The Bookseller opens the search for the Rising Stars Class of 2019

The Bookseller today is announcing the call for entries for the 2019 Rising Stars, its annual celebration of the industry’s up-and-comers. The initiative, backed by the Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF), will be published on 5th July.

The Rising Stars, launched in 2011, salutes around 40 individuals a year from across the book industry who are tipped as future leaders of the trade. The lists are a mixture of those relatively early in their careers and long-serving professionals who have changed tack to help revitalise the industry. Past recipients include Bradford Literature Festival founder Syima Aslam, agent Madeleine Milburn, School Library Association director Alison Tarrant, Burley Fisher Books co-founder Sam Fisher and Bloomsbury consumer publishing m.d. Emma Hopkin. Half of the shortlistees for this year's Editor of the Year Nibbie are Rising Star alumni—Canongate's Francis Bickmore (class of 2011), Usborne's Rebecca Hill ('18), Raven Books' Alison Hennessey ('12) and Trapeze's Anna Valentine ('11)—as are three of the five Literary Agent of the Year candidates—C+W's Sophie Lambert ('14), Curtis Brown's Cathryn Summerhayes ('11) and Jo Unwin ('11).     

One of the 2019 list will be named the year's "Shooting Star", a nominee the judges believe deserves slightly greater recognition. The Shooting Star will be awarded with a package from FBF, which includes a free trip to this year's fair, a six-day ticket to the Business Club with access to all of the fair's conferences, invitations to networking receptions and introductions to industry insiders. Last year's Shooting Star was Picador senior commissioning editor Sophie Jonathan. 

Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller managing editor and founder of the Rising Stars, said: "As we near the 10-year mark, it is interesting to see how the former Rising Stars have progressed in their careers—and changed the industry for the better. I'm looking forward to seeing this year's applications."

To nominate a colleague, or yourself, send a testimonial outlining their/your accomplishments to tom.tivnan@thebookseller.com. Entries must be received by 24th May.