New edition, new title and HYPERTEXT Virtual Book Fair

Hi everyone, I hope you are all OK during such a difficult year. Despite everything happening in the world, I’ve felt so supported by the bookselling community; I couldn’t be prouder to be working with our amazing authors, designers and all of the shops who have all been pulling together to keep things going. I know that you know this––but it can never be said enough––now is the time to support independent press and booksellers.

Strangers was recently launched by our wonderful local indie bookshop, Pages of Hackney and you can watch the whole event–hosted by Katherine Angel, including some great questions from the engaged audience here. The book was selected by one of our favourite projects (now a physical shop in Finnieston, Glasgow) Burning House Books as the inaugural title for their new monthly book club, was the feature window in Waterstones Crouch End and has been a London Review Bookshop bestseller for three consecutive weeks! Recent press includes, The Arts Desk, Splice and The Skinny. Huge thanks to everyone who has supported the title already – it means the world.

Pre-order the limited edition version of Strangers

For those who want an original green copy – they are in Waterstones across the land and these excellent independent booksellers all offering it online;

Pages of Hackney
Burley Fisher
Good Press
Mr B’S Emporium
Storysmith
Village

Master animator, James Paulley recently produced a short film for the cover reveal of the 2nd printing. You can watch night become day here and see more of James’ stunning work here.

Click image to view

New title – Middex: Perpetual Skip

Next up is a new pamphlet, the seventh in our New Words series. Perpetual Skip is available to pre-order now, with or without an embroidered patch and will be launching as part of HYPERTEXT Bound Art Book Fair.

Perpetual Skip is the new collection of poetic prose from the electrifying voice of Middex. In this bookwork, 11 sermons, once soaked in pools of echo are orphaned from the noise – taking on an urgent and compelling archive—(non) prayers stoked by vivid light. Here, words are on the move, crossing all zones—sprawling grounds of a strange borough—with broken catholic memories and colour. In Skinhead on a Raft we follow the arc of a smoked and discarded cigarette and stay with it on the floor. Discarded cigarette, discarded truths. Glue Preference honours the writers in the unlit underground yards. Stories look outwards; through a scratch-tagged bus window, to the ceiling (and beyond) of a rented flat, and into the canal—rank and receiving. Perpetual Skip is a constant. A beautiful mess with a million stories. ‘Oh it loves a mess – and the mess – is the moss – of denial.’

Middex has previously released records through Polytechnic Youth, The Tapeworm, Makina Books and Infant Tree.  Their first album, No Home was released in 2018. Middex performs very occasionally.

I couldn’t be prouder to publish this pamphlet. Listen to Middex here.

Pre-order Perpetual Skip here

OK. that’s it! We’ll be back soon to announce our Spring programme where we will be announcing a new format and focussing mostly on longer-form books. Got some amazing collaborations we have been working on and cannot wait to share them.

Thank you for reading and supporting Makina x