Pete Selby discusses 'incredible four years' following departure from Bonnier Books UK in restructure

Following his departure from Bonnier Books UK as part of a major restructure, Pete Selby, publishing director for Nine Eight, has spoken of the "incredible four years” spent on the music imprint.

Selby, along with Toby Buchan, executive editor for John Blake and Sam Humphreys, publishing director for Black & White London, have all left the business as the imprints are encompassed into wider lists. Humphreys has now become a freelance editorial consultant.

It was also announced today Campbell Brown, executive publisher of Black & White, would leave Bonnier Books UK this month. The new structure follows the merger of the Black & White and Zaffre Publishing Groups into one adult trade division earlier this year under the leadership of managing director Sarah Benton.  

Selby launched the music imprint Nine Eight in 2020 after previously working at W H Smith as head of books and at the Roald Dahl Story Company as retail publishing director. 

Selby told The Bookseller: “I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the love and support since the announcement on Friday. It gave me such joy and satisfaction that Nine Eight meant so much to so many people. It was so much more than just a logo on a book spine. 

“I take great comfort in the fact that people loved the integrity and diversity of our books, could see what the brand stood for and took that to their hearts.” 

He wrote on X of his time at Nine Eight: “It has been an incredible four years and a dream come true not only to work with but also to publish books by some of my favourite writers and artists.” 

Writer Pete Paphides wrote on Instagram: “In years to come Nine Eight books—which was closed down this week by its parent company Bonnier—will be one of those imprints that will prompt collectors to ensure they have every title published on it.  

“Because founder [Selby] was a lifelong fan and follower of great music writing, he knew which ideas would land best on the page and seemed to relish getting behind those that would have made other publishers scratch their heads and exclaim: ‘Sorry. I really don’t see it.’” 

Across non-fiction, flagship imprint Blink will expand to cover the areas of publishing that Nine Eight, Heligo and John Blake have traditionally operated in, with no new titles commissioned on these imprints. In the future, non-fiction titles in these areas will sit under the Blink umbrella. In fiction, Zaffre and Manilla Press will be the main home for commercial and literary fiction in the London office, and there will be no new commissioning on the Black & White London fiction list. 

Selby can be contacted on peterselby03@gmail.com and Humphreys on sjheditor@gmail.com.