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The Bookseller | All in for the book trade since 1858
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Opinion from The Bookseller and other columnists. To pitch a comment piece email Molly Flatt.

Editor's Letter

The Nibbies weaponised the book, and rightly so

A dangerous corporate overreach met with a chorus of disapproval at this year’s British Book Awards, and not a moment too soon.
READ LETTER IN FULL
What is the point of being an author?

What is the point of being an author?

by Sadhbh O'Sullivan
Failure – and the encroaching influence of AI – are prompting me to question why I write.
The power of books to bear witness

The power of books to bear witness

by Sarah Wynn-Williams
The British Book Awards’ Freedom to Publish joint winner Sarah Wynn-Williams on Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s extraordinary courage and the power of the book.
The work we must do together

The work we must do together

by Fleur Sinclair
The latest Booksellers Association bookselling workforce survey contains good news — but we must not get distracted from our urgent mission.

Editor‘s Letter

The Nibbies weaponised the book, and rightly so

A dangerous corporate overreach met with a chorus of disapproval at this year’s British Book Awards, and not a moment too soon.
READ LETTER IN FULL
The Odyssey effect on poetry

The Odyssey effect on poetry

by Nick Barley
Homer remains epic: Could a new wave of poetry book sales be due this summer?
Four ways becoming an author changed me as an editor

Four ways becoming an author changed me as an editor

by Tig Wallace
Switching perspectives has brought valuable insights.
Mantel on Maggie

Mantel on Maggie

by Natasha Tripney
An adaptation of The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher reminds audiences that there is more to Dame Hilary Mantel than just Wolf Hall.
Fun is not a school subject

Fun is not a school subject

by Emma Whitehall
Our obsession with self-improvement is turning kids off books.
The personal and political are what we do best

The personal and political are what we do best

by Philip Jones
With The British Book Awards hoving into view next week, it is time the crucial importance of the publishing sector is fully recognised.
The hotel room as bookshop

The hotel room as bookshop

by Caroline Sylge
Publishers can tap into a lucrative wellbeing market by providing literary solace.
Writing a non-fiction book is not that hard

Writing a non-fiction book is not that hard

by Lauren Currie
Elitist narratives are preventing women from publishing their expertise.
News for emerging authors: April

News for emerging authors: April

by Maame Blue
A hand-picked digest of news stories from the past month that emerging writers should know about.
An AI from 1930 walks into a bar

An AI from 1930 walks into a bar

by Meru Gokhale
A new AI model trained on pre-1931 texts has some surprisingly solid advice for the book trade.
The book trade is not the only sector concerned by habits

The book trade is not the only sector concerned by habits

by Philip Jones
Much like the theatre world, the book trade is experiencing a decline in its core audience as both sectors seek solutions.
How to draw kids into your books

How to draw kids into your books

by Chip Colquhoun
Improvised reading can turns reluctant readers into bibliophiles. Here’s how to do it.
The mathematics of superabundance

The mathematics of superabundance

by Nadim Sadek
... and why crafting a great brand is now a survival skill.

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Bloomsbury is consciously unglobaling

Bloomsbury is consciously unglobaling

Apr 17, 2026by Philip Jones
The “verticalising” of the company’s business into three distinct divisions comprising Bloomsbury Global Academic & Professional, Bloomsbury USA and Bloomsbury Consumer UK will see it respond to changing tastes and customer preferences.
Small presses and the difference in kind

Small presses and the difference in kind

Apr 14, 2026by Neil Griffiths
Publishing must come together to secure small press success.
A cuckoo for our times

A cuckoo for our times

Apr 13, 2026by Natasha Tripney
Can a new staging of Ken Kesey’s cult novel speak to modern audiences?
Bonnier FC looks to Wrexham not Hollywood

Bonnier FC looks to Wrexham not Hollywood

Apr 10, 2026by Philip Jones
Bonnier Books UK may not have the financial market clout as Penguin Random House, Pan Macmillan, Bloomsbury or Simon & Schuster UK, but it is focusing on nurturing talent.
AI asks us to step up, not shy away

AI asks us to step up, not shy away

Mar 27, 2026by Philip Jones
This week, the fate of Shy Girl by Mia Ballard shows what happens to a book, and its author, when humans take a back seat.
Keeping on keeping on has never felt better

Keeping on keeping on has never felt better

Mar 20, 2026by Philip Jones
Against today’s backdrop of world and economic tumult, it’s best for us to let books do their thing.
Will The Manningtree Witches fly?

Will The Manningtree Witches fly?

Mar 11, 2026by Natasha Tripney
A regional staging of a recent novel has spellbinding potential.
Publishing from the fault line

Publishing from the fault line

Mar 10, 2026by Lynn Gaspard
In times of war, books can rehumanise the people behind the headlines.
London calling for jaw jaw not war war

London calling for jaw jaw not war war

Mar 6, 2026by Philip Jones
London Book Fair will be an opportunity to speak truth to power when those in positions of authority believe themselves beyond accountability.
Are your books unintentionally alienating readers?

Are your books unintentionally alienating readers?

Mar 5, 2026by Beth Cox
Inclusion demands time, effort, consideration and attention to detail. 

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