EDITORIAL

Cover stories

THE book world is changing. Slowly but surely, facts we used to take for granted are not true any more. The fact that all important, innovative literature appears first in hardback: not true. That all the best books are published by mainstream publishers: not true. The badges of quality have slipped off the lapels of the usual suspects and are being pinned onto different jackets.

Much that is fresh and challenging in literature these days is appearing first between soft covers and, according to publishing insiders, the hardback is going the way of the dinosaurs (page 20).

Talking of dinosaurs, it’s been said that one reason they became extinct was because they were too large to react quickly to climate change. And there has been a definite climate change in the book world recently, with bookshops stocking fewer titles and a massive concentration on bestsellers. With so much at stake, big publishers have become over-cautious, over-reliant on genre and formula titles. Which leaves the field open for the quick-moving, risk-taking smaller presses to force the evolutionary process. It’s a jungle out there, and small presses fail more often than not. But this is where many exciting voices are emerging these days (page 12).

If yours is one of those new voices, and your book is due out soon – in hardback or paperback, with a conglomerate giant or a teensy back-room outfit – you could be facing your most crucial writing challenge yet: the 200 words of pithy toe-curling prose that is your cover blurb. For a few pointers, turn to page 25.

Debbie Taylor
Editor