I was lucky enough to be invited to Edinburgh’s dazzling SKYbar on 1st March 2025, where authors, artists and book enthusiasts alike gathered to honour Luna Press’ 10th Birthday and celebrate a decade of contributions to the Science Fiction and Fantasy world. At the centre of the event was Francesca Barbini, director of Luna Press, who took us all back to how the story of Luna began…
Luna Press Publishing is an award-winning Edinburgh-based indie press which specialises in publishing Science Fiction and Fantasy fiction (SFF) and academia. Founded in 2015 by Francesca Barbini, a Science Fiction, fantasy, and horror aficionado from Rome, Luna Press reflects Francesca’s ambitions to provide engaging stories to others that are passionate about these genres. An author and translator herself, Francesca founded Luna to give a voice to the industry’s creatives and to share her love for the books that make the SFF & horror genres unique. Throughout the years, Luna Press has continued to work closely with charitable organisations, most notably the Tolkien Society, to give back to the literary community that started it all.
The Event: A Night of Celebration
While the theme of the party was black and white to coincide with the press’ logo, the evening was packed with vibrant discussion, celebratory drinks and plenty of laughter. The venue was packed with members of the “Luna Family,” from authors to publishing’s finest, from near and far, fostering a celebration of connections both new and old and encapsulating Luna Press’ values of combining creativity and passion perfectly. During a speech, Francesca spoke fondly of a decade passed, thanking friends, colleagues, and mentors for their roles in the growth of Luna Press. The crowd listened with admiration and awe to the founder of one of Scottish publishing’s success stories, as Francesca reflected on key moments and what the future held for Luna Press.
Looking Ahead: The Next 10 Years of Luna Press
When considering the future of Luna Press and the Scottish book trade, Francesca spoke with measured optimism, speaking fondly of upcoming projects with familiar authors and artists, as well as maintaining Luna Press’ goal of supporting creativity and providing meaningful and engaging books to all. While honouring the Press’ upcoming publications, Francesca also acknowledged the current challenges and opportunities that the industry faces, and how these could impact independent presses across Scotland. She described the significant role of Publishing Scotland in defending small presses across the nation, and finished her speech with an inspiring encouragement to constantly learn and adapt to changes and issues, even if it is not the easy thing to do.
The event was incomparable and provided me with significant insight into relationships within publishing, and how these can foster personal growth in the industry, particularly among small publishers. Independent presses like Luna are significant to the longevity of economic, societal and creative sustainability in Scotland, with small and medium presses characterising Scottish publishing (Publishing Scotland, 2025) despite challenges concerning distribution, funding and competition with bigger conglomerates (Scottish Arts Council, 2004). Francesca’s reflections on Luna’s journey reinforced the importance of adaptability and resilience—qualities that are crucial for anyone pursuing a career in publishing. As someone aspiring to work in book design, this event underscored how collaboration between designers, editors, and authors shapes a book’s journey from concept to reader. It was a reminder that independent presses thrive not just on creativity but on strong professional networks, something I hope to cultivate as I develop my own career. Here’s to another brilliant decade of Luna Press: the home of creativity in SFF & horror.
“To our Luna Family: Without their trust and talent, we wouldn’t be here – the Luna Family of authors and artists.” – Francesca T Barbini, Founder of Luna Press Publishing
Sources:
Luna Press Publishing ,2025. About. Available at: https://www.lunapresspublishing.com
Publishing Scotland, 2025. Market Insights., Publishing in Scotland 2022. Available at: https://www.publishingscotland.org/about-publishing/market-insights/
Scottish Arts Council, 2004. Review of publishing. A review of Scottish publishing in the 21st century – summary report. Available at: https://www.publishingscotland.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/review_of_publishing_document.pdf
All images belong to Cheney Hewitt.
MSc Publishing – Industry Accredited Postgraduate Degree 