Laura Jones-Rivera
@laurafjones.bsky.social
📓 SGSAH AHRC PhD Researcher in small press business sustainability & diversity @stir.ac.uk
📚 Publisher @404ink.bsky.social
🔧 Operations @charcopress.com
✍️ Substack: epitomeofvague.substack.com
ℹ️ Website: lauraflojo.com
📚 Publisher @404ink.bsky.social
🔧 Operations @charcopress.com
✍️ Substack: epitomeofvague.substack.com
ℹ️ Website: lauraflojo.com
Pinned
404 Ink: Publisher not found
2016 - 2026
epitomeofvague.substack.com
A few brief personal words from me over on my own blog regarding @404ink.bsky.social's closure next year. There's going to be a lot to say and analyse over the coming months about the state of publishing so I'm trying to pace myself...
epitomeofvague.substack.com/p/404-ink-pu...
epitomeofvague.substack.com/p/404-ink-pu...
An Edinburgh > York > Edinburgh round trip in 12 hours for some publishing strategy thinking has me knackered but I would now like to have more meetings there, please
November 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
An Edinburgh > York > Edinburgh round trip in 12 hours for some publishing strategy thinking has me knackered but I would now like to have more meetings there, please
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
I think I'm done logging into things
November 5, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I think I'm done logging into things
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
An extremely interesting thread from Matthew. I don't agree with all of it because I'm a contrary sod, but it's definitely worth reading.
Publishing is a manufacturing industry that wants to be a service industry
November 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
An extremely interesting thread from Matthew. I don't agree with all of it because I'm a contrary sod, but it's definitely worth reading.
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
Despite its essential role in American culture, literature receives less than 2% of arts funding, leaving the field persistently under-resourced.
October 28, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Despite its essential role in American culture, literature receives less than 2% of arts funding, leaving the field persistently under-resourced.
From the Bloomsbury CEO suggesting brand recognition is in our DNA and has something to do with AI to this, I welcome these public declarations of insanity. Pop the bubble faster, c'mon!
An ex-Intel CEO’s mission to build a Christian AI: ‘hasten the coming of Christ’s return’
An ex-Intel CEO’s mission to build a Christian AI: ‘hasten the coming of Christ’s return’
Patrick Gelsinger, executive chairman of Gloo, has made it his mission to advance Christian principles in Silicon Valley
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:54 AM
From the Bloomsbury CEO suggesting brand recognition is in our DNA and has something to do with AI to this, I welcome these public declarations of insanity. Pop the bubble faster, c'mon!
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
Nigel Newton, CEO of Bloomsbury, telling us why AI is good for publishing with this fun caveat: “We are programmed deep in our DNA to be comforted by the authority and the reliability of big brand names, & that applies more than ever to the names of big writers."
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
AI can help authors beat writer’s block, says Bloomsbury chief
Publisher last week reported jump in revenue in academic and professional arm thanks to AI licensing deal
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Nigel Newton, CEO of Bloomsbury, telling us why AI is good for publishing with this fun caveat: “We are programmed deep in our DNA to be comforted by the authority and the reliability of big brand names, & that applies more than ever to the names of big writers."
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
This is how you blurb
October 23, 2025 at 12:41 PM
This is how you blurb
"I am encouraging more people to offer their voices to be cloned" jfc
The 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair heard that developments in AI audiobooks mean publishers will no longer have to decide whether to translate a book, but instead just choose which market to translate into 👇 #FBM25
AI audio means publishers ‘don’t have to choose whether to translate, only which market’, FBF hears
ebx.sh
October 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
"I am encouraging more people to offer their voices to be cloned" jfc
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
NB this event is for *any* new PhD researcher in arts & humanities in Scotland, and has in-person and online attendance options - please do come and find out how @sgsah.bsky.social can support you! bsky.app/profile/sgsa...
New Arts & Humanities PhD researchers in Scotland — you’re invited to SGSAH’s Welcome Event!
📅 13 Nov 2025, 10.30–3 GMT
📍 Royal Society of Edinburgh or online
Meet peers, hear from current PhDs & discover SGSAH opportunities. Lunch + travel (in-person) covered.
👉 sgsah-welcome-25.eventbrite.co.uk
📅 13 Nov 2025, 10.30–3 GMT
📍 Royal Society of Edinburgh or online
Meet peers, hear from current PhDs & discover SGSAH opportunities. Lunch + travel (in-person) covered.
👉 sgsah-welcome-25.eventbrite.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 4:56 PM
NB this event is for *any* new PhD researcher in arts & humanities in Scotland, and has in-person and online attendance options - please do come and find out how @sgsah.bsky.social can support you! bsky.app/profile/sgsa...
This has basically taken the open letter from last week and turned it into an advert for IPG, which is fine/expected from the Bookseller, and I understand the reminder to collaborate but we really have enough support networks now, we KNOW the problems, but most are unwilling to have the hard convos.
ICYMI: Times are hard for indie presses – but they are also leading the way in agility and resourcefulness, says Bridget Shine in our recent Comment piece 👇 #BookSky
The rollercoaster ride of independence
ebx.sh
October 15, 2025 at 2:30 PM
This has basically taken the open letter from last week and turned it into an advert for IPG, which is fine/expected from the Bookseller, and I understand the reminder to collaborate but we really have enough support networks now, we KNOW the problems, but most are unwilling to have the hard convos.
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
Did you know that if you buy my book on Amazon, Jeff Bezos makes 5 times as much as I do on each copy sold? Sharing some behind-the-scenes book math on why buying directly from presses is best for EVERYONE (except Bezos) in my newsletter today! aubreyhirsch.substack.com/p/book-math
October 14, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Did you know that if you buy my book on Amazon, Jeff Bezos makes 5 times as much as I do on each copy sold? Sharing some behind-the-scenes book math on why buying directly from presses is best for EVERYONE (except Bezos) in my newsletter today! aubreyhirsch.substack.com/p/book-math
Unhinged literary opinions do not make you interesting
Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat
October 13, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Unhinged literary opinions do not make you interesting
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
Speaking from experience, small indie publishing is getting tougher. We usually rely on project-based public funding (too much) and are a couple of rejections away from closure. Investors balk at us because of the low margins & growth. We need a new path.
www.thebookseller.com/news/indie-p...
www.thebookseller.com/news/indie-p...
Indie presses in ‘existential crisis’ call for trade support
More than 20 independent publishing houses – including Bluemoose Books, Tilted Axis Press and Influx Press – have written an open letter calling for the trade to “work together to ensure the longevity...
www.thebookseller.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Speaking from experience, small indie publishing is getting tougher. We usually rely on project-based public funding (too much) and are a couple of rejections away from closure. Investors balk at us because of the low margins & growth. We need a new path.
www.thebookseller.com/news/indie-p...
www.thebookseller.com/news/indie-p...
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
ICYMI: More than 20 independent publishing houses – including Bluemoose Books, Tilted Axis Press and Influx Press – have written an open letter calling for the trade to “work together to ensure the longevity of the UK’s independent presses” as they face an “existential crisis” 👇
Indie presses in ‘existential crisis’ call for trade support
ebx.sh
October 10, 2025 at 4:26 PM
ICYMI: More than 20 independent publishing houses – including Bluemoose Books, Tilted Axis Press and Influx Press – have written an open letter calling for the trade to “work together to ensure the longevity of the UK’s independent presses” as they face an “existential crisis” 👇
Bit of a niche request but can anyone recommend any REPUTABLE US-based offset printers, please? Ones that won't take forever and will work with UK-based publishers? Thank you!
October 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Bit of a niche request but can anyone recommend any REPUTABLE US-based offset printers, please? Ones that won't take forever and will work with UK-based publishers? Thank you!
Speaking from experience, small indie publishing is getting tougher. We usually rely on project-based public funding (too much) and are a couple of rejections away from closure. Investors balk at us because of the low margins & growth. We need a new path.
www.thebookseller.com/news/indie-p...
www.thebookseller.com/news/indie-p...
Indie presses in ‘existential crisis’ call for trade support
More than 20 independent publishing houses – including Bluemoose Books, Tilted Axis Press and Influx Press – have written an open letter calling for the trade to “work together to ensure the longevity...
www.thebookseller.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Speaking from experience, small indie publishing is getting tougher. We usually rely on project-based public funding (too much) and are a couple of rejections away from closure. Investors balk at us because of the low margins & growth. We need a new path.
www.thebookseller.com/news/indie-p...
www.thebookseller.com/news/indie-p...
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
"Inflation, war and cuts to national arts funding have increased the challenges faced by independent publishers and we are now confronting an existential crisis that will determine the trajectory of literary publishing in the UK."
Signed by us, please read: www.thebookseller.com/comment/open...
Signed by us, please read: www.thebookseller.com/comment/open...
Open letter on the future of small press publishing in the UK
The industry must work together to ensure the longevity of the UK’s independent presses.
www.thebookseller.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
"Inflation, war and cuts to national arts funding have increased the challenges faced by independent publishers and we are now confronting an existential crisis that will determine the trajectory of literary publishing in the UK."
Signed by us, please read: www.thebookseller.com/comment/open...
Signed by us, please read: www.thebookseller.com/comment/open...
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
In other news Charlie Redmayne, the long serving CEO of HC in the UK, resigned yesterday.
October 9, 2025 at 8:31 AM
In other news Charlie Redmayne, the long serving CEO of HC in the UK, resigned yesterday.
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
This is a huge collapse in the book distribution business, especially following the closure of Small Press Distribution last year. Baker & Taylor--originally established in 1828--has been central to the library market for decades.
seems very bad www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Baker & Taylor Prepares Plan to Shut Down
At a town hall yesterday, B&T owner and CEO Aman Kochar announced that following the termination of the ReaderLink acquisition deal, he does not see a path to keep the library wholesaler in business.
www.publishersweekly.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:23 PM
This is a huge collapse in the book distribution business, especially following the closure of Small Press Distribution last year. Baker & Taylor--originally established in 1828--has been central to the library market for decades.
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
A depressing update we've seen coming for a long time, with numerous impacts. Namely, even less competition for library acquisitions and wholesale, publishers (including Hub City) left with unpaid bills, and small presses left high and dry, and vanishing distribution options.
!["Baker & Taylor will be closing their business, after a planned acquisition of their assets by Readerlink fell through last month. Operations will cease by January 1, according to online posts from former employees. Employees were informed yesterday that their positions will be eliminated. A local newspaper in Illinois reports that 253 of the 318 staffers at the 379,000-square-foot distribution center in Momence were let go immediately, as 62 others will stay on to assist with "wind[ing] down" the business until late December, with the last three employees departing January 3.
A report from Illinois' Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act explained that the closure is due to the termination of the Readerlink sale, which "would have resulted in the continuing employment of all Baker & Taylor employees."
"Despite Baker & Taylor’s subsequent efforts, it was unsuccessful in seeking a path to continue its business operations," the report continues.
B&T was the largest supplier of materials to libraries, and B&T Publisher Services distributes books from more than 250 small presses. Small publishers are particularly in need of distribution services after the closure of Small Press Distribution.
B&T did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company is headquartered in Charlotte, NC."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:izhwsjxjck5eaccfaz4vldrg/bafkreigwfhezltxwp5es6ekt3votquh5ftlfu7hwsur4fket342linjw6m@jpeg)
October 7, 2025 at 3:41 PM
A depressing update we've seen coming for a long time, with numerous impacts. Namely, even less competition for library acquisitions and wholesale, publishers (including Hub City) left with unpaid bills, and small presses left high and dry, and vanishing distribution options.