Hodder-Williams and Fletcher launch Bedford Square Publishers and acquire No Exit Press
Former Hodder & Stoughton c.e.o. Jamie Hodder-Williams has launched Bedford Square Publishers with ex-John Murray sales strategy director Laura Fletcher.
They will focus on reading group fiction, crime fiction, smart-thinking books and wellness and will aim to publish 30 titles in their first full year. The publisher’s first acquisitions include After You Were Gone by Vikki Wakefield and a small gift book written by “the Queen’s Corgi”.
Hodder-Williams left Hodder & Stoughton in spring 2022 “to develop other publishing projects” after more than 20 years as m.d. and c.e.o. and three decades working at the firm.
Bedford Square Publishers has also acquired specialist crime publisher No Exit Press. It was built up by Ion Mills over 30 years, and features bestselling authors including William Boyle, Jake Lamar, Ted Lewis, Luke McCallin, Robert B Parker, Chris Offutt, James Sallis, Michael Farris Smith, Leigh Russell and Paul Vidich. Mills will continue to work alongside Bedford Square Publishers, and on his own business, Oldcastle Books.
No Exit Press published its first books in 1987, including pulp fiction classics Fast One by Paul Cain and The Dead Don’t Care by Jonathan Latimer. In 2019 it won the inaugural Crime Writers’ Association Dagger for the Best Crime & Mystery Publisher.
Hodder-Williams said: “It’s great to have the chance to work in an agile new company and I’m thrilled to be taking on the award-winning No Exit Press. Helping authors reach their readers will lie at the heart of everything we do. There’s plenty of scope for finding original voices and experimenting, as well as taking some lessons from the very best. We plan to offer authors an adaptable publishing model – and hopefully a different publishing experience.”
Hodder-Williams explained this model "is really for discussion with the authors as we go but likely to include some profit share models as well as conventional advance and royalty models".
Fletcher added: “The ways in which publishers can reach readers and create authentic reading communities is evolving rapidly and I’m excited to be in a position where we can explore that fully. I also believe that people want to connect with authors and the rich worlds they create beyond the words. Our new venture will be focused on delivering the best experience we can for our readers.”
Mills also commented: “No Exit Press and its authors will be in very capable hands with the experienced Bedford Square Publishers team, who will bring a fresh perspective and renewed vigour to the list in the years ahead and I am looking forward to supporting this new, exciting and independent venture.”
Hodder-Williams and Fletcher will be joined by Helen Dance as finance director. Senior editorial roles will be announced shortly and anyone interested in joining Bedford Square Publishers should write to jamie@bedfordsquarepublishers.co.uk.
