Supporting the Wild and Independent

Why Small Presses Matter More Than Ever

An independent bookshop in Athens, Greece.

We read with great interest this recent column in Persuasion about the struggles and triumphs of small, independent publishers. At P-Wave Press, we wholeheartedly support the arguments made, and we share their belief that non-mainstream, "wild" literature deserves not only to survive but to thrive.

The challenges faced by small presses are real. While the major publishing houses focus increasingly on marketable genres and well-established names, the space for bold, experimental, and thought-provoking literature grows ever narrower. These are the books that don’t always fit neatly into a category, that take risks with language, style, and form—stories that challenge rather than just comfort. These are the works that independent publishers like us champion.

But as Persuasion points out, for wild literature to flourish, it requires a collective and conscious effort from everyone involved in the world of books. It starts, of course, with the authors—the ones brave enough to write outside the lines of convention. It extends to the small, independent presses like P-Wave Press that are willing to take a chance on those voices, publishing works that might not fit into the narrow definitions of mass-market appeal.

Yet the chain doesn’t stop there. Distributors and buyers must be open to getting these books into both virtual and physical retail spaces. Online retailers must recognise that their algorithms, designed to push the easiest sell, are quietly suffocating the diverse, unexpected, and beautiful works that don’t fit a trending hashtag or genre label. And finally, readers—perhaps the most important part of all—must make that conscious decision to seek out these stories. Much like discovering a hidden record shop full of vinyl treasures or stumbling across a film photography studio in a digital age, finding and supporting wild literature is an act of love.

We believe that independent publishing, with the right focus and collective effort, can not only survive but truly flourish—much like the revival of vinyl records and analogue film in recent years. It’s about a belief in the craft, in the tactile experience of discovering something new and unexpected, and in the enduring power of stories that aren’t shaped by market trends or algorithmic nudges.

And to that end, we’re thrilled to announce that the P-Wave Press website has a brand-new look. We hope you like it as much as we do. This elegant redesign is part of our ongoing journey to create a home for the kinds of stories we believe in: bold, original, and just a little bit wild. We hope it serves as a gateway for readers to discover not just our books, but a world of literature that exists beyond the mainstream.

Independent literature is alive and well. And with the right support, it’s only going to get stronger.

We’d love to hear your thoughts. What wild literature have you discovered recently? Join the conversation on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky.