About Wonk Press

Wonk Press creates extraordinary books crafted for passionate communities. Founded in 2019 by Carrie Smith and Matt Pietrek, the company was built around a simple idea: audiences deserve publishers who are just as passionate about the topic as they are.

We’ve always been proudly direct-to-consumer. That choice lets our authors earn what they should, and it frees us to pursue the kinds of projects big publishing houses rarely take a chance on.

Every Wonk Press title gets its own bespoke treatment. No templates. No shortcuts. We work hand-in-hand with our authors to turn their words, research, and imagery into books that feel as good as they read. Premium paper, rich inks, durable bindings—our production standards are part of the brand, and readers notice.

The early success of Minimalist Tiki and Modern Caribbean Rum proved that a profit-sharing, creator-focused model could thrive. Since then, our catalog has grown with purpose.

·       Polynesiacs – Tiki at Home, with Tom Jaynes.

·       The Tequila Ambassador V.O., by Tomas Estes.

·       Vestige: Twenty Years of Modern Pin-Up, by Susana Vestige

In 2025, we released The Rum Never Sets: 300 Years of Royal Navy Rum and London Dock Rum—a history-based collaboration between co-founder Matt Pietrek and Planteray Rum’s Alexandre Gabriel. Alongside it, we published a full French-language edition, Royal Navy Rum & London Dock Rum, to bring this history-rich story to a wider audience.

Wonk Press continues to grow, fueled by readers who value depth, beauty, and obsession in book form.