About

A home for honest books

Kodu Press is an independent publisher in Brooklyn, New York, founded in 2026. We publish books that bring readers home, from novels to honest nonfiction.

Why “Kodu”

Kodu is the Estonian word for home. Our seal carries two Estonian symbols: the barn swallow, Estonia’s national bird, which always finds its way home, and the cornflower (rukkilill), its national flower.

What we publish

Our first series, Afraid? Here Are the Facts, is six short books for Christians who hear fear-based claims about their neighbors and want the real story. Fiction is on the way too.

Every book is published in print and as an ebook, and the series also comes as audiobooks narrated by the author, Helen Ots, so the books can travel with you on a commute, a walk or a long drive.

Our standards

Books about faith and fear deserve extra care. Every nonfiction title we publish follows these standards:

• Every claim is traceable. Each fact, number, date and quote can be checked against a source.
• Primary sources first. Scripture, court records, original studies and official statements come before reporting about them.
• Both sides, at their best. Where Christians or scholars disagree, we cite the strongest source on each side.
• Labels on advocacy. Sources that advocate for a position, from any side, are labeled as such.
• Readers from inside. Before release, each book is read by someone from the faith or community it describes.
• References for listeners. Audiobook listeners can find the full reference list for each book on its page on this site.
• Help where it’s needed. Where a topic touches harm, the book includes help lines and further reading.

About the author

Helen Ots has a heart for people, and for cutting through confusion and darkness so the light can shine through. That is why she writes. She is an ordained minister, a graduate of ministry school, and a former classroom teacher, and she has spent fifteen years in learning and development helping people make sense of complicated things.

Her father was an Estonian immigrant and her mother is a New Englander through and through. Helen grew up a farm girl, has lived everywhere from Wisconsin to Texas to Washington, D.C., and now calls Brooklyn home. Kodu, the Estonian word for home, is a nod to her father, and the swallow on the seal is close to her heart.

She writes and narrates every book in the Afraid? Here Are the Facts series, with the same hope in each: that readers come away less afraid, better informed, and more ready to love the neighbor in front of them.

The heart of it

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)

Truth without love can wound. Love without truth can mislead. We try to hold both.

Found a mistake?

If you think we got something wrong, please tell us at [email protected] and include your source. We review every correction and fix errors in the next printing and on the book’s reference page.