What The Latest Book Market Data Is Telling Us
The UK market grew by 1.5% in revenue terms in the first six months of this year, which sounds modest but is actually a decent result when you consider that volume sales fell slightly at the same time. Readers are buying marginally fewer books but spending more on the ones they do buy. This is good news for publishers.
Oh wow!
Last week I went to Ideas Fest for the first time, and it was absolutely blooming fab. Surrounded by business people from all kinds of industries. When I told people what I do for a living, the response was "Oh wow." . Genuine, warm, a little surprised, and I'll be honest: it caught me off guard. Here are my thoughts on what publishing means.
Your Book Is Written. Now What?
There's a moment that almost every author I work with experiences. There's a rush of relief, a sense of achievement, and then, usually quite quickly, a question they weren't entirely prepared for.
What happens now?
It's one of the biggest misconceptions about publishing. The writing is the visible part, so it's natural to assume that finishing it means you're nearly done. In reality, finishing the manuscript means you're ready to start
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Sales
How much does the cover really matter to the reader? Industry stats will tell you, they mean everything, because that’s what’s selling titles. This week I’ve battled with creating my own.
The Hardback Debate Misses the Point
A row in the Guardian this week saw journalist Larry Ryan calling for the death of the hardback, and his readers responding with the kind of fierce defence usually reserved for the monarchy. As a publisher who produces hardbacks regularly, I think both sides are missing the point, and the more interesting question is the one nobody is asking.
What Actually Happens After You Finish Writing a Book
Finishing a manuscript is a major milestone, and it marks the point where publishing decisions begin to matter most. This stage shapes how a book communicates, holds its position, and reaches the readers it was written for.