Blog
I'm on an epic journey to South Korea (my other country) a place I haven't been to for twenty four years.
Aptly enough my holiday companion includes a book of short stories about travelling. Spokes by Janna Eliot presents a number of stories from the travelling world, specifically that of Romani Gypsy Travellers and though there are many aspects that are completely different from the childhood I had (no Vardo wagons or pretty glittery things) it's been really interesting to discover the hidden lives of a community, whose ideals weren't too different from my own family. These true stories explore what can and cannot be revealed about a past painted with notions of outcast settlements, many of which, have faced conflict or been discriminated against, because of the way they have chosen to live their lives. Many of the stories show the ways these characters have tried to hide their pasts, believing that to conform to society, they must re-invent themselves and become something new and unused. Other stories depict people exploring their histories, revealing forgotten sides of their spiritualities. There are tales of Asylum Seekers rebuilding their lives, trying to find new found motivations to overcome the tragedies they have faced in their home countries and stories of traveller movements trying to raise the profile and improve the representation of the Gypsy communities within the UK.
The story that stood out for me was 'A Vardo in the British Museum' which was told from the perspective of an ambitious British Museum Officer, trying to impress his boss, by discovering and developing an unusual and rare exhibition that ticks all of the 'engaging with ethnic minorities' boxes. On doing so he comes across a social enterprise called Artists Without Frontiers who appear to stop at nothing until a Vardo Wagon has been exhibited in the British Museum. Filled with the stereotypes that comes with limited knowledge of Gypsy travellers, the officer is hoping for recognition for such a find, but in return gets a little surprise in its place. This book has been the perfect travelling companion in a country that has been nothing but fantastical. I urge you to read this as much as I urge you to visit South Korea, both have given me great insights into different ways of living, travelling and all the things that come with originating from afar.
Amy's Third Blog
While John Bercow begins his first day as House of Commons Speaker, I enter into the second week of my internship at Inpress, and begin to feel that it’s time for another update. Over the last few days I’ve been working at both Inpress and member publisher, Flambard Press, learning about the behind-the-scenes efforts required to bring new publications to the shelves. I’m now able to use backstage software to upload recent releases to the Inpress website, and these new skills have been keeping me busy! Across the road at Flambard, meanwhile, I’ve been privileged to read and discuss publication submissions with managing editor Will Mackie. I’ve also put my creative talents to the test, assisting with flyer design for recent publications. Aside from the exciting job of reading submissions (some of which I particularly hope Flambard will publish, as I’m already hooked!) I’ve begun to read Love and Other Possibilities by Lewis Davies. This isn’t a dating guide, as a friend thought upon spying the book’s romantically styled cover, but a collection of short stories set in exotic locations from Spain to Sri Lanka. The perfect form of escapism from the classic British weather, and as an added bonus, it’s easy to fit in a short story or two while waiting for that Wimbledon match to start! Stay tuned for a review….
Amy's Second Blog
I arrived this morning to hear the news that Parthian author Deborah Kay Davies won Wales Book of the Year 2009 last night: the news we were waiting for at Inpress! Like a real journalist, I was given the task of writing a piece about this for the Inpress website, while against the clock. This was a valuable experience, and let’s just say I’ll be working on increasing my writing speed. I found myself extremely envious of Deborah’s £10,000 prize. Perhaps I should have a go at some short stories… In any case, I’ll definitely be adding Grace, Tamar and Laszlo the Beautiful to my summer reading, along with Love Lessons (I’ll restrain my temptation to quote from Romeo and Juliet, this time).
After researching important UK dates of commemoration, I was given a preview of the new Inpress website. The colours and layout are looking fabulous and I hope I’ll be here when it’s up and running. And finally an update on my Twitter-skills, which are improving and I hope to be tweeting very soon. Watch this space.
First blog by new Intern - Amy
Hi, I’m Amy. This is my first day as an intern at Inpress, and rather fittingly, my first ever blog! I’m looking forward to mastering the art of blogging and Twitter, used by Inpress to publish the latest news, and hope these will add some variety to my Facebook-consumed days (well, I am a student after all!). Having been talked through the main objectives of Inpress by the extremely friendly publisher services officer, Carol, I was delighted to be handed a brochure of new titles to browse. With a Costa mocha in hand and the prospect of choosing several new releases to review, I was settling in quickly! After ten minutes of browsing and coffee-sipping, I opted for the juicy looking Love Lessons by David Belbin. I couldn’t resist the allure of a book which deals with a English teacher’s affair with his pupil, stemming from a school production of Romeo and Juliet, one of my all-time Shakespeare favourites, it has to be said! A reference to the teacher and pupil as ‘star-crossed lovers’ had me enthralled – will this be a version of the timeless, controversial love affair with an ingenious modern twist? It certainly looks like it! Feeling slightly shamed by the novel’s ‘young adult’ classification, however, I opt for Brian Johnstone’s sensitive poetry, entitled The Book of Belongings, as my second read. I eagerly await the arrival of the books, images of Baz Luhrmann’s contemporary Romeo + Juliet filling my mind! Stay tuned for reviews! With more work to be done, I start researching a news piece on the recent poetry magazine North 43, and before I know it, it’s time for lunch…
Bea's second (and final) Inpress Intern blog
Today is my last day as the Inpress Intern, and although the mood in the office is very sombre due to my departure, my blog will be filled with lots of optimism and gratitude. Before I start gushing about how wonderful my time here has been, I’ll quickly fill you in on what I have been doing as the Inpress Intern since my last blog. Beside from my daily tasks like updating Facebook and the Inpress website, I encouraged Inpress to join the Twitter revolution and I am pleased to announce that Inpress are now tweeting on a regular basis. I’m very happy about this as I feel that I have imparted some of my knowledge to Inpress, in return for the experience Inpress has given me.
I must take this opportunity to thank Will at Flambard Press, who kindly invited me to experience life at an independent publishers. Reading novel submissions sent to Flambard made me realise just how competitive publishing can be, and just how important it is, especially to independent publishers, to select the perfect novel. I was nervous about critiquing what I had read in case Will took my word as gospel and rejected it, and in five years time I would see the book on the shelves hailed as ‘The New Harry Potter’, I don’t think Will would be best pleased if that was the case! Will also set me the task of researching online Book Blogs, and I very much enjoyed reading the book reviews and thoughts of the bloggers. Unlike mine in the past, their fervour for literature is clear to see and has encouraged me to look in to perhaps setting my own blog up. You read it here first, it’s going to be big!
Before I started at Inpress my enthusiasm for literature was waning slightly. I had stopped reading because I couldn’t justify reading for fun when I had university texts like Shakespeare and Chaucer staring me in the face from my desk. However, my internship at Inpress has not only provided valuable work experience, it has completely reignited my passion for books. Rachael and Carol have imparted invaluable wisdom on to my lowly intern shoulders, and I’m delighted to have experienced the wonderful working environment that is Inpress Ltd.
First blog from our new Chairman
'How about a blog post to say hello as our new Chairman' said Carol in the new Inpress Ltd. office in Newcastle. Why not indeed. So, here it is: hello!
First of all, I would like to thank Ross Bradshaw for all his hard work during a period of rapid transition for the company, and to wish him good luck. I'd also like to thank the board for proposing and electing me -- I first joined the Inpress board in 2006 and have learned a great deal from those around me; especially Stephanie Moncrieff, Imelda Quinn, Ross Bradshaw, Tony Ward, Angela Jarman, and Peter Mortimer. This highlights one of the great benefits of Inpress: it is an organisation where you can get together and learn from your peers. I'm looking forward to helping Rachael Ogden take Inpress forward over the next few years as she makes sure it does everything it can as an organisation to support the interests of member independent presses across the UK.
It is a difficult period, economically speaking, for all publishers. But, as Salt's recent 'Just One Book' campaign proves, there is a real sense of loyalty and enthusiasm for independents out there; an appreciation that a diverse industry is a good thing and something that must be preserved. As long as we make sure we stick to publishing good books well, while keeping a keen eye out for marketing opportunities, particularly digital, we are sure to prove 'recession resilient'.
Flexibility and creative thinking are what's important. As the climate changes and the bigger beasts in the publishing forest struggle to feed themselves, the smaller, more nimble independents are better able to adapt and try new things. And there's plenty else to be cheery about: as Dave Eggers has been saying recently, reports of the death of print have been greatly exaggerated.
After great work by Stephanie Moncrieff bringing on Inpress over the last few years, we have in Rachael a forward-thinking and sharp-minded Managing Director with plenty of ideas for developing and enhancing Inpress' role, providing extra value for members of our collective, and opportunities for us all to learn from each other. It's going to be an exciting few years of change, and I'm pleased to be aboard.
Nathan Hamilton is the new Chairman of Inpress Ltd. He is also a poet, publisher, critic, and writer/blogger. He runs Egg Box Publishing and works freelance as an 'arts manager', with the Writers' Centre Norwich, UEA, Creative Partnerships, and the BBC among his clients and partners. He is currently programming the Richmond Upon Thames 'Book Now' Literature Festival. His poetry and criticism have been published in a number of places, in print and online, including Poetry London, The Manhattan Review, nth position, and The Spectator.
Visit the Egg Box website here
Read Nathan's Egg Box blog here
Laureate to Laureate and other matters - from The Rialto
Marvellous that the changeover from Laureate to Laureate happens at this time of year, so soon after Shakespeare’s birthday, cherry (‘Loveliest of trees’ etc.,) blossom passing quickly to apple blossom, bluebells in the woods and the entire House of Commons, apparently, cheekily trousering all they can get.
Congratulations to Carol Ann Duffy, the expected choice, but no less brilliant for that. Good that the nation has recovered from it’s misogyny.
Two quotations to cut out and keep from her press release in the Guardian (02/05/ 09). The first was her saying that she was:
‘... privileged to be part of a generation of poets in Britain who serve the vocation of poetry... who... regard poetry as the place in language where everything that can be praised is praised, and where what needs to be called into question is so.’
and the second,
‘The poets I’ve known and worked with over 25 years or so... all share the certainty that poetry, the music of being human, matters deeply to a huge and growing number of people in this country...’
She gave a great interview on Woman’s Hour on Radio 4, emphasizing that her acceptance was on behalf of all women poets. Though it is always odd that poets on radio can’t be allowed to have conversations without being obliged to read a poem. The only sorrow of the day was the news of the death of U A Fanthorpe.
To read further, visit The Rialto Blog
Carol's first Inpress blog (well, first ever blog really!)
So, I’ve been in the job over two months and thought it was about time I posted a blog. Let's get the introductions over - my name is Carol and I am the ‘new’ Publisher Services Officer here at Inpress. Not sure how long I can call myself ‘new’ but think it is okay in this instance! (It is my first blog, after all!)
Here is a whistle stop tour of my first couple of months at Inpress and please do bear in mind that this is only a very small selection! First big thing has to be the London Book Fair 2009. This was a great experience and also very beneficial, as I got to meet and introduce myself to quite a few of our member publishers and e-commerce members. I attended various author talks, meetings with Rachael and really interesting seminars including; International Independent Publishers Association, Independent Booksellers Week and Using Technologies.
In between the day to day jobs, I have also been looking after our new Intern – Bea. She is the first of four interns who will be at Inpress over the summer holidays.
Finally, I have made time to read some of our publisher’s books. I have dipped into Writers on Islands from Iron Press (buy it here) and Boys at War from Northway (buy it here). I am currently reading, Drowned from Five Leaves (buy it here). This book caught my eye because it is based in Ireland, where I come from originally.
So, that is it for now. Until the next time…………………
