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Short Books founders Carpenter and Nicolson return with new non-fiction publisher
Former journalists and award-winning publishers Aurea Carpenter and Rebecca Nicolson are launching New River, a non-fiction publisher focusing on mental and physical health, self-development and social science.
The duo founded Short Books in 2000 before selling it to Octopus in 2019 for an undisclosed fee, after which they stayed on as publishers. They announced their departure from the company earlier this year.
New River will launch next May with a new title by Jessie Inchauspé. Sold into 39 languages, her first book Glucose Revolution, published by Short Books in March 2022, shot straight in at number one in non-fiction and has remained in the Amazon bestseller list ever since, according to the publisher.
“Rebecca and Aurea are simply amazing," Inchauspé said. "I’m so excited to continue the journey with them at New River and to keep changing people’s lives, one book at a time.”
Carpenter and Nicolson plan to publish no more than eight titles a year, and will be reuniting with the women who helped them launch Short Books. They include managing director Catherine Gibbs and PR consultant Katherine Stroud, formerly of PRH and founder of the PR Collective. Also joining them is Ella Chapman, formerly of Hachette Australia and founder of marketing consultancy business Storytelling Group, and Susanna Lea Associates, which will be handling rights. Sales and distribution will be managed by Hachette.
Nicolson commented: “At a time of great uncertainty—war, cost of living, epidemic of anxiety—people have an ever-increasing thirst for knowledge about how to create a world centered on what really matters in life. With our track record for spotting and developing talent, we aim to create award-winning and bestselling books that will be the source of the latest thinking to inspire people on new paths and experiences.”
“We are very excited about this new chapter and delighted to be working with Hachette, continuing the relationship we’ve built up with them over the past three years," Carpenter said.
Hachette UK c.e.o. David Shelley added: "We are all really happy to be continuing our association with Rebecca and Aurea and to be providing sales and distribution services to New River books. We look forward to helping get their fantastic books into the hands of many readers in the years to come."
