Why Ethical Indie Publishing Matters | K L Crear

Being part of Crear Publishing is honestly one of the most exciting, bonkers, rewarding adventures imaginable.

People often ask us what makes us different and the answer is really simple - books. We absolutely love them. We love stories, we love readers, we love writers. We love that magical moment when somebody says, “I haven’t read in years…” and then suddenly they’re staying up until midnight because they just need one more chapter and sleep just seems less important.

That’s what it’s all about for us.

We’re passionate about getting people reading again - adults, children, reluctant readers, people who think they’re too busy, people who haven’t picked up a book since school because they believe it’s boring.

And if we want more readers, we need more books.

We’ve always felt that the North can sometimes get overlooked when it comes to arts and publishing. There are so many incredible voices here. So many stories, so much humour, heart and talent. Yet sometimes it feels as though unless you’re writing from a tiny flat in London while drinking overpriced coffee and staring thoughtfully out of a rainy window, people just aren’t listening.

Well, we are.  In our own small way, we’re determined to change that. We champion voices that might otherwise go unheard. We publish books that make people laugh, cry, gasp and occasionally snort tea out of their nose. We believe brilliant stories exist everywhere, from busy towns and sleepy villages to kitchen tables and school pick-up queues.

Running an ethical indie publishing house is hard work. There are spreadsheets, there are launch days, there are author meltdowns (or is that just me?) And of course there are biscuits, so many biscuits.

But honestly? We wouldn’t change it. The best bit by far is our authors. We are genuinely blown away every single week by the manuscripts landing in our inbox. We meet people with extraordinary stories, huge hearts and dreams they’ve carried around for years, sometimes decades, before finally pressing send.

Every author who trusts us with their work means the world. And the fact that so many of you support us, read our books and cheer us on still feels slightly surreal.

Exciting times ahead.