The BookMachine Podcast: Conversations in Publishing

It is a truth universally acknowledged that commissioning editors receive submissions and work with authors and agents to finesse an existing manuscript. But there’s another way. Independent publisher of adult non-fiction illustrated titles, Amber Books, has spent years developing their own content, commissioning authors to a brief and developing a wide range of projects that span topics and categories. In this episode, we speak with Amber Books’ Editorial Director, Charles Catton, about how they successfully create standout titles with this unique approach to illustrated projects. We also touch on how Charles’ role has developed over the years, the journey behind finding the right author for each project, and the behind-the-scenes from an indie publishing perspective.Exclusive offer for Podcast Listeners! Get 20% off BookMachine Campus Membership with the code BMPOD20. Go to bookmachine.org/campus.Find out about BookMachine at the links below: BookMachine Creative Agency BookMachine CAMPUS Live and Digital Publishing Events The BookMachine Blog Follow us on social media: Twitter (X) Instagram LinkedIn (Agency Page) LinkedIn (Community Page)

Emma Steel started her career in teaching and went on to be a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (known as a SENCO to those in the know). But how did her journey lead her to award-winning independent children’s publisher Sweet Cherry, and how did her experiences feed into the founding of their Every Cherry, their innovative imprint that focuses on bringing high quality reading material to people with a range of learning disabilities and difficulties? In this fascinating conversation, we speak to Emma about her route from teaching to publishing and how she constantly – and successfully – balances the needs of students and teachers with those of the industry.Exclusive offer for Podcast Listeners! Get 20% off BookMachine Campus Membership with the code BMPOD20. Go to bookmachine.org/campus.Find out about BookMachine at the links below: BookMachine Creative Agency BookMachine CAMPUS Live and Digital Publishing Events The BookMachine Blog Follow us on social media: Twitter (X) Instagram LinkedIn (Agency Page) LinkedIn (Community Page)

Remember those memorable campaigns for non-fiction books that took to the streets to gain maximum impact? Akua Boateng, Senior Marketing Manager for non-fiction at Bloomsbury, does.She has worked on a range of events, marketing stunts and other “out-of-home” promotions to make a splash, build awareness, entertain and capture the imagination and attention of audiences. We were thrilled to speak to her about her work crafting campaigns, her  thoughts on what makes them successful, and where they really have an impact. We also asked her about her work with Bloomsbury’s Bloom network and her role as a Creative Access steering group member.Exclusive offer for Podcast Listeners! Get 20% off BookMachine Campus Membership with the code BMPOD20. Go to bookmachine.org/campus.Find out about BookMachine at the links below: BookMachine Creative Agency BookMachine CAMPUS Live and Digital Publishing Events The BookMachine Blog Follow us on social media: Twitter (X) Instagram LinkedIn (Agency Page) LinkedIn (Community Page)

The fantasy genre is an exciting place to be right now – with portmanteaus like ‘Romantasy’ entering common industry parlance, and new instalments of beloved series creating new levels of buzz. In the latest episode of The BookMachine Podcast, we were overjoyed to speak with Anissa de Gomery, Founder of FairyLoot, one of the biggest book subscription boxes on the planet. Learn more about Anissa’s journey into the book industry, gain insights into trends in the fantasy genre and what’s driving this incredible growth, and dive into the behind-the-scenes of building a passionate community of readers.Exclusive offer for Podcast Listeners! Get 20% off BookMachine Campus Membership with the code BMPOD20. Go to bookmachine.org/campus.Find out about BookMachine at the links below: BookMachine Creative Agency BookMachine CAMPUS Live and Digital Publishing Events The BookMachine Blog Follow us on social media: Twitter (X) Instagram LinkedIn (Agency Page) LinkedIn (Community Page)