10.02.17
www.thebookseller.com
THE INDEPENDENTS NEWS & VIEWS
21
prefer to play it safe and not take unnecessary risks with material that is not mainstream. Cloud Lodge Books has decided that it’s worth taking the risk. It’s the right thing to do.” Based in Kensington, west London, Cloud Lodge will publish three to four titles in its first and second year. It will launch this month with short-story collection Jerusalem Ablaze: Stories of Love and Other Obsessions by Orlando Ortega-Medina (hardback, £12.99). “The widespread availability of new
technology, globalisation of the marketplace and an increasing number of distribution channels has made independent publishing a less risky endeavour than in previous years,” Campos says, arguing that these have “broken down many of the barriers that previously prevented independents from competing with larger publishing houses”. He continues: “In my view, there has never been a better time for independent publishers such as Cloud Lodge Books to make a mark and to reach a wide audience. But it still takes a lot of hard work and commitment to succeed.” Another new press hoping to make its mark on the industry by unearthing largely “neglected” feminist writing is Silver Press,
Silver Press co-founders from left Joanna Biggs, Alice Spawls and Sarah Shin
founded by industry insiders Sarah Shin (who works for Verso and Tilted Axis Press), and Joanna Biggs and Alice Spawls (of the London Review of Books). The press is “proudly feminist”, which the founders say is “important to state in the current climate”. According to the trio “books are weapons, and we hope that the ones we publish will make a political impact as much as a literary one”.
Discussing the recent demonstrations
across the globe over President Trump’s inauguration, the founders say: “[The marches] showed us a glimpse of what a mass movement against racist, capitalist patriarchy might look like. As a feminist publisher launching in this time, we hope to contribute to a culture that encourages dialogue and debate
around the issues that divide and unite us in developing such a movement.” Pointing to a wide array of innovative indies,
the founders say they are proud to join the ranks of independents publishing books on hot-button topics. “It’s an exciting time to join the ranks of some brilliant publishers,” they say. “Indies have long led the way in publishing books they feel should exist in the world and they are less compromised by profit margins— there are too many we admire to name. We’re also energised by various initiatives to create change
in the industry and broader literary culture, such as the diversity in publishing campaign helmed by the tireless Nikesh Shukla and Comma;
and [publishers] Saqi and Darf’s decision to publish more writers from the countries whose citizens are banned [from travelling to the US] by Trump. These campaigns are much bigger than the industry, and necessary to counter an emboldened racism. We are glad to see that Simon & Schuster UK has no plans to publish Milo Yiannopoulos [editor at right- wing publication Breitbart News] and hope that no other UK publisher sees fit to give him a platform for his views.” Of the press’ own mission statement, the trio
say: “We are committed to reaching beyond mainstream publishing and mainstream feminism, and we will choose writers whose work reflects that.” Silver Press will issue new editions of writers whose work has been out of print, such as Leonora Carrington’s The Débutante and Other Stories (April, £9.99, pbo). The press will publish more contemporary work too, including that of black feminist scholar Akwugo Emejulu and the writer and artist Legacy Russell. “We want to put our experience and energy towards developing new writers and providing support for their writing, and navigating the process of putting a book out there, especially for people who are traditionally underrepresented in literary culture,” the founders say.
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