Good to see you here at the Black Pear Press (BPP) website.
BPP publishes quality books of fiction and poetry but regrets that it is not in a position to consider submissions for the foreseeable future.
We are a small press dedicated to promoting and selling books and looking after our authors.
Dr Anthony Judge
Tony is an experienced writer of non-fiction and fiction and a member of the UK Society of Authors. His first novel, Sirocco Express, was published by Wet Zebra Media and his children’s novel Lost was published in 2021. He has a strong background in critiquing and editing and deals with obligations to the legal deposit libraries.
From 1998 until 2006, Tony ran a successful telecoms consulting family business, Judge Consulting Ltd. He takes the lead in assessing the cost and profitability of each proposed book before it’s accepted for publication. He is the BPP company treasurer and is also involved in selecting and editing books and cover design.
Tony selects suppliers of printing services and orders volume print runs of books.
Dr Charley Barnes
Charlotte Barnes, known as Charley, joined the BPP team in 2024. Charley is a poet, author, academic, and editor who adores writing in its many forms, whether poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, and she is especially keen to help other writers on their creative journeys. Charley deals with social media for BPP and is also involved with editing scripts ready for publication.
Charley is a well-published author with numerous publications to her name, from fiction to essays to poetry, you can catch up with her here: http://www.charleybarneswriter.com/
Their combined experience in writing, editing, proofreading, and publishing makes them a good team.
Where did Black Pear Press begin?
Prof Rod Griffiths
Rod Griffiths is an ideas man, ‘Let’s start a publishing company,’ he said, ‘we know too many excellent writers who’ve never been published’. Tony and Polly agreed that the idea was sound and would draw on their previous careers, and so BPP came into being. This was in mid-2013 and by December of that year, plans were in place and, founded by Rod, Black Pear Press was born.
Whilst Rod no longer takes an active part in publishing, he contributes to structural editing on occasion and remains an associate of Black Pear Press. He has published novels and collections of short stories.
Rod’s previous career was in the NHS as Regional Director of Public Health and Deputy Chief Executive for the West Midlands. He was awarded the CBE in 2000.
Polly Stretton M.Ed
Polly retired from BPP at the end of 2025. A founder director, she says these were amongst the best years of her life. She dealt with layout and all aspects of creativity leading to publication and was the poetry editor and company secretary.
Following careers in management and education, Polly turned to her lifelong love of writing. She was a creative resident at Croome Court and earlier a director with Worcestershire LitFest & Fringe. She organised 42Worcester for many years passing it on in 2021. Polly was the Chair of Open University Poets for some years.
Her publications include a first collection of poetry Girl’s Got Rhythm and a limited first edition Chatterton a series of poems about the tragic teenage poet. Four years were taken up collating WWI pamphlets, during which time Polly also collaborated with Charley Barnes in Pressed Flowers, and Amanda Bonnick in the Call and Response anthologies. Her collection The Alchemy of 42 launched online in August 2020 and Growing Places was launched in 2021. She’s a member of the Society of Authors.
_____________________________
With extensive connections in West Midlands writing communities, BPP is pleased to promote and sell quality books. Marketing principally through book launches, signings, and regional spoken word events, the company uses social media and networking to advise of new publications.
BPP encourages all writers to promote their work regularly at spoken word events and through social media and networking; other promotion opportunities arise and BPP will give advice and support.
Black Pear Press 