Bluemoose Books

Bluemoose Books is an independent publisher based in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England.^[1] It was founded in 2006 by Kevin and Hetha Duffy.^[2] Kevin Duffy has said that the name was inspired by the Blue Pig pub at nearby Hardcastle Crags and the saxophone player Bull Moose Johnson who featured in Peter Guralnick's Sweet Soul Music.^[3]

Founded	2006; 18 years ago (2006)
Founders	Kevin and Hetha Duffy
Country of origin	England
Headquarters location	Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
Publication types	Books
Official website	bluemoosebooks.com

It has published award-winning titles including Benjamin Myers' 2012 Pig Iron, first winner of the Gordon Burn Prize.^[4]

The company decided to publish only books by women during the year 2020, hoping to shine a spotlight on the work of older or not-yet-established female authors, who face being sidelined because of the publishing industry's usual focus on youth and celebrity.^[5][6] The selected authors were Heidi James, Anna Chilvers and Sharon Duggal ^[7]

Publishing no more than 10 titles a year, Bluemoose was the North England winner in the 2023 Small Press of the Year awards.^[1][8]

References

1. Pidd, Helen (6 August 2023). "'What we publish will stay with you': inside a small but mighty literary hit factory". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
2. "Bluemoose Books". Publishers Association. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
3. "Bluemoose Books – Q&A". From First Page to Last. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
4. Bury, Liz (21 October 2013). "Benjamin Myers claims inaugural Gordon Burn prize". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
5. Crockett, Moya (January 2019). "This publishing house is only releasing books by female writers in 2020". Stylist. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
6. "Why Hebden Bridge publishers Bluemoose Books is only releasing books by women after impressive 2019". Halifax Courier. 19 January 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
7. Wood, Heloise (17 January 2019). "Bluemoose reveals plans to publish only female writers in 2020". The Bookseller. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
8. Brown, Lauren (15 March 2023). "Ten Small Press of the Year winners praised for 'outcompeting' bigger publishers". The Bookseller. Retrieved 7 August 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Mudd, Neil (28 April 2019). "Kevin Duffy of Bluemoose Books". The CULTURE VULTURE. Retrieved 7 August 2023. (Interview)
• "'Small presses are the coral reefs of publishing, attracting the most colourful fish': Kevin Duffy of Bluemoose Books argues that independent publishers are vital but at risk", The Irish Times, 4 June 2020.