Sunday, 6 October 2013
The Future of Publishing

It’s been a mixed year for the local book trade with two multi-national publishers shutting down their New Zealand operations, and a continuing decline in the number of books being sold. On the other hand it’s also been a year to celebrate with Eleanor Catton’s The Luminaries being shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Hollywood’s adaptation of the last Kiwi novel to be shortlisted – Lloyd Jones’ Mister Pip – opening around the globe. Chris Laidlaw sits down to discuss the future of New Zealand publishing with Fergus Barrowman of Victoria University Press; Kevin Chapman who headed up Hachette NZ until it was closed earlier this year; and Melanie Laville-Moore of Allen and Unwin. Also, Jeremy talks to Tom Rennie of BWB about a new e-book series; and Peter Rigg, the co-owner of Nelson bookshop Page and Blackmore.