Susie Nicklin launches publishing arm

MILD group c.e.o. Susie Nicklin is launching a new publishing house to bring together a "conversation-starting" curation of books, called The Indigo Press.

The press is the latest addition to the MILD portfolio of book businesses, which includes international rights specialists The Marsh Agency, independent bookshop Dulwich Books, and a live events series, including two annual literary festivals LiveLit.

Appointed as publishing director is Ellah Wakatama Allfrey OBE, former senior editor at Jonathan Cape and former deputy editor of Granta magazine, who will lead commissioning for the press.

The Indigo Press will publish fiction and creative non-fiction to bring together a "conversation-starting" curation of books offering "bold ideas and beautifully-crafted stories". It will be open to writing from around the world and literature that explores radical thinking and literary innovation in both form and approach. The first titles will be published in 2018.

Commenting on this latest venture, Nicklin said that the success of the other elements of the MILD business convinced her that there is space for a new publishing house "that will explore the best in international contemporary thought".

“Over the past twenty-four months the MILD team has expanded our foreign rights client base and increased retail sales revenue and expertise in the shop", Nicklin said. "We have also curated and produced four literary festivals and numerous events across a wide range of venues in which we have seen a renewed interest in printed books focussing on universal stories, on politics, and on the environment. I am convinced by these commercial and artistic successes that there is space for a new, independent publishing house that will explore the best in international contemporary thought, across all genres.”

Allfrey added that she intended the publishing house to be "global as well as local".

She said: "Indigo, the fabric and the dye, with its world-altering, continent-crossing history, is the inspiration for a press that seeks to be at the forefront of innovative publishing which reflects and creates culture. Writing that is brave, bold and beautiful from the best of today’s minds and tackling the most urgent issues – inspired by the belief that our readers want their reading adventure to be global as well as local.”

Headquartered at the John Murray building in Albemarle Street, London, The Indigo Press will be supported by a freelance production and design team, with Michael Salu as art director. The company is currently recruiting for a sales and marketing manager.