Dear Scribblers.
As a publishing company with a conscience, dedicated to bringing thought-provoking political fiction, poetry, and anthologies to the forefront, we at Fly on the Wall Press are facing a challenging period. Despite our recent recognition as the Small Press of the Year in the North of England at the prestigious British Book Awards 2024 and the numerous accolades our exceptional international authors have received, including the Laurel Prize, the Julie Suk Award, the Saboteur Awards, and the Edge Hill Prize, we find ourselves grappling with unforeseen circumstances.
This month, we have experienced our lowest bookshop sales in history, coupled with significant expenses related to bookshop returns, website maintenance, and industry data upgrades. These challenges (including rises in paper costs, postage and handling fees) threaten our ability to continue our vital work of amplifying diverse voices and tackling pressing issues through literature.
As you may know, we have always been an unfunded, one woman publisher - entirely funded through book sales. The dream is to keep growing, raising our sales and visibility, year on year. Nevertheless, she persisted!!
We are one of the only small presses in the North to survive without funding. We want to continue to think and act with agility and independence, as well as grace.
We understand that these are trying times for many, but we humbly ask for your support during this critical juncture. Your contribution, no matter how small, will enable us to weather this storm and continue bringing you the thought-provoking, boundary-pushing works you have come to expect from Fly on the Wall Press.
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Your partnership is invaluable to us, and together, we can ensure that Fly on the Wall Press remains a beacon of literary excellence, fostering important conversations and amplifying voices that deserve to be heard.
Thank you for your unwavering support and for being a part of our community. We look forward to continuing to bring you exceptional reads that challenge, inspire, and enlighten.
Sincerely,
Isabelle x