Just read a very interesting article by Scott Pack, writing in today’s TimesOnline, which includes a great plug for our pals at Snowbooks.

So while the big publishers continue to write cheques with many zeroes it is the independent publishing sector that are doing much of the innovation. Some of the best fiction being published today is coming from places such as Maia, Marion Boyars and Snowbooks.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,923-2298234,00.html

Dee

Ooh! I didn't see that until you pointed it out, Dee. Thanks! Scott is such a poppet - he has done more for snowbooks and other independents than I can believe, bless him.

I was on a panel last weekend with a lady from Tindal Street Press and a man from the X Press, and the enthusiasm radiating off both of them was enormous. I imagine any writer signing with those two independents would get great support.

It's very true, and three cheers for the people with courage and vision and good business sense who manage to start an new imprint and keep it going, but 'twas ever thus, of course. Most of the imprints of the big houses were independents once (think Methuen, or Fourth Estate, and Canongate will no doubt go that way sometime in the next 20 years - it's surviving the 2nd generation that's hard), and not so long ago. I'm sure if you dug around in the archives of The Bookseller you'd find articles about the dark day when Hodder took over Stoughton...

Though it's hard not to sigh with nostalgia at the sale of John Murray to Hodder Headline who are owned by... Still, the fireplace where Byron's executors burned his diaries because they were too scandalous to print is still alive and well and warming drinks parties in Albermarle Street.

Emma

At least when Methuen got sold, they didn't go to one of the big big houses and instead went to good size and semi-autonomous publisher, A&C Black. At least there are some good moves left on the publishing chequerboard!

Ouch! That dates me. I was thinking of when the old independent Methuen were bought by Octopus, who at the time were one of the biggest groups around. Have I got that right? I'm getting old and my memory's not what it was...

Emma

Scott is fab. He's started an interesting blog at http://www.thefridayproject.co.uk/pack/ where he's spilling the beans on why he left Waterstone's...

Great stuff.

I came across this report on a Society of Authors seminar on Independent publishing. Certainly the Independent Publishers' Guild is one place to start when looking for an Indie who's more able to take a punt on a new author than the big boys are

http://www.societyofauthors.net/soa/page_id.php4?pid=74&sid=5&urlsection=Information+and+news

Emma

<Added>

Scott Pack doesn't know the proper meaning of prevaricate, or the difference between 'may' and 'might', but then neither does most of the book and writing world.

<Added>

Sorry, nerdy word-rant over. And his account rings awfully true.