About us
Queer stories. Find your people. Find your place.
Intro
Out and About Books is an independent publishing imprint for LGBTQ+ fiction. We publish love stories, mysteries and journeys set across the UK and Europe, in which queer characters aren't the sidekick, the twist or the tragedy. They're the point.
Our books travel. They go to castle weddings in the Highlands and island winters in Orkney, to small towns, wild coastlines and the kind of places where everybody knows your business. They're about going home and going away, about second chances, and about the people you meet along the road.
Why we started
Out and About Books grew from a simple idea: queer characters deserve stories as varied, adventurous and unpredictable as anyone else's.
We wanted to create a home for books where LGBTQ+ lives are at the heart of the story, without every plot having to revolve around coming out, prejudice or heartbreak. Stories where people fall in love, stumble into mysteries, make questionable decisions, take wrong turns and occasionally find exactly what they weren't looking for.
We also love a strong sense of place. There's something special about a story that takes you somewhere, whether it's a windswept Scottish island, a quiet English village or a little-known corner of Europe. The landscape matters, but it's the people who make the journey worthwhile.
So we started Out and About Books: a small, independent imprint with a love of good storytelling, memorable characters and the freedom to follow a story wherever it leads.
Who We Are
We're a small independent publishing imprint with big enthusiasm for books, travel and the places where stories unfold.
Out and About Books is home to the fiction of Robin Hartes, whose stories bring together romance, mystery, humour and adventure against the varied landscapes of the UK and Europe.
We believe books should be entertaining, transporting and occasionally surprising. We love characters who feel like real people, places that stay with you after the final page, and endings that leave you glad you came along for the ride.
Above all, we believe queer stories belong everywhere, from the busiest cities to the remotest islands, and on every bookshelf.
About Robin Hartes
Robin Hartes has always been more interested in the road than the destination, and in the people you meet along the way. Robin writes LGBTQ+ fiction set across the UK and Europe: love stories, mysteries and journeys where queer characters take centre stage, through small towns, wild coastlines and second chances. Every story is an adventure, best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a window seat.
How we publish
Our paperbacks are printed on demand and sold through Amazon, so they never go out of print. Our eBooks are available on Kindle.
