Writer, poet, and publisher Andy Croft established Smokestack Books in 2004 and has published more than 230 titles and sold more than 65,000 copies.
However, he is now set to end some operations of Smokestack and a celebration of his work is set to take place this weekend.
A celebration of Smokestack Books will take place this Sunday, January 5, at the Waiting Room restaurant in Station Road, Eaglescliffe, starting at 7pm.
Authors, writers, and poets taking part in the event include Andy, Bob Beagrie, Mark Robinson, George Jowett, Marilyn Longstaff, and Jo Colley.
Smokestack Books published writers including Michael Rosen and John Berger, and has championed less-known writers, including those from the region.
Some northern writers published by Smokestack include Bob Beagrie, a creative writing lecturer at Teesside University, and Mark Robinson from Stockton.
Andy, who now lives near Ripon after living for many years in Middlesbrough, has been active in adult and children’s writing, and writing projects linked to Hartlepool’s Headland, the Great North Run, Holme House Prison in Stockton, the T-Junction International Poetry Festival, Crossing the Tees poetry events, the Writearound Festival, and Ripon Poetry Festival.
Robbie MacDonald, a journalist and co-organiser of the Tees Politics, History and Ideas events in Middlesbrough, said: “Andy Croft has played a huge role in Teesside and wider North East life since the 1980s.
“I first met him in the mid-1980s while I was a student at Cleveland College of Art and Design in Linthorpe, round the corner from the old Leeds University Centre.
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“Back then, Andy was encouraging Teessiders from many different backgrounds to write about their lives, communities, and interests.
“Andy has continued to champion new writing and new voices ever since, from Teesside, across the UK and internationally, with Smokestack Books.
“He deserves recognition and thanks for his years of hard work and everything he has achieved with Smokestack Books.”