'It’s been a rollercoaster': how indie publishers survived - and thrived - in 2020

When lockdown came in March, many small presses feared they would go out of business. But then came an outpouring of support from the publicThe best books from indie publishers in 2020Six months ago, independent publishers Jacaranda and Knights Of were warning publicly that their income had fallen to almost zero. They weren’t the only small publishers struggling. With bookshops and distributors closing, a survey from the Bookseller at the time found that almost 60% of small publishers feared closure by the autumn. No bookshops meant no knowledgeable, passionate booksellers pressing new books they loved on to customers; no events and no travel meant that crucial avenues for introducing new writers had disappeared.The stars had been looking very happily aligned for Oneworld in March. The independent publisher had three of its biggest books scheduled for the month – a novel from Women’s prize winner Tayari Jones, Silver Sparrow; a new thriller from the bestselling crime author Will Dean, Black River; and Damien Love’s novel for older children, Monstrous Devices. It had printed point-of-sale materials, invested in marketing, advertising, printing.With the resurgence of Black Lives Matter came attention to our fiction list, with nearly every title selling out in June Related: The best books of 2020 to support indie publishers this Christmas Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2020-12-16 08:00:30 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "'It’s been a rollercoaster': how indie publishers survived - and thrived - in 2020"


Transworld's Darcy Nicholson to join Sphere

Little, Brown imprint Sphere has hired Darcy Nicholson, commissioning editor at Transworld, to be editorial director for its fiction list. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-05 09:56:46 UTC ]
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'Crawdads,' 'Becoming' Top Amazon 2019 Lists

Led by sales of such of powerhouse titles as Delia Owen's wildly popular novel 'Where the Crawdads Sing' on the fiction list, and Michelle Obama's memoir 'Becoming' for nonfiction, Amazon released lists of the e-tailers top selling books of 2019. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-12-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Here’s a way to help a bookseller in need.

We talk a lot on these parts about supporting indie bookstores, but this story from The Washington Post adds an extra layer of of urgency: Patrick Darby, who worked as a bookseller at big chain stores for many years before starting his own shop, Novel Books, is in dire straits. Darby opened... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-12-04 20:41:36 UTC ]
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The True Tales of a Literary Bartender

It’s a writerly dream come true: a cocktail based on your book, prepared by a dedicated bookseller who has pored over your pages for references to alcohol or even flavors and scents he can interpret to concoct the drink. Nick Petrulakis of Booksmith in Brookline is the literary bartender in this... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-12-03 09:49:31 UTC ]
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Oddest book title prize: Dirt Hole Variations beats War on Artisan Cheese

Guide by the late Charles L Dobbins, known as the father of modern trapping, sees off polemical defence of traditional dairiesThe Dirt Hole and Its Variations might be a serious guide to hunting and trapping foxes, coyotes, bobcats and raccoons, but the double entendre has helped it land the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-11-29 11:35:58 UTC ]
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Counting Our Blessings (shelftalker)

A bookseller counts Thanksgiving blessings and the opportunities they inspire. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-27 11:00:06 UTC ]
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Authors call out John Lewis for 'similarities' between Christmas ad and children's books

John Lewis' Christmas advert has come under fire as author and former bookseller Jen Campbell highlighted the similarities between the advert and her children’s book Franklin’s Flying Bookshop (Thames & Hudson). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-18 10:24:18 UTC ]
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Illingworth to join D H H Literary Agency as full-time agent

Bookseller Harry Illingworth is set to leave Goldsboro Books at the end of the year to become a full-time agent at The D H H Literary Agency. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-12 03:55:21 UTC ]
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The Bookseller's Working Class Survey wins PPA award

The Bookseller’s Working Class survey, an analysis of class in the publishing business, has been named Content Piece of the Year at the PPA's Independent Publisher Awards. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-11 12:39:47 UTC ]
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German bookseller Hugendubel unveils 'bookshop of the future'

Faced with growing numbers of customers migrating to the internet, German bookseller Hugendubel is pinning its hopes on a new store concept which it ambitiously calls the "bookshop of the future".  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-05 01:04:10 UTC ]
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Announcing the Sunday Times PFD Young Writer of the Year Award shortlist

From meditations on the d/Deaf experience to short stories blurring the mythic and the gothic with the everyday, from mixing the personal and political to a young woman uncover the truth about her family’s past – four outstanding writers have today been named on the shortlist for The Sunday... Continue reading at British Council global

[ British Council global | 2019-11-04 12:55:09 UTC ]
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10 Useful Skills For Working as a Bookseller

Thinking about becoming a bookseller? From hand-selling to music choice, here are a few of the useful skills one new bookseller learned about on the job. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-11-04 11:38:38 UTC ]
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Being a crime writer doesn’t mean I condone murder. Do I even have to say it? | Garry Disher

Every now and then I encounter people who can’t suspend disbelief. They ask how I can write about ‘such terrible things’Feeling unappreciated is your lot as a writer. Few readers; no readers. Scathing reviews; no reviews. Publishers saying, “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” or not taking a punt on... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-11-03 17:00:27 UTC ]
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How a thriving indie bookseller is taking on Amazon's bricks-and-mortar insurgence

Ann Patchett reveals the route to her bestseller and how she'll battle Amazon. (Shop dogs help.) Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-10-31 20:02:20 UTC ]
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A Most Rare Compendium: An 18th-Century Guide to Magical Treasure Hunting?

We do not know who owned the manuscript before 1928, when A Most Rare Compendium was sold to the Wellcome Library by the Viennese antiquarian bookseller V. A. Heck for 1,200 Swiss francs (48 pounds sterling). Heck’s sales announcement describes it as an “exceedingly curious” and “artfully... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-10-31 08:48:15 UTC ]
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Pictures of the week

This week's pictures round-up features a rare Salman Rushdie appearance, the launch of a new independent publisher and the 2019 Booker Prize ceremony. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-25 04:56:48 UTC ]
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The Problem(s) with Damaged Goods

An indie bookseller urges publishers to pay more attention to the way they ship their cargo. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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A Picture Book Free-for-all: The Follow Up (shelftalker)

A buyer circles back to talk sell-through on bookseller favorites. Plus, a holiday preview! Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-18 12:00:02 UTC ]
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Two Minnesota Indie Bookstores Partnered Up, and Business Is Booming

Twin Cities area bookstores Excelsior Bay Books and Valley Bookseller have entered a unique collaborative relationship that is attracting A-list authors to their premises and bumping up both stores’ sales. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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My Frankfurt Book Fair... with Laura Ricchetti

Pan Macmillan’s international sales star—and the Shooting Star among this year’s The Bookseller Rising Stars tranche—on her love for the Messe, learning from Ms Martini, and not drinking too many martinis... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-15 16:21:40 UTC ]
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