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A Permanent Invitation

A Reminder Why the M2M Books’ Submission Window is Always Open

Following the successful launch of M2M Books as Wales’s freshest publishing house, and our commitment to increasing the availability of quality literature for underrepresented communities, we are often asked, until when is our submission window open?

The answer is simple: the M2M Books’ submission window remains permanently open.

This is because M2M Books operates to an ideology, not a schedule. We believe that the quality literature we will publish, the kind that speaks to marginalised audiences with complexity and authenticity, need not be hurried to meet an arbitrary timeline. Your best writing should be submitted to us only when it is ready.

Furthermore, M2M Books appreciates that achieving the literary standard of speaking to, and not simply about, a specific marginalised community often requires a comprehensive rewrite of the manuscript. This takes time, and we respect that process. We also understand that many of the texts we will wish to publish are yet to be written.

This long-term commitment to diverse literature is why M2M Books remains open to submissions across all genres (Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Children’s books). The complex experience of marginalisation demands that these little-heard narratives are told across every form of literature.

So, our rolling invitation to submit your work to M2M Books is permanent. Though our mission and our standards are non-negotiable.

We invite you to study our mission and submit your manuscript when it is ready.

Gareth James, Chief Reader

Full Guidelines & Submission Details:

Submissions

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Taliesin’s Legacy: Positioning M2M Books in the Historical Continuum of Welsh Literature.

M2M Books’ relocation to Taliesin, just a few miles up the road from Aberystwyth, is as inspiring as it is serendipitous. We find ourselves geographically as well as philosophically positioned within the historical continuum of complex Welsh literature – learn more about Taliesin the Welsh Bard.

But this adventure, however scenic it may be around here, is not some romantic Celtic jolly. The not un-terrifying undertaking of closing Irie’s Bar in order to establish a publishing house is a committed transference of everything.

I do this because M2M Books has become the unavoidable extension of a belief, an argument, that there should be far more fiction and nonfiction published for (as opposed to about) marginalised audiences.

But this daunting project is not entirely doom and gloom, we have a few things in our favour to provide us with a little confidence:

  • Support: The immediate, crucial backing from our mentor and distributor, the Books Council of Wales, who recognised from day one the fundamental difference between ‘for’ and ‘about’ when it comes to literature and marginalised communities.
  • Synergy: The move to Taliesin provides not only literary and poetic inspiration, but also offers a synergetic and fascinating aspect to these early steps of our publishing journey.
  • Global Mandate: Aberystwyth securing UNESCO City of Literature status and how the genesis of M2M Books played a small part in that massively significant achievement. All eyes on us. All eyes on mid Wales.

M2M Books believe the experience of marginalisation requires an immediate and multi-genre response, demanding the highest level of literary craft across the board – nothing less than this total response stands any chance of rebalancing store and library bookshelves with more literature aimed towards marginalised communities.

This total commitment to diverse literature is why M2M Books remains permanently open for submissions of all genres for marginalised audiences (Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Children’s books). So, M2M Books invites authors to submit manuscripts aimed at marginalised audiences now or at their leisure.

We shall delve deeper into M2M Books’ submission requirements next week. Please share our invitation with other authors you know.

To stay informed, subscribe to M2M Books‘ blog and our social media pages:

https://www.facebook.com/M2MBooks?

https://www.instagram.com/m2m_books?

Speak soon,
Gareth James – Chief Reader


Full Submission Guidelines: m2mbooks.com/submissions

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Dream to Reality: Publishing Diverse Voices

Sixteen months back, when we first conceived the idea for M2M Books, our mission was immediately clear; to publish exceptional writing that resonates with marginalised audiences. Our dream; to establish a publishing business where diverse voices would be heard, cherished, and celebrated.

Today, that vision becomes reality. We are delighted that M2M Books’ debut titles, Love and Happiness and I Zig and I Zag, are gracing bookshelves, both in bookshops and online. Stories no longer confined to our imaginations, but out there in the worldwide marketplace, available for readers like you to discover and enjoy.

I Zig and I Zag – National Library of Wales Bookshop
Love and Happiness – Ystwyth Books
I Zig and I Zag – Waterstones Bookshops
A Published Poet – Rakyah Assam in Waterstones
A Delighted Author – G.I. James in Waterstones
Amazon Prime and Kindle
Bookshop.org – https://uk.bookshop.org
Waterstones Online Bookshop – waterstones.com

We are now eager to read your reviews of Love and Happiness and I Zig and I Zag.

M2M Books remains open for submissions of fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, and poetry. Our work together has only just begun!

Submissions info

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I Zig and I Zag! an Introduction to Kenyan Poet Masaka Madeda 🇰🇪

After reading just a few stanza, M2M Books knew that we wanted to publish Masaka Madeda’s epic (100+ pages) poem, I Zig and I Zag! Eye-catching and idiosyncratic form, vast in its scope, told with a gentle, captivating voice, makes Masaka’s poem not only educating, resonating, and relevant, but also a feast for the eyes and a delight for the ears.

Last week, I asked Masaka how this poem came to be:

I Zig and I Zag! is beautifully produced in large glossy A4 format. Order your copy from all good UK bookshops or:

Buy from M2M Books
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Waterstones
Buy Kindle Edition

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Publication Day!

Yesterday, being the day before M2M Books Publication Day, felt a lot like the day before a well-prepared-for Christmas; calm, not a great deal to do, primarily wondering what critical issue we missed.

But time waits for no man, and here we are, today, officially publishers!

This means that you can now get your hands on M2M Books’ beautifully written and beautifully produced debut offerings from:

Ebook/Kindle editions:

Our official books launch event is being held at Irie’s Bar, Aberystwyth this evening (Thursday 25th September 7pm).

Hope you can join us.

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Nearly There…

Only two weeks until Publication Day! Our books are here, ready, and beautiful.

Now begins the tricky task of selling I Zig and I Zag and Love and Happiness. Lucky for M2M Books, we have an experienced and supportive distributor in The Books Council of Wales. So not only can you order our titles at m2mbooks.com, but also Amazon, Waterstones, and all good book retailers.

“An exciting collection of new voices. I Zig and I Zag weaves together varying styles and stories – there is truly something for everyone here!” 

Hanan Issa – National Poet of Wales

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Don’t Mess with Harri!

Every day is an exciting day in the run-up to publishing our first editions on September 25th. The cover and the internal files of our first novel, Love and Happiness, are currently with the printers and we are expecting a sample edition of our very first book within the next few days. Very exciting.

We are also finalising the typesetting and formatting of our first poetry anthology, I Zig and I Zag. It is a beautiful and wonderful work, supported by Books Council of Wales. Well done the poets. We expect the cover and internal files to be completed and with the printers by the end of next week.

Find out more and preorder these titles.

More info

We are in the process of commissioning three children’s books and a non-fiction title. We will get better at keeping you posted.

N.B. We are still seeking submissions of manuscripts aimed at marginalised audiences.

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M2M Books First Editions

Please excuse the radio silence – more graft in forming a publishing business than anticipated – but we’re getting there!

We hoped to be publishing our first three books this September, but were pipped at the post by an established publishing house for Alex Hubbard’s debut novel Storm. We wish Alex well with Storm – it’s a mighty good read!

However, we remain on schedule to publish two important texts

I Zig and I Zag – Poetry Anthology

Masaka Madeda, Eric Ngalle Charles, Brân Denning, Ciel Saludes, Luke A. Blaid, Rosamund McCullain, Mohammed Abdoel, Gareth Alun Roberts, Rakyah Assam, and GI James.

This poetry anthology, featuring thirteen poems by nine British poets, is followed by an epic poem by Kenyan poet Masaka Madeda. The two worlds are markedly distinct. The anthology’s opening presents poems from marginalised writers, interlacing darker myths, memories, and landscapes into lyrical explorations of identity, loss, and transformation. This stark contrast is further emphasised by the epic poem. Click to Preorder

Love and Happiness – a Novel by GI James

In the 1970s Cheshire, Harriet Bush, a mixed-race schoolgirl and adoptee, grapples with her identity, family secrets, and the tragic death of a schoolmate. This novel explores important social and cultural issues that are still relevant today, particularly those related to belonging. 

The story, told in an intriguing and captivating narrative, begins with Harriet’s childhood perspective and gradually hardens as we witness her journey into adulthood.  Shaped by her experiences as a mixed-race adoptee in a predominantly white environment, Harriet confronts themes including race and racism, adoption, alcohol abuse, end-of-life care, the challenges faced by mothers in the social care system, misogyny, and suicide. Click to Preorder

Open for Submissions

M2M Books remains open for submissions.

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A Happy New Year from M2M Books

(to Marginalised Writers in Particular)

Yeah I know, a touch late. But life has been meandering between chilling and digesting the first batch of manuscripts and poems submitted to M2M Books. If you have already sent us your writing, thank you, and you will be contacted within the next few weeks.

If you have not submitted, please do (Submission Guidelines). We want to see your writing, specifically:

Literary fiction – quality writing, novels, collections of short stories that will resonate with and appeal to marginalised audiences (predominantly UK).

Children’s books – we would love to publish (illustrated) children’s books for the diverse audiences found in all UK schools. In particular, we are looking for books that feature marginalised characters but with narratives that are not focussed on their diversity.

Poetry – definitely getting there with our planned poetry anthology but still want more poems. Get busy and please submit your contributions.

Prediction – 2025 is the year conversations shift away from marginalised writers and more towards marginalised audiences.

Any questions? I am at my desk.

Gareth James

Chief Reader info@m2mbooks.com