|
EDITORIAL
(from May 03 issue)
Book People website re-vamped
This month we have an excellent interview with
Gordon Wise, sharing his views on commercial non-fiction in the
UK. We also have the first of this year’s distribution/logistics
features.
The last two months have been pretty busy at Book People, particularly
with the update of our website. As well as all the current job
vacancies and news, it now features an archive section where you
can look back at items featured in recent issues. One significant
area we are still developing is publishing resources/links. Any
readers with services for publishers are welcome to e-mail me
with details for free inclusion into a valuable resource for publishers.
I’d also be keen to hear from publishers who are happy to
endorse useful suppliers.
A brief update on the PIRA event I mentioned last month: it seems
that they will not be re-running ‘Cross Media Production’
again in July, but are planning a larger event for September.
Paul Thorne
TOP
Audited
circulation for the year to 31st December 2002. Average circulation
of 5,707.
Book
People is published by Chappell Thorne
16 Chilham Way, Bromley, Kent BR2 7PR
Telephone: 020 8462 5000 • Fax: 020 8462 9993
ISDN: 020 8462 8076
Email: bookpeople@chappell-thorne.com
Editor:
Paul Thorne
Special features: Susan Dixon
Sub Editor: Paula Arkell
Production: Liz Bingold
Advertising Sales: Jenny Kearl
© 2003 by Chappell Thorne. All rights reserved. No part of
this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system,
or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written
permission of the publisher.
TOP
BOOK
EXPO AMERICA EVENTS PLUS NEW WEB SERVICE
Events
and seminars covering a wide range of industry issues and topics
have been organised for this year’s convention, plus a great
new web service for exhibitors.
The BookExpo America (BEA) conference programme will feature several
seminars designed to examine the relationship between the film
and book communities.
Peter Bart, editor-in-chief of Variety, will chair a panel of
high-profile film industry insiders, including Robert Bookman,
Peter Guber and Tom Rothman as they discuss the studio players,
publishers and films that have re-shaped the Hollywood book market.
Programmes and seminars on a range of industry issues and topics
have also been organised for this year’s convention. BEA
will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center (May 29th -
June 1st 2003). BEA organisers believe the move to Los Angeles
should encourage attendance in the film community, and among other
West Coast and international participants.
This year’s conference programme at BEA will also see the
first Global Rights Forum, an initiative undertaken by BEA, the
London Book Fair and the Frankfurt Book Fair. The Global Rights
Forum at BEA will begin with two seminars focusing on the potential
of the American market for buyers and sellers. The education programme
is arranged by Mark Dressler, an independent industry consultant.
BookExpo America (BEA) and Publishers Lunch have launched a joint
venture that takes advantage of technology and database services
developed and utilised by Publishers Lunch through its PublishersMarketplace.com
website to provide convention goers with their own easy, searchable
web page and convention attendees with a convenient way to plan
their show experience ahead of time.
Called BEA Marketplace, the new service is designed to facilitate
communication and enhance the face-to-face contact which is critical
to the convention experience. BEA Marketplace is free to everyone
who has an exhibitor booth or a rights center table at this year’s
BEA, which will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in
Los Angeles, May 29th - June 1st, 2003.
“This is just the tool that so many of our exhibitors and
attendees have needed to make their time at the show more productive,”
states Greg Topalian, vice-president and show manager for BEA
“In the area of rights alone, this will prove to be an invaluable
asset. We have close to 1,000 publishers who exhibit at BEA exclusively.
These people need to communicate with prospective clients, set
appointments, and either establish or raise their profile in the
international community. This is the way for them to do that.
BEA Marketplace is a mirror image of BEA on the web, and it complements
all levels of convention business.”
BEA Marketplace allows exhibitors to post comprehensive, searchable,
critical information about all their convention activities, promotions,
personnel and more, updatable at any time before, and even during,
the show. “It's like a super-charged electronic directory
of everything that's happening on the floor,” states Michael
Cader. He notes that the first exhibitors have just been invited
to start filling their pages with information, and they’ve
already responded enthusiastically. “We’ve built easy
search boxes to let you find galley giveaways, key personnel by
department, author booth signings, contests, exhibitors by specialty
and lots more,” Cader comments.
Among the many different size and types of publishers and exhibitors
who have begun entering data and building a significant web presence
at BEA Marketplace are HarperCollins, Hyperion, Rodale, Baker
& Taylor, and Tuttle Publishing.
Officials at BEA acknowledge that they have been seeking a way
to build a more interactive community on the web. A special rights
component for both exhibitors and Rights Center participants will
help interested buyers acquire a specific sense of what's on offer,
whom to contact, and who is open for appointments. And even non-exhibiting
attendees can promote what they're doing at the show. Show organisers
note that attendees who are not exhibiting or who do not have
a rights center table at BEA may also register for BEA Marketplace
at a cost of $100.
BEA Marketplace may be accessed by going to the BookExpo America
website at www.bookexpoamerica.com and clicking on BEA Marketplace.
Contact: BookExpo America and registration for the events, 800/840-5614
or 203/840-5614 (International) or visit the BEA website at www.bookexpoamerica.com
TOP
PEARSON
AUSTRALIA CHOOSES BOOKMASTER
Pearson Australia has chosen the Bookmaster publishing system
from Australian software developer TMS Tailor Made Systems, for
its operations in Australia and NZ.
Pearson Australia will implement Bookmaster in all its Australasian
operational groups. These comprise Penguin Australia and New Zealand,
Pearson Education Australia and New Zealand and Dorling Kindersley.
TOP
INSTITUTES
OF PAPER AND PUBLISHING AGREE ON MERGER
Following
recent discussions, The Institute of Paper International and the
Institute of Publishing have agreed to merge, to form the Institute
of Paper & Publishing International (IPP).
With market sectors now becoming more broad based, this merger
will allow a single organisation to offer a range of benefits
and services of interest to a much wider audience ; as the new
Institute grows, this would include training and development,
professional qualifications, advice on career opportunities and
progression within industry sectors, as well as social events
and activities.
Commenting on the merger, chief executive David Pryke said, “We
very much welcome the opportunities that this merger will offer
for all members. It is important that we are able to represent
the best interests of those starting or developing their careers
in our industries, especially as the boundaries between the different
sectors become increasingly blurred. There is continuing concern
about skills, knowledge and experience, in both industries, and
the new IPP strongly supports the achievement of industry-based
standards of professional competence by its workforce.”
The IPP will initially be based in the Institute of Paper’s
offices in Chertsey, Surrey. As David Pryke says, “We have
full-time staff in Chertsey dedicated to management and day-to-day
administration of all membership affairs, from dealing with enquiries
about career options to dealing with membership applications and
organising professional training and development events, as well
as social activities throughout the UK. As such we are able to
provide a comprehensive service to all of our members.”
With preliminary discussions concluded, work will continue on
harmonisation of the contributing organisations. The aim is to
achieve full integration of the operational requirements of the
two Institutes by the end of 2003.
“We recognise that there are differences in the way the
Institutes of Paper International and Publishing have been developed,”
said David Pryke, “but we have agreed in outline on the
basic processes and procedures that will be needed.
“With invaluable help from members of the Institute of Publishing’s
Council, we shall be developing ambitious plans for future growth;
we feel that there are many in the industries we cover who share
our views and will want to join us from all sectors, as the new
Institute becomes established.”
Full details of the new Institute of Paper and Publishing International,
including information on joining and membership benefits and services,
contact: IPP, Membership Services, Hamilton Court, Gogmore Lane,
Chertsey KT16 9AP. Telephone: 08707 500332.
TOP
A
CELEBRATION OF COMMERCIAL NON-FICTION
In
an interview with Gordon Wise, publisher of the commercial non-fiction
arm of Pan Macmillan, incorporating subsidiaries Sidgwick &
Jackson, Boxtree and Channel 4 Books, and itself owned by German
publishing group Holzbrinck, Book People gained an insight into
the what and how of this profitable yet risky market as it relates
both to Pan Macmillan and, more generally, to other major UK commercial
non-fiction publishers.
Our heavily media-obsessed society has transformed reading habits.
Where once the world of non-fiction publishing concentrated rather
more on run-of-the-mill traditional subject areas mirroring the
interests of the middle-age range market, many UK publishers have
for some years homed in on a younger element, namely the readers
of magazines such as Heat and Close. The older market has, however,
not been forgotten and is well catered for by other media-led
titles either based on well-known journalists’ stories,
or on well-thumbed copies of celebrity magazines such as OK and
Hello - deemed perhaps too staid for today’s youth culture.
Where once Edwardian independent Sidgwick & Jackson published
E.M. Forster and Rupert Brooke in sedate Bloomsbury, it is now
the likes of Ulrika Jonsson, the Kray brothers and Madonna in
the not-so-sedate yet up-and-coming Caledonian Road in the heart
of the Kings Cross Eurostar development. Together with sister
imprints, Boxtree and Channel 4 Books, a holistic approach allows
for a broad mix of commissioned entertainment-led titles.
Just when did the commercial bandwagon get going for aggressively
hyped non-fiction in the UK publishing industry? It seems that
it was some 8 – 10 years ago when money paid to commercial
non-fiction authors “shot up” in view of their promotional
and sales value into shops. Gordon Wise thought it was “worth
taking a hit on the advance to guarantee a massive subscription”;
and at that stage it was most likely to have been Geri Halliwell’s
autobiography (published by Transworld’s Bantam Press imprint)
and her unexpected split from the Spice Girls that represented
one of the first “jaw-dropping” advances. The enormous
teenage and generally young market had been captured. Equally,
however, the book was also being presented as “serious”
in order to appeal to a “thinking” market that reflected
Geri’s then public image
Sidgwick & Jackson’s big turning point came earlier,
in the mid-80s in its independent days, when Bob Geldof’s
autobiography was published following his launch of Band Aid with
the official tie-in book. There were two distinct markets, the
first being Geldof music fans and the second being those who were
keen to learn about his motivation for raising money for Africa.
Celebrity books were then introduced in differing degrees, with
more serious political biography accompanied by Sidgwick’s
traditional military history. It was not until the late 1990s
that Sidgwick decided to build the list’s future around
the commercial personality led/driven strands of its heritage.
And just how is the embryo conceived? There are times when Michael
Parkinson, Jonathan Ross or Graham Norton’s chat show guests
might well spark an interesting comment that in its turn will
encourage Gordon Wise to contact either the guest him- or herself,
his/her manager or agent. Publishers tend not to rely on approaches
from agents, rather, in Gordon Wise’s words, “more
and more publishers try to be proactive,” hence that chance
comment on a chat show or magazine that strikes the spark. That
is not to say that agents have no role to play; indeed, they do
the rounds and auction major celebrity titles to the biggest bidder.
Alternatively, it is the agent’s client, an example being
broadcaster John Peel, who will direct the approach. Another angle
might involve an agent entering the scene at the time of publication,
sometimes exclusively with one publisher who had conceived the
idea or, indeed, transferring to another publisher “not
having liked the colour of the original publisher’s money”.
A lateral approach to commissioning is, therefore, not infrequent,
sometimes using media agents rather than traditional literary
agents who might be too tunnel-visioned for deals requiring a
non-conventional approach.
This will be followed by royalty-based negotiations and the all-important
advances. Where there is strong corporate confidence, it is much
easier to raise the large advance that the agent or personality
will doubtless be seeking. Publishers must, however, be aware
that celebrity titles can still prove to have unpredictable sales
patterns.
Are all personality authors easy to work with? Those who are likely
to be problematic are generally avoided to negate a knock-on effect
on deadlines and sales.
The manuscript will then be written either by the author or in
many cases by a specialist ghost-writer, in some cases well-known
in his/her own right so that the marketing pull becomes yet stronger.
Many are drawn from specialist agencies, thereby knowing exactly
how to draw information out of an author, basing their copy on
interviews so that the final publication represents the personality’s
own words.
Another ghosting approach might be to shadow a specific author
for perhaps a year or so, where the author does not want to put
him/herself centre stage. Personality-led titles consequently
represent an array of approaches both editorially and on a marketing
level, rather than the generally perceived simple get-author-commission-and-publish
approach.
The occasional tabloid moan about the use of ghosting, therefore,
becomes unjustified. According to Gordon Wise, “Performers
are not expected to be writers but do have a great story to tell,”
and consequently create an extra market. Nevertheless, he admits
that a title written totally in an author’s own words does
provide a different emphasis as there can be more direct co-ordination
with the publisher for view-points and amendments.
The A—Z of Sidgwick production including sales, rights,
publicity and marketing is shared with the rest of Pan Macmillan;
it is the editorial commissioning that is separated out between
imprints. The actual editing and proofreading, all of which is
carried out in-house unless an unforeseen schedule might necessitate
the use of either freelancers or a packager, will go through a
central editorial services department that represents the whole
of Pan Macmillan; likewise the design. Incorporated within this
is the important audio book version of each title. Built into
the production schedule will be a libel read of the edited manuscript
by a specialist lawyer to ensure that legal hiccoughs will not
ensue at any point. Generally, effective presentation of a title
requires planning a season’s list one year in advance of
publication. This means that as many manuscripts as possible need
to be in by that date. If, however, there is close liaison over
the course of writing, manuscripts can be accepted in less time,
perhaps six to nine months in advance of publication, and, in
certain cases, in even less time.
About nine months before a title is launched, the publicity machine
will rear itself into action, bonding constructively with the
author and entourage to launch a strategy. These early meetings
are imperative in view of a celebrity’s perhaps non-comparative
anticipation of publicity, allied with the approach taken by the
money-rich advertising agencies with which they are more attuned.
Then it is full circle back to the chat shows for yet more promotion.
Tabloid, broadsheet and magazine serialisation bookings require
a minimum three-month lead time, and can reflect a major part
of the financial input insofar as a certain part of the author’s
advance can sometimes be recouped in this way. It is not, however,
always the best offer that is taken; sometimes it could be a package
that incorporates TV advertising or similar.
In some cases Sidgwick titles are bought in from the US but the
proportion per year varies from between one-third to one-half.
Either way, the all-important publicity and marketing machine
is there from the start.
Indeed, heavy marketing of both serious non-fiction and literary
titles is taken as read where the publisher needs them to succeed.
Within the commercial framework, considerable in-store promotion
and accompanying windows with signing sessions for these gift-driven
titles are of particular significance; fans breathlessly crowd
the shops for a glimpse, perhaps even a touch and, of course,
a signature on their purchase. And where a title has a geographical
point of interest, for instance a personality’s place of
birth, this too will obviously be maximised. Generally, however,
it is the head offices of chains that decide how to promote geographically.
A definite plus within this market might be a sudden story that
breaks during production time as was the case with one of Sidgwick’s
most successful titles, Honest, by Ulrika Jonsson. The book was
scheduled for Christmas 2003 but when the story of her affair
with Sven Goran Eriksson broke in 2002, unknown to Sidgwick at
the time of commissioning, production was prioritised to bring
publication forward for obvious sales maximisation. Consequently,
from an initial print run of 30,000, sales to date have climbed
to 210,000. More often, initial print runs can vary from between
5000 hardback to 75,000, perhaps then paving the way for an obvious
paperback and much discounting of the three-books-for-the-price-of-two
variety, itself creating potentially increased sales as backlist
titles are likely to be purchased once the initial title has been
enjoyed.
Co-sponsorship might be relevant if a personality is known for
a specific promotion, in which case the print run will include
a specific number purchased by the promoter for his retailers.
Limited editions might also form part of the total print run,
where perhaps a specific interest group is relevant, football
being a prime example.
Aside from the chains, further major markets are the all-important
supermarkets and other non-book outlets that regularly take large
quantities of a small selection of high-profile titles for discounting.
Interestingly, the internet has not stolen the commercial non-fiction
market share.
And what of the sales rep’s role? With the large runs involved,
the small subscriptions traditionally handled by reps tend not
to be particularly relevant. However, they hold their own with
the monitoring of windows and discounting where a large central
deal has been done with chains.
Sidgwick publishes two to three big personality-led titles annually,
with a total of 50 titles commissioned over the three imprints.
These compete against the other major personality titles published
by houses such as Harper Collins, Orion, Penguin, Random House
and Hodder Headline. Christmas is obviously a major market, although
when there are too many personality-led commercial titles being
published simultaneously, problems arise with the book chains
unable to provide satisfactory and sufficient promotion for each
and every competing title.
Titles are then likely to be published at other strategic points
during the year.
On price this needs to consolidate with that of CDs and similar,
£16.99 being viable. For the yet younger market that might
well enthuse about stories of pop bands, price is even more crucial
so that pocket money will not be eaten into. Extents are averaged
at 100,000 words with two or three picture sections to animate
each book. Fewer than 80,000 words can be regarded as “too
thin” while over 150,000 words can mean a “waffly”
and under-edited tome.
The international rights arena is significant only with international
celebrities. Interestingly, Geri Halliwell, despite her international
standing in her Spice Girls days, was most successful within the
UK yet Joan Collins’s autobiography stretched beyond these
shores well into a Dynasty of unexpected areas of Europe including
Poland. Dare one say that it was perhaps a “grey”
market speciality! And what of Frankfurt? This is unlikely to
be a major selling area for the commercial non-fiction market,
concentrating as it does on literary fiction.
In short, this highly lucrative market incorporating previously
non-book readers has created an audience of purchasers constantly
hungry for more of the same.
TOP
DISTRIBUTION/LOGISTICS
FEATURE
This
is the first of two features we will be carrying on this important
area this year.
Last month, we heard from Mike Shatzkin how internet
bookselling is impacting on the traditional supply chain. Obviously,
the vast majority of books are still distributed through conventional
channels, but that doesn’t mean that the way people work
has not changed.
In fact, this is a dynamic area of the publishing process and
the level of its efficiency and effectiveness is critical to publishing
success.
Random
House Distribution – growing successfully
Random House Distribution, which incorporates facilities at TBS
in Frating, GBS in Grantham and Transworld in Wellingborough,
has embarked on a process of growth. This is being achieved through
attracting new client publisher business, and continuing to focus
on developing operational excellence as well as new service offerings.
Random House offers a third party distribution service from two
independent distribution sites: TBS, The Book Service, and GBS,
Grantham Book Services. Each facility is purposely equipped to
support a specific range of client publishers.
GBS provides individual book distribution for independent publishers.
It offers clients a specialist distribution service, through a
traditional hands-on approach. Care and attention to detail has
resulted in GBS serving its top five publisher clients for a combined
total of over 50 years.
 TBS
warehouse.
TBS,
on the other hand, is focused on providing an expert distribution
service to trade publishers. A state-of-the-art facility in Frating
handles a volume throughput of over 100 million books per year
on behalf of 14 client publishers. TBS’s major strengths
lie in its operational flexibility and hi-tech handling systems,
in combination with an overriding commitment to customer service.
The operation in Wellingborough, the third site to make up Random
House Distribution, is currently handling Transworld titles only.
In 2002, Random House Distribution has won several new distribution
contracts, and the recent client/publisher additions are as follows:
m at TBS - Faber and Faber (from June 1st 2003)
m at GBS - Footprint (from January 21st 2003)
Quiller (from January 1st 2003)
Anness (from February 1st 2003)
There is further capacity available for the future with a planned
extension to the Frating facility, which will increase capacity
by 40%.
Various initiatives have been undertaken to move from operational
reliability to operational excellence - an example being the much
improved carrier performance during the last 12 months and particularly
during the autumn peak period. Feedback from customer surveys
has been extremely positive, not just on carrier performance but
also on other key changes, in particular hotline procedures where
later daily cut-off times have been welcomed.
Recruitment is underway for the new role of B2C leader at TBS.
The development of the B2C service is being finalised, with expected
growth to be generated in web sales, direct mail/off-the-page
promotions and telesales. Expanding the B2C business will involve
working in close partnership with client publishers and this will
be a prime responsibility for the new role.
Contact Nathalie Gelderman, business development manager, tel:
01206-255802, e-mail: ngelderman@tbs-ltd.co.uk
Europa
goes from strength to strength
Leading express freight operator, Europa Worldwide Logistics (previously
Europa Worldwide Services) reports new-business gains throughout
commercial sectors.
The company operates daily two-way trailer services with guaranteed
next-day delivery across Continental Europe, as well as import
and export air and sea freight services to and from the US, Canada
and South America. Particularly significant for Europa is the
marked upturn in its worldwide traffic.
Historically,
Europa has always had a strong presence in the book trade and
publishing generally. Among its major customers are WH Smith,
Waterstones and Oxford University Press. Here, Europa receives
consignments of books for shipment to destinations throughout
Europe, with incoming goods from Spain. Europa has profiled its
growing influence in this industry by taking stands at both the
London and Frankfurt International Book Fairs last year. This
proved productive in new business enquiries.
Malcolm Smith, managing director of Europa, said: "Although
our core business remains European, last year saw a dramatic increase
in our worldwide activities. We are now seeing the benefit of
getting the message across that the same degree of quality service
levels and competitiveness which customers have come to expect
on our European services, is now available on our worldwide routes.
This is borne out by the sustained and growing level of new-business
gains we are enjoying throughout all commercial sectors."
One
Stop Solution
Linking the publishing world with global markets, Higgs International
offers a unique range of logistics and management services exclusively
for publishers and distributors worldwide.
Established for over 50 years, Higgs has seen this part of its
business grow from transporting a copy of The Sporting Life to
Ireland, to satisfy the need of the then proprietor, a keen racehorse
enthusiast, to the thought that other people would be interested
in a similar service. Publishers were approached individually,
and the rest is history as they say. Now part of Exel plc, a world
leader in logistics, Higgs has the flexibility to access Exel’s
spectrum of global supply chain management solutions.
Supplying 120 countries on six continents with integrated air,
sea and road transport services, it exported 68.5 million press
items in 2002. The benefits of substantial buying power and space
commitments with the key airline and shipping carriers, ensures
a reliable service and competitive stable rates.
Higgs services are not limited to specialised global distribution.
Adapting itself from a UK based company to an international one,
a comprehensive range has been developed to provide the one-stop
solution that publishers now require.
Export Administration Management is administration made easy.
It gives a full multi-currency, multi-accounting service including
credit control, agent invoicing and statistical management account
provision. With specially developed in-house systems, it is a
cost-effective and intelligent solution for publishers. They can
concentrate on strategy and sales, as Higgs removes the need for
in-house day-to-day administration. Higgs services the international
circulation needs of 16 household publisher names, including Business
Week. Managing its Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia export
administration requirements from London, it demonstrates that
the location of a publisher poses no problem in delivering this
function.
Media Packing and Consolidation provides publishers with export
and subscription packing, re-mail labelling, bar coding and cover
mounting services. Hand delivery in London and the Home Counties,
as well as full subscription fulfilment, is also available. With
instant access to over 140 overseas press distributors, Higgs
provides product canvassing and territory management solutions
including marketing and promotions. Their publishing advisory
management makes the development or global launch of a product
plain sailing.
Higgs is a unique one-stop solution to getting publishing products
around the globe.
Contact: Emer O’Donnell, director of marketing & media
sales; tel + 44 (0) 20 7867 5218; fax + 44 (0) 20 7511 1976; e-mail:
eodonnell@higgs.co.uk Web: www.higgs.co.uk
TOP
ALPSP
APPOINTS SWETS BLACKWELL AND EXTENZA AS BUSINESS PARTNERS FOR
CONSORTIA AND MULTI-SITE SALES
The
Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP)
has appointed Swets Blackwell and Extenza, divisions of Royal
Swets & Zeitlinger, as its business partners in the area of
consortia and multi-site sales.
Under this arrangement, participating ALPSP publisher members
will collaborate by making their journals and other content available
in the ALPSP Learned Journals Collection and in three discipline-specific
subsets in the areas of medicine and life science, science and
technology, and the arts, humanities and business. This will represent
the most collaborative, cross-publisher venture to date in the
world of consortia and multi-site licensing of electronic content.
The collaborative aspect of this initiative is further enhanced
by the appointment of Swets Blackwell and Extenza as business
partners to ALPSP. Swets Blackwell will be the global sales and
marketing channel for the ALPSP Learned Journals Collection, as
well as providing access for subscribing organisations through
SwetsWise. Swets Blackwell will also be providing its traditional
back-office customer service and administrative support both to
libraries and to participating publishers. Extenza will also be
offering a complete journal hosting service for those participating
publishers who require it.
Sally Morris, secretary-general of ALPSP, said: “It is very
difficult for smaller publishers with just a few journals, however
high quality these are, to break into the consortia market. We
believe that by working together, our members can overcome this
problem and reach additional customers.”
For further information visit: www.alpsp.org; www.swetsblackwell.com;
www.extenza-eps.com
TOP
LOVELY
DAY! TAXI? NICE ONE! TENNIS?
The Society for Editors and Proofreaders
announces that David Crystal, Honorary Professor of Linguistics
at the University of Wales, Bangor, is to present the Whitcombe
Lecture at this year's conference.
Come along and hear why such verbless, one- or two-word groupings
as those above are, in fact, sentences. Learn how to unravel such
ambiguities as “A sailor was dancing with a wooden leg”
and “We saw the Eiffel Tower flying from London to Paris”.
David Crystal's name will be familiar to anyone interested in
language – he has written and edited more than 100 books,
including English Language, The Cambridge Encyclopedia, The Cambridge
Factfinder, A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics, Rediscover
Grammar, The Penguin Dictionary of Language and Language and the
Internet.
The conference is being held at The Manor House, Birmingham, on
September 21st-22nd, and the theme is “Something for everyone”.
There will be workshops particularly for those starting out as
editors or proofreaders, and ones at an advanced level for the
more experienced. Topics include basic and advanced tax for the
self-employed, negotiating efficiently and Internet resources.
There will also be:
m short talks on, for example, computers, tax and training;
m a panel discussion on career development;
m surgeries to discuss editorial and business/professional
problems with experts;
m opportunities to network with other members.
The SfEP's slogan is “upholding editorial excellence”
and the conference is one way in which it helps its members and
anyone who aspires to excellence in the written word to achieve
that aim. The conference is open to individual members and associates
and corporate associates of the society; delegates from other
organisations in the publishing industry are also welcome. The
fee for non-members is £360 (including accommodation). The
conference registration form can be downloaded at www.sfep.org.uk,
where there is further information about the conference and the
SfEP.
Contact Jane Ward, tel: 0131 3374380, e-mail: conference@sfep.org.uk
Bradbury Phillips at BEA
Bradbury Phillips International provides software for publishers
and literary agents. Its systems are used internationally, by
businesses of all sizes, and include: rights management / permissions,
agents' accounts (new at BEA) and author royalties.
Please contact us for an appointment.
BEA 2003 - International Rights Center - Purple Table #11
Contact: Anne Phillips, www.bradburyphillips.co.uk.
BOOK
AND PEOPLE NEWS
Bradbury
Phillips at BEA
Bradbury Phillips International provides software for publishers
and literary agents. Its systems are used internationally, by
businesses of all sizes, and include: rights management / permissions,
agents' accounts (new at BEA) and author royalties.
Please contact us for an appointment.
BEA 2003 - International Rights Center - Purple Table #11
Contact: Anne Phillips, www.bradburyphillips.co.uk
TOP
BOOK
AND PEOPLE NEWS
Bradbury
Phillips at BEA
Bradbury
Phillips International provides software for publishers and literary
agents. Its systems are used internationally, by businesses of
all sizes, and include: rights management / permissions, agents'
accounts (new at BEA) and author royalties.
Please contact us for an appointment.
BEA 2003 - International Rights Center - Purple Table #11
Contact: Anne Phillips, www.bradburyphillips.co.uk
Alan
Samson to Orion
The Orion Publishing Group is delighted to announce the
appointment of Alan Samson as Publishing Director, Orion Non-Fiction.
Alan will join Orion at the beginning of August.
In addition to heading this imprint, Alan will also take on a
wider role, as editor-at-large, acquiring and publishing titles
for other imprints across the group.
Alan joins us from Time Warner Books, where he has worked for
the last 11 years, and where he is currently Editorial Director.
Recent successes include the bestselling autobiographies of John
McEnroe and Lulu, as well as Carol Drinkwater's The Olive Season
and Toby Young's How to Lose Friends and Alienate People. He has
also worked for many years with such authors as David Baddiel,
Iain Banks, Douglas Hurd and Anita Shreve.
Alan Samson says, “I am thrilled to be joining the Orion
Publishing Group whose success, dynamism and range of books is
extremely attractive to me. I shall be sorry to leave Time Warner
Books but this is an irresistible opportunity.”
Anthony Cheetham, Chief Executive of the Orion Publishing Group,
says, “Alan is an outstandingly able and experienced publisher.
We are greatly looking forward to him joining the team."
Booksellers
discover writing talent! - Heinemann to publish first-time novelist
Golgonooza’s first Medal-winning work The Soul Corporation
by Robert Collins, has been bought by William Heinemann (Random
House).
They will publish it next June. Literary agent Jonny Geller of
Curtis Brown handled the sale. Robert Collins described his Golgonooza
review and Medal award as “priceless” in helping secure
a top agent and publisher.
Since launching their revolutionary online service in August 2002,
Golgonooza's national network of expert bookseller Readers have
reviewed hundreds of unpublished manuscripts. Those considered
likely to interest mainstream publishers have been awarded a Medal
of Merit. The reviews and free online exhibition of Medallists
to top UK literary agents, have helped numerous unpublished writers
stand out of the “slushpile” (that ever-increasing
stack of unpublished manuscripts!).
Those not awarded a medal have received useful advice on how they
might improve their book.To learn more visit www.nooza.com
TOP
TOP
|
