Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Duckworth

It's party time in the London book world and last night was no exception. Off to the very chic October Gallery for the annual celebration of the existence and future publishing of Gerald Duckworth and Co Ltd, hosted by its owner (also owner of The Overlook Press), Peter Mayer pictured here just after he'd rescued the Duck from the liquidators in 2003.

Since then the company has healed itself and, in spite of market difficulties, is re-established as a home for both general and scholarly authors - still quirky, still small but very definitely alive and kicking.

While Duckworth chugs along perfectly well publishing books traditionally, the debate about the future of the book continues to swirl around the web. Here is yet another (and rather good) discourse on the possible scenarios. Who will be the new publishers? The social networking sites, Amazon, Google...? Or maybe Duckworth or Macmillan will survive by virtue of doing a few things well - spotting an opportunity,finding good authors, encouraging them to write books people want to read (rather than the other sort), editing, packaging, promoting, investing, doing deals for the author and then paying royalties. When someone at my space can do all those things as well as Peter Mayer, then we have something to fear.

#    |  Comments [5]  | 
9/12/2007 7:53:45 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
My money would be on Duckworth to be there, not just surviving but also prospering, when they publish winners like "Contraptions" by Heath Robinson.

No publishers needs to sell their soul for the corporate dole in supermarkets and on the 'net when they produce such fantastic books !!!
Clive Keeble
9/12/2007 8:38:22 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I agree 100%, Clive, but why have you failed to moan about the book being available on Amazon at a 30% discount? And I'm pretty sure that Duckworth would have sold the book through supermarkets if they'd had an order!
richard charkin
9/12/2007 8:51:06 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Richard, I can tolerate the book being 30% off on Amazon : I get very peeved when I see books 40% and upwards on the Basin because this is generally with the full connivance of the publishers who have offered Amazon special terms.

30% off, add the postage. not much different to a terrestial bookshop price. Customers can get from stock in my shop and not be dependent upon post.

Many of the titles which are offered at 50% discount on Amazon and in the supermarkets are cover price inflated to counter-balance the mega-sellers sales terms.
Clive Keeble
9/12/2007 2:18:29 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Richard, I am a total newby to your blog having just found it by way of Susan Hill's (which I only recently found from the U.S.) and want to THANK YOU SO MUCH for using a SERIF font! I can actually read it with ease. I personally would like to stage a full fledge revolt against san serif typefaces for anything other the titles and headlines. Care to join me? :)
Diane Peachey
9/14/2007 8:22:10 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
yAY... let`s hear it for serif fonts. I have actually found some allies in my long campaign.. I simply had to give up reading DARKMANS by Nicola Barker - Booker shortlisted title - because I cannot read sans serif for more than half a page and this book is 800 plus pages.
SUSAN HILL