Mercier makes fearless US acquisition

A Cork publishing house has secured exclusive rights to the catalogue of one of America’s most uncomprimising publishers.

Mercier Press, Ireland's oldest independent publishing house, has acquired Irish and UK publishing rights to the Heresy Press list. Founded in 2022, Heresy Press’ catalogue includes works that tackle challenging themes with artistic integrity, including the acclaimed anthology, ‘Nothing Sacred: Outspoken Voices in Contemporary Fiction’.

For those at Mercier Press, the rights acquisition of the catalogue comes at a crucial time when the ability to engage with different worldviews through literature has never been more vital.

Mercier Press, which has faced its own battles with censorship, recognises in Heresy Press a publisher equally dedicated to fostering genuine understanding across ideological divides, a spokesperson said.Dee Collins, Head of Books at Mercier Press, said: “At a time when echo chambers and algorithmic bubbles increasingly narrow our worldview, literature remains one of the most powerful tools we have for developing empathy and understanding perspectives different from our own.

“Just as we once pushed back against institutional censorship, we now stand against the more subtle forces of self-censorship and ideological conformity in publishing.

“Reading fiction from various viewpoints isn't just about intellectual enrichment, it's about developing the emotional intelligence and empathy we need to navigate our increasingly complex world,” Ms Collins said.

Under the agreement, Mercier Press will publish new UK and Irish editions of the Heresy Press list, making the contemporary works available to readers throughout Britain and Ireland. The first titles will launch in May this year.

Upcoming titles include ‘Unsettled States’ by Tom Casey; ‘Animal’ by Alan Fishbone; and ‘The Devil Take It’ by Daniel Debs Nossiter.

“In an era where many publishers increasingly rely on sensitivity readers and ideological litmus tests, we're proud to bring these uncompromising works to our markets,” concluded Ms Collins.