July 2009: Biteback Publishing was born. What has happened in the past 15 years? What can we expect in the years to come? Catch the thoughts of our publisher James Stephens on this milestone.
They say time flies when you’re having fun, and that’s certainly been the case with Biteback Publishing. Spanning fifteen years, 600 books, innumerable Sunday Times bestsellers, seven Prime Ministers, five general elections, three major referendums, various recessions, one global pandemic and a cost-of living crisis, Biteback’s existence to date has been a breathless, event-crammed gallop through the biggest issues of the age.
When we opened for trading on 1 July 2009, we had one modest, unambitious mission: to become the best political publisher in Britain. Whether or not we’ve achieved that aim, we’ve certainly crashed the party, and you’d be hard pressed these days not to find evidence of us everywhere you look.
So, looking back, where did it all go right?
Well, in 2009 the book trade wasn’t taking a risk on politics, and in the middle of the global economic downturn no one was publishing books that didn’t guarantee minimum sales of 15,000 copies, so authors of political titles had nowhere to go… Enter Biteback.
Then, as now, I was told that nobody was interested in politics. The New Labour cycle was reaching its end and the mood in the country was one of fatigue – sound familiar? Then, as now, I believe reports of political publishing’s demise are greatly exaggerated. In some ways the public seems more engaged than ever. (We’ve all learned how to vote tactically, if nothing else.)
The plan from the start was to be part of a political debate. And whilst politics itself may have become more polarised and less tolerant of different opinions, Biteback remains committed to discussion, conversation and the civilised exchange of ideas.
A big part of our success lies in our ability to pick up a manuscript and get it to the consumer in the shortest time possible. I can never understand the time it takes our competitors to publish a book. The category is current affairs – surely the clue is in the name? Our MO has always been ‘move fast and make things’.
But, as with all businesses, it’s the people who make it work. The authors who’ve trusted us with their manuscripts; the brilliantly talented colleagues, past and present, who have often been called on to perform miracles – and have rarely, if ever, said ‘no’ when presented with a challenge; our friends in the press who have provided platforms for our books, through serialisations, reviews and interviews; and our colleagues in the book trade who have supported us through the years. My sincere thanks go to every single one of you. Most of all, though, my thanks go to our readers. You’re the ones who’ve kept Biteback going since the start, and will hopefully do so for another fifteen years.
Read more:
Take a look at 15 bestselling books for 15 years or try our 6 hot, new books to read this summer.