Makina Books (Ma KEY na) are an independent publisher currently based in London. Our publications, audio and audio-described projects seek to promote and celebrate independent and emerging voices—with a particular focus on poetry and nonfiction. I’m Robin, and I started Makina to explore creative publishing and promote great work. Together with graphic designer, Patrick Fisher we have collaborated on many titles and projects. Our books are available direct from our web shop and in many wonderful bookshops. We are proud to be represented to the trade by Inpress Books and to work with Ingram Publisher Services for distribution.

Makina Books' Editor, Robin Christian and Designer, Patrick Fisher
Robin Christian and Patrick Fisher at the Waterstones 'Strangers' display, Crouch End, October 2020

​Strangers by Rebecca Tamás is ​a perfect example of brilliant indie publishing by Makina ​Books

Lighthouse Bookshop

About Us

We currently make collectable books in the ongoing series’ New Words and Makina Poetry. In 2019 we launched the Makina Books Podcast which focuses on narratives in publishing. In 2021, Strangers by Rebecca Tamás was longlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize. To date, we have worked on publications with Rebecca Tamás, Jen Calleja, A.K. Blakemore, Wayne Holloway-Smith, Rebecca Perry, Naomi Morris, Flo Brooks, Livia Franchini, Emily Cooper, Supriya Kaur Dhaliwal, Alanna McArdle, Angus Carlyle, Eloise Hendy, Patrick Doyle and David Moore – amongst others. Projects include collaborations with; Pages of Hackney, Brighton CCA, Strange Perfume, White Cubicle Toilet Gallery and Counter Plymouth Book Fair.

Makina is named after the Plaubel Makina, a medium format camera which makes a 6×7 frame—the inspiration for our boxier format.

Our titles are collected and held in several collections, including; Whitney Museum of American Art Library (New York) National Library of Scotland, Stills Centre for Photography and the National Poetry Library (London).

Stack of copies of the book, Hyperlove by Naomi Morris

Distribution & Trade

Trade orders

INGRAM Publisher Services UK
ipsuk.orders@ingramcontent.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1752 202301

For all other enquiries, please contact
hello@makinabooks.com

Representation

Inpress Ltd.
Milburn House
Dean Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 1LF

0191 230 8104
enquiries@inpressbooks.co.uk

No one does book mail like Makina Books!

Alice Slater
What Page Are You On? Podcast
Red rubber stamp impressions of Lobsters, published by Makina Books
Rubber stamp impressions for Lobsters by Wayne Holloway-Smith

We love sending books! Each direct order is wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and hand-stamped. We use recycled all-board book mailers to ensure you receive your books safely.

Online orders

We are a small entity, but endeavour to dispatch orders via Royal Mail twice a week. Please remember to leave adequate time for overseas orders to arrive before getting in touch to let us know that an order hasn’t yet arrived.

Due to recent tax changes we have paused sending orders to EU countries. We are working to find a sustainable solution so we can resume.

Press and publicity

For all publicity enquiries—including advance reader copies, please contact Jordan Taylor-Jones: jordan@jordantaylorjones.com

Stockists

This list of shops changes often, but we try to keep it up to date. If you would like to stock any of our titles, please contact Robin hello@makinabooks.com

UK

  • Blackwells
  • Five Leaves Bookshop
  • Harbour Books
  • HOME, Manchester
  • Mr B’s Emporium
  • Margate Bookshop
  • No Alibis
  • Rare Mags
  • Sam Read
  • Storysmith
  • Storytellers Inc
  • Topping, St Andrews
  • Topping, Bath
  • The Wivenhoe Bookshop
  • The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop
  • Village Books
  • Waterstones

London

  • Books Peckham
  • Brick Lane Bookshop
  • Burley Fisher
  • Camden Art Centre
  • Caught By The River
  • Chener Books
  • Daunt Books
  • Dulwich Books
  • Foyles
  • Fox Lane Books
  • Housmans
  • John Sandoe Books
  • London Centre for Book Arts
  • London Review Bookshop
  • Pages of Hackney
  • Review, Peckham
  • Riverside Bookshop
  • South London Gallery
  • TACO!
  • Tate Modern
  • Tenderbooks
  • Treadwell’s
  • Waterstones
  • Hoxton Books

Glasgow

  • Burning House Books
  • Good Press
  • John Smith & Son Booksellers
  • Outwith Books

Edinburgh

  • Golden Hare Books
  • Lighthouse Bookshop
  • Topping, Edinburgh
  • The Portobello Bookshop

Ireland

  • Books Upstairs (Dublin)
  • The Library Project (Dublin)

Overseas

  • After 8 Books (Paris)
  • Athenaeum Boekhandel (Amsterdam)
  • De Groene Waterman (Antwerp)
  • Laie Llibreria Cafè (Spain)
  • The Moon (Singapore)
  • Zabriskie (Berlin)
  • Skylight (Los Angeles)

eBooks

  • Amazon Kindle Store
  • Apple Books
  • Barnes and Noble
  • Google Play

Contact

Submissions

Submissions are currently closed. Please join the mailing list to be notified of the next window.

Bespoke rubber stamps

Makina Books carefully brought my book from ideas contained within language to the beautiful object it is now.

Emily Cooper
author of Glass