IT STARTED WITH A NOTE - MARY EGAN PUBLISHING
A small, family-run publishing house with deep roots in Aotearoa’s literary world, Mary Egan Publishing is – one family member at a time – moving north.
Officially launched in 2010, the business brings together a mother, two daughters, and a lifelong love of storytelling. Producing around 35 to 40 titles annually, the company works closely with New Zealand authors to bring their stories to life – offering a boutique, author-focussed publishing experience.
The idea started with a note. When Sophia Egan-Reid was 22, her father, Gerard Reid, quietly handed her a business plan. Having spent decades working in and around the publishing industry, he saw something in his daughter. It was the last thing he ever gave her before he passed away following a short battle with cancer.
“He wrote it on a scrap of paper,” says Sophia. “Focus on independent publishing. Publish the most beautiful books. Only work with nice people. Look after your mother.” The team still uses that note as their guiding philosophy today.
Mary Egan began her own career in the 1980s, teaching herself typesetting and design on a tiny Mac SE. With Gerard, she launched Egan-Reid Limited in the early 90s, producing books for major publishers across New Zealand, Australia and the UK. Over the years, she’s worked on more than a thousand titles and is still a stickler for detail and quality. Now living in Mangawhai Heads with her two dogs, Dottie and Ted, Mary remains closely involved in the company, particularly with manuscript assessments and typesetting. She's also mum to Joshua, who lives in Perth, and is a proud grandmother to four grandchildren.
Anna Egan-Reid, who lives in West Auckland with her partner and two young sons, is the company’s lead designer. She began freelancing during university then worked in-house at Penguin Books NZ, eventually joining the family business in 2012. Her work has received national recognition and is known for its thoughtful design and deep knowledge of typography.
Sophia, now based in Kaiwaka, manages everything else – from project management and marketing to distribution and business development. She has worked in publishing all her adult life, beginning as the office cleaner at the family business before taking on office management, accounts, and eventually directing the company. In 2018, she was named Young Publisher of the Year at the Booksellers NZ Industry Awards. Her recent move north with her husband and beloved dogs brought with it more space, inspiration, and a deeper connection to community and place – plus a home office overlooking the stunning Kaipara Harbour.
In 2020, Sophia and Anna launched Little Love, a children’s imprint named after Anna’s son, Louis – affectionately called their ‘little love.’ The imprint focuses on stories with heart and the kind of magic kids love. Many titles are published in both English and te reo Māori, and are now found in schools and libraries across the country.
Mary Egan Publishing isn’t a big machine – it’s a small team doing work they care about, helping people create beautiful and meaningful books. Despite the years and how the publishing landscape may have changed, the heart of the business remains the same.
“We’re still guided by Dad’s note,” says Sophia. “Make beautiful books. Work with good people. Look after each other.”
www.MaryEgan.co.nz | 09 360 9118