From our London correspondent
A brief report on the London Book Fair 2025
I may write more fully in April, but the London Book Fair feels bold and busy.
It's always a litmus test for how the trade is ‘feeling’ – the Big Five all (as ever) seem buoyant. Transworld (i.e. Penguin Random House) are busy promoting the new Dan Brown – with a figure dressed as death wandering about Olympia handing leaflets for ‘The Secret of Secrets’ to bewildered visitors – no hint of irony in this stunt.
News came in late today that Unbound has sadly gone into receivership – what a ride that has been – heralded as the future of publishing at one point, the masters of crowdfunding finally succumbed to a lack of cash. However, a phoenix business is emerging from the collapse – but one focussed on a ‘traditional publishing model’. Which goes to show how persistent the 600 year old model is.
Everywhere I went everyone I met, asked, ‘How's business?’ a gleam in their eyes. And I answered, honestly, ‘We're back in growth, but from a very low base.’
It's been a challenging time for just about everyone. Lots of people working for free, bobbing along after the knocks and confusion of the post-pandemic world. Yet it's not Covid or cost-of-living hitting publishers, it's the bewildering challenges of ... you guessed it, Brexit. Brexit is back, killing trade with self-inflicted red tape. Think GPSR. Think IOSS. Think EAA
Nevertheless, the fair is packed with developments in audio publishing, luxury products, and of course, AI. AI is *everywhere*, the fourth Industrial Revolution is here and it's unstoppable – from sales to authoring – no part of the book trade is untouched. Well, perhaps leather binderies can rest easy. What seemed distant and exotic is now mainstream publishing AI. Audio, translation, sales campaigns, automated marketing, publicity, comms, contact management, sales pitches, and, of course, content.
However, despite the technical revolution and the continuing challenges of bureaucracy, the trade remains deeply about people and their relationships.
As I was seated, between meetings, I watched friends, acquaintances and former colleagues wander past me – truly no one ever escapes publishing. Once you are in, you never ever seem to get out. On a toilet break, I stare into a mirror and realise it may well be the mirror I first stared into over 30 years ago at the same fair.
Still there was real joy in catching up with my own publisher, long time pals, and even our authors at our stand – some people I hadn't seen for perhaps 20 years. There was no end of enthusiasm for the mad business of it all. And more tomorrow as we begin considering further expansion and even translations.
This year, my own daughter, now a part-time Salt employee, joined Jen and me – it was wonderful to see her, at her first London Book Fair, grasping the enormous complexity of so many businesses in so many sectors all being brought together in the service of readers.