New Island Publisher Launches First Book

Cranachan Publishing is a fresh-face in the Scottish publishing landscape and, despite only launching in January 2016, their first novel ‘Buy Buy Baby’ is due for release on 7th July.

From her base in North Galson on the Westside, Managing Director of Cranachan, Anne Glennie (pictured) used to be a primary teacher – but she has now swapped marking books for making books – although some of the forthcoming titles will be marketed specifically for schools to tie in with project work.

But Anne is no stranger to starting a new business. After honeymooning in Harris, Anne moved from Ayrshire to the Western Isles in 2008 with her husband and two children.

They then set about preparing their newly acquired croft for the installation of a herd of alpacas.

The animals were followed by Hebridean Huts – two glamping cabins which overlook the Atlantic Ocean, and are rented out year round from visitors as far afield as India and America.

Is it possible to run a publishing business from a remote island?

Anne said: “There has never been a better time to start a business. Being based on Lewis for us is very much about the lifestyle, and working from an island – indeed anywhere – is entirely possible, thanks to the internet.

“Improvements in technology and the advent of social media mean that we can easily reach out to prospective readers – and indeed authors – across Scotland and beyond.”

Currently all of Cranachan’s books are edited, proofed and typeset in-house – with most of the cover design being done by Anne herself.

“We’re trying to be self-sufficient where at all possible – we are doing as much of the work as we can ourselves.

“The books are uploaded directly to the printers – and are ready to hit the shelves in a matter of days.”

The first book to be published by Cranachan is Buy Buy Baby by author Helen MacKinven.

Set in and around Glasgow, it is packed full of bitchy banter, as it follows the bittersweet quest of two very different women united by the same desire – they desperately want a baby.

By turns moving and funny, Buy Buy Baby is a story of life, loss and longing.

Whether this new venture will prove successful, time will only tell. But, as they like to say at Cranachan HQ and on their website – ‘the proof of the pudding is in the reading’.

Buy Buy Baby will be launched with Waterstones at Behind the Wall, Falkirk on 7th July at 7pm. The book is already available online for pre-order.