UK publishers prepare for crowded autumn release schedule

In the UK, publishers are preparing to battle for shelf space and media attention due to the number of key spring and summer titles shifting into the European autumn, reports the Bookseller.

According to the Bookseller, there is ‘less of an overwhelming glut of Covid-19 affected titles’ set for the autumn period than previously feared; however, the publication writes, ‘Though the sheer volume of titles brought to the autumn may not be daunting, the difficulty is about quality, not quantity, as those moved to the autumn rather than shifted to 2021 tend to be books that can go toe to toe with Christmas releases.’

Midas PR director of books and publishing Georgina Moore said: ‘We are already hearing from newspapers and reviewers that it is going to be a total bun fight this autumn, and many authors and titles will lose out in the fight for reviews and coverage.’

Charlotte Bush, publicity and media relations director for PRH’s Cornerstone, said: ‘The challenges will be many more of us competing for the key media which we know drives sales, especially broadcast, in those key weeks of gifting in the run-up to Christmas’.

Bush added there was also uncertainty around events. ‘We don’t know when bookshops will reopen, or if we will be in a position to hold physical events or signings this autumn,’ Bush said. ‘The key is to plan for every eventuality and explore online opportunities, and start to map out how we sell books while delivering a great experience for audiences and authors. We will work very closely with retailers on this.’

The Bookseller has collated a full list of postponed publication dates here.

Category: International news