'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
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