Interview: Wildthought Books
A new publisher looking for compassionate and authentic stories
The vegan bookish community is small but growing. We’re fortunate to already have Ashland Creek Press, Vegan Publishers, and Lantern Publishing, but now we have a new press on the scene:
. When I came across their Instagram page, I knew I had to get in touch. Whether you’re an author looking to get published or an avid reader looking to find books made with love for all beings, make sure Wildthought is on your radar. Now, let’s get to the questions!Can you share a bit about your team members?
We are an international team, based across the UK, Sweden and France. After spotting a gap in the UK market for a vegan-founded, independent publisher of fiction and non-fiction, we came together in 2024 to build a brand that combines quality writing with animal advocacy.
With more than 30 years’ collective experience in publishing and media, and with specialists in digital marketing, project management and graphic design, we are a passionate and creative team united by a shared desire to publish innovative stories, all bound with compassion.
Why was it important to the founders that veganism form the backbone of Wildthought’s mission as a publisher?
Striving for a world free from speciesism and discrimination is the founding value that makes Wildthought Books unique in the UK. Our goal is to foreground overlooked perspectives, challenge casual carnism and promote a kinder relationship between humans and non-human animals.
As we are committed to the principles of collaboration and community-building, we are establishing as a workers’ co-operative, with consensus and collaboration at the heart of everything we do. Our team has varied reading interests, from sci-fi to autobiographies, politics to translated fiction, but a common goal of publishing quality writing and making the world a better place for animals.
What kind of authors/submissions are you looking for?
Everyone is welcome to submit to Wildthought Books. We seek stories that make us feel. Whether that’s big ideas to break up the carnist status quo, or intimate personal narratives that shine new light on lived experiences, we’re looking for personality, authenticity and creativity. We publish fiction, non-fiction, handbooks and children’s books — whatever the genre, we want to bring thoughtful, compassionate perspectives into the world.
Why should authors choose Wildthought, and what kind of support will they get if they sign with you?
At Wildthought Books, our mission is to bring compassion to publishing. Part of that means treating authors with respect at every stage of the publishing process.
We know that it can feel risky for a writer to send your precious words to a new publisher. There’s no getting around the fact that we are a start-up: our authors won’t get a six-figure advance or an unlimited marketing budget. But, we will work with you to produce the book you want to see in the world.
Our editorial approach combines rigour and professionalism with compassion and patience. We’ll put you and your writing at the heart of our publishing process from initial submission right through to publication, promotion and beyond.
What’s one thing that can make a proposal/cover letter stand out?
The winning ingredient is not a polished cover letter (and it’s certainly not one written with the help of artificial intelligence).
What we’re looking for is authenticity. What is the idea you couldn’t shake that compelled you to dream up this book? Why are you the person to write it? How will it help make the world a more compassionate place (even in some small way)? If you have a clear idea of the story you want to tell and how it will make an impact, your vision and passion will come through to us in abundance.
What are some of the most common mistakes authors make in manuscript submissions, and what can they do to avoid them?
Not following the basic instructions (file type, word counts, etc.) isn’t a great way to impress the editors! More fundamentally, though, a common pitfall seems to be not engaging with why you think we could be a good fit for your book.
That doesn’t mean second-guessing exactly what we want or repeating phrases off our About Us page. It’s about showing an awareness of how a new, vegan-founded, independent publishing co-operative could be the ideal home for your manuscript. A submission is a chance to sell yourself and your idea. But don’t forget that the people reading your pitch are just five book lovers looking for a great story to publish.
What can authors, vegan or otherwise, do to better represent animals and animal advocates in their work?
Wildthought Books exists to address a gap in the market: a publisher for whom animal abuse is never casual, and where animals’ stories and lived experiences are elevated. In establishing Wildthought Books, we want to challenge the cruel status quo that treats animals as commodities. More than that, however, we also want to inspire authors, other publishers and wider society to think about how they use animals.
Literature is a great way to foster empathy and disrupt overly habitual methods of thought or action. Writing from the perspective of other animals is full of complexity but, done well, it can help build more compassionate and meaningful relationships. Stories can help us see animals as the individuals they are; especially for animals trapped in research laboratories or factory farms, part of the battle is to get people to recognise them as suffering, sentient beings rather than commodities to be exploited.
In contemporary fiction, there are still many lazy assumptions and trope-laden representations of other animals based on outdated, surface-level engagement with questions like “what would life be like as a bird?”. There are also too many glib references to casual animal cruelty, whether a trip to the aquarium or a splash of cow’s milk in a hot drink. Of course, fiction often mirrors reality, and hiding the truth of animal abuse industries does not mean it isn’t happening. Our plea to authors and publishers is for more critical engagement with the use of animals: we have the power to write a better world into existence. Now, there’s a wild thought!
What does the future hold for Wildthought?
We’re only just getting started! Our goal is to establish Wildthought Books as a respected publisher of quality fiction and non-fiction, seeing our books widely available in bookshops across the UK and further afield.
We’ll publish compelling stories and innovative ideas. In doing so, we aim to become a powerful voice for animals, and a welcoming space for anyone who values good writing. By combining bold storytelling with compassion and understanding, we will be a publisher never afraid to speak truth to power, nor too brash to dismiss other perspectives.
How can readers find you online?
Dive into our website. Sign up to our mailing list. Follow us on Instagram, Mastodon, LinkedIn and Facebook. We can’t wait to share this journey with you!
Anything else you’d like to share?
Join us on our journey. Whether you're a writer, book buyer, blogger, influencer, magazine editor or supporter who wants to be kept in the loop, please spread the word and sign up to our mailing list.
