Thursday 21 May 2009

SALT IN CHOPPY WATERS



Yesterday Chris Hamilton-Emery, director of Salt publishing, posted the message below on his Facebook profile. The recession has hit books sales badly despite many people's claims that we are all returning to life's simpler pleasures like reading, now that we are (allegedly) too broke to fly to Barbados every other week-end. (When did we ever, anyway?!)

Salt need cashflow NOW in order to continue their work. They make beautiful, literary books. They have eight short fiction collections on the Cork City - Frank O'Connor 2009 longlist, among many other achievements. If you love books (and I know you do!!) please support them.

My personal interest in Salt's fortunes is obvious: they are publishing my next book, Nude. That aside, they really, really do wonderful work on behalf of short story writers and poets and they deserve sales.

So, please, readers, if you can, go to their site and buy one Salt book today and help them stay afloat.
Salt's website is HERE.

Chris's statement:

As many of you will know, Jen and I have been struggling to keep Salt moving since June last year when the economic downturn began to affect our press. Our three year funding ends this year: we've £4,000 due from Arts Council England in a final payment, but cannot apply through Grants for the Arts for further funding for Salt's operations. Spring sales were down nearly 80% on the previous year, and despite April's much improved trading, the past twelve months has left us with a budget deficit of over £55,000. It's proving to be a very big hole and we're having to take some drastic measures to save our business.

Here's how you can help us to save Salt and all our work with hundreds of authors around the world.

JUST ONE BOOK

1. Please buy just one book, right now. We don't mind from where, you can buy it from us or from Amazon, your local shop or megastore, online or offline. If you buy just one book now, you'll help to save Salt. Timing is absolutely everything here. We need cash now to stay afloat. If you love literature, help keep it alive. All it takes is just one book sale. Go to our online store and help us keep going.

2. Share this note on your profile. Tell your friends. If we can spread the word about our cash crisis, we can hopefully find more sales and save our literary publishing. Remember it's just one book, that's all it takes to save us. Please do it now.

With my best wishes to everyone
Chris
Director
Salt Publishing

12 comments:

Vanessa Gebbie said...

I used to run my own marketing company. Successfully, for nine/ten years. I have a business qualification. I studied for an MBA (but didnt complete it, sadly, I had a baby instead!)
I value Salt Publishing not just because they have published me (for which I will be eternally grateful) but for what they stand for.

I have offered to give whatever business help I can, for nothing.

Group 8 said...

Good on ya, V!

Elizabeth Baines said...

Great post, Nuala. Good-oh, Vanessa!

Alex Keegan said...

If the word out there is as good as in this relatively small circle, things might be good.

I've shifted 5 copies of Ballistics in a day, and I keep reading of other sales for other authors.

It's a sad case though. Like people want to sub to lit-mags but they don't BUY them. What exactly do they expect, that God gives subsidies?

Group 8 said...

I'm always amazed when I teach classes how few wannabe writers have even HEARD of well known mags never mind buy them.

People are enormously influenced by a v narrow media - they think if the haven't heard of x or y book / publisher, they can't be any good. And yet they expect to be published themselves...OK, that's off topic slightly.

SUPPORT SALT!

SUPPORT ARLEN HOUSE!

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIT MAG!

Michael Farry said...

Just ordered The Opposite of Cabbage by Rob A. Mackenzie, highly commended by (I think) Barbara. I got Andrew Philip's The Ambulance Box when it came out earlier. Another great buy!

Totalfeckineejit said...

More bad news, it's enough to drive you to drink.actually just getting up in the morning is enough to do that.Fair play to Venessa.i used to be a gravedigger but hopefully my services won't be required.salt have published many great books and many more are on the way, Nuala's for instance and also Liz Gallaghers 'The wrong miracle' both of which (and many more)I'm really looking forward to.I'm hoping everyone will rally round and ensure Salts survival and growth.Buy all their books a saline solution to salt in choppy waters.

Group 8 said...

Thanks for the recs, Michael! And thanks for buying.

Group 8 said...

Thanks TFE, for the saline solution!

Nik Perring said...

Yes, good on ya V. And great post, N. I think we'll all do what we can to keep a really important thing alive - I know I will.

Nik

Group 8 said...

Thank you Nik. I hope Salt goes from strength to strength. N

Unknown said...

Just done my bit and am looking forward to receiving 'Ballistics' and 'The White Road'. Hope things improve for Salt