2015


Imprint of the Year SPONSORED BY: FMCM


17


[ TH E


S HORTLI ST ]


Blink Publishing was only launched by Bonnier Publishing in May, but within months it had a massive hit with Alfie Deyes’ The Pointless Book


Chatto & Windus was one of the stars of Penguin Random House’s year, publishing the 2014 Man Booker winner among other prize-winning titles


Mantle is a relatively new list at Pan Macmillan, but one that already has a distinctive profile under editor Maria Rejt


WINNER: WEIDENFELD & NICOLSON


FEW PUBLISHERS HAVE imprints that publish both Nobel Peace Prize-winners and ex- footballers, brain surgeons and multi-million- selling thrillers—but that is exactly what Weidenfeld & Nicolson has achieved in the past couple of years. The list celebrated its 65th year in publishing in 2014, but it was more dynamic than it has ever been. Its exceptionally broad range of hardback publishing included Roy Keane and Roddy Doyle’s The Second Half and Henry Marsh’s Do No Harm, both of which sold in six figures. Astutely published paperbacks included Malala Yousafzai’s I Am Malala, while sales of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl rolled on past three million units. But while W&N’s publishing is eclectic, it is bound together by high standards of


KEY STRENGTHS


publishing and marketing, and a clear sense of teamwork. It manages to be both committed to high-quality content and unashamedly commercial, and for one heady week in October it occupied four of the number one spots on the Sunday Times’ bestseller lists. It broke another new crop of début novelists too, and remained alert to the riches of its backlist, reissuing Dylan Thomas’ books to commemorate the centenary of his birth. Last year also saw W&N work on its imprint


branding to sharpen up its image for the next 65 years. As an example of how venerable imprints can stay relevant, it is hard to beat. “It’s amazing what Weidenfeld & Nicolson has achieved in the past year,” said the judges. “This is confident, ambitious and profitable publishing that goes right across the range.”


 Budget-beating sales and dozens of weeks on the bestseller lists  Published two of 2014’s hit memoirs, by Roy Keane and Henry Marsh  Nurtured big brands such as Gillian Flynn while launching new talent  Demonstrated excellent author care, marketing and publicity


Orbit (Little, Brown Book Group) turned 40 in 2014 and marked the occasion with one of its best ever years, proving that genre fiction need not remain in the niches


Picador at Pan Macmillan, led by this year’s Editor of the Year Francesca Main (see p15), enjoyed 2014 hits with the likes of Jessie Burton’s The Miniaturist


Serpent’s Tail helped Profile Books to a record year, spearheaded by Karen Joy Fowler’s We are all Completely Beside Ourselves


FMcM is an award-winning specialist communications agency with an impressive client list and a big reputation. The agency works with major publishing houses, acclaimed authors, artists, international literature festivals, bespoke events, prizes, activists, campaigners and charities. FMcM has a reputation for delivering high impact, strategic, fully integrated campaigns across all platforms—with resounding success. www.fmcm.co.uk


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