The Bookseller.com

2nd December 2008

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Tony Potter makes publishing move

08.08.08 Caroline Horn

Children's packager Tony Potter Publishing is to move into publishing with the launch of a trade list in spring 2009. The company, which specialises in interactive non-fiction, will also include fiction in its new venture, with titles created by a separate company, WizzBook.

Managing director Tony Potter, who founded the packager in 1997, said it had become "increasingly difficult" to sell products to the UK, as publishers demanded all English-language rights and to pre-sell new titles before committing to them. "We have many titles that have been international successes but which have never seen the light of day in the UK," he said.

The launch list will comprise titles that have done well in other territories, including Pirate Carousel and Space!, as well as new projects. The company plans to publish 20 titles into the trade market each year, with the first titles due in February 2009. Sales will be handled by the Manning Partnership.

Tony Potter is also creating a separate fiction publisher, WizzBook. Potter will head the new company along with sales director Susannah Moore. WizzBook, which will launch at Frankfurt, will specialise in fiction with a novelty element for younger readers.

The fiction titles will be published and sold through Tony Potter Publishing in the UK, with rights sold internationally. Launch series planned for April '09 include Utterly, Flutterly Fairies by Moira Butterfield and Clever Kids by début author Matt Thomas. The list will be extended upwards for readers aged 12 years and over in the next two years.

Potter said: "We don't have a ‘slush pile' as such, so we put a call out for ideas and commissioned authors to write to a brief for our launch series. As the list grows, we expect to source fiction through the usual channels."

Potter expects Tony Potter Publishing to maintain its current turnover of £2.2m in 2009. The company employs 14 full-time staff and is appointing an export team.

Caroline Horn publishing children's Tony Potter Publishing