MISSION
We aim to publish dark fiction that’s imaginative, original and has something important to say about the state of our world.
And we make our books available to readers for free.
That’s right: anyone with an internet connection can read them. We explain this a bit more on our FAQ page, but the bottom line is that our model allows us to be sustainable, equitable and inclusive.
The indie book industry is in crisis. Publishing costs are increasing but retail prices remain fixed, squeezing the margins of publishers to the point where many have ceased trading or have taken out loans to survive. Yet brilliant stories continue to be written. So what can we do about it?
One solution, we think, is to separate publishing from capitalism: authors volunteer their time and we volunteer ours. This isn’t a perfect solution. We want to be rewarded financially for our work as much as any author wants to - money pays bills - but leaving stories to die as Word files on an author’s computer, never to be read by anyone, isn’t a perfect solution, either.
Our non-profit digital model is best understood as a social enterprise. It’s designed to:
Be inclusive for authors. We’re not controlled by market forces and can publish who and what we want to publish.
Be inclusive for readers. Making our books available for free broadens and diversifies their readership. ‘Free’ doesn’t mean inferior - it means resistance: resistance against exclusivity and commercialism.
Be kind to our planet. As a press deeply concerned about our environment, our digital model is a central part of our commitment to responsible publishing.