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13th December 2024

13th December 2024

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Opinion from The Bookseller and other columnists. To pitch a comment piece email Molly Flatt.

Editor's Letter

How we manifest? It's all about the books

This week’s issue of The Bookseller, our 6,091st, features more than 500 upcoming books.

READ LETTER IN FULL

My AI forecast for 2025

My AI forecast for 2025

by Nadim Sadek

Here’s what I think (hope) publishing can expect from AI in the year ahead.

The pitching paradox

The pitching paradox

by James Spackman

Why editors struggle with this vital publishing skill—and how to nail it.

Turning traditional

Turning traditional

by Natasha Preston

Many indie authors still dream of being traditionally published — but if it happens, the adjustment can be tough.

Editor‘s Letter

How we manifest? It's all about the books

This week’s issue of The Bookseller, our 6,091st, features more than 500 upcoming books.

READ LETTER IN FULL

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Radical technology

Radical technology

by Chris McCabe

A new report has found that people prefer AI poetry to the human kind. It is based on a big mistake.

Old habits die hard

Old habits die hard

by Silé Edwards

For publishing to thrive, its people must feel secure and supported long-term.

Is this the end of the expert?

Is this the end of the expert?

by Daisy Game

The pressure on both individuals and businesses to become multi-hyphenates is intense.

A history of neglect

A history of neglect

by Kasim Ali

When it comes to new technology, publishing never prioritises author income.

News for emerging authors: November

News for emerging authors: November

by Maame Blue

A hand-picked digest of news stories from the past month, which emerging writers should know about.

Let's give celebrity authors a break

Let's give celebrity authors a break

by James Kinsley

We should air our enthusiasm for what we love, not our envy of others’ success.

Philosopher Fish claims The Bookseller/Diagram Prize for the Oddest Book Title of the Year

Philosopher Fish claims The Bookseller/Diagram Prize for the Oddest Book Title of the Year

by Horace Bent

Status, interrupted

by Philip Jones

Over the next few months, the Labour government has an opportunity to reshape the UK books market fundamentally.

Far from freedom

Far from freedom

by Joe Mulhall

The far right poses a growing threat to the UK’s freedom to publish.

Not just for Christmas?

Not just for Christmas?

by Natasha Tripney

The National is throwing everything at its blockbuster adaptation of Noel Streatfeild’s Ballet Shoes.

Do we need an indie kitemark?

Do we need an indie kitemark?

by Eleanor Anstruther

Self-publishing is flourishing, but how do we help build readers’ confidence and trust?

Author economics

Author economics

by Emma Gannon

It is harder than ever for writers to make a living in this economy. Can musicians lend us some ideas?

All Comments

Driving over lemons

Nov 29, 2024by Philip Jones

In 1970, Nobel laureate George Akerlof asserted that when everything looks like a lemon, you don’t want to pay extra for a tangerine.
He was theorising about the used-car market, but the argument has also been applied to books.

HarperCollins and AI: a brain-training deal to watch closely

Nov 22, 2024by Philip Jones

This week, HarperCollins became the first of the big trade publishers to agree to a licensing arrangement with a company developing artificial intelligence. It won’t be the last.

After the shock: Kingsolver and Everett win at hope-filled 75th National Book Awards

After the shock: Kingsolver and Everett win at hope-filled 75th National Book Awards

Nov 21, 2024by Gayle Feldman

Barbara Kingsolver and Percival Everett announced winners at the 75th National Book Awards, held in New York.

Ecologies of connection

Ecologies of connection

Nov 15, 2024by Gemma Cairney

Most of history is told through a traditionally colonial and often patriarchal lens, but there are other ways of sharing stories.

Gravity

Gravity

Nov 15, 2024by Philip Jones

This week, the Booker Prize was awarded to Samantha Harvey’s Orbital (Jonathan Cape), the first time a book set in space has won the award.

A wider audience

A wider audience

Nov 8, 2024by Alex Fane

Fane Group’s head on challenging the traditional model of book events, rebuilding post-pandemic and reaching an untapped demographic of readers

The party crashers

The party crashers

Nov 8, 2024by Philip Jones

The publishing industry itself should decide which technologies are allowed into its space.

Uni presses make clean sweep of Oddest Book Title shortlist

Uni presses make clean sweep of Oddest Book Title shortlist

Nov 8, 2024by Horace Bent

The shortlist for the 46th annual The Bookseller’s Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title of the Year is now ready to be voted on.

A celebrity crime spree

Nov 6, 2024by Penny Batchelor

Covertly ghostwritten books from household names are crowding out professional talent.

The backlist bonus

The backlist bonus

Nov 1, 2024by Anna Hervé

It’s time that literary estates learned from the children’s trade and put their considerable classic backlists to work.

Most Read

The most popular pages across the site

Waterstones' warehouse systems hit by Blue Yonder ransomware gang attack

Wonder Wall leads The Bookseller’s inaugural ranking of acquiring editors

Old habits die hard

Pottermore enjoys 'record year' as revenues increase to £48.8m

Author Belinda Jones dies aged 56 after 'short but courageous' battle with cancer

Independent publisher sees boxes of books returned from Europe amid GPSR 'mess'

Rachel Winterbottom joins Transworld as sci-fi and fantasy publishing director

Philippa Sitters launches new agency

Viking snares 'unputdownable' novel in three-book deal from Harriet Evans

Quarto appoints Karine Marko as managing director

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