By Ellen Byrne, Nathan Collett and Jess Land
It is no secret that the UK publishing industry is historically London-centric. From HarperCollins to Hachette, Penguin Random House to Simon & Schuster, the headquarters of many successful publishing houses are located in England’s capital. Consequently, the work of regional publishers, including those in the North of the UK, are often overlooked. The Northern Fiction Alliance aims to change this.
The Northern Fiction Alliance was founded in 2016 by Manchester-based publisher, Comma Press. In a bid to win an international showcasing grant from Arts Council England, Comma press submitted a proposal suggesting that four independent publishers from the North would combine forces and attend a series of international book fairs under the label of ‘The Northern Fiction Alliance’.
As well as Comma Press, who specialise in short fiction and international works, the other initial independent publishers included Peepal Tree Press, Leeds-based publishers of Black British, African and Caribbean literature; And Other Stories, located in Sheffield and known for their translated works and contemporary fiction; and Liverpudlian publishing house, Dead Ink, who spotlight emerging authors with experimental approaches.
Comma Press’ intention behind this collaboration was to highlight the work being produced by publishers located outside of London, in an attempt to change the international perception of British publishing and showcase Northern regional diversity. There was also a need to increase the visibility of independent publishing on a wider scale – a need that Arts Council England recognised, ultimately awarding Comma Press the grant. Since then, the Northern Fiction Alliance have been collaborating and networking to grow the community of Northern independent publishers, as well as promoting the works of authors who traditionally have been overlooked by the international market.
The Northern Fiction Alliance has welcomed a wide range of publishers from across the region since 2016. From the banks of the Mersey up to the Tyne, the Alliance has come to represent the very best that the North of England has to offer the world of literature. We don't have space in this article to give each publisher in the Northern Fiction Alliance the attention they deserve, but we've listed them below with their location and specialty. We recommend looking them up!
Fly on the Wall (Manchester) – Political fiction
Saraband (Salford) – Culture, landscapes, wildlife, folk traditions and history
Bluemoose Books (Hebden Bridge) – ‘Great new talent’ and ‘brilliant stories’
Mayfly (Newcastle) – ‘Theoretical, political, and aesthetic works on organisation’
Route (Pontefract) – ‘authentic stories with a strong cultural resonance that add to the diversity of UK publishing’
Valley Press (Scarborough) – Poetry, fiction, non-fiction; musical history and graphic novels are ‘forthcoming.’
Wrecking Ball (Hull) – ‘Exciting first-time writers’
Cultureword/Commonword (Manchester) – Writing development and ethnically diverse writers.
Confingo (Manchester) – ‘Beautiful editions of new fictions, poetry and works of art in all forms’
Dodo Ink (Manchester) – ‘risk-taking, imaginative novels and innovative, thought-provoking non-fiction’
Dostoyevsky Wannabe (Manchester)
Flapjack Press (Manchester) – Poetry, poetry-theatre, plays, and art collections
Honford Star (Stockport) – East Asian literature
Nightjar Press (Manchester) – Original short stories
Stairwell Books (York) – ‘new writers who provide good writing’
Zimzalla (Manchester) – ‘publishing project releasing literary objects’
Bloodaxe Books (Hexham) - Poetry
Arc Publications (Todmorden) – Contemporary poetry
Carcanet (Manchester) – Modern and classic poetry
If P then Q (Manchester) – Experimental Poetry
Smokestack Books (Ripon) – Left-leaning radical poetry
Bearded Badger (Derbyshire) – Poetry and contemporary fiction
Northodox Press (Manchester) – General fiction
UCLAN Publishing (Preston) – Children’s books of all genres
Salt (Cromer) – Poetry, general fiction, and literary fiction
The Northern Fiction Alliance has gone on to achieve many successes within the industry. Many of their initial goals were focused on exposing independent presses to a more global market, increasing both author and publisher revenue through the sale of international rights. The Alliance has since visited six international book fairs, including Frankfurt, and through these trips publishers have sold a collective £44,000 worth of rights overseas.
As the alliance has grown, they have demanded more radical change within the industry, wanting to showcase more Northern-grown talent. In 2018, they wrote an open letter calling for much needed change within the industry. Their eight-point plan lays out the steps to “reshape and redefine the current literary landscape,” tackling the London-centric industry. Points in the plan include signing up for the Spare Room Project, which offers a place for young professionals outside of London to stay free of charge whilst completing internships or work placements in the capital. Other demands include paid work experience, a commitment to publishing more regionally diverse authors, and a mentorship scheme between publishing professionals and industry experts.
This autumn, the mentorship scheme announced its newest pairing for 2024. Northern Fiction Alliance member Fly on the Wall Press was also awarded the 2024 Small Press of the Year for Northern England and the mentorship scheme will see their managing director, Isabelle Kenyon, work with CEO of Bonnier Books UK, Perminder Mann, to pave the way for its sustained growth.
Most recently, the Northern Fiction Alliance have run the Green Book Fair. This innovative online event invited independent publishers from across the globe to take part in the book fair, eliminating the need for any carbon heavy travel.