dead ink books

Dead Ink Books likes to misbehave.

Our books are beautifully designed, sharp edged, and disruptive. Over the years we have published award-winning authors, revived cult texts and launched wildly inventive, experimental projects.

Rooted in Liverpool, but global in outlook, we offer something just outside of the expected by rewarding deep reading, transgressive imaginations, and counter-cultural tastes. As a trusted curator of original storytelling and a commercially sharp creative house, Dead Ink invites you to step outside of the mainstream and into something a little more interesting.

pre-history

Dead Ink began life in 2011 as one of the first digital-only independent presses. Started by Wes Brown in Leeds with a grant from Arts Council England, Dead Ink established itself as an innovative new publisher with an eye for creative projects and spotting emerging new talent. It was at this time that Nathan Connolly came on board to help with publicity and then as an Editor when Dead Ink released its first print titles in 2014 and experimented with crowdfunding.

the new beginning

In 2015 Brown left to focus on his own writing and his career in academia. Nathan Connolly was looking for a career in trade publishing, but, unable to move to London to work on an unpaid internship, founded Cinder House Publishing Limited in Manchester and took over the Dead Ink brand, making it an imprint and the trading name under Cinder House. With further funding from Arts Council England, he was able to quit his day job and begin full-time at the newly re-launched Dead Ink. It is at this point that we consider the start of Dead Ink as it is today.

No longer a digital-only press, the new Dead Ink continued to be supported by Arts Council England as it grew and became the press that you know today.

where we are and who we are

In 2023 it was announced that Dead Ink would be joining Arts Council England’s National Portfolio. Though we’ve grown over the last decade, our DIY roots persist and feed our ambitions. We’re based in Liverpool these days and operate out of our office on Smithdown Road.