Zymurgy Publishing was founded in 2000 by Martin Ellis, to publish books to sell in bookshops. Zymurgy publishes adult and children’s non-fiction ranging from large format hardbacks illustrated in full colour to mass-market paperbacks.
Illustrated Books
Zymurgy’s first title was Natural North by Allan Potts, a photographic celebration of wildlife in the north east of England. Other illustrated books include: The River Tyne from Sea to Source by Allan Potts (now out of print). The Pennine Way by Tony Hopkins, The Cumbria Way by Jason Friend. Visions of Newcastle is a collection of watercolours celebrating the buildings and history of Newcastle upon Tyne. Well known Whitby artist John Freeman’s A Meander Down The Esk follows the Esk from the North York Moors to Whitby, illustrated with in full colour and pencil drawings.
Fiction titles
Fiction title Gladio: We Can Neither Confirm Nor Deny by Steve Chambers – a political conspiracy thriller – has sold all over the world. In March 2024 Steve’s second fiction title The Dark Months was published.
Humour Titles
When little books (a format which started with the little book of peace and then became appropriated for humour) had their own display area in bookshops, Zymurgy published a series of titles that sold well in bookshops and British Home Stores. Titles included; The Little Book of What Men Don’t Understand About Women, The Little Book on How to be a Lady, The Little Book of What Men Don’t Understand About Women, The Little Book of Red Hair, The Little Book of How Not To Get the Job.
Children’s Titles
Over the last few years, The Little Book of Jokes for Kids of All Ages has been the best selling title. Every year, for many years, the joke book and follow-on titles The Little Book of Amazing Facts for Kids of All Ages and The Little Book of What’s the Difference and The Little Book of Dinosaurs for Kids of All Ages have been selected for the Booksellers Association Christmas Catalogue.
Zymurgy’s books are available in bookshops throughout the UK and Ireland and through online bookstores.