Foundations in Theatre

Alan Windram, initially a part-time theatre nurse with a love for musical theatre, ventured into children’s theatre by collaborating with a company that traveled to various schools and nurseries across Scotland and northern England. Despite his lack of experience with children, he quickly found joy in the role. This inspired him to create his own children’s series, resulting in the self-published works known as Mac and Bob.

Partnership with Vivian French

In his quest for an illustrator, Windram connected with children’s author and lecturer Vivian French. Their collaboration proved fruitful; French was so impressed by the quality of his self-published books that she chose to publish her upcoming title, Captain Crankie and Seadog Steve, under Alan’s new imprint, Little Door Books.

Commitment to Quality and New Talent

With a desire to elevate emerging illustrators, Little Door Books sought partnerships with established authors while scouting new artistic talent. Windram describes their approach: “It’s finding the right person for the right story, and it’s worked really well.” This initiative led to the discovery of artists like Francis Martin and Anders Frang, who have since found success with larger publishers.

Growth and Recognition

Little Door Books began its publishing journey modestly, releasing one title annually. However, their output increased gradually, and Windram received accolades such as Emerging Publisher of the Year at The Saltires, Scotland’s National Book Awards, as well as the Bookbug Picture Book Prize for One Button Benny in 2019. That year marked significant growth as the press secured funding for its first original debut book from a new creator, quickly followed by additional releases.

Adapting to Change and Expanding Offerings

Before the pandemic, Little Door planned to publish five titles a year but adjusted to three or four during restrictions. Notably, they expanded their offerings to include chapter books for ages six to nine, responding to requests from librarians for more content in this demographic.

Current series include Uncle Pete by David C Flanagan and debut series Rory the Dragon by Louisa MacDougall. Windram has also ventured into writing chapter books himself, expressing enthusiasm for exploring a new age range of readers.

Introducing Tin Shack Press

In an exciting development, Windram and his wife Susan branched out with a non-fiction lifestyle imprint, Tin Shack Press, led by Susan. This initiative stemmed from their experiences in Oban and their relationship with local cafe owner Donna, collaborating on the cookery book Roxy’s Cake & Bake, which has seen three print runs since its launch in October 2022. Susan recounts her enjoyment of the project and expresses interest in further exploring this creative outlet.

Future Aspirations

Looking ahead, Tin Shack Press plans to manage its distribution through Gardners, with aspirations to publish one or two titles annually while exploring potential topics, including a personal account of their house-building journey in Oban. Windram emphasizes that their philosophy revolves around high-quality production, stating: “If you’re going to do something, you must do it to the highest-possible quality spec that you can afford.”

Conclusion

Little Door Books and Tin Shack Press reflect a deep commitment to storytelling, quality, and community engagement. Windram and Susan continue to cultivate a platform for both new and established authors, enriching the literary landscape with their diverse offerings.