Why Work with Portland Literary

Portland Literary was founded by the Grabiner Family Office – a family enterprise grounded in decades of media heritage and muti-generational thinking. Our family roots shape our ethos, and we approach each body of work with the same care and commitment we bring to our own family legacy.

Partnership is at our core. We value true collaboration with an author or estate and see every investment as a lasting relationship, including the author or family in the future income of the works. Our independent financing allows us to be entirely flexible in our approach and tailor each transaction appropriately. 

We provide an upfront payment to reflect the value of the interest we are acquiring, as well as capital for investment in the creative development of the works. Our model is designed to grow ongoing royalty and other income streams, unlocking value sustainably over time. Unlike the quick-flip models seen in TV/entertainment acquisitions, we only acquire interests in whole bodies of work, managing holistically for the whole life of copyright and beyond.

We are a family and not a corporate or a fund. We are entirely self-financed and do not report to external investors. This allows for ultra long-term planning. Legacy and succession planning, and protecting and elevating works over decades, are central themes. We can assume full responsibility for the stewardship of the works, or the author or family can remain deeply involved.

Our team brings unmatched experience across publishing, media and investment. We are deeply embedded in the literary and media ecosystems and are trusted by authors, agents, estates and creative partners alike. We use our network, insight and capital to reimagine what is possible for enduring literary works, acting as curators and accelerators of new opportunities across formats from theatre, gaming, print and digital media.

We understand and value the relationships the author / estate has with its various partners, including agents, publishers and other license partners. We do not disrupt the existing ecosystem but rather we seek to add a new dimension to the existing activity. See “How we work with agents”.