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Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF) will team up with The Bookseller this year to sponsor two initiatives focusing on new talent in the industry, including Rising Stars, the magazine’s annual list of up-and-comers in the British book trade.
Rising Stars is The Bookseller’s yearly feature which spotlights around 35 “young guns” in the industry—relative newcomers who are having a huge impact on their businesses and shaping the trade for the 21st century. The Rising Stars class of 2013 included Faber’s consumer marketing director Matt Haslum, Janklow & Nesbit agent Hellie Ogden, Random House’s head of digital product development Jon Salt, and Tate Kids editor Sharna Jackson.
FBF will sponsor the Rising Stars, joining The Bookseller in championing those on the list in a series of events, promotions and social gatherings, including a fully funded trip to FBF in October for some of 2014’s Rising Stars. Additionally, for the first time, FBF and The Bookseller will select a “Shooting Star”, one person on the Rising Stars list whom the judges believe merits particular attention.
FBF director Juergen Boos said it was “really important” to be working with the next generation of publishers. He added: “The industry is going through a period of exciting change right now, and we need to look to these young guns, who often possess different skill sets and talents, to help us embrace the new publishing opportunities that emerge.”
FBF will also sponsor and co-promote The Bookseller’s Essay Competition, a crowdsourced contest that appears eight times a year in the magazine. The essays are wide-ranging, but all focus on the future of the book business, with the aim to give a platform for debate and discussion.
Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller’s features and insight editor, created the Rising Stars in 2011 and has led—along with deputy features and supplements editor Felicity Wood—the search for the Rising Stars each year.
“Rising Stars shines a light on new talent in what is one of the most challenging times in book trade history. With FBF we can broaden the championing of these leaders of the future and shine that light even brighter,” he said.
The call for entries for the Rising Stars begins today (8th April), with the 2014 list to be announced in The Bookseller in mid-June. To nominate someone, or yourself, or for more information, contact Tom Tivnan (tom.tivnan@thebookseller.com) or Felicity Wood (felicity.wood@thebookseller.com).