Holmes promoted to publisher at UCLan

Hazel Holmes has joined Lancashire-based indie UCLan Publishing full-time, taking on the role of publisher.

In the new role, Holmes will manage the YA festival NYALitFest, The STEAM Prize and acquire new titles for UCLan’s commercial arm, including YA, MG and non-fiction. She previously worked for the publisher on an ad-hoc basis, managing the festival and the prize.

One of the titles Holmes will be publishing next year is Rose Edwards’ YA fantasy debut The Harm Tree. She acquired world rights from Sandra Sawicka at Marjacq and will launch the book at NYALitFest in March 2019.

UCLan Publishing is based at the University of Central Lancashire, which also runs an MA course in publishing, and is a student-run, not-for-profit business. It has published novels by Jane Johnson and YA author AJ Hartley.

Homes was previously children’s book buyer for Askews and Holts Library Services.