As an Indie bookshop ourselves, we love encouraging readers to seek out hidden gems. There are so many incredible indie presses out there doing amazing work, and they often go under the radar. Here are just a few to check out the next time you pop into our shop:
Charco Press
Charco Press publishes English translations of contemporary Latin American authors. I love how they’re making these incredibly talented authors more accessible for English readers. Here are a few that we stock:
Time of the Flies by Claudia Pineiro
An intricate and compelling story about a woman trying to move on from her past crimes.
The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez
Set in the Dominican Republic, this is a beautiful and magical book about storytelling, ultimately asking whose stories get to be told.
Explorers, Dreamers and Thieves: Writers in the archives of the British Museum
This essay collection hears from six Latin American writers who were asked to examine objects in the British Museum archives and then to imagine narratives about the people involved in bringing those objects to the museum.
The Emma Press
Birmingham-based, The Emma Press publishes stunning poetry, short fiction, essays, and children’s books. The covers are also absolutely beautiful! Check out these pamphlets in our poetry section:
In the Name of Red by Z. R. Ghani
This is a debut book rich with desire, shame, grief, faith, love, and at the forefront of it all: the colour red.
Makeover by Laurie Bolger
In a celebration of girls shaped by swimming baths and Working Men's Clubs, friendship and family, Makeover contends with what we inherit and what we ought to pass on.
Fairlight Books
Fairlight Books publishes contemporary fiction and non-fiction. We have a few books from their Fairlight Moderns series, which are pocket-sized short novels set around the world:
Small Wars in Madrid by Anthony Ferner
This novel is about a man coming to grips with what he believes and who he wants to be.
Dancing in the Shallows by Clare Reddaway
After inheriting her grandfather's cottage on the Isle of Skye, a woman seeks to find purpose and a new way to live, while also reconnecting with her family's past.
Foundry Editions
Only a year old, Foundry Editions publishes books in translation from Mediterranean authors—from Spain to Italy to Cyprus.
Far by Rosa Ribas
Translated from the Spanish, this novel is about a half-forgotten housing development and a somewhat quirky love story between two people from opposite sides of the fence.
Brandy Sour by Constantia Sonteriou
Set in a grand hotel in Cyrpus, this novel explores the historical events of the mid-20th century on the island.
Persephone Books
Persephone Books reprints fiction and non-fiction (mostly by women!) that has been overlooked or neglected. They also have a bookshop in Bath where they exclusively sell their own books.
Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day by Winnifred Watson
Written in 1938, this novel is funny and charming. It's about a middle-aged governess sent to the wrong address: The home of a nightclub singer, rather than a house full of children.
The Fortnight in September by R. C. Sherriff
Written in 1931, this novel is about a family's two-week holiday. It's subtle, moving, and beautifully written.
Prototype
Prototype publishes fiction, poetry, anthologies, and interdisciplinary projects. They have an emphasis on writing that experiments with form and genre, so certainly one to look out for if you like reading something a bit new and different.
Prairie, Dresses, Art, Other by Danielle Dutton
Written in four eponymous sections that completement and reflect each other, this non-fiction book explores the human experience in the modern day. It's also beautifully written, pushing the boundaries of form and language.
Vehicle by Jen Calleja
Vehicle is a dystopian sci-fi novel that explores a society where looking into the past is illegal.
The Seers by Sulaiman Addonia
Set in London, this novel follows a homeless refugee from Eritrea and explores the sexual agency allowed for refugees, as well as intergenerational history, colonial trauma, and the impact of the UK refugee system on young people.
Tramp Press
Based in Ireland, Tramp Press publishes exceptional contemporary writing. Here are a few of our favourites:
A Ghost in the Throat by Doirrean Ni Griofa
This is a stunning and beautifully-written memoir exploring motherhood storytelling, and being a woman.
Old Romantics by Maggie Armstrong
A collection of linked short stories brimming with acute observations and engaging moments.
Browse the full collection here:
