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SMALL PRESS OF THE YEAR OVERVIEW
These publishers are already winners in their own right, having emerged from the nine regional categories of the award. Those rounds celebrated nearly 50 small presses—indicative of the depth and diversity of the sector. In both niche and mainstream publishing they coped superbly with cost and supply challenges in 2022, and produced some of the boldest and most diverse publishing around. The Small Press of the Year winner will also join the shortlist for
Independent Publisher of the Year (p47).
BLUEMOOSE BOOKS North England winner Bluemoose had a record- breaking year, led by Rónán Hession and Ben Myers (left). Even more important was its sterling work with fellow indie Little Toller Books on the Packed with Hope project that sent 10,000 bags of books to displaced Ukrainian children.
DAVID FICKLING BOOKS The South East England winner, also a contender for Children’s Publisher of the Year, had its best Total Consumer Market year in 2022, on the back of Jamie Smart’s hugely successful Bunny vs Monkey comic book series. September Publishing is highly commended in this category.
LITTLE TOLLER BOOKS The South West England winner’s project with Bluemoose for Ukrainian children was the highlight of a year that saw sales rise in a tough market and recognition from several prizes. It also led to funding for a new imprint of dual-language books for children displaced by war.
NEW ISLAND BOOKS The Island of Ireland winner nearly doubled its sales year on year, with Nora by Nuala O’Connor (right) a star performer and Donal Fallon’s Three Castles Burning named Eason’s Book of the Year. It grew its reputation in the UK and Europe and made good progress on diversity issues.
SWEET CHERRY PUBLISHING Midlands winner Sweet Cherry, the 2021 Small Press of the Year, increased its profile in UK trade channels and grew rights sales again. Through community, charitable and literacy projects it has worked hard to give more underprivi- leged children access to books.
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SCOTTISH MOUNTAINEERING PRESS Scotland’s winner, a subsidi- ary of the Mountaineering Trust run by volunteers and freelances, published several new guidebooks and set up an original online publication. Direct sales in its loyal niche flourished while marketing and production were slick.
JUDGES' VERDICT
IN BOTH NICHE AND MAINSTREAM PUBLISHING [THE SHORTLISTEES] COPED SUPPLY CHALLENGES IN 2022
SRL PUBLISHING The East England winner for a second year in a row, SRL sets the sustainability standards for publishing by claiming climate-positive status. Its output has trebled since 2020 and its conversation-starting publishing covers urgent issues, including racism and mental health.
BOLDWOOD BOOKS/ FITZCARRALDO EDITIONS There are joint winners of the London category: Boldwood for more growth in its multi- format global publishing; Fitzcarraldo for its ambitious list that included a third Nobel winner, Annie Ernaux. Magic Cat Publishing is highly commended in this category.
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FIREFLY PRESS Firefly Press is the Wales winner for the third time in four years. It doubled sales, partly thanks to a Welsh Books Council order to provide a book for every primary school child, and set up a new list of Welsh-language adaptations. Graffeg is highly commended in this category.
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