A Bookseller Who Bridges Print and Digital, Day and Night, This World and the Next

In Europe by Roger Tagholm

Watkin’s Books — the world’s most famous mind-body-spirit bookstore — nearly went under in 2010. A 21st-century business strategy and an American with vision saved it from extinction. By Roger Tagholm LONDON: You wouldn’t expect the owner of London’s –- if not the world’s -– most famous mind-body-spirit bookshop, Watkins, in Cecil Court, a Victorian walkway off Charing Cross Road, …

Proof that Publishers Know the Public Doesn’t Care About Publisher Branding

In What's the Buzz by Roger Tagholm

By Roger Tagholm Notice anything odd about this illuminated panel advertisement for Sean Rayment’s Bomb Hunters currently adorning the London Underground? No? Try answering this then: who’s the publisher? It’s a real oddity. Think how many times you read about publishers launching new imprints, re-vamping existing ones, re-doing their logos “we’re really pleased with this design, the way x represents …

What Can Schools Do to Inspire More Literary Creativity in Children?

In Children's, Discussion by Edward Nawotka

By Edward Nawotka Over the last several years literary entrepreneurs, supported by A-list authors, have opened several imaginative creative writing centers and bookshops aimed a children and teens. Arguably, these institutions — from Dave Egger’s 826 Valencia in San Francisco, Roddy Doyle’s Fighting Words in Dublin, to Nick Hornby’s Ministry of Stories in London (as discussed in today’s lead story) …

Could Online Writing Communities Replace Creative Writing Programs?

In Guest Contributors by Guest Contributor

• Quillant.com, an online writing community based in the UK launched two months ago • Chris Vannozzi, a co-founder of Quilliant.com discusses the role online communities can play in developing talent for the traditional publishing industry By Chris Vannozzi LONDON: Two months ago we launched Quilliant.com , a new online writing community that aims to recreate the classic writing group …

Do Booksellers Promote Too Many Titles at Once?

In Discussion by Edward Nawotka

By Edward Nawotka Today’s lead story describes some of the bookselling strategies of London’s Daunt Books. One focus of the piece is the fact that the bookstore displays just one or two titles in the windows per week, a move that has led to significant sales of certain titles. A carefully edited and curated selection of titles can be a …