About

Fair Acre Press

is an independent publishing house, committed to publishing high quality books and pamphlets that are good to hold, touch, look at and read; books that will call out to you – over and over again. Publication is by invitation only.

Scroll down to read about our editor Nadia Kingsley

In 2016

we published three books:

a children’s poetry book – I knew a poem who wore a Hat – by Emma Purshouse and Catharine Pascall Moore that won the Rubery Award for Poetry

a novel – Sitting Ducks – by Lisa Blower – that is shortlisted for the Arnold Bennet Literary Fellowship Award

a wildlife photography book – Wilderland: wildlife and wonder from the Shropshire Borders – by Andrew Fusek Peters – which attracted excellent reviews including a five star review from Amateur Photographer magazine.

plus our 2 Poetry Pamphlet competition winners, Shauna Robertson and Jill Munro – judged by Costa-winner Jonathan Edwards

In 2017

we are publishing a gorgeous nature writing book, by author and broadcaster Matthew Oates (whose last book has sold 25,000 copies in 2 years)called Beyond Spring

running a Kickstarter campaign until end of May 2017 – to raise funds for the printing of Matthew’s book – in which you buy a hardback copy – which will ONLY be available during this crowdfunding “campaign”

running an Arts Council England-funded project on Urban Birds

probably holding our second poetry pamphlet competition – submissions will be open in the autumn if all goes well.

launching our T-shirt range!

We are interested in:
Science, the Natural World generally, Shropshire in particular
Poetry, prose, photography, art, craft
Finding new audiences and giving those audiences something new
Collaborations – between Sciences and Arts, and between the Arts

Contact Nadia for press enquiries, review copies, author interviews etc

We are proud to be a member of the Independent Publishers Guild

You can read Nadia’s answers in their Meet the Members section here

Zest Press is an Imprint of Fair Acre Press.

Zest Press supports authors in bringing their quality writing and projects to print.

This is a small venture which is increasingly being sidelined by Fair Acre Press’ endeavours and activities.

About Nadia Kingsley

Nadia Kingsley

POETRY:

I have had poetry published in magazines and anthologies, plus have three poetry pamphlets in print, and have been placed in poetry competitions.
I have been writing a poem about a specified herb a month for herbalist Jayne Palmer’s herbal blog since January 2015
I have read poetry at Stratford Literary Festival, Wenlock Poetry Festival (including the ‘Ones to Watch’ event curated by Jacob Sam-La Rose), Ted Hughes Festival, around the West Midlands
I co-wrote poems, and performed in e-x-p-a-n-d-i-n-g: The History of the Universe in 45 minutes (see below). We also performed parts of this on stage with the Greenwich Observatory’s Public Astronomer Dr Marek Kukula, at Stratford Literary Festival 2016

In 2017 I was guest poet at the Cuan Wildlife Rescue Centre fundraiser, Wenlock Pottery, Shropshire in June alongside Keith Chandler and Chris Kinsey. I read at Bridgnorth Writer’s group day of poetry and music, alongside David Calcutt and Keith Chandler.
On September 9th 2017 I will read at a Refugee fundraising event at Knighton, Shropshire.

PROJECT MANAGER:

I project managed Shropshire Butterflies – a poetic and artistic guide to the butterflies of Shropshire – including involving 67 contributors: ecologists, nature writers, poets, artists; organising several group performances, an art exhibition, and a poetry and butterfly walk at Dudmaston Hall.
I project managed, co-wrote, and performed e-x-p-a-n-d-i-n-g: the history of the Universe in 45 minutes at festivals such as Birmingham Literature Festival, Stratford Literary Festival, Birmingham Art & Science Festival, Wenlock Poetry Festival.
I project managed, presented podcasts and wrote for the Maligned Species project.
I am programme directing ten hours of nature and poetry in the Speaking of Nature tent at MEREFEST, Ellesmere, Shropshire on September 16th 2017

SHORT STORIES:

I have written a short story for Literary Salmon’s debut short story collection The Casual Electrocution of Strangers which can be dowloaded for free here.
I have short stories that have been placed and have won competitions. Two were recorded by short story radio: Shopping List; After the Tone – you can listen to these on this page. (see right hand side)
In 2016, I, and others wrote a short story a month, on a given prompt. The project was called ‘Prompted Tales’ and was run by Alex Townley – My stories are here

ART:

I have had ceramics, sculpture, photography and a textile installation exhibited in London, Brighton, Birmingham, the Cotswolds and Wolverhampton.
BA (Hons) ceramics, 2:1 from University of Wolverhampton

SCIENCE:

A’levels in Maths, Chemistry & Biology
MBBS from King’s College London, MRCGP
Worked as a GP, and then a medical examiner

OTHER:

I have been invited on panels at Writing West Midlands Writer’s Toolkit 2015 – blogging, and working with small presses
I was asked to write a guest blog on the website of the 2010/11 ‘Ted Hughes Award for New Works in Poetry’ winner Kaite O’Reilly
I was asked to write a guest blog on the Independent Publisher’s Guild (ipg) website
I was ‘In Conversation’ with novelist James Hannah (author of The A to Z of You and Me) at Shrewsbury Festival of Literature 2016

EDITOR of Fair Acre Press:

I set up Fair Acre Press in 2011 – to publish the Shropshire Butterflies book.
I had always felt the need to create a book, but hadn’t realised until I was choosing and placing the poems, and art; commissioning poets,ecologists and nature writers; making connections with specialists and organisations – that I would feel such satisfaction.
I was struck by the bug…

Here are a few photos of my exhibited work: