Who are we?
Established in January 2021, Ghost Orchid Press is an independent publisher of horror, Gothic, and supernatural fiction based in Cambridgeshire, UK. We are dedicated to championing new and emerging authors in these increasingly popular, versatile genres.
Why support indie publishing?
Indie publishers are in a position to take risks on fresh, thought-provoking new content from new and lesser-known authors. Increasingly, discerning readers and reviewers are looking for more variety than the usual, familiar names, especially voices from under-represented groups. Indie publishers like Ghost Orchid Press are able to directly engage with this audience on social media. We also work closely with our authors, who are active in promoting their own work.
Why horror?
Since its early roots, horror has been a genre dedicated to innovation and diverse voices. Now, in the 21st Century, we’re seeing a huge upsurge in popularity for the genre, particularly when it comes to traditionally marginalised voices. Ghost Orchid Press strives to tap into this progressive vein, publishing novels, novellas, and anthologies by authors from a wide range of backgrounds.
We provide our authors with professional editing, book cover design, and a full marketing plan including advance release copies sent to reviewers, social media advertising and targeted campaigns sent to physical bookshops. Our paperbacks are available to any retailer via Ingram and Gardners wholesalers.
Check out our online shop and submission calls for more information.
MEET THE TEAM:
ANTONIA RACHEL WARD
Director / Editor-in-Chief
Antonia Rachel Ward is an author of horror and speculative fiction, based in Cambridgeshire, UK. Her short stories and poetry have been published by Flame Tree Press, the British Science Fiction Association, and Dark Recesses, among others. She is the author of two novellas, Marionette and Attack of the Killer Tumbleweeds, and her first novel, DreamScape, was published in October 2023. Her first poetry chapbook, The Patron, is forthcoming from Querencia Press in 2024.
Before founding Ghost Orchid Press, she had previous jobs as a bookseller and later an accounts manager dealing mainly with book sales to academic libraries. She then moved on to study and work in accountancy. Having achieved her accounting qualification, she decided to return to the book industry to pursue her dream of starting a publishing company. Antonia is her pen name used for all writing and editing work. You can find her at antoniarachelward.com and on Instagram @antoniarachelward.
ED CROCKER
Editor
Hailing from Manchester, Ed was previously a high school English teacher before becoming a freelance editor. His clients across his ten-year career include award-winning indie authors and Sunday Times bestsellers. When not editing he indulges his love of SFF and horror by reviewing books and interviewing authors for the website FanFiAddict, writing his own fantasy series, and playing The Witcher 3 over and over again. You can find him on most socials as @edcrockerbooks, and at www.ed-crocker.com.
CLAIRE L. SMITH
Cover Artist / Social Media Manager
Claire L. Smith is an Australian artist, designer and author. The majority of her work draws from gothic, horror and fantasy aesthetics with a focus on the macabre. Her artwork has been featured in works from Ghost Orchid Press, The Ghastling, Off Limits Press, Cemetery Gates Media, Tenebrous Press and more.
Some of her written works include the gothic horror novella Helena from CLASH Books and most recently a dark fantasy/body horror novel Agnes and Cat inspired by fae folklore.
She can be found on Insta and TikTok @clairelsmxth and her website: www.clairelsmith.com.
Anti-AI Policy:
Ghost Orchid Press is steadfastly opposed to the use of generative AI in the creative arts, and pledges never to publish AI-generated writing, or to use AI-generated images, including in book covers, marketing images or for any other purpose. We actively make the effort to ensure we stand by this pledge, by vetting the authors and artists we work with, and including anti-AI clauses in our contracts. Supporting human writers and artists is at the core of our business and we strongly believe that there is no place for machine generated work in the arts.
For further information and press enquiries please contact info@ghostorchidpress.com.