voice actors for audiobook production—each division operating as part of a unified mechanism.
His approach to choosing partners deserves special attention. From collaborations with Tantor Media and Dreamscape in the US to contracts with European and Asian publishers—each partnership is built on shared goals and values. “We take a special approach to partnerships. We’re not just looking for business opportunities, but for people who share our passion for quality literature,” Alexey Kalmykov emphasises.
This ability to unite people around common interests is particularly evident in the creation of the world’s largest Facebook community for LitRPG enthusiasts. “We’ve built the world’s biggest genre group, where readers discuss books, follow announcements, and authors can present their works,” explains Alexey Kalmykov. This community has evolved beyond a promotional platform into a cultural hub where trends emerge and new ideas take shape.
In modern publishing, merely following technological trends isn’t enough—one must harness them to create new opportunities. Alexey Kalmykov’s approach to innovation extends far beyond simple process digitisation.
“New technologies aren’t an end in themselves, but tools for achieving broader objectives,” he explains. Under his leadership, Magic Dome Books became one of the first publishers to employ big data analytics for understanding reader preferences across different markets, enabling them to anticipate rather than merely respond to audience demands.
The development of their audiobook division particularly demonstrates this forward-thinking approach. In late 2022, whilst many publishers remained sceptical about audiobooks’ prospects in the European market, Alexey Kalmykov established a dedicated department for German-language audio content. He assembled a specialist team: three editors, three directors, a producer, and nine professional voice actors. Their partnership with Audible GMBH opened new distribution channels, and the results exceeded expectations—publishing revenue doubled within a year.
Alexey Kalmykov’s innovative publishing approach has earned significant industry recognition. In July 2023, he won the prestigious Catalyx competition for publishing innovation, and was also nominated for the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award, a rare honor recognizing his long-term contribution to transforming the publishing industry. ‘These recognitions are particularly meaningful because they come from industry peers who understand the challenges of modern publishing,’ Alexey Kalmykov reflects. ‘The Lifetime Achievement nomination, especially, validates not just our business model but the entire journey of blending creative content with strategic business development across multiple markets.”
Yet technological innovations represent only part of the picture. Equally important are organisational innovations: creating flexible management structures that can swiftly adapt to market changes, introducing new ways of working with authors, and developing effective international collaboration frameworks.
“We have ambitious plans for the next five years,” says Alexey Kalmykov. “I want to establish perfect coordination between our US and European offices and strengthen our position in the American market. This will open new opportunities for collaboration with companies and individuals in the US.”
Alexey Kalmykov’s leadership style represents a rare blend of entrepreneurial courage and deep understanding of the creative industry. His ability to spot opportunities where others hesitate, talent for inspiring an international team towards ambitious goals, and readiness to invest in new directions have enabled him to build a company that doesn’t merely publish books but sets new industry standards.
Magic Dome Books specialises in science fiction, where anything is possible: from interworld travel to incredible future technologies. Yet Alexey Kalmykov’s own journey as a leader is not a work of science fiction but a real-world demonstration of how leadership talent, decisive action, and profound industry understanding can achieve what others might dismiss as fantastical.