The Art of Scaling: How Alexey Kalmykov Built an International Publishing House in the Digital Age

Author: Liz Trudov

In 2015, a small literary agency in Prague began promoting Russian authors to Western markets. Today, that venture—Magic Dome Books—works with writers worldwide, publishes books in eight languages, and holds a significant market share in its segment.

"The market is always in flux—that's its defining characteristic," says Alexey Kalmykov, whose publishing career began long before founding Magic Dome Books. By the early 2010s, he had already made a name for himself as a science fiction writer under the pen name Alex Bobl. His novel "Quantum Bullet" in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series sold over 125,000 copies. With co-author Andrey Levitsky, he created the post-apocalyptic TECHNOTMA (Dark Times) series, later translated and published in Germany and Spain. While building his writing career, he also served as head of sales for a major company, gaining valuable experience in business operations and international partnerships.

In 2013, Alexey Kalmykov approached EKSMO Publishing with proposals to reform their author relations practices. As a series producer, he launched dozens of new writers and created a new literary genre—LitRPG—which later gained international recognition. This experience led him to seriously explore foreign markets, analyzing potential growth directions.

In 2015, Alexey Kalmykov embarked on a new chapter, establishing a publishing agency in Prague. "Everything happened faster than anyone could have anticipated—authors needed more than just representation; they wanted full international publication," he recalls. Magic Dome Books quickly evolved from an agency into an international publishing house, marking the beginning of its global expansion.

"We had to identify where the next growth wave would emerge," Alexey Kalmykov says of his early international scaling efforts. His approach to evaluating new markets combines thorough data analysis with an intuitive understanding of reader preferences.

The American market presented the first major challenge. At the time, independent publishing was booming in the U.S., and Alexey Kalmykov saw an opportunity. Rather than simply translating existing books, he decided to create something new—adapting the LitRPG genre for Western readers.

The results proved successful, but new challenges emerged. By 2018, competition in this genre had intensified significantly in the American market. "In such moments, it's crucial not to rush to conclusions. Each market has its specifics, and what works in one country might need serious adaptation in another," Alexey Kalmykov explains.

One of Magic Dome Books' boldest moves was its large-scale expansion into Germany. In 2018, while many companies stuck to proven markets, Alexey Kalmykov decided to invest heavily in Europe's largest book market. This meant not just funding translations and marketing but building operational infrastructure in a new region from the ground up.

"We knew it was a major challenge. We needed to do more than translate books—we had to create an entire ecosystem for our content in a new market," Alexey Kalmykov explains. The risk paid off: today, the company controls a significant portion of its market segment in Germany.

The success of the German division inspired the team to experiment further. In 2022, the publishing house launched German-language audiobook production, doubling the company's revenue within a year. "When you see the market is ready for a new format, you need to act decisively," Alexey Kalmykov says of his approach to developing new directions.

Managing an international publishing house in the digital age requires a unique approach to technology. "The internet offers incredible opportunities," notes Alexey. "Cloud services, social networks, artificial intelligence, advanced computers, and mobile devices—all these dramatically reduce production time while multiplying our capabilities exponentially."

Magic Dome Books was built as a technology-forward company from day one. This foundation enabled the creation of an efficient system for handling content in multiple languages and managing translation and editing processes on an international scale. The company pays particular attention to analytical tools that help track trends and respond quickly to changing reader preferences.

"Different territories operate under different forces," Alexey Kalmykov explains his approach to digital distribution. "In the U.S., all formats are traditionally well-represented, with strong digital and audio markets. Europe is different—more diverse, with various formats dominating in different countries." This understanding helps the company select optimal technological solutions for each region.

This technological flexibility has allowed Magic Dome Books to adapt quickly to new market challenges. When the company decided to develop its audiobook division, the existing infrastructure facilitated rapid production and distribution of the new format.

For an international company operating in the creative industry, building the right team becomes crucial to success. Today, Magic Dome Books comprises two editorial groups, 50 translators worldwide, six voice actors for German audiobooks, professional artists, and producers.

"We typically select specialists based on specific market situations and territories," Alexey Kalmykov explains his team-building philosophy. "As for new departments, they usually emerge when we spot market demands that other players are hesitant to address. Maybe they're cautious, maybe too slow. I'm an entrepreneurial person—I'm always ready to seize an opportunity."

The first editorial group, consisting of three editors and four professional artists, handles content production in various languages. The second team—two editors, three directors, and a producer—manages audiobook content. This structure enables efficient work across formats and quick scaling of new directions.

"Creating an environment where people can reach their full potential is crucial," Alexey Kalmykov says. At Magic Dome Books, this is achieved through clear role distribution, transparent interaction systems, and shared passion for the work. Every team member, from editors to translators, feels connected to creating an international quality product.

The Magic Dome Books story demonstrates how entrepreneurial intuition combined with systematic approach can redefine what's possible in publishing. In seven years, a small Prague agency has grown into an international publishing house with an extensive partnership network—from collaborations with Tantor Media and Dreamscape in the U.S. to contracts with Zeppelin in Italy, Insignis in Poland, and Jeu Media in South Korea.

Alexey Kalmykov's innovative approach to international publishing has gained significant industry recognition. In 2025, he won the prestigious ECDMA Global Awards, which celebrates excellence in digital media and e-commerce strategies. 'This recognition was particularly meaningful,' Alexey Kalmykov notes, 'because it validates our cross-cultural digital publishing model. It shows that bridging different markets through technology-driven solutions is the future of publishing.' The award has opened new doors for Magic Dome Books, establishing the publisher as a thought leader in the rapidly evolving digital publishing landscape.

Good ideas know no boundaries—a principle equally true for both science fiction and modern business. New-generation entrepreneurs like Alexey Kalmykov prove that in the digital age, growth opportunities are limited only by boldness of vision and readiness to act. "All our key partners are people genuinely passionate about what they do," says Alexey Kalmykov. This synthesis of enthusiasm and entrepreneurial courage may well be the formula for success in international business.

The Art of Scaling: How Alexey Kalmykov Built an International Publishing House in the Digital Age

In 2015, a small literary agency in Prague began promoting Russian authors to Western markets. Today, that venture—Magic Dome Books—works with writers worldwide, publishes books in eight languages, and holds a significant market share in its segment.

"The market is always in flux—that's its defining characteristic," says Alexey Kalmykov, whose publishing career began long before founding Magic Dome Books. By the early 2010s, he had already made a name for himself as a science fiction writer under the pen name Alex Bobl. His novel "Quantum Bullet" in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series sold over 125,000 copies. With co-author Andrey Levitsky, he created the post-apocalyptic TECHNOTMA (Dark Times) series, later translated and published in Germany and Spain. While building his writing career, he also served as head of sales for a major company, gaining valuable experience in business operations and international partnerships.

In 2013, Alexey Kalmykov approached EKSMO Publishing with proposals to reform their author relations practices. As a series producer, he launched dozens of new writers and created a new literary genre—LitRPG—which later gained international recognition. This experience led him to seriously explore foreign markets, analyzing potential growth directions.

In 2015, Alexey Kalmykov embarked on a new chapter, establishing a publishing agency in Prague. "Everything happened faster than anyone could have anticipated—authors needed more than just representation; they wanted full international publication," he recalls. Magic Dome Books quickly evolved from an agency into an international publishing house, marking the beginning of its global expansion.

"We had to identify where the next growth wave would emerge," Alexey Kalmykov says of his early international scaling efforts. His approach to evaluating new markets combines thorough data analysis with an intuitive understanding of reader preferences.

The American market presented the first major challenge. At the time, independent publishing was booming in the U.S., and Alexey Kalmykov saw an opportunity. Rather than simply translating existing books, he decided to create something new—adapting the LitRPG genre for Western readers.

The results proved successful, but new challenges emerged. By 2018, competition in this genre had intensified significantly in the American market. "In such moments, it's crucial not to rush to conclusions. Each market has its specifics, and what works in one country might need serious adaptation in another," Alexey Kalmykov explains.

One of Magic Dome Books' boldest moves was its large-scale expansion into Germany. In 2018, while many companies stuck to proven markets, Alexey Kalmykov decided to invest heavily in Europe's largest book market. This meant not just funding translations and marketing but building operational infrastructure in a new region from the ground up.

"We knew it was a major challenge. We needed to do more than translate books—we had to create an entire ecosystem for our content in a new market," Alexey Kalmykov explains. The risk paid off: today, the company controls a significant portion of its market segment in Germany.

The success of the German division inspired the team to experiment further. In 2022, the publishing house launched German-language audiobook production, doubling the company's revenue within a year. "When you see the market is ready for a new format, you need to act decisively," Alexey Kalmykov says of his approach to developing new directions.

Managing an international publishing house in the digital age requires a unique approach to technology. "The internet offers incredible opportunities," notes Alexey. "Cloud services, social networks, artificial intelligence, advanced computers, and mobile devices—all these dramatically reduce production time while multiplying our capabilities exponentially."

Magic Dome Books was built as a technology-forward company from day one. This foundation enabled the creation of an efficient system for handling content in multiple languages and managing translation and editing processes on an international scale. The company pays particular attention to analytical tools that help track trends and respond quickly to changing reader preferences.

"Different territories operate under different forces," Alexey Kalmykov explains his approach to digital distribution. "In the U.S., all formats are traditionally well-represented, with strong digital and audio markets. Europe is different—more diverse, with various formats dominating in different countries." This understanding helps the company select optimal technological solutions for each region.

This technological flexibility has allowed Magic Dome Books to adapt quickly to new market challenges. When the company decided to develop its audiobook division, the existing infrastructure facilitated rapid production and distribution of the new format.

For an international company operating in the creative industry, building the right team becomes crucial to success. Today, Magic Dome Books comprises two editorial groups, 50 translators worldwide, six voice actors for German audiobooks, professional artists, and producers.

"We typically select specialists based on specific market situations and territories," Alexey Kalmykov explains his team-building philosophy. "As for new departments, they usually emerge when we spot market demands that other players are hesitant to address. Maybe they're cautious, maybe too slow. I'm an entrepreneurial person—I'm always ready to seize an opportunity."

The first editorial group, consisting of three editors and four professional artists, handles content production in various languages. The second team—two editors, three directors, and a producer—manages audiobook content. This structure enables efficient work across formats and quick scaling of new directions.

"Creating an environment where people can reach their full potential is crucial," Alexey Kalmykov says. At Magic Dome Books, this is achieved through clear role distribution, transparent interaction systems, and shared passion for the work. Every team member, from editors to translators, feels connected to creating an international quality product.

The Magic Dome Books story demonstrates how entrepreneurial intuition combined with systematic approach can redefine what's possible in publishing. In seven years, a small Prague agency has grown into an international publishing house with an extensive partnership network—from collaborations with Tantor Media and Dreamscape in the U.S. to contracts with Zeppelin in Italy, Insignis in Poland, and Jeu Media in South Korea.

Alexey Kalmykov's innovative approach to international publishing has gained significant industry recognition. In 2025, he won the prestigious ECDMA Global Awards, which celebrates excellence in digital media and e-commerce strategies. 'This recognition was particularly meaningful,' Alexey Kalmykov notes, 'because it validates our cross-cultural digital publishing model. It shows that bridging different markets through technology-driven solutions is the future of publishing.' The award has opened new doors for Magic Dome Books, establishing the publisher as a thought leader in the rapidly evolving digital publishing landscape.

Good ideas know no boundaries—a principle equally true for both science fiction and modern business. New-generation entrepreneurs like Alexey Kalmykov prove that in the digital age, growth opportunities are limited only by boldness of vision and readiness to act. "All our key partners are people genuinely passionate about what they do," says Alexey Kalmykov. This synthesis of enthusiasm and entrepreneurial courage may well be the formula for success in international business.