Independent publishers share open letter to UK industry
The letter warns of an uncertain future for small press publishing, and argues for the significance of independent presses on the literary landscape.
A number of leading independent publishers have joined together in an open letter on the future of small press publishing in the UK. Highlighting challenges including funding cuts, inflation and backlash against vocal support for Palestine, the letter warns of ‘unsustainable workloads and increasingly uncertain prospects’.
The letter also makes a case for what is at risk if the independent publishing sector continues to be squeezed, noting that collectively, their authors and translators ‘enhance UK publishing’s bibliodiversity by supporting writers of colour, queer and trans, working class and intersectional authors, alongside translations from languages less represented in Anglo-phone markets’. Works published by the signatories have won or been shortlisted for many of the major book awards, including the Booker Prize, the International Booker Prize, the Women’s Prize, the Goldsmiths Prize, Republic of Consciousness and many more.
Following the publication of the letter, the founding publishers are putting together a roundtable of key players to discuss how the industry can build a sustainable future for independently published authors and translators, alongside the publishers themselves.
The full list of signatories is:
404 Ink
Bad Betty Press
Bluemoose
Book Works
Broken Sleep Books
Cipher Press
The Emma Press
Galley Beggar Press
Hajar Press
Influx Press
Lolli Editions
Makina Books
Monitor Books
Outspoken
Peninsula Press
Prototype Publishing
Rough Trade Books
Silver Press
Strange Region
Tenement Press
the87press
Tilted Axis Press
Weatherglass