A survey of indie presses shows that 60% fear they could be out of business by the autumn, writes Galley Beggar Press cofounder Sam JordisonOver the past few years, the success of independent publishers such as Fitzcarraldo, And Other Stories, Bluemooose and Influx Press has been something to behold. They have won prizes, engaged readers and published innovative and important books. Now that wonderful literary flowering is in danger. A survey on the impact of Covid-19 on small presses, carried out by the Bookseller and writer development charity Spread the Word, reveals that 60% of the small presses polled fear they could be out of business by the autumn, 75% don’t know if they will make it beyond March next year, while 85% of the publishers have seen sales drop by more than half.Small presses have been hit especially hard because they are more dependent on physical sales in bookstores, rather than online retailers or ebook sales. I know, because my publisher, Galley Beggar Press, has also seen a big chunk of its income disappear. One of the great strengths of our kind of publishing is that we have a real connection with dedicated readers who love books as physical objects, readers who have an equally strong connection with booksellers. A great deal of what we do relies on the enthusiasm and personal recommendations of those heroes of our trade whose shops Covid-19 has closed. We have lost many of our best advocates, not to mention the most practical way of getting books... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2020-05-15 06:00:32 UTC ]
Independent Bookshop Week is in full swing with events up and down the country as Booksellers Association research reveals 82% of indie booksellers had a different career prior to owning or working in their bookshop. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-17 02:50:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Miriam Robinson, programmer for The Bookseller's Marketing & Publicity Conference 2019, shares what to expect from the day. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-16 23:44:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Speakers at The Bookseller's Marketing and Publicity Conference 2019 share how they maintain work-life balance and keep themselves sane when the pressure gets high. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-16 18:11:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Among the stories making news this week: veteran bookseller and library advocate Tim Coates releases a reader-focused survey; more drama over Drag Queen Storytimes; and what to expect from all the talk of antitrust action in the tech sector. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Close to 70 children’s book creators will be in Pittsburgh to meet with booksellers at educational sessions, signings, and receptions. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Booksellers weigh in on the controversial issue of publishers postponing and pulling books in response to criticism. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
MVB US is offering a special promotion to independent booksellers who want to take advantage of the company's Pubeasy and Pubnet services for direct ordering and communication with publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The shortlists for this year’s Shirley Jackson Awards have been announced, featuring a host of titles published by small presses. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The Independent Publishers Guild (IPG) has announced the 12 shortlists for its annual awards, with five small presses up for at least two prizes and 10 featuring for the first time. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Galley Beggar Press and CB Editions have both won this year’s Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses, as its founder announced the contest would no longer be restricted to just one winner. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Republic of Consciousness prize honours Will Eaves and Alex Pheby, but says awards make us wrongly consider a sole winner ‘the best’A novel about James Joyce’s troubled daughter, Lucia, and a reimagining of the chemical castration of Alan Turing have been named the joint winners of the Republic... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A great deal of investment, not to mention a wide network of contacts and plenty of chutzpah, was required to launch 'Within Pictures and Beyond Texts,' a quarterly publication that is the first of its kind in China. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Novels dominate this year’s shortlist for the Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
'An incredibly strong list of more than 50 submissions' has been winnowed to the area shortlists for the British Book Awards' new small-press category. The post New at the British Book Awards: 41 Contenders in Small Presses appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Forty-one small presses have made it into the regional and country shortlists of The British Book Awards’ new prize for Small Presses, sponsored by the CPI Group, launched to celebrate the innovative and nimble publishers making names for themselves outside the mainstream. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The annual British Book Awards, with winners to be announced May 13, are widening their recognition of independent publishers and of nonfiction and illustrated work in children's books. The post British Book Awards Expanded for 2019 in Children’s Books, Small Presses appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Sixty-eight small presses will be descending on Central London's Conway Hall in the second week of November, for the 17th edition of the Small Publishers' Fair. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Among the week's headlines: On library ebooks, the world is watching; how some university presses are taking control of their ebook sales; and RIP Todd Bol, founder of the Little Free Library movement. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Faber saw "another stellar year" for the financial year ending March 2018, although with turnover and profit narrowly down on the previous year’s results due to a dip in ebook sales and fewer fiction paperbacks. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses is moving into its third year with a major new sponsor, the University of East Anglia (UEA), whose MA Creative Writing students will also have a single bloc vote on the 2019 Prize judging panel. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this