WF Howes swells publishing output

Audiobook publisher WF Howes is expanding its publishing programme by 50%, with the launch of two new imprints, Lamplight and Avid.

Lamplight will focus on mass market adult fiction and memoirs, including sagas and mysteries and featuring authors such as Josephine Cox and Patricia Cornwell.  A spokesman said: "Lamplight was launched to provide a natural home for established authors to grow their audio profile, due to a recently-formed gap in the audiobook market."

Avid will be dedicated to horror, fantasy and sci-fi, with authors such as Dean Koontz and Nick Harkaway.

The expansion will grow WF Howes' monthly releases list by more than twenty, increasing overall output to around 740 titles a year.

As well as the new imprints the mass market adult fiction list Jammer will now include Jammer Teen, featuring YA from writers like Holly Smale and Veronica Roth. Children's imprint Nudged will also be expanded, alongside a new campaign to boost children's consumption of audio books.

Dominic White, head of publishing and commerce at WF Howes said the expansion was designed to meet "the growing demand for audiobooks". He added: "We also welcome many new authors to our lists and are excited to work with them and grow their audiences through the medium of audiobooks."

Audiobooks from the new imprints will go on sale from 1st April.