Micropress Forty-Four takes bespoke route

The beauty of brevity is something that cannot be understated,” says Amanda Boachie, founder of new micropress Forty-Four Words, which aims to create personalised, hand-made books that share meaningful messages with readers.

Experimentation

An experimental publisher, Forty-Four is reimagining reading experiences by prioritising personalisation and customisation. According to Boachie, a copywriter and creative entrepreneur, “in a world where we are constantly bombarded with information and stimuli, the ability to succinctly convey meaning and emotion is truly an art”. Thus, Forty-Four Words is launching with Say Less, a collection of eight short pieces from eight writers that explore the human experience in just 88 words.

Describing the title, Boachie says: “The works [in Say Less] are loaded with meaning, and this is what makes them captivating: Arwa Nadeem’s work is a piecing together of snippets from a notebook she carried around as an in-patient at a psychiatric hospital; and Safiyah Mariyah shares a nostalgic account of watching her grandmother knead roti. The hidden nature of identity, coupled with the literal self-censorship through hidden words, is a commentary on survival and safety.”

Customisable

Each book is customisable and readers can choose between three cover finishes. The press also offers bespoke binding, where readers can select one of the three cover options and communicate specific design elements they like—such as the logo placement. Say Less in print costs £74, with customised versions at £88. “Customisation celebrates and speaks to the personal exchange between reader and writer,” says Boachie. “My creation process is intentional. Books are more than books—they’re art, accessory and reflection of some ideal, which is why I offer the option to customise. They are decorative, so I want Say Less to be an asset that brightens the home.”

Boachie says the look and feel of books are just as important as the words on the pages. “Too often, books are seen as static objects that simply convey information,” she says. “But I believe that books are much more—they can be works of art, accessories, interactive experiences, and powerful tools for change because they invite us to re-learn things.

“I consider the feel of fabric in the hand, how the book opens, the turn of the page and its thickness, and the weight of the book” — Amanda Boachie

“I consider the feel of fabric in the hand, how the book opens, the turn of the page and its thickness, and the weight of the book,” she says. Yet Boachie also believes there is much to be explored with digital formats. “Technology provides endless opportunities to advance and innovate, so I’d like to test the limits of digital reading,” she says. “I think there’s room to really test the parameters of interactivity.”

Intrigued about the name of the press, I ask Boachie about its inspiration: for her, the number “44” is a numeric representation of Britain and her “way of British living”. She says: “It draws inspiration from our calling code +44, which symbolically represents the domestic focus but the international vision of the company.
I want to continue sharing stories and narratives concerning the lives of British writers and writers living in Britain.”

One-woman ambition

The press plans to publish two titles a year; the first of 2023, Say Less, was published in March. As a one-woman team, Boachie says that managing the project has been challenging, as she oversees every aspect of the publishing process, from designing to marketing and sales. Like many new presses, Boachie’s main focus is getting the word out about Forty-Four. She intends to build a strong presence online through its website, 44words.art, and to attend literary events to connect with potential readers in person. “While it’s still early days, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved,” Boachie says. “I’ve been able to create something one-of-a-kind. I am excited to see how readers continue to react to my titles and to explore new opportunities for growth and visibility.”