Laura Jones-Rivera
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laurafjones.bsky.social
Laura Jones-Rivera
@laurafjones.bsky.social
📓 SGSAH PhD Researcher in publishing @stir.ac.uk
📚 Publisher @404ink.bsky.social‬
🔧 Operations @charcopress.com‬
✍️ Substack: epitomeofvague.substack.com
ℹ️ Website: lauraflojo.com
📔 My book: www.404ink.com/store/p/inklings-publisher-not-found
Pinned
Announcing our 2026 bursary for small presses and crowdfunder AND book that Heather and I have secretly been writing about @404ink.bsky.social over the last few months. Our way of saying farewell!

www.404ink.com/blog/publish...
404 Ink co-founders launch new book and industry fundraiser for small presses — 404 Ink
404 Ink to publish one final book as part of small press fundraiser, launching in 2026.
www.404ink.com
"Put together, the picture is mixed: individuals, creators and publishers are caught between clear productivity gains and serious questions about value, work-role shift and creative livelihoods."

So, AI offers...

Pro: productivity
Con: question of livelihoods

Can we really call that 'mixed'?!
AI will reshape publishing jobs, from editorial and production to marketing, sales and operations. The question is not whether this happens, but who shapes these changes, says Bec Evans 👇 #BookSky
Knowledge is power
ebx.sh
November 25, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Another weekend drafting this book, I finally understand when authors say they're sick of reading and revising their own work and would rather do anything else. I am there.

But at least I can punt the book at last! Preorder! Royalties going to other small presses!

www.404ink.com/store/p/inkl...
Publisher Not Found: A Decade of Disruption by 404 Ink — 404 Ink
What really goes on behind closer doors in publishing? After ten years of running their own award-winning company, 404 Ink, McDaid and Jones-Rivera call time on their venture and invite readers into t...
www.404ink.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Ah yes, put those classics on my tree
November 21, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
ANNOUNCING: PUBLISHER NOT FOUND - our final book and the 404 Ink Bursary, coming 2026.

We will be launching the bursary with an initial £3,000 pledged from us towards small press projects. We are also publishing PUBLISHER NOT FOUND, a behind the scenes look at 404.

www.404ink.com/blog/publish...
404 Ink co-founders launch new book and industry fundraiser for small presses — 404 Ink
404 Ink to publish one final book as part of small press fundraiser, launching in 2026.
www.404ink.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Announcing our 2026 bursary for small presses and crowdfunder AND book that Heather and I have secretly been writing about @404ink.bsky.social over the last few months. Our way of saying farewell!

www.404ink.com/blog/publish...
404 Ink co-founders launch new book and industry fundraiser for small presses — 404 Ink
404 Ink to publish one final book as part of small press fundraiser, launching in 2026.
www.404ink.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Excited to have my freelance typesetting services offered on a new platform that doesn't ask me to hide the fact I also run 404 Ink for bizarre reasons (hi, Reedsy)! bookbindr.com/freelancer/l...
Laura Jones-Rivera - BookBindr
bookbindr.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
We need your help.

@waterstones.bsky.social, without any direct communication with us, will be opening their 6th Edinburgh branch less than 100 metres from our front door at the Foot of the Walk in Leith.

Please read on for more information

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562908...

(1/2)
Anger as Waterstones snaps up prime site on doorstep of independent bookshop
UK's biggest bookselling chain under fire over plans for new store beside Edinburgh tram line.
www.heraldscotland.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:28 AM
For all it's worth, during my time working with Alan last year around the Kelvinside Compendium showed me he's the real deal, really cares about Scotland’s culture and is bringing all his power to the role with as much diligence as possible. Naysayers will moan but action will speak for itself.
November 14, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
I have too many thoughts and feelings to fit here but I think Jannat is one of the most refreshingly honest and clear-headed writers regarding small publishing entrepreneurship and I think her voice is essential within this discourse that will be dominant in 2026, imo.
Lucent Dreaming will be restructuring "on its own terms" due to financial struggles and will not be reapplying for Books Council of Wales’ new longer-term core funding grants 👇 #BookSky
Cardiff indie Lucent Dreaming 'restructures' and urges Welsh government to 'realign funding'
ebx.sh
November 12, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
Some thoughts on the future of Lucent Dreaming from our co-founder Jannat Ahmed.

We appreciate the support we’ve received in every iteration of Lucent and we can’t wait to see what this new season brings 🤍

lucentdreaming.com/thoughts-on-...
November 12, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I have too many thoughts and feelings to fit here but I think Jannat is one of the most refreshingly honest and clear-headed writers regarding small publishing entrepreneurship and I think her voice is essential within this discourse that will be dominant in 2026, imo.
Lucent Dreaming will be restructuring "on its own terms" due to financial struggles and will not be reapplying for Books Council of Wales’ new longer-term core funding grants 👇 #BookSky
Cardiff indie Lucent Dreaming 'restructures' and urges Welsh government to 'realign funding'
ebx.sh
November 12, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
going to blast out all my hottest publishing takes to friends and end it with DO NOT REPEAT THIS INSIGHT
November 12, 2025 at 5:51 PM
When I'm not PhDing and 404 Inking I'm doing production and ops for Charco and the 2026 bundle is ready for preordering, with an excellent list we've been working on all this year. It's a great investment in quality translation, literature, and small press publishing in general.
It's here. Our 2026 Bundle.

Nine incredible titles - including new novels from faves Claudia Piñeiro and Ana Paula Maia, sci-fi from Puerto Rico, short stories and Oscar-winning inspirations. Direct to your door, throughout the year, ahead of publication.

charcopress.com/bookstore/20...
November 12, 2025 at 5:23 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
November 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
I think I'm done logging into things
November 5, 2025 at 6:16 PM
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
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
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!
October 28, 2025 at 11:54 AM
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...
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
October 24, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera
This is how you blurb
October 23, 2025 at 12:41 PM
"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