Society Christmas of young issue publishers inprint issue 148

1 Editor´s column Zara Markland

There’s a tingle in the air and a crunch Now, with all sugar, comes a pinch of salt underfoot. It’s December already and the time and the salt for our SYP editorial team is that has flown somewhere no-one knows where. this is our last Inprint as your editorial team. We have brought you now four fabulous (we This is your Inprint Issue 148, the last one hope!) issues of InPrint this year and have of 2015 and full to the brim with delightful loved every second of it – though we may have Christmas-themed content to help you wile lost some blood, a bit of sweat and a lot of away those winter hours. As Christmas-time tears. I want to use this space to thank all of is all about self-indulgence, fun, a lot of giving my 2015 editors – Sarah Minty, Emily Finn, and a pinch of spice, we wanted this Inprint Jasmin Kirkbride, Alice May-Dewing and to reflect all of that too. Follow Santa’s sleigh Diane Brincat… and of course our absolutely around the world and see what’s happening amazing designer Sarah Baldwin. I am in publishing at each of Santa’s stops; Oo and honoured to have worked with all of you and ahhh as we trip down memory lane, looking all I can say is keep the enthusiasm, keep being at what ‘Naughty and Nice’ suprises 2015 booky – You’re SO SYP! has brought with it. Oh, and did I mention spice? Have a giggle at our Christmas themed Happy Holidays all! sections where we hope you’ll feel a true bookish Christmas glow.

2 inprint contents

Issue 148 • Dec 2015 3 A Christmas Cheer! www.thesyp.org.uk 4 Top 3 Christmas Authors InPrint is the printed magazine of the Society Naughty & Nice of Young Publishers, sent 6 Let’s Talk About Sex out free to all members. A

@SYP_UK Naughty & Nice 8 Publishing’s Charitable Heart Christmas Cheer Commissioning Editor 10 Book Recommendations for a Zara Markland

Editors 13 Wordsearch Truly Brilliant Diane Brincat Alice May Dewing 14 The SYP’s 12 Days of Christmas SYP Year Emily Finn Jasmin Kirkbride 16 Around the World in Santa’s Sleigh As the world around becomes a wintery Sarah Minty wonderland and the New Year beckons with enticing promises, the reign of the SYP 2015 22 A Day in the Life of... Designer committees comes to an end. Let’s have a look Sarah Baldwin back over the fantastic year we’ve had from 24 Super Thursday Scotland, North & Midlands, Oxford and Contributors . We raise our cups of mulled wine to 26 Christmas Wish List for the Anna Cunnane you all! Tahmeed Zaki Book Nerd Emma Clifford Laura Summers 28 Book Club Maria Vassilopoulos 30 2015 – The Good and the Bad

32 Messages from the Editors Jasmin Kirkbride Alongside Dickens’ usual cast of vibrant death, his estate gathered together the letters top 3 characters and satirical commentary on and published them in one book, The Father Victorian society, this novella is also an Christmas Letters. Christmas interesting snapshot of a pivotal moment in Christmas history. At the time that Dickens Being Tolkien, he couldn’t resist adding authors wrote, Victorian society was re-evaluating how stories into each letter, including one about it celebrated Christmas and what that meant. how a massive fireworks display created the This coincided with a movement in the church Northern Lights. Though there has been some and state towards acts of charity and kindness speculation as whether the Father Christmas With the present-buying rush well underway, as this is also the version which Tchaikovsky the Christmas season is a popular time of the took his inspiration from when writing the year to release books, especially those focused music for his ballet. A shame, as the original on the holiday theme itself. Throughout has a far happier ending, much more in- history, however, some authors have gone keeping with the spirit of Christmas! above and beyond the call of duty, not because of market demands, but because of their Nevertheless, E. T. A. Hoffmann deserves his enduring love for Christmas. Here are our top place on this list, for being the starting point of three! a traditional piece of Christmas fun that still resonates and entertains today. 3rd Place E.T.A. Hoffmann 2nd Place Charles dickens Everybody’s heard of The Nutcracker ballet, made famous by the wonderful music of We couldn’t put together this list without Tchaikovsky. However, not everybody has giving homage to the author of another heard of the original tale, The Nutcracker and Christmas classic, Charles Dickens. In to the poor. It is not a stretch to say that this letter influencedThe Lord of the Rings (could Mouse King, set down in German in 1816 by December 1943, Chapman & Hall published charitable Christmas spirit might not be so Gandalf be an evolution of Father Christmas?) E. T. A. Hoffmann and on which the show is A Christmas Carol by Dickens himself, and it has strong in Britain today were it not for the bold the letters make for beautiful and entertaining loosely based. never gone out of print since. honesty of Dickens’ story and its enduring reading. popularity. The story is an absolute classic, about a small It tells the story of the miserly and wealthy And what, we ask, could be Christmassier girl who is given a magical nutcracker by her Ebenezer Scrooge, and his transformation into 1st Place than keeping Father Christmas alive for your inventor godfather, Drosselmeyer. Featuring a kinder, more charitable man. His miraculous j.r.r. tolkien children and for children everywhere, even toy battles, an evil Mouse Queen and an metamorphosis takes place on Christmas Eve after some of the older ones become ‘non- enchanted eligible bachelor, it is a romping itself, and is enabled by the workings of four This one may come as a surprise to many, but believers’? Christmas tale that reignites the magic of ghosts. Tolkien is in fact one of the unsung heroes of presents under the tree. Christmas. Between 1920 and 1942, every year There’s no doubt that this is a dark tale in Tolkien wrote a letter from Father Christmas Over the years, it has been much revised, most many places – perhaps most famously when to his children, which are either from Father notably by the legendary Alexandre Dumas the Ghost of Christmas Future takes Scrooge Christmas himself, or his elfish secretary. They in 1844. It is the Dumas version with which to his own funeral – but there are also strong also feature Father Christmas’ mischievous modern audiences are most familiar, with the elements of comedy and the book has a festive helper the North Polar Bear and his two kingdom of sweets and the Sugarplum Fairy, happy ending. cubs Paksu and Valkotukka. After Tolkien’s

4 5 naughty Let´s talk about sex - ce Alice May Dewing - Ni Top Quote: book is astonishing, the trauma – relentless ‘Life goal 33 achieved: say the word and the comeback after having read it, almost ‘dildo’ in ’ as painful as the reading experience itself. The When it comes to writing about sex, it seems the re-telling of a story we all know so well book asks huge questions – on euthanasia, on the more emphatic the panting, tickling and (even without having read it) dominated both The most cringe–worthy friendships, on humanity, but also addresses heaving that works its way into literature, the the charts (and our heroine), selling over one Morrissey, List of the Lost head-on the influence of sex and sexuality on more heated (forgive the pun) and engaged million copies in four days. Dedicated to her Ah, Morrissey. If I were to not recommend our psyche. the response from critics and readers alike. fans who ‘asked … and asked … and asked … a book this year, this would be it. Despite Romantic fiction has always had a fervent and asked for this’, James managed to add an its brevity, the novel is crammed with his Top Quote: following and new explorations of carnality even more cringe-worthy element to the sexual infamous arrogance, poor and unrealistic ‘It saddened him, of course, that at the crux of human experience have always experience, forcing readers to either quiver dialogue and…terrible, terrible sex. This was his sex life and his home life should sparked interest and debate. I avidly remember with excitement…or question the authenticity tipped to win this year’s Bad Sex awards (by a have to be two distinct realms, the first time my friends and I crowded round of their own experience of sex and sexuality. landslide), for good reason. but he was old enough now to a copy of Mills & Boon, snickering away at the know that within every relationship words ‘breast and ‘penis’ but now we’re grown- Top Quote: Top Quote: was something unfulfilled and ups (of sorts) have we really stopped? The ‘I ask, ‘Are you hungry?’ ‘Not for food,’ ‘Eliza and Ezra rolled together into disappointing, something that nation’s response to the ‘Piggate’ biography of she teases. Whoa. She might the one giggling snowball of full- had to be sought elsewhere.’ David Cameron would suggest otherwise. Can as well be addressing my groin.’ figured copulation, screaming and sex really be good when placed on a page, or is shouting as they playfully bit and The Good it sexier left to the imagination? The debut pulled at each other in a dangerous Miranda July, The First Bad Man Kirsty Logan, The Rental Heart and Other Stories and clamorous rollercoaster coil of More wonderful work from ‘The Queen of Each year The Literary Review Bad Sex prize Polari First Book Prize 2015 winner sexually violent rotation with Eliza’s Quirk’. The sex in this novel comes from aims to “to draw attention to poorly written, The Polari First Book Prize is awarded every breasts barrel-rolled across Ezra’s Cheryl, the protagonist’s, imagination – a perfunctory or redundant passages of year for a writer’s first work that explores howling mouth and the pained mélange of thoughts derived from the sexual sexual description in modern fiction, and the LGBT experience. Kirsty Logan wrote frenzy of his bulbous salutation experience of others, tracing the imaginative to discourage them”. But is its noble aim this collection as homage to a brief romantic extenuating his excitement as it outlines of what she thinks sex should be. The working? We look at the good, the bad and the encounter with a woman who left her instantly smacked its way into every muscle way Cheryl thinks about sex is the way many ugly in sex this year. rejected with no reason as to why. The stories of Eliza’s body except for the authors write about sex and carries perfectly are dizzyingly romantic tales of lust and loss otherwise central zone.’ with it our inability to express the raw edges The obvious featuring clockwork hearts, lascivious queens, of emotion which are impossible to eloquently E.L. James, Grey, Fifty Shades of Grey paper men, island circuses, and a flooded The most haunting define. Valentines Day saw the release of the film world. Following her win, Logan wrote a Hanya Yanagihara, A Little Life adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey storm the wonderful piece for The Guardian on The Best When considering sex at the root of human Top quote: box office, sending nervous giggles through LGBT sex in literature in which she stated experience, it would almost be a travesty ‘I’m not … you know. I’m into dick.’ thousands of cinema-goers across the UK that there was a terrible lack of queer sex not to accredit Hanya Yanagihara for her ‘We’re in the same boat, as far as that (who could forget ‘that’ scene with the feather?) represented on her shelves. In the light of this harrowing depictions of abuse and rape goes,’ I said. I saw us in a little dinghy And, just when we thought we might have had she, and we, plea for more honest depictions of and the consequential long-lasting depths of together, liking dick on the big dark enough, James came back with more. Grey, LGBT love in literature. shame that stunt human development. The sea.’

6 7 Publishing´s naughty - ce Charitable Heart - Ni Emily Finn

involved by donating what they could. Ness ‘Buy a book, made it clear that everything helps; there is no expectation of donation amounts. Within help save a life’ 2 hours the £10,000 target was reached and Ian Rankin John Green stepped in to match the next £10,000. Within 36 hours, the total had the Oxfam appeal. No profits are being taken giving wasn’t enough of a hook, then the It’s very easy to feel like the UK publishing bypassed the £250,000 mark, with donations out of the books whatsoever; everyone has readily available presents for all ages, should industry is one big family. With the boom matched by authors such as Jojo Moyes, David provided these books for free, including the convince everyone to go out and shop books. of Twitter, this is even more so; publishers, Levithan, Jessie Burton and many, many warehouses and distributers. The first few days of the campaign were a authors, bloggers and readers can all interact more. Publishers such as , ‘great success’ according to Waterstones’ with each other in 140 character conversations. Egmont UK and Penguin At the time of launch, James Daunt, head of PR and events Sandra Taylor; Social media has enabled everyone to come also got involved by matching the subsequent Waterstones’ m.d, said: ‘In desperate times like #BuyBooksForSyria trended on Twitter and together where they may not have been able donations. What started off as a hope to raise these, everyone feels the need to do something, the reaction has been outstanding. to previously. As a result, in times of need it is just £10,000, turned into a phenomenon. To to help in some way. We are doing what we Campaigns like this are worthy because, never more evident than on social media how date* 6768 people have donated to the page, do best: bookselling, and it only feels right to echo James Daunt’s point bookselling is people can join forces to help out others. totalling over £600,000. This shows just how that every single penny of each book sold will what we do best in publishing. Let’s combine After seeing disturbing photographs from kind-hearted and good natured people can be go straight to Oxfam.’ This campaign has bookselling and good-will together and I think Syria, Patrick Ness, author of A Monster Calls over such an unprecedented act of selflessness, launched in time to tap into the Christmas the sales will flood in. and The Rest of Us Just Live Here, tweeted and how easy it was for everyone to want to shopping market, which if the charitable his frustration over the despair of the Syria chip in where they could to help save lives. refugee crisis and decided to go out on a limb and set up a donation page. In a similar light, in October, Waterstones #BuyBooksForSyria launched their Buy Books for Syria campaign He offered to ‘match all funds raised up to with an aim to raise £1million for the Oxfam’s £10,000 for Save the Children, which helps Syria Crisis Appeal. Publishers and authors refugees around the world and has put out an around the UK have joined forces and donated appeal for the current Syrian refugee disaster. books to Waterstones, including popular titles Let’s see if we can give them £20,000 together, such as Karen Joy Fowler’s We Are All Completely yeah? Or whatever! Everything helps.’ Beside Ourselves (Profile),War Horse by Michael Morpurgo (Egmont) and Midnight’s Children The response by people was incredible. by Salman Rushdie (Vintage). For every book It seemed that everyone and anyone got bought, 100% of the full retail price will go to

8 *November 8th 2015 9 book recommendations Sarah Minty Send us a ‘shelfie’ InPrint Editor Desk Editor, Rising Stars ______

My favourite Christmas book... is The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Is that allowed? It’s a kids book!

Alice may dewing EMily finn zara markland InPrint Editor InPrint Editor InPrint Commissioning Editor Communications Assistant, FMcM Trade Marketing Co-Ordinator, Egmont Producer, DK Books ______My favourite Christmas book... My favourite Christmas book... My favourite Christmas book... your annoying family member that A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivy – it’s Humans by Matt Haig. I first read hug you never thought you would Thomas. Classical and lyrical – the beautifully snowy but has a magical this with the SYP bookclub earlier give them EVER AGAIN. story is a personal account, yet is fairy tale feel about it that makes this year and to be honest from the universal in its sentiment and never it a perfect Christmas read while first moment I opened the pages it Send us a ‘shelfie’ fails to get me in the spirit. Read tucked up under a blanket with had me hooked. Now, you might it on Christmas Eve to instantly a cup of tea! be looking at the title and thinking, be transported to your child-like Send us a ‘shelfie’ Zara really, what is this book? In excitement. a nutshell, Haig’s novel is a heart- Send us a ‘shelfie’ warming narrative that looks at the way we as humans and the habits we take for granted would be interpreted by someone from a different planet, someone not born to human reality. While this may sound science-fictiony, it’s really not and instead provides a deep, insightful, yet hilarious look at what it is to be human. With it’s ebbs and flows that will leave you chuckling, touched and bemused at various points, I can think of no better book to read at Christmas time. I guarantee you’ll turn the last page, put the book down and give Sarah Baldwin Send us a ‘shelfie’ InPrint Designer Wordsearch Cover Designer, Hachette Children’s Group ______

My favourite Christmas book... is How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss. As a former Christmas Grinch myself this story reminds me that the best part of Christmas can’t be bought in a shop. Heart expands.

Jasmin Kirkbride Diane Brincat InPrint Editor InPrint Editor Freelance Editor and Writer Marketing Executive, Jessica Kingsley ______

My favourite Christmas book... My favourite Christmas book... is Three Moments of an Explosion by Landline by Rainbow Rowell isn’t a China Miéville. It’s not Christmassy, super Christmassy book, but it is set but it falls into short sections good at Christmas time and is all about for dipping in to between basting the finding work-life balance as well as bird and boiling the sprouts. And it’s putting your family and loved ones a wonderful piece of escapism if the first, with a time-bending twist! family gets too much! Send us a ‘shelfie’ Send us a ‘shelfie’ the syp’s twelve days of Christmas Sarah Minty

Please forgive us for the tenuous rhyming… On the sixth day of Christmas On the ninth day of Christmas On the eleventh day of Christmas On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me: my true love sent to me: my true love sent to me: my true love sent to me: Six agents pitching, Nine authors yelling, Eleven bloggers blogging, A book launched on Super Thursday. Five papercuts! Eight SYP-ers, Ten indie bookshops, Four paid interns, Seven coders coding, Nine authors yelling, On the second day of Christmas Three Man Bookers, Six agents pitching, Eight SYP-ers, my true love sent to me: Two free tote bags, Five papercuts! Seven coders coding, Two free tote bags, and a book launched on Super Thursday! Four paid interns, Six agents pitching, and a book launched on Super Thursday. Three Man Bookers, Five papercuts! On the seventh day of Christmas Two free tote bags, Four paid interns, On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me: and a book launched on Super Thursday! Three Man Bookers, my true love sent to me: Seven coders coding, Two free tote bags, Three Man Bookers, Six agents pitching, On the tenth day of Christmas and a book launched on Super Thursday! Two free tote bags, Five papercuts! my true love sent to me: and a book launched on Super Thursday! Four paid interns, Ten indie bookshops, On the twelfth day of Christmas Three Man Bookers, Nine authors yelling, my true love sent to me: On the fourth day of Christmas Two free tote bags, Eight SYP-ers, Twelve large white wines, my true love sent to me: and a book launched on Super Thursday. Seven coders coding, Eleven bloggers blogging, Four paid interns, Six agents pitching, Ten indie bookshops, Three Man Bookers, On the eighth day of Christmas Five papercuts! Nine authors yelling, Two free tote bags, my true love sent to me: Four paid interns, Eight SYP-ers, and a book launched on Super Thursday! Eight SYP-ers, Three Man Bookers, Seven Coders coding, Seven coders coding, Two free tote bags, Six agents pitching, On the fifth day of Christmas Six agents pitching, and a book launched on Super Thursday! Five papercuts! my true love sent to me: Five papercuts! Four paid interns, Five papercuts! Four paid interns, Three Man Bookers, Four paid interns, Three Man Bookers, Two free tote bags, Three Man Bookers, Two free tote bags, and a book launched on Super Thursday! Two free tote bags, and a book launched on Super Thursday! and a book launched on Super Thursday!

14 15 around the world africa Alice May Dewing in santa´s sleigh ‘African literature’ as Taiye Selasi recently Literature may not have a country, but wrote in the Guardian, is ‘enjoying a bit publishers very much do. I wonder how of a moment’. To select highlights from in contemporary society, the idea of 2015: Confession of the Lioness by Mia Couto ‘pigeonholing’ writers continues to be raised. Emma Clifford (Mozambique) was named one of the most Perhaps it is because so many African authors anticipated books of the year; Yvonne are discovered and published outside of their Adhiambo Owour’s Dust (Kenya) was continent, and therefore write primarily As many of you will know, countries within beautiful, giving out the message that books shortlisted for The Folio Prize whilst Chigozie for a western audience. I believe this causes Europe have suffered the effects of the are worth an investment. This comes back Obioma’s The Fishermen stole media attention ‘westerners’ to maintain our strong tradition of economic downturn in recent years which to the point discussed in last month’s issue for its The Man Booker Prize shortlisting. essentialising African subjects, projecting our has affected many industries, publishing regarding the belief that authors should Clearly, the African literary scene is holding views of what a text must say, who can write it being no exception. Delving into the depths sometimes be worth taking a gamble on and solid ground in both UK and global publishing and what it means. of the Spanish publishing climate we can not to entirely be there just for profit and markets. see that amongst the hard times there have brand focus. Other successful independent I’m hopeful for a movement towards a been concerns over piracy and the closure of bookshops include Periferica, Libros de But how do we move this African voice from strengthening understanding and acceptance independent bookshops. Asteroide, Nordica and Alpha Decay. Among minority into mainstream discourses and of the writer’s voice as the real focus of the the indies there seems to be the feeling that prevent ourselves from pigeonholing African work as we head into the New Year. Where big publishing companies are they have a chance to prosper and come out writing? The best-selling Nigerian author concerned; out of Publishers’ Weekly’s 57 world’s the other side of the economic downturn. The Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie this year spoke April 2016 will see the launch of Cassava biggest publishing companies ranking, Spain’s aspiration to survive and to let readers know out against ‘the danger of a single story’ – Republic Press in the UK. Established in Grupo Planeta falls from number 8 in 2014 to that their books are out there to be shared is an the common perception that people hailing in 2006, they have a clear mission number 11 in 2015, just ahead of companies imminent message. from one area of the world all share a similar statement: to change the way we all think such as Scholastic and Holtzbrinck remaining experience. To bring the authentic voice of the about African writing. By introducing five above them. Whilst ‘Grupo Santillana’ fell The online Spanish retailer’s bestseller lists, African diaspora into Western culture, whilst of their literary fiction, crime and romantic from 24 to position 28. Even last year The are dominated by fiction such as detective granting artistic freedom and appreciating fiction authors in a series of events across the Bookseller reported that in 2013 there was novel, The Secret of The Missing Model by the content of the work ahead of addressing UK as part of their launch, they are set to a year-on-year drop of 12% within Spain’s Eduardo Mendoza as well as The Girl on The ethnicity, is a challenge we as publishers must spotlight the vibrancy and diversity at the root domestic market. However, despite this there Train also appearing in the list. In non-fiction tackle. of African experience. They are in a unique still seems to be a glimmer of optimism there are concerns over education in Despertad position to bring the authentic voice of Africa especially where independent publishing al diplodocus as well as fantasy and adventure Man Booker Prize winner (1991) Ben Okri and its finest contemporary writing directly companies are concerned. Spain seems poised books in the children’s category including The said: into the UK market, and I anticipate them and ready to work together for the future. Adventurous Treasure Hunt and The Descendants: opening the doors to new and more relevant The Island Lost. Spanish writers overall still ‘I think Ben Okri is a writer who works very scope for debate. Among the flourishing independent publishers seem to dominating their home countries hard to sing from all the things that affect him. is Blackie Books, founded in 2009 by a charts with English and American books also I don’t know if he’s an African writer. I never Cassava Republic Press are my ‘ones to watch’ philosophy graduate named Jan Marti. They creeping in. Despite some of the statistics, think of myself in terms of any classification. for 2016. now publish around 30 new titles a year there is a positive outlook for the year ahead. Literature doesn’t have a country.’ and have the desire to share books that are

16 17 US Diane Brincat China Emily Finn

With $28 billion in revenue, there is rarely a especially those in the chick-lit genre (for a lack In China’s publishing industry, books are Chinese rights and it wasn’t until learning dull moment in the US publishing industry. of a better term) have taken on a minimalist cheap and sales are big; the Mandarin the true nature of the book did they realise As it sets trends across the globe, the US is style made distinctive by bright colors, simple character for book even means ‘cheap’. In just how much of the story would need to be responsible for some of the biggest writers layouts, and lots of white space. 2013, the total of book retail sales reached 50 cut or changed to get it through censorship. and franchises in recent years. billion Yuan, around $8billion, and some of Therefore, the rights sat unused and instead Harper Lee’s return to literature China’s authors are among the richest writers pirate copies imported from Taiwan circulated Here are some highlights from 2015: The release of Go Set A Watchman had in the world. In July 2015, it was recorded that the underground networks as a means for the practically everyone buzzing with anticipation. two Chinese publishers, Phoenix Publishing & book to reach those who wanted to read it and Amazon bookstore In spite of the controversy surrounding the Media and China South Publishing and Media wouldn’t be able to otherwise. In a surprise move, Amazon has just opened book contract, book sales were high and Group, have made it into the top 10 Global its first brick and mortar store in Seattle, giving reception was lukewarm. Atticus Finch turning Publishing Rankings, based on sales revenue, The second main difference between the people the opportunity to browse through out to be racist probably didn’t help. beating Hachette Livre and just below Penguin Chinese publishing industry compared to the hundreds of bestselling books that also have Random House. UK or US is the use of the mobile. The vast 4 star ratings on Amazon and Goodreads. Bestseller and male perspectives majority of Chinese citizens use their mobile Shoppers are able to buy books at the price Just when you thought Twilight and Fifty Shades The publishing industry in China is set phones to read from instead of e-readers or as offered by Amazon online. No word on of Grey had faded into oblivion, the surprise up differently to most westernised, typical physical books. Many of the unauthorised whether or not there are any plans to open release of Grey in the days leading up to the publishers. First off, traditional Chinese books that haven’t had their content censored more brick and mortar shops just yet, but Fifty Shades of Grey film caught many off-guard, publishing houses are owned by the State. and deemed worthy of publication end up seeing as Amazon never does anything small, it as did the newly announced Life and Death – Before any physical book can be sold in a available on the internet where e-books are may be quite likely. Twilight Reimagined. Clearly, having one version retailer it needs to have an ISBN. These often sold online to mobiles at 30-40% of of these series just wasn’t enough. ISBNs are distributed from the Government their RRP and access to unofficial books is Print is back from the dead and in order to obtain one the book has to unlimited. The biggest trend amongst Chinese 2015 was the year that publishing giants YouTubers as authors be officially approved and published by a readers is serialized fiction. Through the Harper Collins and Simon & Schuster saw Pop stars, movie stars, reality show… State-owned publisher. Therefore, all books are internet, authors can publish their serials on e-book sales decline by 10%. Some people people – celebrities getting book deals for subject to censoring before sold on the market. website and make large amounts of money have taken this opportunity to call the ‘print their memoirs has become a fairly standard There are around 580 state-owned publishing from licensing fees or subscriptions to the is dead’ debate into question, while others practice in publishing since the 1980s. The houses in China, but only approximately website which can be accessed via mobiles have pointed out that this sales slump didn’t latest celebrity category to start getting book 40% of the book market is made up of easily. seem to have an impact on indie publishers, deals? – YouTubers. Publishers have pounced authorised, official books. The other 60% thus placing some doubt on how relevant this on the opportunity to piggyback on the success comes from pirate publishing or unauthorised The Chinese book market is still ever growing, decline in sales was to the publishing industry of YouTubers, as we in the UK know full online publishing, not to be confused with but for an industry that is governed by strict overall. well thanks to the success of Zoella’s book self-publishing. One typical example is the rulings and censorships they have found Girl Online. However it seems that the writing infamous 50 Shades of Grey. After the initial ways to grow into being one of the largest Flat design book covers efforts of YouTubers such as Tyler Oakley, boom in UK sales after publication, one of publishing industries in the world! Inspired by the ‘flat design’ that’s become Grace Helbig, and Hannah Hart, have failed the Chinese publishers rushed to obtain the standard on the web, many US book covers, to reach the same success as Zoella’s book.

19 new zealand Jasmin Kirkbride ireland Sarah Minty

The New Zealand publishing industry, like the are difficult to quantify, though certainly the It is an exciting time for Irish publishing. portrayed in the past, has almost disappeared. worldwide industry, is currently undergoing rise of the digital market has had an effect. It After a successful 2014, which saw book sales Irish writers are no longer a ‘priestly caste, massive amounts of change in the face of may be in part due to the fact that titles are increase and stabilise for the first time in scribbling by candlelight, cut off from the online retail and digital market growth. Yet, often released in other countries before New several years, it looks as though the industry electric current of the culture’ as Julian Gough the industry is still strong, still fighting, and Zealand. In these instances, overseas retailers is now fully revitalised, and there’s a new, infamously described in 2010. Instead there’s makes a sizeable contribution to the New offer these titles to New Zealand customers dynamic energy in the Irish publishing scene. a radicalism beginning to re-emerge, in terms Zealand’s culture and income every year, with before native publishers can compete. of the writers themselves, like Eimear McBride total gross sales of $330 million (£128 million) Current trends show that indie publishers (author of A Girl is a Half-formed Thing), and in 2012. Despite this, New Zealand has an active are leading the way and focusing on home from within the publishing houses; Lisa Coen exports trade, accounting for about 10% of the grown talent. Ireland has a rich heritage of and Sarah Davis-Goff, founders of Tramp The country’s educational sector is strong, with industry’s the gross sales in 2012, not including independent publishing, such as Lilliput Press Press are a prime example. In an interview gross sales of $64 million in 2012, helped by rights sales and non-traditional publishing. and New Island Books, but recently some for Writing.ie they describe the aim of Tramp the industry’s profitable working relationship new presses have joined their ranks including Press as ‘bring[ing] great writing in from the with the Library and Information Services With a new focus on innovation and higher Tramp Press (set up in 2014), and the cold’. Sarah Davis-Goff advocates trusting of New Zealand Aotearoa (LISNZA), which emphasis on quantifying market changes at publishing arm of literary magazine Stinging your gut instinct, and it’s due to her persistence accounted for $15 million of sales in 2012. home and overseas, the New Zealand market Fly, which was established in 2005. as an intern at Lilliput that Donal Ryan was continues to face the digital revolution head- finally published after forty-seven rejections, Though it’s trade sector is its strongest asset, on. By bringing in changes like Julie Burland In 2014 Irish published titles were worth €25.3 and then put on the Man Booker longlist in New Zealand does appear to suffer from as CEO of million (23.8% of the overall market) and by 2013. Quoted in The Sunday Times, Davis-Goff overseas sales by retailers such as Amazon and and New Zealand, it looks to pivot its market the looks of things this is set to grow. However, describes how she got the confidence to set BookDepository more than larger markets like around new distribution channels with great it’s not just about independent publishers up Tramp Press as a result of ‘having found the US or China. The exact reasons for this success. championing more Irish writers; authors are something on the slush pile and just trusting changing what they’re writing about too. Anne my judgement on it’. Enright, who was appointed the first Laureate for Irish Fiction in January this year, describes Irish publishers are being brave and how there is ‘a confidence in female voices’ taking risks, rebelling against the wave of which hasn’t been seen before. Authors are amalgamating small presses as we’ve seen in also writing about anything and everything, the UK, and it’s exciting. Roll on 2016 as the and the often-rural sense of ‘“Grand Ireland”’ Celtic Tiger is back!

20 21 // Events Management // // Recruitment //

Day in the life of... Day in the life of... Laura summers Maria vassilopoulos

Co-founder of How is the Role Different? Manager How is the Role Different? BookMachine It’s not really a ‘role’, it’s a lifestyle. Running Jobs In Books I created my role. When I started at The ______BookMachine involves meeting a lot of people (The Bookseller) Bookseller there was a page or two of jobs and constantly coming up with new ideas for ______in the magazine, an automated twitter feed BookMachine is an events, and our blogging strategy. There are with 1000 followers and a jobs board. I was international network for plenty of new industry players and ideas to The Bookseller is the brought in to sell recruitment only, and that is the publishing industry. keep abreast with, so lots of reading too to B2B magazine for the still part of Jobs in Books as well as the other The popular Website is updated daily, and make sure we are really in-tune with everyone UK book trade and has been since 1858. We areas. My CEO Nigel Roby and Editor Philip offers indispensable advice for anyone working who is part of the network and keep all the have our weekly magazine, online site, email Jones have supported me in building up the in the industry today. Why don’t you take a content (blog and events), relevant to their newsletters and conferences throughout the area and creating a proper publishing jobs peek? www.bookmachine.org. BookMachine interests. year. I run Jobs in Books, which consists of community. What’s brilliant is when I see other events are notoriously fun and inclusive, you the jobs board, magazine pages, My Job In 5, organisations doing similar things – then we can dip in and out of them throughout your Main Influencers on your Role careers area and @Jobsinbooks. can work together and make it better for all career. More recently we have also been Gavin my co-founder has awesome ideas, and jobseekers out there. offering our services to help companies and so do many other people who we have met and Typical Day publishers to organise their own engaging work with and aspire to work with. I can’t even I get in at 9am. If it’s before press day I’m Main Influencers on your Role? events. begin to list them, as I wouldn’t want to miss making sure the team are up-to-date with The Bookseller itself is a huge influence. I anyone off, but you know who you are! the week’s new jobs in books, ready to be read it for the 10 years I spent in publishing Typical Day published. I tweet throughout the day and and bookselling previously and still read it Every day is different. It’s normally a Best Parts of the Role find a new ‘My Job in 5’ every week. I even need to read the archive combination of discovering the latest All the amazing people we meet and get to for my PhD! My passion for this role comes publishing on Twitter, commissioning work with. Hearing about lots of excellent interviewee for the Friday issue. I usually from being made redundant 2 years ago from bloggers, speaking to partners and sponsors, books before they hit the shelves. I previously have a few emails from followers on twitter my publishing job and having to job search. drumming up interest around events, planning worked in sales and met a lot of people or jobseekers I meet at events so I like to The recruitment agencies and Book Careers initiatives for members (you can join from £3 through that, and I love reading – so this answer each of those – I pride myself on being were all great but when I got the job at The month), writing blog posts, working with our combines the two perfectly. community focussed. I also attend meetings, Bookseller I wanted to add to this. I hope I developer on ideas for BookMachine Connect, events, panels and careers fairs to spread the have – I don’t see it as a role, I see it as my attending events and book launches and word about Jobs in Books and to keep my responsibility. meeting lots of publishing professionals. ear to the ground on what issues are being discussed in terms of publishing recruitment. Best Parts of the Role Jobs in books is involved with Rising Stars I am so fortunate to be able to say that I love and The Bookseller Top 100 and I attend my Job. I really do. I like the fact I can help at both London and Frankfurt book fairs as least one person each day, grow Jobs in Books well as having jobs and freelance pages in the and keep the service alive and kicking whilst Bookseller daily editions. meeting so many lovely people and learning about every single aspect of the book industry. A publishing christmas Sarah Minty for dads and grandads. It irks me however, to put books into such binary categories, and although it’s clear where he’s coming from, super I do not agree with reducing the variety of this year’s offering in this way. There really is something on the list for everyone (including thursday difficult teenagers). Plus, who wouldn’t want to open up a book of animal selfies on Christmas Day?

It seemed as though the press for this year’s varied than ever, which clearly signals that the Super Thursday – the most important day in industry is regaining its strength. In particular, ‘there are only the publishing calendar – was inescapable, the number of children’s titles released good things in with news reports, newspaper articles and even surpassed previous years, reflecting the growth a segment on the One Show charting the impact in the children’s market that has been apparent store for 2016’ of the occasion. But what is Super Thursday, in 2015. Traditionally, publishers released and what does it show about the state of the big children’s titles in time for the summer I believe the concept of Super Thursday UK publishing industry today? holidays, and this change in tactic emphasises itself though, is an insular term, and I don’t how publishers are beginning to build the think that the public are as aware of the On October 8th, 404 titles were released children’s market as a ‘cornerstone of their date as publishers may think. But this year (89 more than last year and twice as many business’ (Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller). saw the launch of the third ‘Books are My as would be published in an average week). Bag’ campaign on the same day. This would Publishers were like armies going into battle, have only bolstered the PR surrounding and ‘Super Thursday’ heralded the industry’s the onslaught of new titles, and hopefully ‘major assault’ on the Christmas market. As encouraged more people to visit their local © mediatinker Robert Colvile described in his article for The bookshop and pick up what’s on offer. I do Telegraph, the books published on October wonder though, whether there is almost make the impact that they deserve. But that’s 8th ‘represent[ed] the…industry’s best guess too much choice for readers this year, and the risk you take in publishing, and personally at what we actually want to find under our with such a saturated market, it will be I’m excited by what this Super Thursday Christmas trees’. harder for publishers to stand out. It’s no demonstrates. The UK publishing industry secret that many publishers’ profit and is clearly alive and well, and I think there are This year however, there was a different tone © Foyles loss sheets largely rely on Super Thursday, only good things in store for 2016. So take a to the newspapers’ coverage surrounding the which is a risky business, as there is a similar look at the list and see if there’s something you day. Last year, articles were titled: ‘Will Super Alongside the children’s titles and novels were scepticism starting to emerge in line with that fancy asking Mr Claus for. But remember – a Thursday save publishing?’ (The Telegraph) the usual cookbooks and celebrity memoirs, surrounding television. As Colvile describes: book’s for life, not just for Christmas. and ‘Bookshops hope that Super Thursday TV tie-ins and books exploiting Internet ‘we have reached “Peak TV”, with just too will help start a new chapter’ (The Guardian). memes such as Cats in Awkward Places and much good stuff competing for our attention. But the market has changed a lot in a year – animal selfies. Yet despite this diversity, Robert The same is true of publishing’. physical book sales overtook digital sales for Colvile claimed the books in the list were the first time since 2007 – so print is clearly not not ‘books for the nation’. Looking at it in The huge number of titles released this Super dead, and Super Thursday need not act as a gendered terms, he reflected that there’s no Thursday may show that we have reached a messiah to save the publishing industry. ‘chick-lit’ and any ‘novels tend to surge with state of ‘Peak book’, and there could be some This year’s book haul was huge, and more testosterone’, boiling the list down to books good titles in that list that might not be able to

24 25 Harry Potter Colouring Book Waterproof book cover christmas There is no such thing as too much of a good Waterproof. Book. Cover. Need I say more? thing. What happens when you take 2015’s Wish list biggest trend and pair it with everyone’s Literary temporary tattoos favourite childhood hero? Magic, that’s what Permanent tattoos aren’t for everyone, but happens. who wouldn’t want to have some of literature’s for the greatest words on their body for a couple of Book journal weeks, at least? If having your skin injected book nerd Take note of every book you read – why it’s with permanent ink isn’t your style but you’d Diane Brincat worth reading, when you read it, how you be happy to rock your literary favourites for felt after reading, why it’s in the bin. Book a few days, this is perfect. Even then, if you journaling is a fantastic way to record the can’t bear the thought of having Shakespeare’s memories that accompany a particular book. hottest lines on your skin for even a few days, You could do this on Goodreads, of course, maybe the next item will be a better fit… but then there are some things that should remain between a book and its reader. literature inspired jewellery Etsy is a goldmine when it comes to literary Whether you’re looking for gift ideas for your something about you as a person – be it a The book of the year accessories. Be it earrings, necklaces or nearest and dearest bookworms – or if you’re leather case with your initials engraved on You can’t really go wrong with getting a brooches, you can find just about anything more of a treat yourself kind of shopper, this it, or a swanky patterned case covered in copy of A Brief History of Seven Killings by book-themed. non exhaustive list is just a small selection of owls or florals. Visit etsy.com, high street Marlon James, AKA the 2015 Man Booker top ‘Must-Haves’ this Christmas. bookshops or your favourite designer to get Prize winner. Even if it’s not your cup of a case that will hold all of your beloved tea, it’s always worth reading up on what’s Personal Library Lending Kit ebooks safe and sound. considered to be the finest piece of literary The first rule of lending books is to never fiction to come out this year. lend books – unless you never want to see Literary map them again. But then not being able to hand The only way you can properly plan for over that book that your best friend just has that literary road trip with your best book to read takes out all the fun, doesn’t it? One buds is if you know where to go! There was way around this dilemma is to invest in a once a genius designer who created different handy personal library kit, where you can literary maps that outline where authors lived take note of when and to whom you’ve lent and where novels are set. So you know what your new favourite book using a fancy to do, get yourself a map, stick it up on your stamp and card system. wall and start planning!

E-Reader case Book scented candles It’s important to protect your e-reader, and Yes, you read that right, you can get candles look stylish while doing it. Find a case that that smell as heavenly as the inside pages of not only captures your imagination, but says your favourite childhood book.

26 27 book club Emily Finn

The SYP bookclub runs on the second Monday of every month. Room Emma Donoghue Mystery Join us in 2016 for a great new range of reads from a different genre each month, Room tells the story of Jack, a five year old boy plus wine and a chat with who lives in Room with Ma. He has never other SYP members. been outside and thinks the world exists within TV only. Readers are taken on a journey of For more details, visit the SYP bookclub page: why they are living in Room and how their www.thesyp.org.uk/london/london-syp-book-club lives might change if they were ever to leave. Jewels of allah or email: [email protected] Told from the point of view of Jack, in his Nina Ansary Documentary, Non-Fiction five year old voice of innocence, this book stands out from others of the same topic. It highlighted how strange the world can be Jewels of Allah is a book focused on the untold really made everyone feel like they learnt a lot, through the eyes of a child and how reverently stories of Women in Iran. Printed by a small, filing in gaps in their knowledge. However, a Jack holds on to everything his Mother tells American press, it is a thesis that has been downside to this vast coverage is that it tended him. The reaction from the SYP bookclub extended into a full length book. It may not be to race through the time periods, the book was strangely one-sided on this one. Everyone the lightest book club read, but it is definitely only being 288 pages and we felt there were thought the book started off slowly with an interesting and informative one. As an other gaps left unexplored. painstaking detail in places, but that this extra incentive, all profits from the books sales emphasised the boringly routine lives Jack and have been dedicated towards charitable causes, Despite being an academic text, it did well his captive mother had to live for 5 years. The the main one helping Iranian women fight to hold our attention as readers. At every protagonist Jack was met by mixed reviews, against prejudice. point where we were starting to feel a little with some reactions sympathetic and admiring lost, it made sure to repeat the overall point of his efforts while others were unable to The book begins with addressing myths and and bring the text back on track. The direct fully grasp the 5 year old mentality and felt misconceptions about Iranian women, a main comparisons of education and society to the the similar pangs of frustration you do when revelation being that Iranian women didn’t UK and US make it easier to relate to but watching a film and find yourself yelling life advocate for their freedom until recently. It it possibly also limits the understanding to instructions at the screen. In general, a unique then goes on to explore the timeline of women a westernised view point only. However, we read, worth a pick-up even because there is within history from ancient Persia, 550-330 discussed how it can often feel like ‘us’ vs none other like it out there – and with the film BC, to modern day, a factor of the book which ‘them’ when it comes to the east and west and coming out this year it could be an exciting impressed the SYP bookclub in it’s ability this book is successful at narrowing the gap one to get your head around now. to cover such a vast range of history which between the two.

28 29 Celebrity endorsed cookery titles continued Youtuber fiction to do well but specialist titles were also able to Not a genre per se (although it might as well be carve up a piece of the cake (sorry!). Such is one) but the startling success of Zoe Sugg’s Girl the optimism around the food and drink genre Online late last year had publishers scrambling that 2015 saw the launch of the inaugural to sign up the next biggest YouTube sensations. Cookbook Confidential, a celebration of all Zoe’s brother, Joe, who has a healthy online things food and drink, at the Southbank centre following of his own, got in on the family in September. business with the graphic novel User Name Evie. Despite his inbuilt audience from his channel he The good and the bad Things that were disappointing failed to come even close to the record-breaking figures set by his sister. Tahmeed Zaki Serious non–fiction 2014 was an odd year with some of the biggest Zoe for her part followed up her hit debut novel sellers beings work of serious non-fiction like with Girl Online 2: Girl On Tour and while by It’s getting to that time of the year again when If it worked once, it´ll work H is for Hawk (winner of the 2014 Samuel no means a complete write-off it hasn’t come people look retrospectively back on what again – probably Johnson Prize) by Helen MacDonald, The anywhere close to the success of its predecessor. worked for them and not. With that spirit in To be honest this trend might apply to almost Establishment by Owen Jones and Boris Johnson’s Perhaps Zoe has suffered from the backlash mind we decided we would see what worked in any year as fans like to return to favourite The Churchill Factor to name but a few. Such was of the revelation that she used a ghost writer the world of publishing and what didn’t over characters time and time again and authors the impact of those books that the paperback and failing to mention it. But when the poster the last 12 months. and publishers are only too happy to oblige. editions of these books are still easily the biggest child of the YouTube led publishing revolution But this year one such re-visit to old favourites non-fiction titles of 2015. comes under such heavy (and sometimes Things that worked was Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman, the needlessly harsh) criticism, it’s not surprising to follow-up to the iconic To Kill a Mockingbird, A quick point of comparison might be to look see the public’s demand for fiction by internet It´s a colourful world and the release of the sequel had the added at The Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-fiction, sensations abate. Arguably the most surprising trend in the bonus of positively impacting the sales of the where this year’s winner, Neurotribes: The Legacy publishing industry in a long time, the first book. Although the emotional impact on of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Heaven knows I´m miserable now popularity of colouring books for adults left a readers of seeing how Atticus Finch turned Silberman, has come nowhere close to matching Lots of celebrities from other creative industries lot of publishers scratching their heads even out may take a while longer to heal. Similarly, the popularity of last year’s winner, although have successfully made the jump to fiction while they were commissioning them by the the other big ‘revisit’ to a popular story was that title probably didn’t do it too many favours. with Dawn French and David Walliams bucket load. A trend that started in France in E.L. James’s Grey, which being Fifty shades of being notable success stories. Morissey, after late 2014 it was during this year that it really Grey as told by Christian looks like ending the publishing his autobiography as a Penguin took off over here. Titles such as Secret Garden: year as 2015’s biggest hit. ‘the cookbook Classic, has now entered the fray with List of An Inky Treasure Hunt and Colouring Book and Lists with a lot less success. Although to his Millie Marotta’s Animal Kingdom look likely to What´s cooking is not going credit, by the time of printing, Mozza may well finish the year in the top 50 bestsellers. Contrary to popular belief (‘Who buys anywhere just yet’ have won the Literary Review’s worst sex scene cookbooks nowadays when you can get all of the year award. Publishers have been quick to jump on the your recipes from the internet?’ – that popular Perhaps it’s because of what happened last positive and calming effects of colouring as belief) cookery titles are in rude health. With year that this year’s serious non-fiction looks so Can we just have a Smiths reunion instead, a selling point (as explored in Issue 146 of healthy and nutritional eating being really disappointing, with the only book really (and please? Inprint) and while the trend might be on the popular and with publishers catering to all very briefly) capturing the public’s attention wane they are looking to branch out and ranges of diets from gluten and dairy free involving a scandalous story about a certain explore other areas of the ‘adult doodle’ genre. to Persian, Peruvian and pork recipes, the someone inserting a private part in a dead cookbook is not going anywhere just yet animal’s mouth. (despite what’s available on the internet). 30 31 Messages Emily from the diane finn editors brincat I can’t quite believe the year has come to an I didn’t think I’d find myself writing end and we have reached our final Inprint about publishing for a publication focused issue of the year. It’s been a great one for the on publishing that’s read by people in publishing industry, with some amazing books publishing this year – but then life can hitting the top charts and those winning an bring so many wonderful surprises with abundance of prizes. And I think the SYP it! I hope that the work that has gone into has gone from strength to strength with the arah Inprint has inspired our readers to follow hard work and support of its committee and S their gut and dream big! May 2016 kick members. I’ve met some truly inspirational 2015’s ass! people through SYP events and schemes and Minty I know that next year it will carry on growing alice may and connect even more young publishers dewing together. I’ve had a great year writing for InPrint and I hope you’ve all enjoyed reading it as much I’ve enjoyed my year on the editorial team for as we’ve enjoyed putting it together for you. InPrint and thanks to the work of the whole I’ll leave you with a Christmas joke: Sending everyone the most merry of team, we’ve pulled together some fantastic Christmas wishes as we move forward into the issues on such a broad range of topics from What’s worse than Rudolph with a runny New Year. What a wonderful year this is been Mexico to Children’s publishing to Christmas. nose? Frosty the Snowman with a hot flush! – the work we have put together for InPrint jasmin I will look on this opportunity fondly and if throughout has acted as a constant, happy anyone else fancies getting involved then don’t Merry Christmas, and see you in 2016 for reminder of the many joys, challenges and kirkbride be afraid to get in contact. more publishing delights! changes we face in our industry, but most of all, why we wouldn’t want to do anything else! I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Many thanks to all our readers for such active Merry Book-mas one and all! May your Happy New Year and hope to see you all for support, and extra special gratitude to the stockings be bursting, your bellies full, and a great 2016! lovely group of ladies in our editorial team for may Father Christmas remember to put making the extra workload extra fun. Looking a library of books under the tree for you. forward to meeting more of you in 2016! Thank you so much for reading InPrint all year, it’s been wonderful to be involved. All the brightest wishes for the New Year!

32 33 Trivia & Cartoon Jasmin Kirkbride

Raising a glass to your literacy! to books

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For the Christmas season, we recommend As for reading, this being the season of giving, drinking a hearty glass of egg nog with we think it’s highly probable that being the your reading. Homemade is best, but recipes publishing nerds you are, everyone will be involve hours of whipping eggs to a light fluffy getting their own special tome under the cloud with sugar and your liquor of choice, so Christmas tree. So snuggle up with what in a pinch, store bought will do. Either way, Santa Claus delivers – and have a merry sit back, enjoy, and be wary of drinking too Christmas one and all! fast: egg nog may taste like milkshake, but there’s enough booze in it to fell an army of

Christmas elves! ent Mom he f t o te o u Q “A Book is a gift you can opgenain”

ain and a ag

Garrison Keillor

34 Chair´s Column Anna Cunnane

The last InPrint issue of the year is a time – A great comeback event from SYP North to have fun and celebrate the magic of and Midlands in Leeds Christmas. This issue is a metaphorical – Trending twitter chats about online festivals stocking stuffed with delights so curl up with from SYP Scotland the magazine (preferably beside a roaring fire – SYP Oxford made a visit to Acorn Press for and with a glass of wine in hand) and get lost a tour of their printing press in Christmas bookishness. This year we asked members to vote for This is quite an emotional column for me to our 2016 Chair. You chose Zara Markland, write as I’m coming to the end of my time who has been an exceptional committee as Chair and on the committee. Heading the member for two years. She has overseen the SYP has been a pleasure and a privilege and transformation of our London book club and has given me skills and confidence that have produced four beautiful issues of InPrint. had a huge influence on my career and in my I’m delighted to be handing over to her and I life. I strongly encourage you to get involved know that she will do a great job. if you can. I also wanted to say a personal and huge We’ve had a fantastic year thanks to the thank you to our speakers, sponsors and enthusiasm and of our members and the partners. I am continually amazed by the hard work and talent of our committee. goodwill towards the SYP in the industry and Some highlights for me include: without this support we couldn’t continue. Particular mention should go to The > Two buzzing SYP seminars at the London Bookseller, Byte the Book, BookMachine, The Book Fair PA, The IPG, BookCareers, Creative Skillset > A frantic as ever careers speed dating event and The . > An AMAZING networking master class courtesy of Justine Solomons of Byte the The SYP is extraordinary for being run by Book and Booktuber Leena Norms and for young publishers and I know it will > A rowdy (and pretty difficult!) pub quiz flourish under Zara and her team. Thank you > Our awesome and generous team of again for your support and energy this year, mentors and happy Christmas! > our annual conference in Oxford which showed the SYP in rude health and our Love, regional branches have been doing great Anna x work too with:

36 36 37 Issue 148 • December 2015 • www.thesyp.org.uk

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