By Roger Tagholm LONDON: A select group of UK independent booksellers has just returned from the American Bookseller’s Association Winter Institute in Washington DC, where they have had their heads turned around by the strides being made by US independents on the selling of e-books. US indie booksellers, in partnership with Google, are starting to sell e-books, a model that …
About the Author
Beautiful Books, Great Hair: The Unlikely Publishing Career of Simon Petherick
By Roger Tagholm LONDON: With a fierce mane, a fondness for striped socks and the ruddy complexion of an outdoorsman, 51-year-old Simon Petherick — the MD of Beautiful Books — cuts a striking figure. Increasingly, his books are getting noticed too, a testament to his outgoing nature and openness to new ideas. Founded in 2006, to publish titles that are “off …
Inside The Ministry of Stories, London’s Most Unusual New Literary Institution
By Roger Tagholm LONDON: A little girl grins as the man on the sidewalk wearing the wolf mask stops her and asks: “Have you been to a ‘monster supply shop’ before?” It’s not the sort of question you get asked every day, but it works and, looking a bit sheepish (never a good idea when a wolf is around), the …
It’s Elemental: Touch Press at the Vanguard of Enhanced E-books
By Roger Tagholm LONDON: Digital books can boost the sales of their physical equivalents, but success in the digital arena will only come to those publishers that form “deep, serious partnerships”, according to Max Whitby, CEO of new, west London-based digital start-up Touch Press. “It’s no good publishers coming along and saying well here’s some technical people who can do …
Sharjah’s Int’l Book Fair Makes a Big Push for UK and US Publishers
• Sharjah’s International Book Fair, October 26 to November 6, emphasizes collaboration with western publishers. • Several new awards were bestowed at this year’s Fair to highlight excellence in English-language publishing. By Roger Tagholm SHARJAH, UAE: It was a good day for Chicago at the Sharjah International Book Fair’s inaugural international awards, presented by His Highness Sheik Dr. Sultan bin …
Harper UK’s Lucy Vanderbilt on Chinese Opportunties
By Roger Tagholm LONDON & BEIJING: At a time when ‘flat’ is the new ‘up’ in the UK, publishers are eager, some might event say desperate, to find new markets – and as relatively untapped markets go, none comes bigger than China. HarperCollins has been quick to realise this and is already reaping the benefits. At last week’s British Book …