Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 17hGreat review of the The Bedevilments by John Gay from @drewgum.bsky.social. The book is out now! 021
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Drawing in letter and spirit from the medieval dream poem, Piers Plowman, some unreliable half memories, and a stack of 400 year-old photocopies, S&F resurrects a lost world of drug-fuelled music tourists, disappeared squats and free festivals. @richardjamesfoster.bsky.social tinyurl.com/yc4fdd74 042
Reposted by Ortac PressRichard James Foster @richardjamesfoster.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Delighted to announce my new book, Spiders and Flies, will be published by @ortacpress.bsky.social - out March 2027. Hearty thanks to Henry at Ortac, my designer Sevgi Tan and all who helped bring this into the world. Your pal, Richard 2175
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Spiders and Flies 🕷️🪰 By Richard Foster A dream journey through the Dutch underground music scene of the 2000s-2010s. Foster resurrects a lost world – one preserved in mouldy gig flyers – until now. 3/3/27 More at tinyurl.com/478v3v8. @richardjamesfoster.bsky.social @turnarounduk.bsky.social 2146
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Fun evening at Bàrd Books for their Debuts Night. I (Henry) went along on behalf of John Gay for anonymity reasons. Great lineup: Cenac Rollins, Josh Holton and Charlie Fox. All excellent-sounding books on indie presses. Thanks Kristin and Bàrd team for having us. Pick up The Bedevilments now! 020
Reposted by Ortac PressDJ Punctum @djpunctum.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Finished reading KESHED by @stuhennigan.bsky.social, then wrote (then deleted) some tedious posts about it this morning. Just read it; it's magnificent. Nobody in it goes on a journey - not that sort, anyway - no lessons are learned and it's neither wry nor uplifting (thank God). But it is art. 162
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Wednesday at Bàrd Books in East London! The Bedevilments by John Gay will be part of Bàrd's September Debuts event. As John is anonymous, Henry from Ortac will be there to talk about the book and answer questions. Come along if you're in London! www.wearebardbooks.co.uk/event-detail...wearebardbooks.co.ukBard Debuts - September 2026 | Bard BooksImagine a night of speed dating except the people selling themselves are the newest authors on the scene. JOIN US for the latest edition of a monthly night celebrating debut authors. Meet the faces be... 030
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 14/09/2026www.thebookseller.com/news/interco...thebookseller.comIntercontinental Literary Agency acquires The Marsh AgencyIntercontinental Literary Agency (ILA) has acquired The Marsh Agency in a deal signed on 8th September 2026. 000
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Published today! The Bedevilments by John Gay – a short, potent book that’s funny, moving and full of hope. It explores anonymity, human connection and dependence, offering a nuanced take on the sex industry and a fascinating insight into this world. @turnarounduk.bsky.social 042
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 03/09/2026THE BEDEVILMENTS by John Gay Published in one week. ‘Clever, touching and captivating. I worked in brothels and lived in grungey apartments; I’ve been there myself, but still I couldn’t put The Bedevilments down.' — Kate Holden, author of In My Skin and The Winter Road @turnarounduk.bsky.social 031
Reposted by Ortac PressPatrick Radden Keefe @praddenkeefe.bsky.social · 03/09/2026I always look forward to the Baillie Gifford nominations because the prize spotlights so much great nonfiction, so it's a thrill to see London Falling on this year's longlist, alongside my brilliant colleague Anand Gopal and so many other fantastic books. 🙏 🙏 www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...theguardian.comEspionage, true crime and war: Baillie Gifford longlist revealedPatrick Radden Keefe, Ben Macintyre and the Guardian’s Charlotte Higgins are among the 13 authors selected for the nonfiction award 1424
Reposted by Ortac Press1 of 100 @weare1of100.bsky.social · 03/09/2026📕 BIG BOOK NEWS! All our beautiful books stocked in the shop are also now available online. 🥳 1142
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 28/08/2026John Gay on 'man in a room' stories, and how The Bedevilments fits into this category. The piece references Paul Schrader, Jean Rhys, Mad Men and Bresson's Pickpocket. The Bedevilments is out in just under two weeks. Order a copy from our site, or your local bookshop. substack.com/home/post/p-...substack.comPaul Schrader, Mad MenA man in a room 000
Reposted by Ortac PressMairi Damer @marzid.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Today’s Top half Bottom half Esp for @richardjamesfoster.bsky.social 7492
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 18/08/2026In the lead up to the publication of The Bedevilments, John Gay has been posting a series of pieces on Substack about the book, its themes, and the inspirations behind it. Here's one on anonymity, which is a central theme in The Bedevilments. thebedevilments.substack.com/p/anonymity-...thebedevilments.substack.comAnonymity in The BedevilmentsThe Bedevilments is a novella about addiction, sex and anonymity. 000
Reposted by Ortac PressRichard James Foster @richardjamesfoster.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Signed off final version of the cover of my new book yesterday. I’m delighted, it’s full of hidden ephemera, clues, nods & winks, deliberate mistakes & mystery; all in a beautiful design. My designer is very special. Can’t wait for you all to see it. News in good time, via @ortacpress.bsky.social 0243
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 10/08/2026The first chapter of The Bedevilments by John Gay is now up on the Ortac Press website. It's up on John Gay's substack too, but with an age restriction. Fair warning: it contains adult content (as does the extract here). www.ortacpress.com/post/the-bed... @turnarounduk.bsky.social 042
Reposted by Ortac PressStu Hennigan @stuhennigan.bsky.social · 04/08/2026#BookSky 📚 This will be in the print version tomorrow morning as well 💪 0112
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 04/08/2026We are part of an upcoming Debuts event at Bàrd Books in East London on 16th September. Henry from Ortac will be there in place of John Gay, with notes and answers provided by John. The Bedevilments is a darkly funny and surprisingly touching tale of sex, dependence and anonymity. Out next month. 052
Reposted by Ortac PressMemorial Device @memorialdevice.bsky.social · 01/08/2026The MD list of Alternative National Treasures: Ortac Press 🙏 'They do all the right things, for all the right reasons, with total clarity and integrity' 3459
Reposted by Ortac PressBearded Badger Books @beardedbadgerbooks.bsky.social · 27/07/2026Nearly there!! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 Shelving pretty much done ✅ Books en route ✅ A few little bits n bobs to sort… but feeling confident for opening on Friday!! 📚🙌🏼❤️ #indiebookshop #booksky #indiebooks 7308
Reposted by Ortac PressDrew Gummerson @drewgum.bsky.social · 27/07/2026On the best news ever. The Bearded Badger is back and opening a new bookshop. @beardedbadgerbooks.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/drewgumm...open.substack.comOn a new indie bookshop - the Bearded Badger is back.Last week I was chatting to Paul Handley, chief guru and bookworm of all he surveys at Bearded Badger Books. 53616
Reposted by Ortac PressStu Hennigan @stuhennigan.bsky.social · 23/07/2026Lengthy piece here following on from an interview question the great @heidijames.bsky.social asked about specific texts that have influenced Keshed. 5000 words and still not given a straight answer but if you join the dots some kind of shape may emerge. open.substack.com/pub/stuhenni... 02111
Reposted by Ortac PressJonathan Walker @newishpuritan.bsky.social · 23/07/2026Great thread from Stu on his and my publisher @ortacpress.bsky.social 053
Reposted by Ortac PressMark Bowles @markabowles.bsky.social · 22/07/2026In the shops tomorrow folks! 2195
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 23/07/2026It's incredibly exciting to see Keshed by Stu Hennigan included in so many Booker Prize longlist predictions. For a tiny indie like Ortac, even being part of the conversation feels a bit surreal... @stuhennigan.bsky.social @turnarounduk.bsky.social @indiepressnetwork.bsky.social 4279
Reposted by Ortac PressStu Hennigan @stuhennigan.bsky.social · 13/07/2026Essay here on #ClimateChange, first published in 2023. See my SubStack post from earlier today for details, or click this link to dive straight in. open.substack.com/pub/stuhenni...open.substack.comBurning Down the HouseAs promised earlier...... 0148
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 13/07/2026There needs to an exemption for books, or getting anything to the EU will become impossible. It's already difficult and expensive enough, and we don't ship to the EU from our shop for this reason. The new tariff will impact trade sales to EU, particularly Ireland. Another blow. tinyurl.com/4jftjrvjthebookseller.com'Disastrous' new EU tariff deals 'significant blow' to publishers and bookshopsA new €3 EU tariff for small parcels introduced to tackle the influx of cheap Chinese imports could have potentially disastrous consequences for publishers already facing “thin” profit margins and pos... 041
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 06/07/2026On Thursday evening @stuhennigan.bsky.social was in conversation with @heidijames.bsky.social for a deep dive into Keshed. It was a captivating and wide-ranging conversation with some emotional readings. Listen back at the link in our bio. #getkeshed #stuhennigan www.buzzsprout.com/216795/episo...buzzsprout.comGet Keshed: Stu Hennigan and Heidi James - First Graft PodcastStu Hennigan and Heidi James discuss Stu's brilliant first novel, Keshed, published by Ortac Press in 2025. This podcast is an edited recording of the live event. Stu Hennigan is a writer, poet, ... 052
Reposted by Ortac PressHeidi James @heidijames.bsky.social · 03/07/2026Podcast of Get Keshed available now (for 90 days only) for those of you who missed it or want to listen again. @stuhennigan.bsky.social #getkeshed #podcast #keshed @ortacpress.bsky.social 075
Reposted by Ortac PressStu Hennigan @stuhennigan.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Massive thanks to everyone who came to this one, and to Heidi for all her hard work prepping what was one of the most challenging and interesting interviews i've ever done. Hopefully lived up to the hype i've been giving it the last few weeks. Buzzing now,sleepless night ahead! 5206
Reposted by Ortac PressJulia Is Waving, Not Drowning @booktweeting.bsky.social · 29/06/2026FIERCELY, BLEAKLY ELOQUENT novel tells the brutal story of a shattered life without a bit of artifice or melodrama. Depression, alcohol, drugs, and too many losses lead to a man's slow disintegration in a drowning world. SOLID A 💙📚 #bookreviews #SmallPressSunday www.ortacpress.com/product-page...ortacpress.comKeshed | Ortac PressIn the derelict shell of what was once his family home, a dying man surveys the wreckage of his former life and drinks himself senseless, haunted by the chain of events that led him there. Dark, compl... 1144
Reposted by Ortac PressStu Hennigan @stuhennigan.bsky.social · 26/06/2026If you've read the book and wanna get down and dirty with the heavy stuff, this is gonna be unmissable. What a treat to be in conversation with great @heidijames.bsky.social too. No one gets my stuff better than she does, it's gonna be ferocious 💪🤘🖤 193
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 26/06/2026KESHED DEEP DIVE with @stuhennigan.bsky.social and @heidijames.bsky.social Thursday 2nd July at 7pm - Online event Email getkeshed@gmail.com for an invite 054
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 24/06/2026We’re so excited to be working on this book with @davidhering.bsky.social. It’s going to be very special 🎞️ 🎥 021
Reposted by Ortac PressSunburnt Saints Publishing @sunburntsaints.bsky.social · 20/06/2026Always a pleasure to publish the work of a rising literary star! Stu will undoubtedly feature as one of our authors going forward. And while you’re waiting for us to bring out our first book, you can go and read his novel, Keshed. It’s magnificent! @ortacpress.bsky.social @stuhennigan.bsky.social 042
Reposted by Ortac PressStu Hennigan @stuhennigan.bsky.social · 16/06/2026Only a couple of weeks left to register for a free online event with me being grilled by my dark soul sister, evil literary twin, and one of the very best writers in the game, the great @heidijames.bsky.social. All the details here. open.substack.com/pub/stuhenni...open.substack.comNotes From the Plague House (again)Round-up, reminders and apologies 11811
Reposted by Ortac PressLiam Bishop @liamhbishopwriting.bsky.social · 11/06/2026The idea of who or what is relatable also gets taken to task a little bit by Stu – it can be a tricky and restrictive view of reading and writing. If we’re not doing that, why read at all? Listen to the full episode here podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/r...podcasts.apple.comStu Hennigan on writing in vernacular and sympathetic truthful portrayals of the northPodcast Episode · Rippling Pages: Interviews with Writers · 28 May · 45min 011
Reposted by Ortac PressLiam Bishop @liamhbishopwriting.bsky.social · 11/06/2026If we only read books that are relatable to our environments, do we lose out on a window to a wider world? Indeed, Stu returns to some of those early environments and writes about them in KESHED. 111
Reposted by Ortac PressLiam Bishop @liamhbishopwriting.bsky.social · 11/06/2026🤔Fellow Leeds-based writer @stuhennigan.bsky.social is here talking about how and why he turned to reading, and how books and literature were fundamental to him in developing empathy compassion and perspective. We were talking about his novel KESHED @ortacpress.bsky.social 164
Reposted by Ortac Press𝕖𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕚𝕟 ♬ @ecksteinish.bsky.social · 05/06/2026@stuhennigan.bsky.social is also a brilliant author - the one you need to read. From @ortacpress.bsky.social: Dark, complex and visceral, Keshed is an unflinching character study exploring class, belonging, fatherhood and conflicting ideals of modern masculinity. (It will also melt your face off.) 4163
Reposted by Ortac PressLiam Bishop @liamhbishopwriting.bsky.social · 02/06/2026Stu hit gold. Stu and I were talking about his novel KESHED @ortacpress What was the last book that really moved you? And where were you? . 011
Reposted by Ortac PressLiam Bishop @liamhbishopwriting.bsky.social · 02/06/2026His characters are flawed, in some cases deeply flawed, so he had to do a lot of work to achieve the effects he talks about here. You can hear how much Stu values when he moves a reader, and how much it means when do, when we consider it all comes from our heads and our pens. 111
Reposted by Ortac PressLiam Bishop @liamhbishopwriting.bsky.social · 02/06/2026In the episode, you’ll hear Stu talking about some of the different sections of the North he’s seen in film and TV. From Ken Loach to the Royle Family – Stu wanted to create something that was real but also that had pathos and tenderness. 111
Reposted by Ortac PressLiam Bishop @liamhbishopwriting.bsky.social · 02/06/2026😱How do we create an emotional response in a reader? And what’s it like when we do? @stuhennigan.bsky.social knows how, and perhaps it’s something to do with the way he writes his characters. We were talking about KESHED @ortacpress.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/r... 163
Ortac Press @ortacpress.bsky.social · 01/06/2026We published The Fugitive of Gezi Park by Deniz Goran three years ago. Set between the London art world and anti-government protests in Turkey, it’s a love story of art, exile and political struggle. May-Lan Tan called it ‘an elegant and incisive novel from an incandescent talent’. 010
