NPI Media Group, the local and specialist history publisher headed by Alan Sutton, is expanding further with the launch of two new imprints. Tom Ferris, a former director of aviation and transport publisher, Midland, has been recruited to establish and manage the two new imprints, Great Western Press and Lancaster. GWP will publish books on...

Nick Sayers at Hodder has signed up historical novelist Robyn Young for three more books. The deal for UK, Commonwealth exc Canada and European rights in the Insurrection trilogy, was done with agent Rupert Heath. Hodder will publish the first novel in 2010.

Young's first two books Brethren and Crusade are part of...

Waterstone's has launched a line of gift cards which will replace its range of vouchers. Rolled out to shops this week, the swipe cards can used as one-off gifts, be topped up to any amount and used on Waterstone's website.

There are four different designs in the range: Christmas, with a Raymond Briggs Snowman image, Kids, Gals...

Man Booker Prize shortlisted publishers have upped their game and ensured a steady supply of titles to booksellers, following last year's "disastrous" performance.

In 2006, booksellers experienced sporadic availability of shortlisted titles, and struggled to obtain stock. This time round, all longlisted publishers were told...