Bluemoose Books

{{Short description|Book publisher in Yorkshire, England}}

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| image = Bluemoose Books logo 2023.png

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| founded = {{start date and age|2006||}}

| founders = Kevin and Hetha Duffy

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| country = England

| headquarters = Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire

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| publications = Books

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| website = {{URL|https://bluemoosebooks.com/}}

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Bluemoose Books is an independent publisher based in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England.{{cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/aug/06/bluemoose-kevin-duffy-publishing-hit-factory |first=Helen |last=Pidd| newspaper =The Guardian | title = 'What we publish will stay with you': inside a small but mighty literary hit factory |date =6 August 2023 |access-date= 7 August 2023}} It was founded in 2006 by Kevin and Hetha Duffy.{{cite web |title=Bluemoose Books |url=https://www.publishers.org.uk/member/bluemoose-books/ |publisher=Publishers Association |access-date=7 August 2023}} Kevin Duffy has said that the name was inspired by the Blue Pig pub at nearby Hardcastle Crags and the saxophone player Bull Moose Johnson who featured in Peter Guralnick{{'s}} Sweet Soul Music.{{cite web |title=Bluemoose Books – Q&A |url=https://fromfirstpagetolast.com/2016/09/21/bluemoose-books-qa/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029000105/https://fromfirstpagetolast.com/2016/09/21/bluemoose-books-qa/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 29, 2020 |website=From First Page to Last |access-date=7 August 2023 |language=en |date=21 September 2016}}

It has published award-winning titles including Benjamin Myers' 2012 Pig Iron, first winner of the Gordon Burn Prize.{{cite news |last1=Bury |first1=Liz |title=Benjamin Myers claims inaugural Gordon Burn prize |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/21/benjamin-myers-gordon-burn-prize-pig-iron |access-date=7 August 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=21 October 2013}}

The company decided to publish only books by women during the year 2020, hoping to shine a spotlight on the work of older or not-yet-established female authors, who face being sidelined because of the publishing industry's usual focus on youth and celebrity.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/books/publishers-only-publishing-books-by-women-2020-2018-gender-bias-books-industry-bluemoose/246177|title=This publishing house is only releasing books by female writers in 2020|magazine=Stylist|first=Moya|last=Crockett|date=January 2019|access-date=8 August 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/people/why-hebden-bridge-publishers-bluemoose-books-is-only-releasing-books-by-women-after-impressive-2019-1368010|title=Why Hebden Bridge publishers Bluemoose Books is only releasing books by women after impressive 2019|newspaper=Halifax Courier|date=19 January 2020|access-date=8 August 2023}} The selected authors were Heidi James, Anna Chilvers and Sharon Duggal {{cite magazine|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/bluemoose-publishing-only-women-2020-935096|title=Bluemoose reveals plans to publish only female writers in 2020|first=Heloise|last=Wood|magazine=The Bookseller|date=17 January 2019|access-date=8 August 2023}}

Publishing no more than 10 titles a year, Bluemoose was the North England winner in the 2023 Small Press of the Year awards.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Lauren |title=Ten Small Press of the Year winners praised for ‘outcompeting’ bigger publishers |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/ten-small-press-of-the-year-winners-praised-for-outcompeting-bigger-publishers |access-date=7 August 2023 |work=The Bookseller |date=15 March 2023 |language=En}} The same winning position was repeated in 2025.{{Cite web |title=The British Book Awards; Small Press of the Year |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/british-book-awards-content/small-press-of-the-year |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=The Bookseller}}

The publisher is setting up a Centre of Publishing Excellence as a joint venture with UCLan Publishing in spring 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-10 |title=UCLan's Centre of Publishing Excellence launches two new agencies and workshop |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/uclans-centre-of-publishing-excellence-launches-two-new-agencies-and-workshop |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=The Bookseller}}