Shortlists for inaugural Small Press of the Year award revealed

Forty-one small presses have made it into the regional and country shortlists of The British Book Awards’ new prize for Small Presses, sponsored by the CPI Group, launched to celebrate  the innovative and nimble publishers making names for themselves outside the mainstream.

Nigeria and London-based publisher Cassava Republic, business specialist Globe Law and Business, poetry press Carcanet, Latin American literature specialist Charco Press, children’s list Sweet Cherry and travel publisher Wild Things are among the names to make the inaugural shortlists, which cover nine regions (the shortlists are in full below).

Philip Jones, chair of the judges and editor of The Bookseller, said: “The first year of this new award has proved to be an eye-opener, with an incredibly strong list of more than 50 submissions, from which the regional and country shortlists have been selected. Small and perfectly formed, these publishers show a sector that is diverse, imaginative and thriving. It is a delight to learn more about their businesses, and to showcase them as part of this award.”

The regional and country winners, as well as the overall Small Press of the Year winner, will be announced at the London Book Fair on 13th March. The overall winner will be shortlisted for the Independent Publisher of the Year Nibbie, with the winner of that award to be announced at The British Book Awards on 13th May 2019.

The full regional and country shortlists are:

South-East

• b small publishing
• Fine Feather Press
• Globe Law and Business
• SMH Books
• September Publishing

Ireland

• Little Island Books
• The Lilliput Press
• Wordwell

London

• Cassava Republic
• Daunt Books Publishing
• Henningham Family Press
• Jacaranda Books
• Lantana Publishing
• Saqi Books
• The School of Life
• Tiny Owl Publishing
• Canbury Press

Midlands

• Nine Arches Press
• North Staffordshire Press
• Otter-Barry Books
• Practical Action Publishing
• Sweet Cherry Publishing

North

• Bluemoose Books
• Carcanet Press
• Comma Press
• Dead Ink
• Smokestack Books

Scotland

• 404 Ink
• BHP Comics
• Charco Press
• Scotland Street Press
• Speculative Books
• The Lunicorn Press

South-West

• Burning Eye Books
• Handheld Press
• Little Toller Books
• Wild Things Publishing

East

• Dedalus
• Galley Beggar Press

Wales

• Firefly Press
• Parthian Books