Andrew Sharp launches publishing consultancy

Andrew Sharp, former rights director at Hachette Children’s Group, is launching a new publishing consultancy, drawing on his 24 years' experience in the book trade.

Sharp Rights will offer a range of services covering rights, editorial and contracts with a focus on commercial and strategic opportunities within the book industry.

The consultancy is based in Perth, Scotland, following Sharp's move there last year. However, it is seeking new clients from around the world, and Sharp has said he is keen to work with UK businesses located outside London "in recognition of the pressing need for the book industry to develop and strengthen its reach outside the capital". Sharp Rights will open with a "small, diverse" range of clients including a literary agency, tech start-up, university and book publisher, variously located in London, Ireland and Scotland. 

Sharp, who won Rights Professional of the Year at 2019's British Book Awards, embarks on the venture after leaving Hodder and Hachette after 21 years in July 2019. Originally he moved to Scotland to become a teacher, but while he is a part-time pupil support assistant when schools are open, he told The Bookseller the coronavirus had been a factor in leading him back to publishing.

"I spent many years successfully collaborating with creative teams to optimise the commercial potential of their new and existing projects. I love rights selling and I am excited about returning to help my clients meet the challenges of the global market," said Sharp. 

"I want Sharp Rights to be more than a rights sales agency. Throughout my career, I have enjoyed working with publishers in almost every international market. I have years of experience selling rights and coeditions and handling special sales accounts for customers across the global English language markets. I have experience in the digital publishing arena, too. I feel confident that Sharp Rights can add value to other businesses and help them to navigate the challenges and new opportunities that the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic is creating.

"I left London aiming to become a teacher. In common with so many people, the coronavirus has caused me to re-evaluate life. Since moving to Scotland, I have undertaken projects including rights-selling, lecturing and market research. I am delighted to return my focus to my love of books and working with the people who make books."  

Among the services advertised on the consultancy's new website are: selling sub-rights and coeditions; assessing the commercial viability of new projects; optimising the potential of backlist projects; consultation on publishing and rights strategies; research into specific markets and potential new areas of publishing; proof reading and copyediting; training on various aspects of the publishing industry; refinement of systems and processes, and reviewing resources; and other bespoke projects.