News from The Bookseller

Authors speak out against ethic and cultural stereotyping Writers believe that the publishing industry still views them largely through a prism of ethnicity, but industry insiders say that there is no pigeonholing based on race. Authors told The Bookseller they are still defined by their racial identity for marketing purposes and receive more success when they write about “minority issues”. However, editors and publishers have said that publishing houses do not see authors as being able to write about only one thing because of their ethnicity.

Unbound appeal to publish late Paul Sidey's book A crowdfunding appeal to publish a book by the late Paul Sidey, Hutchinson’s former editorial director, has been set up on Unbound. Sidey, who died in September 2014, worked at Hutchinson for 31 years before retiring in early 2012. His authors included Ruth Rendell and the late Richard Attenborough.

Three indie ventures launch A flurry of new independent publishers with small lists and new approaches to author relationships has launched in recent months.  Hannah MacDonald, formerly of HarperCollins, has founded September Publishing, which publishes its first four titles across spring and summer.

Saqi to continue 'on smaller scale' Saqi Books is to press on with its English-language publishing programme, following a strategic review which saw it lose six members of staff. Publisher Lynn Gaspard is now the only remaining staff member, with the others leaving between April and October last year.

Anna Rafferty joins Pottermore Harry Potter fan site Pottermore has appointed Anna Rafferty as director of product, creative and content.  In her new job, reporting to c.e.o. Susan L Jurevics, Rafferty will "head up a dedicated team to ensure that Pottermore’s product, content, creative and technology continue to develop and innovate to reflect the changing audience and retail landscape", said Pottermore.  "I am delighted to welcome such a digital talent to the Pottermore team as we continue to welcome established and new audiences to J K Rowling’s wizarding world," said Jurevics.

Gotch joins The Reading Agency Corinne Gotch has joined The Reading Agency as programme co-ordinator for publishing partners. In her new role Gotch will manage the charity’s partnerships with children’s publishers and work with them to deliver reading activities in libraries.

Ishiguro plans seven-city tour for The Buried Giant Kazuo Ishiguro will travel around the country on a seven-city tour to promote his new novel, The Buried Giant, 10 years after the publication of Never Let Me Go.

Groups look ahead to Harry Potter Book Night More than 7,000 groups have signed up to take part in Harry Potter Book Night, which takes place on 5th February. Schools, libraries, bookshops and community groups have registered by requesting an activity pack from Bloomsbury.  The Reading Agency’s 1,000 Chatterbox reading groups are hosting an event, as are 240 Brownies and 80 Girl Guides groups. Events are scheduled in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Singapore, Germany, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, India, Ireland, Norway, Romania, Russia, South Africa,Thailand, Ukraine, the UK and the US.

Gollancz acquires three more in The Witcher series Gollancz has acquired three further books in The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski, which has been turned into a computer game. Marcus Gipps, commissioning editor at Gollancz, bought world English rights from Patricia Pasqualini at Agence De l’Est. The first book in the new deal, The Sword of Destiny, will be published in May 2015 to coincide with the release of the computer game "The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt". The Sword of Destiny is a collection of linked short stories which fills in some of the gaps in the Witcher’s legend.

GBBO, Outlaw and Byron books for Quadrille Quadrille has signed a series of cookery titles for 2015 and 2016, including a book from "Great British Bake Off" finalist Richard Burr and new books from Michelin starred chef Nathan Outlaw.

PW runs freedom of expression tribute US book trade publication Publishers Weekly is to run a special section next week as a tribute to freedom of expression following the terrorist attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo in France, in which 12 people died. The magazine’s owner, George Slowik Jr, said it was jumping “fully into the fray of defending freedom of expression” after the Charlie Hebdo attack and "the disquieting events around ‘The Interview’”. The film, a comedy about North Korea, was pulled from cinemas prior to its release after concerns about safety from cinemas.