Guyanese entrepreneur creates new option for self-published authors, changing the local literary landscape
WHEN Dennis Adonis wanted to publish his first book in 2018, he realised that while talent was rampant, Guyana did not quite have the infrastructure for publishing. This is what led him to create Learning Tree Group Media and Publishing. Launched in 2021, Learning Tree offers writers a wide range of services and is quickly becoming the go-to agency for emerging writers, especially those seeking to self-publish. In an interview with Pepperpot Magazine this week, the man behind Learning Tree, Dennis Adonis, shared how the venture found its footing, the changing trends in Guyana’s literary landscape, and why he thinks Guyanese creativity will continue to grow, diversify, and surprise.
When Adonis first had the idea of developing a publishing company in Guyana in 2018, he did not know whether the venture would be successful or even feasible. Despite this, Learning Tree Media and Publishing became a reality just a few years later in 2021. While the business started off strong, Adonis, the company’s head, says there were still a few hurdles very early on. “The economy and the industry I was in were not well-suited at the time. Learning Tree experienced highs and lows from 2021 to now. With the dawn of oil wealth pouring into Guyana, expats coming in, and more people moving into the middle class, the need for services like mine began to grow, especially for creative expression.” Adonis, however, persevered, and it paid off in 2025. “We relaunched a couple of times over the years. Last year is when we really struck gold as a company. We were able to publish books for roughly 15 authors.”
Today, Learning Tree has worked with dozens of authors and has helped make hundreds of books a reality. As Adonis shared, the quality of Guyanese stories has gained recognition internationally. Highlighting the 15 Guyanese authors Learning Tree worked with in 2025, he shared, “Each author averaged about 100 books sold locally, along with sales in Australia, Japan, the Caribbean, the US, Canada, Europe, and other regions.” This seemingly sudden uptake in writers is a sign of growth and development in the field, says Adonis. “The new traction does reflect stabilisation in the field.” This growth has forced Learning Tree to focus on a model tailored to authors seeking to make their manuscripts a reality. “I had to deal with pricing, navigating pricing to suit the local clientele, adjusting pricing, and adjusting how I structured marketing strategies for books.”
Adonis told Pepperpot Magazine that Learning Tree is dedicated to working with authors to make their book what they want. New authors can expect a thorough onboarding process that sees Learning Tree work with them to understand the author’s story and vision. The next step is the selection of one of Learning Tree’s many packages, and once payment is made, the book is published. As Adonis shared, Learning Tree partners with bookstores to help push Guyanese books to the larger public, a small but impactful service. “We have partnered with bookstores like the University of Success Bookstore at Giftland Mall and the Book Barn at Massey. These partnerships help strategically place Guyanese-authored books.” He added, “We have books coming in at the end of this month, so you will start seeing more Guyanese-authored books in these stores. We are also in discussions with other stores.”
While not a traditional publishing agency, Learning Tree’s model helps self-published authors to access a variety of publishing services in one place for their book to get published and pushed to the public while retaining all of their intellectual rights, an important feature in an age where self-publishing is becoming increasingly common. “We charge an upfront fee for publishing, and authors retain 100 per cent of their intellectual property. We do not own any intellectual property like most publishing companies do. I am strongly against that.” He added, “If you have spent time, blood, sweat, and tears creating your work, you should have full control over your creative expression.” This freedom extends to the books published as well. As Adonis shared, “We do not limit authors in terms of creative expression. We do not say you have to do it one particular way. We are an open-minded publishing company. We publish everything from research papers to fiction, romance novels, how-to books, and children’s storybooks. Everyone gets a fair chance to see their creation materialise into a book.”
Moreover, Learning Tree offers a wide range of services to authors, offering guidance, preparation, and execution on the road to publishing. “We work with authors on the book cover, and once approved, we move forward with a strategic marketing plan tailored to their book to ensure local and international sales. We make the process easier. If you are a doctor, for example, working multiple jobs and doing research, you do not have the time to handle all of this. You give us a manuscript, and we do the work. We ensure your book is published.” He added, “We handle logistics, bringing the book here, delivery, organising the launch, and distribution. We also do ghostwriting, taking your idea straight to a physical book in your hand.” This freedom and support offered by Learning Tree is why Adonis says many writers were able to sell more books than they thought they would. “I do not believe you should limit someone based on perceptions of what will sell. I’ve had authors who thought their books wouldn’t sell, and they ended up selling over 100 copies.”
Like Learning Tree, Guyana’s writing scene has also seen several changes in recent years, with one of the most striking being the diversity of genres. As Adonis explained, some genres are seeing a rise and more young professionals are becoming authors. “I have noticed a rise in two main genres: poetry and fiction, especially romance fiction. There is also more research-based work emerging because we are seeing a rise in young professionals who want to stand out in their fields,” he shared. This shift, Adonis believes, will continue and have a positive impact on the literary landscape and Guyana at large. “I think we will see more Guyanese entering educational publishing, with textbooks flowing into the Caribbean and even global markets. Many textbooks come from Trinidad and other islands, but we have professionals here with the expertise to create material for CSEC, CAPE, and tertiary levels. The next step for Learning Tree is moving into publishing research papers and expanding our reach across Guyana and the Caribbean.”
Learning Tree has big plans as they head into 2026, with a number of book launches and poetry events slated for the coming months. Whether you are interested in publishing your first book, seeking to learn more about what publishing in Guyana looks like, or just seeking some good Guyanese books, you can find Learning Tree on social media or at their website learningtreemedia.org, or call them at 592-619-4424.
