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Sun Rider Press

Limited edition paperback books filled with unconventional travel tales from everyday people.

06/02/2025

Absolutely stoked to have finished the internal chapter typesetting for our fifth release ✨⁣⁣⁣
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Now it’s time to work with our brilliant illustrator to bring this book to life!⁣
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Unsure what we’re doing next? Message me!

31/01/2025

Have you heard what happened in Tibet in the 1980s?⁣
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The Tibet Uprising saw waves of protests against Chinese rule, peaking in 1987–1989 with violent crackdowns in Lhasa. Martial law was declared in 1989, cementing Beijing’s control but fueling global outrage and Tibetan resistance.⁣
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Our upcoming book, while full of heart-thumping travel tales, is also an expose on the Tibetan region⁣ 🗻
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If you’d like to get on the waiting list for our 5th offering, just DM me. It’s LTD, signed and numbered – as always. 📚
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“Perhaps the riots that had taken place in Lhasa in the late ‘80s had extinguished any hope that China would respond to Tibetan pleas for human rights. Perhaps it was the Israelis or the Westerners in general who corrupted the place. Perhaps it was just money. Fine people did remain there, but the noise of bumper to bumper traffic crawling through the narrow streets drowned out their voices, and the Punjabi and Mumbai drinkers came for the cheap booze and the sideshow of Western freaks. Historic files and photos, as well as religious paintings and statues, disappeared from archives only to emerge on foreign markets. Strangest still, for the visiting scholar, was the growing awareness that the Chinese in Tibet were then offering more access to archival sources than Dharamsala could, or would, provide.” - In Search of Mount Kailas, Alex McKay.⁣
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Photo credit: freetibet.org

28/01/2025

The epic Mount Kailash. Have you heard of it? Here’s three facts:⁣
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1) it’s the axis of the universe⁣
2) it’s home to four major religions⁣
3) it’s unclimbed⁣
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And here’s a fourth fact. We’re releasing a book from a traveller and scholar who’s spent half of his life studying it 🌍⁣
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Pre-orders are yet to officially open, but if you’d like to hop on the waiting list for a first edition signed copy (super limited) comment here or DM me! ✨

23/01/2025

Our book babies. Our family portrait. They’re all growing up so fast 🥹. What should we publish next?

20/01/2025

Yo! Bit of a literary update for all those design and books nerds out there.⁣
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I’m currently typesetting the final chapters, 12 and 13, of our upcoming release, In Search of Mount Kailash. This has been the longest book I’ve typesetting so far and will sit at 300 words. With some back and forth with the author we landed on an elegant design template (new slide) that I’m following through. ⁣
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Next step is to re-read and proof, and work on the pre-lim pages (maps, contents, copyright etc). We’ve also got 10 photo pages to go in and I’m currently working with a very talented illustrator on the cover art, so what this space!⁣
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This bad boy is due for release early April. Alex, the author, is a professor in this field and has agreed to a surprise gift for the first batch of customers, so DM me to get yourself on the waiting list!! ⁣
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Literary love⁣
Mike xx

04/01/2025

Do you wanna learn how to convert a van. Of course you do, who wouldn’t?⁣
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These two regular Aussie’s did it, and this sexy coffee table book is their bible. It’s full of actual tips and know-how on getting it done – on a budget too.⁣⁣
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Plus you’ll get to experience the epic American adventure Brent and Sasha had, with a blueprint of where they went – consider it bonus material.⁣⁣
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Hmu for a new year deal on this bad boy or head to our website for more details.⁣⁣
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20/12/2024

Royal flush of Sunrider stock over in Genova, IT! 🇮🇹📚

18/12/2024

Did you know Mount Kailash is one of the most sacred mountains on earth? Alex McKay does, and he wrote a book about it, which we’ll release next year!⁣
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DM me to find out more, or to add yourself to the waiting list ✨

11/12/2024

Introducing the author of our upcoming release, In Search of Mount Kailash ✨

06/12/2024

I’m stoked to announce the next Sun Rider release – our first in two years!⁣⁣ ✨
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This one’s huge. Who would’ve thought a professor of Tibetan history would reach out to work together. Dr Alex McKay is highly regarded in his field and is one of the leading academics on Mount Kailash – Tibet’s most sacred mountain.⁣ He’s also an absolute dude.⁣
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This will be his first non academic work. It chronicles his early travels around the area in the 1970/80s, when Tibet was largely off limits and had to be snuck into. It’s a glimpse into the Hippy Trail era, powered by beat generation freedom. ⁣
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It’s also got a healthy dose of history, politics, and religion, but all in equal measures, and explores the sacrality of the mountain to locals and travellers alike. It also details Alex’s journey into academia, and the epic pilgrimage of learning that followed.⁣
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We’re looking at a wider release for this one, but the first edition will be printed here in UK in limited numbers, as all our releases have been so far. Please get in touch if you’d like to go on the waiting list.⁣⁣
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Alex will be touching down in UK in early April, so it only makes sense to release it then. Hopefully we can have a cracking launch party somewhere with a few beers. He’s also offered an interesting surprise for the first pre-order customers 😏⁣⁣
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Looking forward to this one!⁣⁣
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Updates and further info around the project to follow.⁣⁣
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Cheers⁣⁣
Mike x

18/11/2024

Five years ago today I started this imprint ✨ what began as 20 first chapters with a lino print cover has turned into four very special and unique limited run books with three more on the way!

12/11/2024

In 2011 I spent a year hitchhiking, couchsurfing and working illegally across Asia and Europe.⁣
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We picked oranges for $3 an hour, worked for salacious Blueberry farmers, got jobs for a day in desert towns, hitchhiked our way from La Tomatilla to Oktoberfest, and a tonne more. Then I went rouge and had the worst (& only) couchsurfing experiences of my life in Morocco. ⁣
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A couple of years later, a friend with an old voice recorder asked for one of these stories as we sat in a smoky bar in Amsterdam. After I told it he said, ‘you should write that down–it’s hilarious.’⁣
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And so I did, and then I wrote 11 more. This resulted in a short story collection called trippin’.⁣
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Looking back, the stories elicit both pride and a cringe or two. Turns out you see the world very differently when you’re 20 compared to 34. But you’ve got to start somewhere, and in every way these are the roots of my affinity with both traveling and writing⁣
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I don’t think I’ll ever publish the full 12 stories, but I’d love to pick the best 2 or 3 and turn them into some limited edition, homemade mini books. Maybe use a typewriter and some homemade binding skills (which I’m yet to learn).⁣
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What do people think? Any ideas on little pocket size short stories that you’ve seen out and about that you rate? Let me know

07/11/2024

They say writing is the best form of time travel 💛⁣
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Our first release, the haphazard cycling escapade from Bristol to Bordeaux is still one of our faves. It’s raw and real. There’s no glossy bikes or PBs. Just a pack of d***y early 20-year-olds searching for somethin’ and using bikes to get there.⁣
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Let me know if you wanna join the waiting list for the third edition! X

05/11/2024

All our books are limited edition, hand-signed and numbered, like all books should be ✨ ⁣⁣
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We’re all about celebrating creativity and the individualised products we produce. Call it quality over quantity – an approach that’s been actively avoided by major platforms like Amazon.

31/10/2024

The man, the myth, the legend. Jack Few’s back in his natural habitat, signing books in a 16th century crypt with the oldest letterpress collection in the COUNTRY. You can order his book, An Eastern Tailwind, now thru the SRP website. 2nd edish! ✌️

29/10/2024

Mini manuscript parcels of my first fiction novel, Sunshine Hotel, heading out to new readers for another feedback round ✍️⁣

23/10/2024

Yo, I’m back in the office and things are feeling rather surreal currently.⁣
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A few months back a random manuscript slid into sunrider’s DMs. Turns out it was from a highly-revered historian and traveller. ⁣
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I’ve now had the honour of getting first eyes on his story – and believe me, it’s next level.⁣
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It seems there’s three projects in the works atm (not sure how that happened) but needless to say they’re giving me fuel to carry on this little book publishing journey. ⁣
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Stay tuned for more updates 👀

20/10/2024

👋 My name’s Mike and I started this travel publishing imprint five years ago. It’s travelled with me from Bristol to Melbourne, Waiheke Island, and back again!
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At first it was just a name and digital platform to publish my own first book, but now we’ve published four books, with three more on the way. Each is limited edition, hand-signed and numbered, as a way to celebrate the book as a special artefact, especially in a world where Amazon produce on mass at low quality to fill their pockets.⁣
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It’s been challenging to stay motivated at times and I’d be lying if I said I’d made any money from it. But I know I can’t stop. I truly think there’s an appetite for the stories of everyday people with extraordinary tales. The intention is to challenge the idea of what travel is, and how it’s often portrayed by glossy influencers. And honestly, I’m still passionate about this five years later. I feel things are only just getting started.⁣
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It’s great to have you along for the journey 🌏⁣
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Website

http://www.sunriderpress.com/

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Videos

Ever wondered how books are made? 📚⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ This year I want to share more educational content about publishing, and specifically designing books, from someone who is self-taught!⁣ ⁣⁣ Let me know what you think and what you might like covered 😊

We climb mountains not with physical power but with willpower!⁣ ⁣ Here, Dr Alex McKay recounts his impressions of scaling mountains in the Himalaya.⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ The waiting list is open for our next offering, In Search of Mount Kailash. DM me to add yourself to it ✨⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #indiatravel #travelling #bookstagram #publishing #indiatourism #isomk #kailash #kailashmansarovar #writingcommunity #sunriderpress

India takes hold of us all eventually. Here, Dr Alex McKay recounts his first impressions, but which mirror my own almost 40 years later! ⁣ The waiting list is open for our next offering, In Search of Mount Kailash. DM me to add yourself to it ✨⁣ . . . #indiatravel #travelling #bookstagram #publishing #indiatourism #isomk #kailash #kailashmansarovar #writingcommunity #sunriderpress

Start a book chapter with me ✨ . . . . . #books #design #indesign #manuscript #chapter #bookdesign #travel #tibet #mountain #exploretocreate #bookstagram

Smashing out 2nd edition edits for this epic Indian cycling odyssey by Jack Few, @hippieonabike ✨⁣ ⁣ Pre-orders are now live if you’d like one of this 50 copy print run, hand-signed and numbered (link in bio). I’ve been told if you’re in Chester, Jack will deliver his travel book with bouquet and dry joke.

An excerpt from the brilliant An Eastern Tailwind by @hippieonabike ! This one’s out of stock currently but do get in touch if you’re interested ✨

A brilliant story of travel, identity, and music in our latest edition of Casting Caution to the Wind 💨 by @svndralana ! Head to the website link in our bio to secure your copy ✨

Introducing… AN EASTERN TAILWIND ✨ Our fourth limited edition release, out today! ⁣⁣We couldn’t be prouder of this book. It’s bold and courageous and speaks to everything this little imprint stands for. ⁣⁣Head to our website to nab one of the last first edition copies 💛 ⁣⁣It’s been a beautiful ride. ⁣⁣Cheers,⁣ Mike & Jack

Print day in a 13th-century crypt ✨ Jack and I made custom dust jackets on Nepalese Lokta paper for our pre-order customers. ⁣⁣⁣⁣The paper (which isn’t really paper) was once used to write ancient Buddhist texts on. It’s durable, soft and textured, and makes new books feel old and magical. ⁣⁣⁣⁣Lisa from @chestermakersspace was critical in bringing this idea to life. Jack is now a pro at letterpressing (well, I suppose I should leave that status for Lisa to decide).

Last production edits for our upcoming release, An Eastern Tailwind ✨ Pre-order copies are still available from www.sunriderpress.com ⁣ Not only do pre-order customers get the fuzzy feeling of helping fund the project, they also get a special surprise gift 😉 Order before the end of October and you’ll find out what it is…⁣

An Eastern Tailwind, riding your way December 16th 2022.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Two wheels. 3,000 miles. Six months traversing the length of India. A journey into the heartland of country and self ensues.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Limited edition, hand signed and numbered. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Head to www.sunriderpress.com to secure your copy while stocks last 💛⁣⁣

I’ve located two gems from the early days, including the first copy of first edition of On Vélo!⁣ ⁣⁣ It lives in Genova, Italy, and has been read by many familiar and foreign faces (I’m assured). I love numbering our limited edition print runs, as well as changing details on the covers and in-text pages. It’s a way of celebrating books by giving each a unique identity and a time stamp in history 💛⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ #publisher #travelogue #travelliterature #cyclenovel #cycling #creativelit #cycleindia #peddlepower #travelfrance #indiaitaly #homeontheroad #ontheroad #homeonwheels #twowheels #exploretocreate #slowtravel #paperback #onvelo #sunriderpress #amwriting #bookaddict