Vincent de Paul founded Mystery Publishers, which is marking its tenth anniversary.
Founder Vincent de Paul says the firm has published 70 debut titles while allowing writers to retain copyright, subsidiary rights and production files.
Mystery Publishers Limited is marking its tenth anniversary with a publishing model that leaves authors in control of their work. Founder Vincent de Paul says writers retain copyright and subsidiary rights while paying for professional publishing services.
Registered on September 16, 2016, the company has published 70 titles by debut authors. Its authors include writers from Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Under the model, authors commission editing, design, printing and distribution rather than transfer ownership of their books. They also keep their production files.
How Mystery Publishers balances rights and standards
De Paul says authors effectively act as their own publishers, hiring the firm for specialist services. However, payment does not guarantee acceptance, and the company rejects manuscripts that fall below its editorial standards.
The business grew out of his own struggle to find a publisher for his poetry manuscript. Publishers rejected it because of poetry’s limited market or its absence from the school syllabus.
He eventually abandoned efforts to publish that manuscript, but recognised that other writers faced similar barriers. In his view, Kenya’s publishing industry relies too heavily on schoolbook procurement rather than wider literary readership.
Meanwhile, the company uses freelancers and, de Paul says, has never borrowed money or received donor funding. It has also avoided accumulating unsold stock, which he regards as a financial risk.
Beyond print publishing, its services include digital editions, audiobooks, children’s books, creative-writing training and anthologies.
Finding readers and expanding across Africa
Reaching readers remains difficult because of weak distribution, reduced space for book reviews and limited bookshop shelf space. The firm therefore relies primarily on social media and is developing a discovery and review platform for African titles.
De Paul also expects authors to promote their books rather than consider their work complete after submitting a manuscript. He disputes the idea that Kenyans do not read, pointing to newspapers, scripture, WhatsApp messages and social media.
Instead, he argues, people often associate reading with examinations rather than enjoyment. Book purchases also compete with essential household spending.
On artificial intelligence, the company rejects AI-generated works, although de Paul accepts its use for brainstorming and quality checks. He maintains that authors must do the writing themselves.
The firm also founded the Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize to recognise self-published books often excluded from mainstream competitions. However, funding difficulties have delayed the 2026 edition.
Looking ahead, de Paul hopes to build a Pan-African publishing group with stronger distribution and translation programmes. His plans also include expanding its digital and audio catalogues.
