MOIST BOOKS exists to put a dampener on the mainstream 'literary' gatekeepers,  juicing up the tentative fumblings on the fringes.

Inspired by the North American DIY publishing traditions that grew out of art, music, and LGBTQI+ scenes, MOIST publishes works of literary fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry in series of threes. Each of these ‘seasons’ is loosely based around a common theme, and seeks to acknowledge a diverse range of lived experiences, educational backgrounds, and cultural reference points. This shouldn’t be read as a euphemism for poverty porn or ‘bake-off blandness’ however, but as a preference for formally innovative, emotionally immediate books, and a vibe that is as much global as it is local.

MOIST was founded by Paul and Susan Finlay in 2020. Paul ran the press with the assistance of friends and family for three years, before he retired at the age of 84. In January 2024, his daughter, Susan, and artist-writers Nastassja Simensky, and Hugh Nicholson took over as co-directors, before Susan left MOIST in June 2025.

Since then, Hugh and Nastassja have worked to expand the press in terms of production and distribution. This includes the production of events and editions that are conceived in relation to each new title.

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