From Collaboration to Social Action: The Story of Fly on the Wall Press

As the founder and editor of Fly on the Wall Press, people often ask me what inspired me to start this venture. It all started with a simple desire to collaborate with other poets on a project close to my heart. That project turned out to be the mental health anthology, 'Please Hear What I'm Not Saying' in 2018, and the response was overwhelming. Over 600 poets from around the world applied to be a part of it, and I selected 116 of them.

The success of that anthology led to a hunger for more, and before I knew it, Fly on the Wall Press was born. We produced another charity anthology, ‘Persona Non Grata’ which and I ran our first physical launch in 2018 from New Mills Library. It started as a hobby, but since 2020 it has grown into a full-time career.

One of the things that sets Fly on the Wall Press apart is our focus on social action. From the very beginning, we knew that we wanted our books to not only raise awareness about important issues but also to make a tangible difference in people's lives. Our flagship anthologies work in two ways: each sale fundraises for a chosen charity, and each reader continues their conversation, tackling the issues highlighted. We are proud to publish fiction and poetry on the pressing issues of our time, being unafraid to generate conversation about perhaps 'prickly' subjects.

Charitable projects are a significant part of our yearly publishing schedule. We have worked with organizations such as Mind, Shelter, Crisis Aid UK, WWF, The Climate Coalition, and Street Child United. Many of our authors choose a charity to donate a proportion of their royalties too as well. It's been incredible to see the impact that our books have had on these causes, and it's something that motivates me.

Of course, starting a press has its challenges. There's a lot of work that goes into editing, marketing, and distributing books, especially as a one-woman press. But when I see the impact that our books have on readers, it's all worth it. Being a finalist for Small Press of the Year for the fourth year running has been a particular highlight and a testament hard work.

Fly on the Wall Press has come a long way since its humble beginnings, and we’re now proud to be a staple in Waterstones, Blackwells and indie bookshops around the country, but at our core, we are still driven by a desire to make a difference in the world. We will continue to publish books that tackle important issues, raise money for charity, and spark conversations. I'm excited to see what the future holds for Fly on the Wall Press and the incredible authors we have the privilege to work with.

We’ve just revamped our website! Have a browse at www.flyonthewallpress.co.uk