About Us
BookLab was founded in 2015 by Mark and Cherith Stibbe. A Lab is a place where you can experiment, so our clients are encouraged to innovate. A Lab (Labrador) is also our favourite dog breed, so it will be no surprise to hear that we have two, a black lab called Bella and a yellow lab called Phoebe.
Mark Stibbe founded the first version of BookLab for writers back in 2012 and since then has helped hundreds of writers with their publishing journey.
Dr Mark Stibbe
The Ghost
Mark is the author of over fifty books, three of which have won awards. Most of his books have been commissioned by traditional publishing houses like Harper Collins, Routledge, and SPCK. A handful have been published by independent publishers. Recently, Mark has done a lot of self-publishing. He therefore has a great deal of experience in all three forms of publishing:
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Traditional publishing
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Independent or hybrid publishing
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Self-publishing
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Likewise, Mark has a great deal of experience in many different genres. His titles cover different kinds of writing from novels to academic textbooks, from poetry to memoirs.
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Since 2013, Mark has been ghostwriting books for clients. So far, he has clocked up dozens of titles, both fiction and nonfiction - memoirs and autobiographies, self-help and teaching books, novels and textbooks, business books and journals for meditation, among other genres. Most of his clients go on to have their work published.
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Most of the clients who come to BookLab have a deep longing to tell a story, or to communicate truths, but lack the expertise to write a book. Mark's job is to fuse their personal passion with his technical skills. Together, we get the job done.
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If you’re interested in using his services, please do reach out and contact us. We’ll be very happy to hear from you.
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Mark's Books (a selection!)
Bella
The Black Lab
Mark is the writer behind the words, but the true inspiration for BookLab is Bella, our loyal Black Labrador. Bella has been Mark's silent writing partner since 2014, sitting patiently by his side through every chapter, edit, and rewrite.
Her quiet companionship reminds us that the best stories are built on connection — the kind you feel deeply but don’t always need to explain.
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BookLab was born from that spirit: a collaborative, thoughtful space where your story is carefully shaped and brought to life.
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Phoebe
The Yellow Lab
Phoebe, our playful yellow Labrador, joined the family in 2023.
With boundless energy and a nose for adventure, Phoebe has a way of pulling Mark away from the desk and into the world — especially the winding paths and quiet corners of the English countryside.
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At BookLab, we believe that storytelling is as much about living as it is about writing.
Phoebe is a reminder that the best stories start with a sense of wonder.