From Story Drawer to Published Page: How Acorn & Ink Is Championing Short Fiction
From Story Drawer to Published Page: How Acorn & Ink Is Championing Short Fiction
In an industry dominated by full-length novels and complex publishing routes, a small but ambitious publisher is making waves by doing things differently. Enter Acorn & Ink—a boutique publishing house that believes great stories don’t need 80,000 words to make an impact.
Founded in 2025 by Kelly Lacey (Love Books Tours) and Dwayne Mathers (Dunfermline Reads), Acorn & Ink is all about nurturing bold storytelling in short form. Their focus? Fiction between 10,000 and 15,000 words—compact narratives packed with heart, voice, and potential.
“We kept hearing from writers who had brilliant story ideas they never finished,” says Kelly Lacey, co-founder of Acorn & Ink. “Life got in the way. The process felt daunting. And somewhere along the line, those stories ended up stuck in drawers or lost in draft folders. Acorn & Ink is our answer to that.”
A Simple, Author-Friendly Model
The publishing model at Acorn & Ink is refreshingly straightforward. Authors submit their completed short fiction for consideration. If accepted, Acorn & Ink offers a one-off payment of up to £150 in exchange for full rights. From there, the publisher takes over, handling all editing, proofreading, cover design, formatting, and marketing in-house.
“We wanted to remove the pressure from authors,” explains Lacey. “No chasing designers, no scrambling for editors. We take care of it all, and we treat every short story with the same respect and polish as a full-length book.”
Unlike some traditional models, Acorn & Ink retains full publishing rights once the story is purchased—but authors are free to purchase copies at wholesale rates to sell independently at events, signings, or through personal channels.
The Power of Collaboration
All book promotion is managed by Love Books Tours, the award-winning book marketing agency also founded by Lacey. Known for its powerful influencer network and strong author support ethos, LBT ensures each Acorn & Ink title gets a proper platform—from cover reveals and blog features to creative campaigns and read-alongs.
The publishing house also benefits from Dwayne Mathers’ experience as the creator of Dunfermline Reads, a much-loved platform dedicated to championing authors and connecting readers with stories worth discovering.
“As a blogger, I’ve seen so many beautiful stories slip under the radar simply because they weren’t long enough to fit traditional moulds,” says Mathers. “Acorn & Ink gives those stories a place to belong. A short story can hit just as hard as a novel—it just needs the right support to get into readers’ hands.”
“What I love about this model is the care given to every part of the process. It’s not rushed. The editing is thoughtful, the design is professional, and the marketing ensures these books don’t get lost in the crowd.”
“Readers are hungry for original, well-crafted stories they can enjoy in a single sitting. As someone who speaks with authors and readers, I see it daily. Acorn & Ink gives authors a platform, but more than that—it gives readers access to something fresh and meaningful.”
Small Stories. Big Potential.
As the industry continues to shift—especially in the digital and serial publishing spaces—Acorn & Ink is carving a niche for high-quality short fiction that doesn’t cut corners. Their catalogue spans genres, voices, and perspectives, but what unites them is storytelling with impact.
Already, interest is rising from writers eager to dust off abandoned novellas or experiment with new formats. For many, it’s a chance to publish professionally without the pressure of a full-length debut.
“We’re seeing incredible creativity,” Lacey says. “Writers are realising that short fiction isn’t a compromise—it’s an art form.”
💬 Get Involved
📖 Authors: Interested in publishing your short story with Acorn & Ink? You can apply here:
👉 https://tinyurl.com/mvpekevk
🌟 Book Bloggers & Reviewers: Want to join our Inklings team and help support our stories? Apply here:
👉 https://tinyurl.com/mr26mkmy
Acorn & Ink Publishing: Helping small stories grow into something mighty.
