Matilda Battersby

The Bookseller • 26th February 2025

Government 'overwhelmed' by thousands of responses to AI and copyright consultation

The Bookseller understands that the government’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has so far received more than 2,500 responses to the consultation which closes on Tuesday 25th February.

The Bookseller • 6th February 2025

Jeanette Winterson hits out at UK government over AI plans, arguing books shouldn't be 'fodder for Big Tech'

Jeanette Winterson is the latest British author to urge the government to “protect the copyright of writers and artists”, arguing that books should not be “fodder for Big Tech”.

The Bookseller • 1st January 2025

Manderley Press: meet the real Rebeka behind the heritage publisher

Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 novel Rebecca inspired the naming of Manderley Press, started four years ago by Rebeka Russell. “I’d had the idea for quite a while. I’d been bothering everyone, going ’What should I call this press?’ Everything I came up with had already been taken. Then, one day, I realised, it has to be Manderley."

The Bookseller • 18th December 2024

Bookshops left ‘scrambling for information’ ahead of EU’s new GPSR law

Brett Kirchner, director of online bookshop Inkstone Books, believes some independent publishers and bookshops are going to have to seriously weigh whether or not it is practical for them to keep selling books in the EU.

BBC Earth • 3rd December 2024

The largest salt flat in the world | BBC Earth

The 12,000sq km salt-encrusted prehistoric lakebed is located in Potosi, southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, 3,660m above sea level. It is almost 100 times larger than the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA, and so flat that NASA uses its surface to calibrate sensors on board satellites.

The Bookseller • 27th November 2024

New publisher Spines aims to 'disrupt' industry by using AI to publish 8,000 books in 2025 alone

A new publisher has claimed it aims to “disrupt” the books industry by publishing 8,000 books in 2025 alone using artificial intelligence (AI).

The Bookseller • 11th November 2024

Samantha Harvey's Orbital leads Booker shortlist sales surge

Orbital by British author Samantha Harvey (Jonathan Cape) remains the sales leader among the six books shortlisted for the Booker Prize, shifting almost 29,000 copies this year. The winner of a prize worth £50,000—among a list dominated by the highest number of women in the prize’s 55-year history—will be announced tomorow night (12th November). Sales of Harvey’s novel, which follows six astronauts aboard the International Space Station as they orbit  Earth, increased 86% from the almost 3,500...

The Bookseller • 14th October 2024

Hardback sales for bestselling authors down on previous release as readers 'wince' at higher cover prices

The volume of hardback books sold in the first week of publication by some of the bestselling authors is down compared to their previous titles, despite the fact that in some cases revenues have either remained flat or gone up marginally, analysis of Bookscan data reveals. Some within the publishing industry have put this trend down to the rising prices of hardbacks, leaving customers "wincing" at the tills.

Building • 19th September 2024

Building the Future Think Tank: The value of sustainability in the built environment

Delve into issues around workplace and skills, building safety and sustainability. This report covers the topic of the The value of sustainability in the built environment, and was produced in partnership with RLB.

Building • 9th September 2024

Construction clients to watch: what suppliers need to know

Our quick guide to some of construction’s major clients across different sectors covers pipelines, priorities and procurement routes...

Zoopla • 5th September 2024

What to watch out for when buying a leasehold property

Buying a leasehold home? While leaseholds are solid investments, it pays to know the potential pitfalls. Here's what to watch out for:

Planning Resource • 4th September 2024

The planning challenges of delivering power lines across East Anglia, and how Labour is shaping up to tackle them

The new government is looking to drive through plans to build 112 miles of pylons to connect offshore wind farms with the national network, despite huge opposition. Might the new national policy statement and the offer of incentives for locals help secure permissions?

The Bookseller • 30th August 2024

Wiley set to earn $44m from AI rights deals, confirms “no opt-out" for authors

Academic publisher Wiley has revealed it is set to make $44 million (£33 million) from Artificial Intelligence (AI) partnerships that it is not giving authors the opportunity to opt-out from.

The Bookseller • 22nd July 2024

How online retailer Kenny's beat Amazon to bookselling

This summer marks 30 years since the launch of what is believed to be the oldest digital bookshop. Kenny’s Bookshop – opened in High Street, Galway in 1940 by Des and Maureen Kenny – started selling books online in 1994, one year before Amazon began.

The Bookseller • 19th July 2024

Academic authors 'shocked' after Taylor & Francis sells access to their research to Microsoft AI

Authors have expressed their shock after the news that academic publisher Taylor & Francis, which owns Routledge, had sold access to its authors’ research as part of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) partnership with Microsoft—a deal worth almost £8m ($10m) in its first year.

Going • 17th June 2024

Dig Your Own Hot Spring on New Zealand’s Hot Water Beach

When my son was a toddler he was a ball of relentless energy, always running around and making sure his parents were on high alert for danger, death, disappearance, or the creation of chaos. His idea of a fun beach trip was gathering handfuls of sand and throwing them into the air while cackling with laughter, only to chuck it into our faces if we suggested this might not be the best idea.

The Bookseller • 10th June 2024

Literary festivals look at uncertain future after 'massive' Baillie Gifford loss

UK literary festival organisers face an uncertain future after losing the funding provided by investment group Baillie Gifford, with many paying tribute to the group’s “commitment to the industry” pointing to the security the money offered to smaller book events.

Inside Housing • 12th April 2024

Tribunal to rule on whether flat-rate service charge is ‘reasonable’ compared to costs associated with specific estate

High Court judges have ruled that service charges of £300 per year payable to housing association Accent Housing could be “unreasonable”, following a five-year-long legal battle.

Zoopla • 12th April 2024

10 homes for £10,000 or less

Too good to be true? Not so. If you're after a renovation project, investment opportunity , we've got 10 properties for sale for £10,000 or less.

Inside Housing • 12th April 2024

Two-thirds of children’s social workers see families living in ‘excessive’ mould or damp

Nearly two-thirds of children’s social workers report having seen families living in homes with “excessive” mould or damp, according to a survey by the Social Workers Union.