Diversion Books sets 2027 launch for Influx Press with new horror list and marketing push

Diversion Publishing Corp. has unveiled the Spring 2027 Influx Press frontlist and a yearlong marketing campaign built to expand the London imprint’s U.S. reach. The launch centers on literary horror, weird fiction and a subscription-style backlist program that starts in 2027.

Why it matters: - Diversion Books is using Influx Press to grow its international footprint and deepen its literary-horror offering in the U.S. - The 2027 campaign is designed to turn both new releases and backlist titles into a sustained reader-facing program, not just a single-season launch. - The plan also gives independent bookstores a limited-time wholesale discount window at the start of 2027.

What happened: - Diversion Publishing Corp. announced the Spring 2027 Influx frontlist and a multi-tiered marketing campaign that will run through 2027. - The Spring 2027 list includes three releases: Lauren du Plessis’s debut novel TENDER on March 30, Joel Lane’s posthumous novel MIDNIGHT BLUE on March 30, and Ben Tufnell’s PARADISE and short story collection AS IF on April 7. - Diversion Books acquired the UK-based Influx Press in March 2026 through Diversion Books, which is distributed by Simon & Schuster. - Gary Budden, who co-founded Influx Press with Kit Caless in 2012, will continue as acquisitions editor.

The details: - TENDER mixes folkloric body horror with a story about womanhood and eco-anxiety set in England’s Somerset fens. - Early NetGalley readers have reacted strongly, with comments describing the book as “beautiful,” “strange,” “riveting,” “emotional,” and “unsettling.” - MIDNIGHT BLUE is described as a posthumous “lost novel” that completes Lane’s post-industrial noir Blue trilogy. - PARADISE is a Kafka-esque suspense novel, and AS IF is a short story collection; both were previously published to acclaim in the U.K. - Diversion plans to highlight Influx backlist titles including Percival Everett’s THE TREES and Eley Williams’s ATTRIB. AND OTHER STORIES. - Those backlist titles also include books longlisted or shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize, Edge Hill Prize, Jhalek Prize and Gordon Burn Prize. - The “Year of Influx” campaign will launch in 2027 and will re-read one backlist title each month. - The campaign will be Influx’s first subscription program. - Each month’s reading package will include social media elements and end with a virtual public discussion between the author and Budden. - A limited-time wholesale discount for independent bookstores will run Jan. 1-Feb. 15, 2027, and will feature selected core backlist titles.

Between the lines: - Diversion is positioning Influx as both a prestige literary imprint and a genre label that can reach readers who want horror, suspense and speculative fiction with literary ambitions. - The emphasis on backlist promotion suggests Diversion wants to extend revenue and attention well beyond launch-week sales. - The U.S. rollout also signals a broader push to make Influx titles more visible outside the U.K., where the imprint built its reputation. - Scott Waxman said the company sees strong early anticipation and has creative initiatives planned for next year.

What's next: - Influx’s U.S. launch will build toward the March and April 2027 publication dates for the Spring frontlist. - The Year of Influx subscription program will begin in 2027 with monthly reads and public virtual events. - Diversion’s discount program for independent bookstores opens Jan. 1 and closes Feb. 15, 2027. - Diversion says it will add American authors to Influx in coming seasons.