it marks the beginning of what I know is going to be a long writing career, which is what we are all hoping for in publishing new voices.


3 And how do you hope your own career will develop?


I think it’s fair to say that I have big ambitions long-term, but my focus for the next few years will definitely include discovering and publishing more Irish writers and artists; there is a trove of talent throughout the island that deserves an international stage. I will also be continuing my focus on and interest in finding new and underrepresented stories, which has been hugely important to me from my first day in publishing.


4 Which of your titles are you expecting to get the most


attention at this year’s London Book Fair? We recently announced my acquisition of two new middle-grade titles from the incredible Pádraig Kenny—a man who is both a wickedly good writer and a joy to work with— the first of which is Stitch, publishing in spring 2024. It follows the story of a Frankenstein’s monster-like little boy, and features one of my favourite depictions of friendship I’ve read in years. Another is How to Love by


web-comic artist Alex Norris: an illustrated, graphic novel-style guide to love and relationships for teenagers, which we are publishing at the end of 2023. Alex is the creator of the hugely popular “Oh No” web comic and has over a million followers across various platforms, and this highly original concept of a humorous yet wise guide to love will appeal to their existing fanbase—but also break them out to a whole new readership.


the culmination of seven years of working closely with Mick and the relentless efforts of everyone at JMP. As a publicist, a massive highlight was working on Billy Connolly’s books. Growing up in Glasgow, he was almost a mythical figure around the city and so to meet him and work on his memoirs and help his books become bestsellers was a surreal and wonderful feeling.


3 And how do you hope your career develops?


I’m just starting out on the full-time editorial career, so I’m not trying to look too far ahead at the moment. I’m just enjoying building a list, working with my current crop of brilliant authors, and working hard to find interesting books—and working harder still to make sure those books find their readership.


Yassine Belkacemi John Murray Press and Baskerville Editorial director


Yassine Belkacemi joined the John Murray Press (JMP) publicit team as a Creative Access intern and was soon made a permanent member of the department. One of his first solo campaigns was for Andrew Michael Hurley’s The Loney, which earned him a 2015 Publishers’ Publicit Circle Newcomer award. He moved up the ranks, becoming JMP publicit director in 2019, while adding editorial responsibilities to his remit. He switched to editorial full-time earlier this year with his current role as editorial director.


Class of 2016


1 Has the Rising Stars been useful for you?


WATERSTONES CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE WINNER M T KHAN


TheBookseller.com


Extremely useful in a couple of ways: at the time, I wasn’t well known in the publishing industry. Being selected as a Rising Star gave me visibility, which was invaluable as someone who was coming up in publishing—and it helped me connect with lots of people outside my place of work. On a more personal level, it gave me a huge amount of confidence. I was submitted by a colleague, which really made me feel valued as a team member, and it was evidence—to


myself more than anything—that the work I was doing stood out and was having an impact. Being noticed, being appreciated, can have a massive impact on people and really help their confidence as they continue their careers. If you see someone you work with doing good work, celebrate them!


2 What are some of your post- Rising Stars highlights?


As an editor, getting Mick Herron to be a number-one bestseller with his latest novel, Bad Actors,


[Rising Stars] gave me a huge amount of confidence. I was submitted by a colleague, which really made me feel valued as a team member Yassine Belkacemi


4 How do you hope the industry develops?


I think tried and tested routes to market are probably not having the commercial impact they once had. Or at least, they are not working for as many books and authors as they have done in the past. As we continue to diversify the kinds of books and authors we publish, I think there needs to be concerted efforts and investment in getting books to audiences which have been ignored, underserved and neglected by publishers.


5 What are your ambitions for this year’s London


Book Fair? I will be going to the fair this year and looking forward to meeting lots of people from around the world. Our wonderful rights team will be selling the hell out of our books, but keep an eye on Speak of the Devil by Rose Wilding (Baskerville) and We Could be Everything to Each Other by Madeline Docherty (John Murray), two remarkable débuts.


09


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