Introducing RED COMET PRESS — a small independent children’s publisher providing a home for talented creators who seek a boutique experience and the personal touch of a passionate publisher.

Angus Yuen-Killick tells Outside In World about his new publishing venture launching in the autumn of 2021.

Our books provide a rich storytelling experience that will ignite the imagination of readers

My first publishing job was at a small poetry press in the North of England. From there, I spent 30 years in corporate publishing working for various companies in London and New York including Cassell, DK, Penguin, Disney/Hyperion & Macmillan. I took a pause in early 2020 and, during the enforced home seclusion, decided to return to my roots in small independent publishing and set up my own publishing company in Brooklyn New York.

Last August I jumped onto the Bologna Global Rights Exchange site and started hunting down books for my first list. This autumn I will launch my company with five picture books; two were acquired from a French publisher and two were from Italian publishers. I used to live in Italy and am drawn to the vibrant children’s publishing scene in Italy and France, plus I can handle some translation myself. I have a fifth book which stands slightly apart as it is a classic picture book version of a new film from Aardman Animation and Netflix.  

You can see the inaugural list on our website: www.redcometpress.com. I have world English language rights on the translated books so they should be available in all major markets. The list for 2022 is already shaping up well and includes books by US creators and more books in translation from overseas.

The books on my list very much reflect my taste which presents multi-layered storytelling by talented creators. The books are both sophisticated while also being very accessible. My core focus will continue to be illustrated books, but I intend to add titles for emergent readers and illustrated chapter books for the slightly older reader. I hope to introduce a variety of voices that might not otherwise be heard without the support of a passionate and committed publisher.

I hope you discover some gems on my list and see why I was so excited to acquire these special books.

Angus Yuen-Killick
Publisher, 2021