News Today's Book News

[AgentPete]

Tariq Ashkanani and David Goodman triumph at Bloody Scotland​

At the Bloody Scotland festival, crime writers Tariq Ashkanani and David Goodman – both previously featured as support acts in the Crime in the Spotlight programme – won top honours. Their success highlights how the festival helps emerging talent transition from supporting roles to award‑winning recognition.

Dr Marius Ostrowski explains How We Think at Hodder Press​

Social scientist Marius Ostrowski’s book “How We Think” takes a highly original approach by categorising human thought into ten distinct types. The Hodder Press title promises to offer readers insight into the different ways people process ideas and emotions.

Hachette UK expands traineeship programme for 2026​

Hachette UK is growing its traineeship scheme for 2026 with a special focus on recruiting candidates for its Sheffield office. The expanded programme underscores the publisher’s commitment to regional development and attracting diverse new talent.

2025 shortlist for Young Writers’ Award unveiled​

The 2025 BBC Young Writers’ Award with Cambridge University has announced its shortlist. Organisers say the award aims to discover and inspire the next generation of writers, encouraging budding authors to develop their voices.

Sarah Posner joins Bonnier Books UK as publishing innovation manager​

Former Oxford University Press executive Sarah Posner has been appointed publishing innovation manager at Bonnier Books UK. In her new role she will collaborate across departments to foster innovation while keeping creativity central to the publisher’s work.

World of Books reveals Sustainable Story Award inaugural winners​

World of Books announced the first recipients of its Sustainable Story Award. Novelist Eleanor Thom received the overall prize, while writer Oona Dooks won the non‑fiction category, recognising storytelling that promotes sustainability.

DK signs ‘Queen of Brownies’​

DK has acquired a debut cookbook by Kate Jenkins, founder of Gower Cottage Brownies and dubbed the “Queen of Brownies”. Scheduled for release in April, the book will share her celebrated brownie recipes and baking tips.

Two Curtis Garner novels for VERVE Books​

VERVE Books has bought two novels by Curtis Garner. The first title, “Orange,” explores how people reconcile their past selves with who they become and those they leave behind.

Virago unveils ‘lost gem’ Travel Light​

Virago is reissuing Naomi Mitchison’s 1952 fantasy novel “Travel Light,” describing it as a lost gem. The new edition will introduce contemporary readers to Mitchison’s imaginative story of myth and adventure.

Viv Loves Film collaborates with Sparsile Books​

Publisher Viv Loves Film has formed a collaboration with independent house Sparsile Books. The partnership champions original writing led by craft, voice and the poetry of language, blending literary and cinematic sensibilities.

Who is Evelyn Clarke? The truth is revealed​

BookBrunch reveals that Evelyn Clarke is a character in “The Ending Writes Itself,” a novel co‑written by fantasy author V.E. Schwab and YA novelist Cat Clarke. Their collaboration promises a story that plays with authorship and identity.

Walker announces a second Michael Rosen Day​

After the success of last year’s inaugural celebration, Walker Books has announced a second Michael Rosen Day. Scheduled for November, the event will be themed “Funny Food: A Feast of Poems” and will celebrate the much‑loved poet’s work.

Simon Squibb helps children dream big at Puffin​

Entrepreneur Simon Squibb is publishing his children’s debut with Puffin. Due in March 2026, the book aims to inspire young readers to dream big and provide comfort, courage and imagination.

Author and publishing director Sareeta Domingo dies​

The Bookseller reports that author and Jacaranda Books publishing director Sareeta Domingo has died. Colleagues paid tribute to her, describing her passing as an immeasurable loss to the publishing community.

​

 

[Pamela Jo]

Can you give us any more info on these headlines? very interested.

[td]

TRADE INTERVIEWS​

[/td]​

[td]

Audiobooks: how Storytel tuned up for its next step​

[/td]​

[td]

Storytel CEO Bodil Eriksson Torp and chief content and publishing officer Helena Gustafsson explain the company’s plans for the future.
​

[/td]​

 

[Pamela Jo]

Home

Comment

Editor's Letter

The neverending Storytel of Nordic streaming success​

EDITOR'S LETTERSEP 12, 2025BY PHILIP JONES

© Shutterstock
One year ago, xigxag co-founder and CEO Kelli Fairbrother wrote a piece for The Bookseller contending that the UK audiobook market was worth more than £1bn. Her argument was that our current measures – in other words the Publishers Association’s numbers, which look at publisher, not retail, revenue, and contain most but not all publishers – underestimate the total. Some quibbled at the high number, but her point was that low-balling the market would impact investment (and attitude). “We need to start considering the audiobook opportunity in the context of compound interest,” she added.

One year on and the numbers are only rising – more. In the US, audiobook sales outpaced other formats in 2024, having overtaken reported e-books sales, while in the UK – according to the Publishers Association – the format grew by 31% last year. Audible’s UK accounts – which dropped this week, show its sales continuing to rise, despite the challenge of Spotify, up by 6% to £256m. Spotify, which does not divulge numbers, has reported listening hours up more than 35% year on year in the US, UK and Australia.

Slightly out of view has been Storytel, the Sweden-based audiobook retailer that pre-dates the smartphone and Spotify, and dominates a number of book markets in the Nordics, but outside of Audiobooks.com – the US business Storytel bought in 2021 – does not have a visible presence over here. Like many tech start-ups, Storytel ran hard and fast before its losses resulted in a change at the top and a new focus on the bottom line. Before that, in the Nordics it was a major disruptor, its unlimited streaming model winning fans among listeners, if not publishers. Those fans helped it expand regionally as well as vertically, scooping up tech rivals as well as traditional book publishers.

 

[Pamela Jo]

My new Japanese made android phone has audiobooks on it as well as audible which I thot interesting.