Welcome back to Day Two of BFLA Open Week 2025! Today’s Question of the Day:
What are you most excited about in the world of publishing?
Please take a look at everyone’s answers below, and come back tomorrow for Day Three!
Finlay Charlesworth, Agent’s Assistant
I wrote for Open Week last year about the rise of audiobook publishing – and more than a year on, that growth remains unabated, with a further 31% rise in revenue since. Publishers are getting more creative in their approach to audio publishing – such as commissioning audio-first content, full-cast recordings, and expanding onto new platforms like Spotify – and it’s exciting to see how publishing can adapt to changing times and new audiences.
Sian Ellis-Martin, Associate Agent
I’m excited to see what the next big trend in books might be or where the market might take us next. We’ve seen a huge boom in romance, fantasy and romantasy over the last couple of years and I’m keen to see whether that will continue for a long time, or if we might see some new ideas emerging.
Nicole Etherington, Rights Manager
It’s exciting to get a new deal for an author in a market they haven’t been published in before and finding a translation publisher who will be an enthusiastic champion of the author. I always look forward to seeing how translation publishers tailor covers and book titles for their market, and spotting our authors translated editions in bookshops on my travels abroad.
Leyla Hattabi, Film & TV Department Assistant
My background is more in Film, TV & Theatre but I understand that the publishing industry is going through a tough time like many other creative industries. Despite this, it’s encouraging to see so many fantastic books coming out and the joy reading brings to so many of us.
Isobel Dixon, Head of Books
Genre trends come and go, and come round again; different formats develop and reading and listening habits shift – all both fascinating and essential for us as agents to navigate and deploy to our clients’ best advantage. But in my thirty years in publishing the vital, central current is the excitement and satisfaction of seeing writers grow creatively and succeeding in their careers. Alongside that is the joy of seeing my colleagues and new entrants to the book trade flourishing, growing in skills and confidence, and becoming part of making publishing a more diverse and inclusive world.
Juliet Pickering, Vice Head of Books
There is more appetite for series and trilogies at the moment, in the commercial genres (crime, romance etc.) in particular. This allows our authors to build a world and a cast of characters that can play out over several books, and there’s more space to spin out some really satisfying storylines.
James Pusey, Head of Rights
I enjoy the unforeseen successes; the unique and original projects that help you see familiar things in a new light; and projecting our enthusiasm for great new writing.
Ane Reason, Senior Contract Manager
At the risk of sounding trite, the thing I’m the most excited about in the world of publishing is the books! I’ve worked in publishing for over a decade and have witnessed many changes and challenges in the industry, but the excitement I feel whenever a new book arrives in the office or I spot one of our books on the shelves of a bookshop has never changed. I’m also very excited about keeping an eye on new literature in translation. Being transported to new places via fiction is one of my favourite things to do and luckily there are so many good books to choose from!
Tabitha Topping, Book Department Assistant
Excited probably isn’t the right word, but in spite of everything I am glad that good books continue to be published and read.