About Northkind

Independent publisher and home for brave ideas, unfinished stories, and communities with something to say.

Northkind was born from a love of books, writing, and stories, and from knowing how many story ideas never make their way into the world. Some stories are never written because people do not have the time, confidence, support, or structure to begin. Some are written but never published because the route into publishing can feel confusing, competitive or out of reach.

Stories live everywhere. They are all around us, everywhere we look, yet we often don't notice them. They hide in communities, classrooms, family memories, local history, notebooks, and the sparks of ideas. They're like cats who don't want to go to the vets.

Northkind exists for these stories.

What we do

Through Northkind Press, we create and publish meaningful books and story-led products.

Through Northkind Story Studio, we support writing, creativity, run workshops, visit schools, enable community storytelling and work with people who want support to shape their ideas. We also run competitions, like our launch competition to win a 12-month creative writing subscription worth over £250!

Northkind Press helps stories become books. Northkind Story Studio helps ideas begin, grow and take shape. Both are built on the same belief: stories help us understand ourselves, each other, and the places we come from. They preserve history. They build connection. They spark imagination. They can help us to see things differently.

Cartoon image of Northkind Press founder, Rachel Forbes, dressed as a superhero in a red and purple costume with a sun emblem on a white background

Our mission

Our mission is to help people fall in love with books, stories, and their own imagination, while supporting people of all ages to shape their ideas, find their voice, and bring meaningful stories into the world.

Together, Northkind Press and Northkind Story Studio make achieving our mission possible.

Who is Northkind for?

Northern Grit is not essential

Northkind is here for anyone discovering or rediscovering the joy of stories, storytelling, and imagination.

  • For writers and not-quite-but-almost-maybe-writers finding their way in the dark.
  • For writers with a finished manuscript wanting to share their story with the world.
  • For schools making space for imagination, fun, and play.
  • For families interested in learning the power of storytelling.
  • For communities with something to say.
  • For anyone holding an idea that will not leave them alone.

You do not need to have it all worked out before you begin.

That is the point.

For brave stories with heart, #WeAreNorthkind

We'd love to hear from you