THIS WEEK
From big bestsellers to ground-breaking BAME writers, 2019 has seen a number of book trade events hit the headlines. Here are some of the year’s biggest stories
January
Indie bookshop numbers rise. The Booksellers Association reports its number of independ- ent members has grown 1.7% year-on-year to 883—a second consecutive year of growth.
Amanda Ridout announces Boldwood Books. The former House of Zeus c.e.o. tells the world she is to launch her own commercial fiction press.
February
Working-class survey reveal. A survey of publishing staff by The Bookseller finds 78% of respondents identifying as working-class believe their background has adversely affected their career.
HC stands by Mallory. Harper- Collins stands by editor-turned- author Dan Mallory, a.k.a. A J Finn, aſter sensational claims in a New Yorker article.
Crankstart sponsors Booker. The charitable foundation of Silicon Valley venture capitalist Sir Michael Moritz, Crankstart, is announced as the new sponsor of the £50,000 Booker Prize.
32 13th December 2019 March
Waterstones staff launch wage campaign. Staff at Waterstones launch a high-profile campaign asking to be paid the “real living wage”; the petition atracts 4,000 signatures.
Pinch of Nom breaks record. Slimming cookbook Pinch of Nom by Kay Featherstone and Kate Allison (Bluebird) becomes the fastest-selling non-fiction title recorded by BookScan, selling 210,506 copies through the Total Consumer Market in its first week.
April
Hachette opens Hely Hutch- inson distribution centre. Hachete UK officially opens its huge new distribution centre in Didcot, aſter four years of plan- ning and construction.
May
Date confirmed for Mantel’s last Cromwell tale. Fourth Estate confirms that the long- awaited final novel in Hilary Mantel’s multiple Booker- winning Cromwell trilogy, The Mirror and the Light, will be published in March 2020.
PRH’s John Hamilton dies. Penguin Random House mourns the loss of its influential art direc- tor John Hamilton, who passed away at the age of 55.
Wellcome Book Prize suspended. The £30,000 Well- come Book Prize is suspended aſter 10 years, with no confirma- tion of its return, weeks aſter the 2019 prize was awarded to Will Eaves’ Murmur (CB Editions).
McGraw-Hill and Cengage announce merger. Education
HACHETTE OPENED ITS DIDCOT DISTRIBUTION CENTRE AFTER FOUR YEARS OF PLANNING
News Review The year in review
The year in review Records fall as 2019 breaks new ground
FOURTH ESTATE CONFIRMED HILARY MANTEL’S RETURN IN MARCH NEXT YEAR
publishers McGraw-Hill and Cengage announce they are to combine as McGraw Hill, under the leadership of Cengage c.e.o. Michael Hansen.
Plan S start date delayed. To the relief of publishers, international research funder consortium cOAlition S delays the start of controversial Open Access scheme Plan S by a year, rescheduling its launch for Janu- ary 2021.
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