Patrician Press

Patricia Borlenghi, who suffers from severe hearing loss, studied at the Universities of Reading, Bologna and Essex as well as working in publishing over many years. She is the author of several children’s books including: From Albatross to Zoo, Chaucer the Cat and the Animal Pilgrims, Dear Auntie and The Bloomsbury Nursery Treasury. She started the Patrician Press in December 2012 after completing her MA in Creative Writing. She divides her time between England and Italy.

The philosophy and aim of the Patrician Press is to encourage and promote writers of high-quality fiction and poetry. We are small, independent and courageous. We strongly believe that it is imperative to uphold and maintain the quality of contemporary literature in today’s challenging, competitive and ever-changing technological world.

Our titles are available in smart paperback editions and some as e-books.

The list includes novels, short stories, poetry and non-fiction. Some of the books have an Italian flavour.

Who’s who on your team? 

Patricia Borlenghi, Publisher; Anna Johnson, Editorial Consultant; Mark Brayley, Poetry Editor.

What events do you get involved with? 

Essex Book Festival, Felixstowe Book Festival and for first time this year, Thame Arts & Literature Festival (TAL). And obviously book launches for most of the new titles. The last for the MY EUROPE ANTHOLOGY was on 8th March at the University of Westminster in London, hosted by the Contemporary Small Press and the next will be in early September for the launch of THE LIFE OF ALMOST by Anna Vaught at Mr B’s Emporium in Bath. We have also held two events at the Firstsite art gallery in Colchester. Plus book/art/music events in Milan (two) and Piacenza art galleries.

What do you enjoy the most about publishing? 

The whole publishing process from initial decision, cover and inside text design to printed copy, i.e. seeing a book to fruition.

Have you got any office dogs/cats/animals? (Pictures would be a bonus!) 

Sadly no longer, but I have lovely views at the moment from front and back windows at my office in Italy.

What’s your nearest bookshop? Wivenhoe Books, Wivenhoe and Red Lion Books, Colchester. Both in Essex.

If you could meet one author or poet, dead or alive, who would you choose and why? Aldous Huxley. Loved all his books and his mind.