Christmas Blog – Coca-Cola & Santa Claus
When we think of Father Christmas, most of us imagine the same image. A plump man with white hair and a white beard in a red and white suit. But, has this always been the case? Has Father Christmas...
Sarah Anderson in the Publisher's Chair
Sarah Anderson founded the Travel Bookshop in Notting Hill in 1979 the shop that later featured in the film Notting Hill. She was educated at the London University colleges of SOAS and Heythrop, ha...
Book banning: from Lord of the Flies to The Great Gatsby
In a world where freedom of speech, access to information and multiculturalism are so prevalent, we may assume that what we can read is limitless. This is not the case. Book banning — the attempt t...
The Art of Book Marketing: Effective SEO
Readers increasingly discover and purchase books online, not only by searching for a specific title but also by browsing for new reads by genre, theme, or author. Appearing at the top of those sear...
What is World Book Day? World Book Day is an annual worldwide movement celebrating the world of books and reading. It is celebrated in more than 100 countries, and is marked on April 23rd every ye...
Why is There a Surge in Christianity Amongst GEN Z?
In an increasingly secular world, it may come as a surprise that Christianity is seeing a revival - especially among Gen Z. While overall religious affiliation is declining, data suggests that a gr...
The positive effects of video marketing and content
Video marketing is on the rise, reflecting the boom of video-driven social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Consumers, especially younger generations, crave the immediacy and digestibl...
The multiple uses of audio/video: for marketing and as a content element
VIDEO FOR MARKETING Internet speeds, on average, are increasing every year. According to a 2021 study conducted by the FCC and using 2020 as the benchmark year: “The weighted average advertised spe...
Valarie Guagnini in the Publisher’s Chair
Valarie Guagnini is the Head of EDIB (Equity/Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging) for Cambridge University Press, based in New York. Her background is in sales, including business developm...
How important are book fairs for the publishing industry?
In an era of virtual meetings and rapidly advancing digital technology, it’s easy to question the relevance of traditional, in-person book fairs. Are they still an important part of the publishing ...
Blog tours: authors, publishers and influencers
What is a blog tour and are they effective? A blog tour is a new age alternative to a traditional book tour, taking place over a set amount of time, usually a week or two. During the tour your titl...
Prince Harry's memoir Spare has become the fastest-selling non-fiction book in the UK since records began in 1998. "As far as we know, the only books to have sold more in their first day are those ...
Should we be rethinking our print-to-consumer supply chains?
Publishers continue to wrestle with book printing in 2023, asking questions such as ‘how should I print my books and where?’. We’re all looking for quicker, cheaper and greener ways to print books ...
Sales rise sharply for translated fiction & graphic novels
In a rapidly evolving literary landscape, a remarkable phenomenon is captivating the imagination of a new generation of readers. Translated fiction, once considered a niche category, has undergone ...
What is TikTok Shop & how will it affect book sales?
By now I’m sure we’ve all heard of BookTok and its rampant success in drawing vast audiences into buying books, as well as reigniting the younger generations' dwindling passion in reading. Such suc...
Are cookbooks resisting the digital age?
Cookbooks are an age-old significant part of the book industry with the first cookbook being published in 1750 BC. Three clay tablets created in Mesopotamia are believed to highlight 25 different s...
AI: How might it affect publishing?
2023 has seen some monumental changes when it comes to Artificial Intelligence, most notably with the rise of ChatGPT—an artificial intelligence chat bot developed by OpenAI that specialises in gen...
Nigel Fletcher-Jones in the Publisher’s Chair
Nigel Fletcher-Jones is a freelance writer, an editor-at-large for Eisenbrauns (an archaeological imprint of Pennsylvania State University Press), and a former Director of the American University i...