In February 2024, HopeRoad Publishing became part of the  Peepal Tree family. With both companies having compatible ethos and complementary publishing identities, their joint aim is to secure and build diversity within independent publishing in the UK.

HopeRoad was founded in 2010 by Rosemarie Hudson, who has always wanted to encourage, mentor and publish exciting new authors. Her emphasis has been to promote writing from and about Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, many in translation for the first time, and HopeRoad is now well known within the industry as a publisher of previously untold stories – superb stories in themselves, which also feature themes of identity, cultural stereotyping, disability and injustice.

Rosemarie was joined in her venture in 2019 by Pete Ayrton, founder of the independent publisher Serpent’s Tail. Pete is the editor of HopeRoad’s imprint, Small Axes, which published the 2025 International Booker Prize shortlist title, Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix, translated by Helen Stevenson.

Going forward, Peepal Tree Press manages the sales of HopeRoad’s titles, marketing and production, while HopeRoad controls its editorial choices. All Peepal Tree and HopeRoad titles are represented by Inpress and distributed by BookSource in the UK, with Independent Publishers Group (IPG) in the USA and Canada. Peepal Tree Press is funded by Arts Council England.