Mindful calligraphy book to Bluebird

Bluebird is to publish Scriptorium, a book which combines mindfulness with calligraphy, by Màlleus.

Carole Tonkinson, publisher of Bluebird, acquired World English rights to Scriptorium: Healing the soul with the art of copying from Emanuela Canali at Mondadori in a "hotly-contested" auction following the London Book Fair.  

Scriptorium introduces readers to the art of relaxation through the ancient art of copying. It has been created by Enrico Ragni, known as Màlleus, who has studied with international masters of calligraphy. Màlleus is founder of modern-day scriptorium (i.e. a place to write) Antica Bottega Amaneunse in Recanati, Italy, the biggest scriptorium in the world.

Tonkinson said: “We’re thrilled to be publishing for an English-speaking audience. It combines mindfulness (the words to copy are chosen with great care for their impact on the copier) and calligraphy, which we know is a hotly tipped trend in the wake of the colouring phenomenon. Rather than having to colour in the lines, though, a reader’s pen or pencil can simply mindfully flow, embedding peaceful thoughts and sentiments as they are copied out. I turned down dozens of calligraphy book submissions but this one stood right out as having a completely different dimension.”

Scriptorium will be published in August 2017. Bluebird sold US rights to HarperDesign who will publish simultaneously in the US.