Mainstream was founded in Edinburgh in 1978 by Bill Campbell and Peter MacKenzie who continue to run the company. It is the leading non-fiction publishing house based in Scotland.

Since 2005 the company has had a sales partnership with Random House resulting in bestsellers Don’t Ever Tell, Ashes Fever, Ma! He Sold Me for a Few Cigarettes and in terms of ebooks No More Tomorrows and Behind Enemy Lines.

With particular emphasis on memoir, true crime, sport, current affairs and health, the list features prominent names such as Nicholas Parsons, Gordon Brown, Hunter Davies, Sir Ian Botham, Shane Warne and Jan de Vries.