Dr. Katie Isbester had an academic career in which she published in peer review journals and imprints. After realising only a small number of people read academia, she set up Claret Press in 2016 to publish commercial trade fiction and non-fiction that inform, entertain and energise.

With the help of her trusted friend, Secco, her killer kitty, Charlie, and some extraordinary interns, Claret Press publishes around five books a year. It has won awards and is proud of publishing predominantly first-time authors.