2


way we’ve grown the list. We don’t want to become over-reliant on one particular area.” Reflecting on the difficulties of the past five


years, she jokes that they “definitely didn’t plan for a pandemic”. Williams adds that exit- ing the EU and the rise in tariffs has hit them hard. “The geopolitical challenges that the world has seen over the past five years have definitely impacted our business, and they have made us more determined to create the books that we think matter.” Transitioning to a team of 28 people has also brought some challenges. “There was no framework and that’s something we’ve had to build and adapt quite quickly as new team members have joined us,” explains Broom. Flexible working is a cornerstone of the busi-


ness, with Williams commenting: “A lot of the team here are mums with young kids, and we think that’s a strength for the company, because everyone is tapped into their audience.” Another strength is the make-up of its staff. Broom tells me: “From the very beginning we’ve thought of ourselves as international


publishers, so we’ve tried to have that broad outlook in terms of how we're hiring. We’ve got 11 different nationalities in the team now, and that brings with it a much broader viewpoint on everything.” The expansion has necessitated the duo split-


ting some of their responsibilities, with Williams moving into a managing director and co-publisher role and Broom becoming creative director and co-publisher. Commenting on the rate of change, Broom admits: “We didn’t neces- sarily think it would happen at this pace”, with Williams adding: “But that’s what happens in publishing – you either sink or swim. We were able to establish a few series early on that allowed us to grow. And we have invested, our profit has gone back into the business.” Despite these transitions, Magic Cat has


stayed true to its original vision. Broom says: “As you grow a business, with the demands around all those different operational questions and strategic conversations, it’s so easy to overwhelm your book-thinking time with day- to-day demands. But we are a creative-led


publisher. Rachel and I still spend all our time talking about books. We have never forgotten that that’s what gives us a fighting chance.” Williams adds: “It’s our joy and also our USP.” She continues: “I think we stand out in a


market of very big houses that don’t necessarily have the creative time and energy that we put into each of our books.” Broom highlights another advantage of being independent: “If you look at the commissioning process in big houses, everything has to get signed off by the sales team, and that’s done on the basis of comparing the book that you’re proposing to what’s performing in the market. Being able to have more latitude has given us a fantastic opportunity to bring something fresh to buyers.” Looking to the future, the two predict that


the press will “keep growing” in all areas, with Williams stating: “The goal is to stay fiercely independent and, over the next five years, be the leading children’s specialists in the UK and the house that any author who wants to make a children’s book should come to.”


Key


Magic Cat titles for 2025


1


We are a creative-led publisher. [We] still spend all our time talking about books


Kristyna Litten Ivy and Bearlock Holmes: The Case of


the Missing Flower 3rd July 2025, 9781917044929, £10.99


2


Jonathan Drori, Raxenne Maniquiz, Jiatong Liu (illus) The Stuff That Stuff Is Made of: The Things


We Make with Plants 25th September 2025, 9781917044172, £16.99


3


AJ Wood, Jo Rioux (illus) The Wizard's Guide to


Magical Experiments 11th September 2025, 9781917044653, £20


4


Robert Macfarlane, Luke Adam Hawker (illus) The Night Creatures:


Firefly 23rd October 2025, 9781917366175, £14.99


29


ALAN HOWARD


London Book Fair


Company Spotlight


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