And so it begins

What’s all this then?

Firstly, thanks very much for being here. Some of you reading this will have found PF Press by accident, others because you’ve read one or more of my books in the past. I’ll endeavour to offer an explanation for my opening gambit that satisfies both camps. My name is Stephen Clarke-Reynolds and I’ve been an author for just over a decade. During that time I’ve been fortunate enough to be traditionally published, self published and even worked with a hybrid publisher. Here’s the rub: I didn’t really enjoy any of it. I don’t mean the writing; I’ve loved every minute of that. And I’ve met and worked with many wonderful and insightful people over the years. I’ll explain: Whilst I was very grateful to have my work published, relinquishing control of my creative output was, for me, a form of torture. I self published my first few books many years ago but lacked the skill and the tools to do justice to the vision in my head. But that was then and this is now. I have ten years of experience, the tools, the skillset and most importantly; the passion. Stories and storytelling are the best of us. PF Press is part an act of regaining creative control and part a burning desire to connect through stories. But more than that.

A year ago, in a windowless room with cold pale strip-lighting, a man peered at me over his designer spectacles and in a calm, privately educated voice, advised me that I had a form of congenital heart disease. I had a hard time processing the news and became reacquainted with two long-standing associates of mine: anxiety and insomnia.

Eventually, fuelled by the need to be the father my daughter deserves, I began to pick up the pieces and rebuild. It dawned on me during this process that I didn’t have to put the pieces back exactly as they had been. My life would be different now, but that needn’t be a negative.

It was time to back myself.

What passed between that realisation and today, besides a lot of hard work and late nights, is the laying of foundations for a project that amounts to the realisation of a dream. PF Press begins as a vehicle for my own writing. In 2026 and 2027 it will publish four books. One new, one special anniversary edition of an old favourite and two re-issues. Then it opens its doors to outside submissions. In part this gives me an opportunity to learn and fine tune. To ensure PF Press is exactly what I intend it to be. But there are deeper reasons for these early choices. I reacquired the rights to two of my previous books because they represent the very best of me as a writer. So bringing them home and giving them new life is a deeply important and personal process for me.

I’ll aim to make this a monthly blog. There’ll be lots of exciting developments over the coming months and beyond. But for now, I just wanted to say hello and offer some clarity. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please email enquiries@pfpress.co.uk

Thanks for reading this and (still) being here. Steve.