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The book trade in Scotland is divided between relief and disappointment this morning (Friday 19th September), following the victory for the "No" vote in yesterday's independence referendum.
Marion Sinclair, chief executive of Publishing Scotland, told The Bookseller the referendum had been “emotionally charged” but that the trading environment for publishers would “remain roughly the same”. She commented: “The referendum was a political and constitutional question and organisations such as ours have kept a neutral stance…. It has been a very emotionally charged process and things will take some time to settle down. We are, like many others, pleased that there was a high turnout and that it was a peaceful, intelligent process - that high turnout and increased political awareness may well have an effect on the kinds of books we will see in the future."
Sinclair added: “It remains to be seen what new fiscal powers are going to be transferred to Scotland but from the publishing perspective it looks as if the trading environment will remain roughly the same.”
Lin Anderson, co-founder of the Bloody Scotland crime festival, which opens in Stirling today, voted in favour of an independent Scotland, and said she was “disappointed” with the result.
“I'm a great believer in democracy and this has been the biggest democratic movement in my lifetime,” she said. “The people have spoken and I am pleased they have. I am disappointed in the outcome, but fighting the might of the British State, all the newspapers bar one Sunday paper, the BBC and all other TV channels was never going to be easy. In spite of the size of the opposition, the optimism, creativity and determination of the grassroots movement was a vision to behold. I hope we won't lose that in the aftermath. I also hope that the last minute promises from Gordon Brown and the three Westminster leaders are kept, and look forward to the swift enactment of Gordon Brown's timetable.”
She added: “On a lighter note, I'm glad it's over. I can get back to finishing my new book now.”
Edinburgh University Press chief executive Timothy Wright, who has been an outspoken "No" supporter, said he thought the result was the “best possible and a pretty resounding one” for Scotland. “I think there does need to be a period of reflection,” he said. “From a publishing point of view, life returns to a degree of normality. We have got challenges to face in our day to day work without the politics. We can get on with our day jobs. From a Scottish, political, point of view I think…the important thing is Scotland is back in the [UK] club and it’s good to understand that.” Nationalists would “have to listen to other people in that club”, said Wright, adding: "The other thing to bear in mind is that this is a huge result for democracy."
Katy Lockwood-Holmes, publisher at Floris Books, also praised the level of political engagement and voter turn-out, saying: "For a Scottish children's publisher, it's particularly encouraging to see the number of young people who have been passionately debating the issues in their schools and colleges, some of whom were able to vote for the first time. It's been a momentous year and, regardless of the result, it's still a momentous day for Scotland."
Among independent booksellers, Elaine Henry at radical bookshop Word Power Books in Edinburgh said she was "gutted" at the result. "In my view getting Independence was a hopeful step towards a more democratic and fairer society and I feel a sense of sadness, even shame, that people in Scotland have not grasped this opportunity, had hope in their hearts rather than fear in order to embrace the change that over 1.6 million of us voted for and so badly desired," she said. But she added: "Word Power Books is 20 in November and we hope to continue our relationship with all the new customers we've met over the course of the referendum. It has been a fantastic, energising and empowering process for many and in book sale terms we've seen a great surge on sales of books on Scottish politics." Meanwhile Marie Moser, owner of The Edinburgh Bookshop, commented: "I still feel nervous because, listening to our customers, it's clear that a lot of people are still expecting change. I personally hope that politicians realise that 86% of people turned out to vote and they shouldn’t think that this is a case of 'this is business as usual'. The message is that we want to stay together but we also expect change."
But Rosamund de la Hey, owner of The Main Street Trading company in St Boswell’s, who had raised concerns over the introduction of VAT on books in the event of a referendum "Yes" vote, said: “I am very relieved we are going to stay together as one group of nations. I just hope we can all work together. It has been fantastic for democracy with such a high turn-out...I am sure the wounds that need to be healed will heal even if that takes some time. Divisions are not created that can’t be undone and I hope that we can all work together as one country again."
David Prescott, m.d of Blackwell Bookshops, with stores in England and Scotland, said: “It is a good day today from a purely business perspective because we can focus on what we need to do without any real concern about the future. I am not concerned about the country being divided because everything I have heard this morning has been talk about people coming together after this vote." He added: "From a book sales perspective, yes, we did really well on devolution books in the run-up to the vote, and perhaps we will see some titles published on what the new powers that have been promised will mean for Scotland.” Meanwhile Waterstones m.d. James Daunt commented: "It is clearly a great relief that the uncertainty of it has now been removed. The outcome is welcome, it is good for us and we can concentrate now on Christmas and getting our bookshops in order."
Author J K Rowling, who donated £1m to the "Better Together" campaign, tweeted: "Been up all night watching Scotland make history. A huge turnout, a peaceful democratic process: we should be proud." But crime writer Val McDermid, who has been vocal in her support for the "Yes" campaign, tweeted: "And so today, we trade 'Flower O' Scotland' for 'Cap in Hand.'"
Author Tom Holland, who backed a campaign to encourage Scottish voters to vote "No", said: "I'm incredibly glad it's a vote for 'No', but we now need the idealism and energy that went into the 'Yes' campaign to work for the good of everyone in the UK. I hope that, just as in the 18th century Scotland engineered the idea of the UK, now once again the Scots will lead a recalibration of the idea of Britain that will make it fit for the 21st century."
The Bloody Scotland festival is set to hold a post-referendum Independence Debate tomorrow, with novelist William McIlvanney and historian Tom Devine. Meanwhile a Scotland versus England crime writers' football match - captains Ian Rankin and Mark Billingham – will inject a note of "good-humoured sporting rivalry" at the event. At the upcoming Wigtown Book Festival (26th September to 5th October), debate After the Referendum? will see Gerry Hassan, author of Caledonian Dreaming (Luath Press), among those discussing the future for Scotland and "what will happen to the hopes and fears generated in a sometimes bitter debate."