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Comment from the book world in February 2023

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February 2023

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Brexit - ‘a gigantic nightmare' for small publishers

27 February 2023

‘It is a gigantic nightmare. Where to start? It's increased print costs. It's made it harder for printers to source the materials they need. It's disrupted everything in the UK, helped wreck the economy, and that of course has a big impact on people's ability to buy books. It's made us an international laughing stock and made the UK look unreliable, unpleasant and stupid - and that makes it harder to do foreign rights deals. It's made travel in Europe harder, with longer queues and worse exchange rates. On top of all that it's given us seven years of uncertainty and disruption and I'm sure there's still more pain to come. There is no new normal. There is just ongoing agony.'

Sam Jordison of Galley Beggar Press puts what other indie publishers are feeling into words in a wide-ranging article in Bookbrunch, which regrettably is behind the paywall

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Publishers taking on successful self-published authors

13 February 2023

‘The level of talent and success we're seeing from self-published authors speaks for itself, so publishers have definitely had to take notice and adapt. I'm sure it's shifted attitudes towards self-publishing but I also think it's shifting attitudes towards our own work: when you're approaching an author who has already had huge success on their own, you have to be very clear and confident about what extra value you're bringing to the table. I've found it makes for very collaborative partnerships with authors who have incredible hands-on publishing experience and a forensic understanding of what works for their audience.'

Celia Killen, commissioning editor at Orion Fiction in London, who signed 10 books by Jessa Hastings in October, including her initially self-published Magnolia Parks romance series which went viral on TikTok earlier in 2022, in the Bookseller