Northern Publishers' Fair 2025 Event Review

Northern Publishers' Fair brings together an array of trade and independent publishers based in the North of England to sell books, network, and meet writers and readers. So, of course, I had to check it out.

QUICK FACTS:

• Organiser: Fly on the Wall Press

• Location: Manchester Central Library, UK

• Date: 27 September 2025

• Price: Free

• Value for money: £££ (out of 5)

• Open to: Northern publishers, literary agents, writers, and readers

DETAILS

There are usually two Northern Publishers' Fairs a year—a spring and an autumn one. The one I attended was the autumn one. Being a fair/exhibition, this event was quite informal, and you perused the stands at your own leisure.

Including children's literature, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and academic research, there was a little bit of everything for everyone, and the exhibitors were mostly independent publishers. Smaller presses tend to print a more eclectic offering, normally focusing on under-represented voices and themes not deemed as "mainstream" or "mass market", so the books on sale were equally as eclectic.

This particular event was great for poetry lovers. There were so many beautiful poetry books, illustrated and not, that I took one home, even though I have never been a big fan of poetry. My thing has always been long prose.

In terms of romance, I have to admit that there wasn't an awful lot. Possibly because Harper North wasn't in attendance at the September event, but I know they have attended previous ones. However, Northodox had a couple of romance fictions worth noting. One of them was also a finalist at the RoNA Awards (Romantic Novelist Association Awards).

One quick tip is to ask for the price of the books before agreeing to purchase them. Some of the books I bought were below the £9.99 you would expect for a paperback in the UK, but some went all the way up to £15 even though they weren’t illustrated, a heavy paperback, or a hardcover.

Not that any of the above kept me from buying more books; I still came home with five!

WHO ATTENDED

Many of the authors featured were in attendance. I had a lovely chat with Chloe de Lullington and J. Daniel West. And of course, there were also readers and aspiring authors looking to network with publishers and agents.

The main characters of the story were the publishers themselves, though. This particular event was heavy on the indie front, including:

• Fly on the Wall Press - ethical, political and accessible books

• Manchester University Press - focusing on academic research and papers

• Spilt Ink Magazine - literary magazine

• Confingo Publishing - fiction, poetry and art

• Peepal Tree Press - international writing from the Caribbean, its diasporas and the UK

• Vertebrate (Adventure) Publishing - sports and the outdoors

• Carcanet Press - modern and classic poetry

• Stairwell Books - poetry and experimental writing

• Saraband - fiction, nature writing, life stories, environmental issues

• Northodox Press - fiction by northern writers

• Flapjack Press - poetry, poetry-theatre, plays, and art

• Dead Ink Books - experimental and inventive writing

• Comma Press - short fiction

• Written Off Publishing - under-represented voices and poetry

There were also two literary agencies talking to aspiring authors: Liverpool Literary Agency and Children's Book North Agency.

WILL I ATTEND AGAIN?

I have to admit I'm not sure. I'm more of a romance reader, but would definitely attend it again if Northodox and Harper North were both exhibiting. For the simple reason that I'm more likely to come across fiction I would fall in love with at first sight. But if you like poetry, diverse voices, and unconventional writing and topics, I would most definitely recommend this event.