We Publish In Interesting Times

Having been in publishing for over thirty years, you may imagine, we have seen great changes along the way. We have been through the rapid transition from the analogue print industry, with a couple of handfuls of main channels of distribution, through to the digital age that is constantly changing. With that, we continuously evolve; every day is a school day.

At one point, we had warehouses full of stock and a pack and ship side of the business that needed more people in it than in our author and manuscript management part of the company. 

We are a minnow compared to leviathans such as the likes of Random House. In analogue terms, it was tough to compete. Through the digital revolution, specifically print-on-demand and e-book publishing, the playing field has been, if not levelled, rendered less of a mountain.

With the current situation within which we are all having to navigate, publishing is a mixed bag. Our authors are still writing, actually, more so. We will publish more books in the second quarter of 2020 than in the same period through the last five years. Print production partners are so far holding up and the e-book and audio book markets are seeing an increase in activity. 

Our team is spread across several countries so are used to working from anywhere they can get access to wi-fi and good coffee. Video conferencing is something we have been using for some time but, like a lot of others, are using more now.  

On the other hand, printed books are not listed as a necessity, hence, on platforms like Amazon, they are showing weeks in delivery times when previously it was a day or two. In some cases, they are not replenishing stocks; instead, they are reserving space in warehousing and on vehicles for products such as medical equipment, food, medicines etc. Understandable priorities.

These are interesting times. May you and yours come through with health, perhaps a renewed sense of community and a life that lived on purpose. In the meantime, please keep reading.

Rick Armstrong
Managing Director
Fisher King Publishing
www.fisherkingpublishing.co.uk