Paul Westlake obituary

My friend Paul Westlake, who has died of cancer aged 65, was a pillar of the radical publishing world from the mid-1970s onwards. He was an advocate of workers' co-operatives and gained much experience in ensuring that the output of independent publishers reached the bookshops.In autumn 1976, after months of planning, we became co-founders, with three others, of a distributor for small radical and feminist publishers, including periodicals. Paul, who had a few years' experience in managing a bookshop, took on the key role of handling the finances, which was a big challenge, particularly for someone without an accounting background.At the beginning, Paul organised the building of an office and warehouse in Clerkenwell Workshops, central London, putting up the internal walls block by block. The Workshops were also home to the magazines Spare Rib and Undercurrents.In 1979 Paul co-founded Zed Books, where he met his partner, Anne. He took on a role in finance and rights administration and in 1983 persuaded the company and its owners to convert to a workers' co-operative. He supported the Industrial Common Ownership Movement for nearly a decade. Always ready to help out in the running of the organisation, he personally introduced the staff to spreadsheets. He also played a leading role in Hackney Co-operative Developments and chaired its trust, which today has a solid property base in Dalston.Paul spent more than 20 years fostering southern African publishing. He founded the... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2013-11-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Obituary: Tom Spurgeon, Comics Journalist, Editor, Blogger, Dead at 50

Tom Spurgeon, author, editor, comics critic, blogger, and executive director of the Cartoon Crossroads Columbus comics festival, died of unknown causes in Columbus, Ohio, on November 13. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Crunching the numbers: how ‘Data Guy’ Paul Abbassi rewrote the digital narrative

A former tech executive in the video game industry, Paul Abbassi’s work crunching e-book sales figures has made publishers reassess their digital strategies. Ahead of his keynote address, he spoke to The Bookseller. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-07 19:57:06 UTC ]
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Obituary: Ernest J. Gaines, Novelist of the Black South, Dies at 86

Ernest J. Gaines, award-winning author of the acclaimed novel 'The Autobiography of Jane Pittman,' and a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant recipient, died of a heart attack at his home in Oscar, La. He was 86. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-06 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Scribner UK pre-empts 'breakout' Paul Yoon novel

Scribner UK has pre-empted a Laos-set novel by US writer Paul Yoon, which follows three orphans in one of the "darkest, but relatively little known, episodes in 20th century history". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-20 17:30:09 UTC ]
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David Fickling Books signs Nobel Prize winner Sir Paul Nurse

David Fickling Books has snapped up Nobel Prize winner Sir Paul Nurse’s new book, What Is Life?  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-16 11:15:36 UTC ]
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Picador’s Paul Baggaley to join Bloomsbury as editor-in-chief

Paul Baggaley is to join Bloomsbury as editor-in-chief for its adult consumer publishing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-16 04:03:59 UTC ]
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Paul Wolfe Writes the Story of JFK's Lover

The author's new novel imagines the “lost” diary of Mary Pinchot Meyer, JFK’s murdered paramour. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Obituary: Richard Jackson

Legendary children’s book publisher, editor, and author Richard “Dick” Jackson died on October 2 from complications of multiple myeloma at his home in Towson, Md. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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George Richardson obituary

My friend George Richardson, who has died aged 94, spent most of his working life at Oxford University, including as chief executive of Oxford University Press (OUP) from the mid-1970s to the late 80s.He was born in Cricklewood, north London, to Christina, a homemaker, and George, a businessman.... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-09-26 16:53:02 UTC ]
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Paul Abbassi, "Data Guy", to deliver keynote at FutureBook Live 2019

Paul Abbassi, formerly known as the "Data Guy", is the second keynote speaker to be announced for FutureBook Live 2019, The Bookseller’s annual publishing conference. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-16 17:02:07 UTC ]
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Charles Johnson Remembers the Great Paule Marshall

There is much to be said of importance for literary culture in general and black American literature in particular when we reflect on the life of the late novelist Paule Marshall. I will discuss all this, but I’d like to begin with an anecdote about my only encounter with this grand lady. On... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-09-05 08:47:45 UTC ]
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John Sansom obituary

My friend John Sansom, who has died aged 82, was a prolific art book publisher who made a huge contribution to the post-1970s culture boom, during which modern British art went from being overlooked and somewhat provincial to having high international standing.His Bristol-based Redcliffe Press,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-08-21 13:58:41 UTC ]
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Obituary: Toni Morrison (18/02/1931-05/08/19)

Four publishing industry figures pay tribute to and share their recollections of acclaimed author and the first African-American Nobel Laureate, Toni Morrison. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-15 22:10:49 UTC ]
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Obituary: Jason Schneider, 44

Jason Schneider, editorial director for Skyhorse Publishing, died July 26 after a long illness. He was 44. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Obituary: Phil Pelham

Hodder & Stoughton c.e.o. Jamie Hodder-Williams pays tribute to Hodder field sales manager Phil Pelham.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-18 21:46:25 UTC ]
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Obituary: Istvan Bart

Frances Pinter remembers Hungarian publisher Istvan Bart, who has died in Budapest at the age of 75. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-18 06:30:20 UTC ]
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Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens’ memoir serves up calm wisdom

John Paul Stevens’ memoir “The Making of a Justice” and the biography “Oliver Wendell Holmes” are must-reads for legal buffs. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2019-07-17 19:13:55 UTC ]
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