Staff post

The unusual notion of
joining a publisher during
its 125th anniversary

By Kathryn Blair
20 April 2023

New commute. Different desk. Unfamiliar faces. Fresh tasks. Planning a 125th birthday party? We spoke to our new sales and marketing executive, Kathryn Blair, about the strange but exciting experience of joining a publisher during a milestone year.

Print, it seems, has never been more popular

It seems in recent years, the notion that print is dead has truly died off. Joining a publisher during their 125th anniversary would certainly disavow me if I was ever inclined to believe it in the first place. Print, it seems, has never been more popular, especially in this era of Book Tok, where authors can become overnight sensations.

It is also an era of mergers, larger publishers eager to add smaller ones to their portfolio, or in some cases, take over other large publishers, although the latter has been unsuccessful so far.

With the landscape of publishing dominated by the Big Five, Duckworth having such a notable birthday feels unique and incredibly special. It’s certainly part of the reason I chose to apply when they advertised for a sales and marketing role.

Browse Duckworth’s 2023 catalogue

Starting a new role with a company is always a challenge

Starting a new role with a company is always a challenge. There’s the new commute, the new desk set up, the new co-workers (who are all lovely by the way), the new kitchen you have to navigate in order to make your morning cup of coffee just the way you like it.

Having worked in publishing since 2019, first for the Severn House division within Canongate, and then for Penguin, the work itself was familiar, even if job description was different from my previous roles.

But still, it is a strange feeling to be involved in anniversary party planning for a company you’ve only been working at for two weeks.

Don’t get me wrong, I like a good party. And packing up 125 goodie bags for guests to take home is exactly the kind of alternative task that I enjoy, due to it being prime conditions for listening to my favourite podcasts.

However, my presence at Duckworth is the smallest drop in the ocean of its history.

I felt exceedingly lucky to be part of that history

Standing in the October Gallery for the aforementioned party, acting photographer and listening to my colleagues speak of Duckworth’s storied history, and their hopes for the future, I felt exceedingly lucky to be part of that history, even in the most minute form. I’m certainly part of it’s future.

The joy of a small publisher is how involved you are in the process of a book making its way to bookshop shelves. Your opinion matters, from whether that colour is right for the cover, to what the best strategy for promoting a title is, to which wine might pair well with anniversary cocktails.

Shaping the next era of Duckworth

It’s strange to join a company during their 125th anniversary, but it’s also interesting and fun, and an opportunity to be involved in shaping the next era of Duckworth. Who can say what the next six months, next year, next ten years might hold. I’m excited to find out.