This is an explainer podcast, for the newcomer to publishing, either those who want to work in it, or those who want to get published. We’ll be looking at different roles in the publishing process and talking to a guest about their work in that specialism.

I’m your host, Kate Macdonald. I’m a literary historian specialising in publishing history, and I run Handheld Press. We publish fabulous forgotten fiction and lost authors.

But this isn’t a history podcast: it’s about the practical daily work that publishing people do now, much of which is only a little bit changed from what William Caxton did in the fifteenth century. We do talk about type, and paper; and we cover the most modern examples of audiobook technology and how ebooks have changed how we read.

The episodes in this first series are arranged to follow the path of a book as it evolves from a twinkle in an author’s eye to being a physical book on the shelf, for sale.

So, here are some of the guests.

• Alice Jolly, the Author.
• Eli Keren from United Agents.
• The Publisher, Eloise Millar of Galley Beggar Press.
• Lisa Dowdeswell, Head of Literary Estates at the Society of Authors
• Nick Parker of Ingram Publishing Services, the biggest books distributor in the world.

As well as talking to an editor, a marketer, a printer and an audiobook producer, I finish the series talking to booksellers, without whom none of the books would reach you, the readers.

The first episode will be released on Friday 1st September, and you can subscribe via your usual podcast purveyor.

Episodes will go out weekly, ending on 10th November. If you have any questions or suggestions please email me at podcast@handheldpress.co.uk.

So, I hope this interests you and I hope you are searching for How Publishing Works in your podcast provider’s index right now. Do listen. 

How Publishing Works is produced by Kate Macdonald of Handheld Press, also a visiting research fellow at the Oxford International Centre for Publishing at Oxford Brookes University. The lovely jolly intro music is 'Feels Like Home' by Avocado Junkie, sourced through Podcastle. Email us at podcast@handheldpress.co.uk.

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