Hebden Bridge publisher is named North England’s winner of the 2023 Small Press of the Year award

Bluemoose Books is a regional winner of the accolade which is part of the The British Book Awards.

The Hebden Bridge publisher was founded by Kevin and Hetha Duffy in 2006 and has garnered a number of awards over the years.

Bluemoose Books said: “17 Years ago Heth and I re-mortgaged our house to start Bluemoose. We wanted to find great new voices that weren't being heard and put their stories into readers' hands.

“Thank you to all those librarians and booksellers who have championed our books. Magic.”

Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller and chair of the judges for The British Book Awards, said: “We are delighted by the ten Small Press winners, selected for their excellence, their vision and their tenaciousness in the face of some really tricky trading conditions.

"What is not said enough is how these presses are also out-competing their bigger brethren, publishing ahead of the market, sustaining and growing sales, and taking home plenty of book prizes to boot.

"This is a thriving sector of the book business and one we should all look to and celebrate. Congratulations all.”

The ten regional and country winners are now in contention for the overall Small Press of the Year Award, announced at The British Book Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House London in May.

The overall Small Press winner will also compete to be crowned Independent Publisher of the Year.