Working-class focus from The Bookseller

The Bookseller will run a working-class focus in the issue of the 18th November. The issue will look at experiences of working-class people across the book business including publishers, booksellers, agents and writers/illustrators, and will also feature a preview of forthcoming publications. 

The issue will be commissioned by Natasha Carthew, writer and founder of The Working Class Writers Festival. Pitches, AIs and PDFs of relevant titles may be sent to workingclasswritersfestival@gmail.com by 30th September. The preview will feature books by authors who identify as working class or titles that tackle issues relevant to the working-class experience or which have characters included which encompass this experience. 

The issue will be launched at the FutureBook Conference, which will feature a discussion on topics raised by the publication.

Carthew said: "I’m absolutely stoked to have been asked to write for this incredibly important edition of The Bookseller. Not only will I be previewing new titles by working-class writers, I’ll be talking to industry professionals and creatives about socioeconomic issues that affect them. As both a working-class writer and artistic director of The Working Class Writers Festival, I know how necessary it is for us to expand and extend class diversity in our industry, and this edition is a vital step toward that goal."

Editor of The Bookseller Philip Jones said: "The Bookseller’s Working Class Survey, published in 2019, found that close to 80% of respondents felt that their background had adversely impacted their career in the book business. This is a timely progress update to as well as an opportunity to amplify the work of working-class authors and books that feature working-class experiences."

For advertising queries, contact emma.lowe@thebookseller.com.