Bibliodiversity

Overview

In a globalized world, megacorp publishing is all about numbers, sameness, and following a formula based on the latest megasuccess. Each book is expected to pay for itself and all the externalities of publishing, such as offices and CEO salaries. It means that books that take off slowly but have long lives, the books that change social norms are less likely to be published. Independent publishers are seeking another way—a way of engagement with society and methods that reflect something important about the locale or the niche they inhabit. Independent and small publishers are like rare plants that pop up among the larger growth but add something different; perhaps they feed the soil or bring color or scent into the world. Bibliodiversity is a term invented by Chilean publishers in the 1990s as a way of envisioning a different kind of publishing. In this manifesto, Susan Hawthorne provides a scathing critique of the global publishing industry set against a visionary proposal for organic publishing. She looks at free speech and fair speech, the environmental costs of mainstream publishing, and the promises and challenges of the move to digital.

Reviews

"This passionate, challenging, and highly readable manifesto champions the vital role of international, independent publishers who give voice to 'the risky, the innovative, the controversial, the marginal, and the imaginative voices.'"  —Richard Smart, consultant, Independent Publishers Committee

"Susan Hawthorne's insightful and warm-hearted essay argues for a wide landscape of independent publishing to balance what is called 'mainstream', meaning the male power of big money."  —Gerlinde Kowitzke and Hilke Schlaeger, publishers, Frauenoffensive

"Susan Hawthorne explores the present and future impacts of globalization, digital publishing, censorship (including self-censorship), the declining importance of reviews, monopoly-controlled distribution systems, and social media niche market promotion. She argues for the voices of diverse and marginalized people to be heard and for fair trade and fair speech rather than free trade and free speech."  —Nancy Worcester, professor emerita, department of gender & women's studies, University of Wisconsin–Madison

"A huge and interesting work; a precious testimony to explore and understand bibliodiversity from the point of view of a feminist publisher. Bravo!"  —Laurence Hugues, director, Alliance Internationale des Éditeurs Indépendants, France

"Susan Hawthorne's ideas are brilliant. Independent publishing feeds the cultural identity of our society as well as providing a source of income and satisfaction for writers, editors, and designers. This book must be read and distributed far and wide so that everyone understands the challenges but supports the joy!" —Lisa Hanrahan, Independent Publishers Committee, Australian Publishers Association

"Susan Hawthorne has been championing and refining this manifesto for years through presentations and conversations, and it is very important that she has now further contributed to bibliodiversity by publishing this work! This publication should be mandatory reading for anyone within the publishing industry to understand the role that you play and core curriculum for all students of publishing and publishers of the future to ensure sustainability for the industry. Whether you are a publisher, bookseller, librarian, or writer, you are above all a reader, and you each have a responsibility to encourage bibliodiversity—start playing your role today by reading this manifesto."  —Mary Masters, general manager, Small Press Network

". . . the points that Hawthorne has to make here are enlightening and important, and whether you are the owner of an independent publishing company, a writer who works on books in your free time, or simply a reader who wants to discover the best texts out there, Bibliodiversity is a must-read." —Craig Manning, Independent Publisher

Author Biography

Susan Hawthorne is a poet, an aerialist, an adjunct professor in the writing program at James Cook University, and the cofounder and publisher of Spinifex Press. She is a member of the Australian Society of Authors, PEN Melbourne, Poetry Australia, Small Publishers Network, and the Independent Publishers Committee of the Australian Publishers Association. She is the author of Bird, The Butterfly Effect, Cow, Earth's Breath, Limen, Unsettling the Land, and Valence.