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Laura Jones-Rivera

@laurafjones.bsky.social

370 followers 180 following 230 posts

SGSAH AHRC PhD Researcher in small press business sustainability & diversity @stir.ac.uk / Publisher @404ink.bsky.social‬ / Operations @charcopress.com‬ / Substack: epitomeofvague.substack.com No DMs, email via lauraflojo.com 👋

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Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · Jul 11

A few brief personal words from me over on my own blog regarding @404ink.bsky.social's closure next year. There's going to be a lot to say and analyse over the coming months about the state of publishing so I'm trying to pace myself...

epitomeofvague.substack.com/p/404-ink-pu...

404 Ink: Publisher not found

2016 - 2026

epitomeofvague.substack.com

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Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera

The Bookseller @thebookseller.com · 9h

ICYMI: More than 20 independent publishing houses – including Bluemoose Books, Tilted Axis Press and Influx Press – have written an open letter calling for the trade to “work together to ensure the longevity of the UK’s independent presses” as they face an “existential crisis” 👇

Indie presses in ‘existential crisis’ call for trade support

ebx.sh

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Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 10h

Bit of a niche request but can anyone recommend any REPUTABLE US-based offset printers, please? Ones that won't take forever and will work with UK-based publishers? Thank you!

Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 12h

Speaking from experience, small indie publishing is getting tougher. We usually rely on project-based public funding (too much) and are a couple of rejections away from closure. Investors balk at us because of the low margins & growth. We need a new path.

www.thebookseller.com/news/indie-p...

Indie presses in ‘existential crisis’ call for trade support

More than 20 independent publishing houses – including Bluemoose Books, Tilted Axis Press and Influx Press – have written an open letter calling for the trade to “work together to ensure the longevity...

www.thebookseller.com

Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera

404 Ink @404ink.bsky.social · 13h

"Inflation, war and cuts to national arts funding have increased the challenges faced by independent publishers and we are now confronting an existential crisis that will determine the trajectory of literary publishing in the UK."

Signed by us, please read: www.thebookseller.com/comment/open...

Open letter on the future of small press publishing in the UK

The industry must work together to ensure the longevity of the UK’s independent presses.

www.thebookseller.com

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Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera

Jay Rayner @jayrayner1.bsky.social · 1d

In other news Charlie Redmayne, the long serving CEO of HC in the UK, resigned yesterday.

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Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera

Dan Marshall @danthat.bsky.social · 1d

An image of three cool tories under the header "Meet the Young Tories deaming of a bright blue future" but I've replaced their portraits with images of Eddie, Spudgun and Dave Hedgehog from Bottom

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Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera

Marc Morris @marcmorris.bsky.social · 2d

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Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera

Nick Sturm @nicksturm.bsky.social · 3d

This is a huge collapse in the book distribution business, especially following the closure of Small Press Distribution last year. Baker & Taylor--originally established in 1828--has been central to the library market for decades.

Maris Kreizman @maris.bsky.social · 3d

seems very bad www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

Baker & Taylor Prepares Plan to Shut Down

At a town hall yesterday, B&T owner and CEO Aman Kochar announced that following the termination of the ReaderLink acquisition deal, he does not see a path to keep the library wholesaler in business.

www.publishersweekly.com

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Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera

Meg Reid 🦦 @megireid.bsky.social · 3d

A depressing update we've seen coming for a long time, with numerous impacts. Namely, even less competition for library acquisitions and wholesale, publishers (including Hub City) left with unpaid bills, and small presses left high and dry, and vanishing distribution options.

"Baker & Taylor will be closing their business, after a planned acquisition of their assets by Readerlink fell through last month. Operations will cease by January 1, according to online posts from former employees. Employees were informed yesterday that their positions will be eliminated. A local newspaper in Illinois reports that 253 of the 318 staffers at the 379,000-square-foot distribution center in Momence were let go immediately, as 62 others will stay on to assist with "wind[ing] down" the business until late December, with the last three employees departing January 3.

A report from Illinois' Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act explained that the closure is due to the termination of the Readerlink sale, which "would have resulted in the continuing employment of all Baker & Taylor employees."

"Despite Baker & Taylor’s subsequent efforts, it was unsuccessful in seeking a path to continue its business operations," the report continues.

B&T was the largest supplier of materials to libraries, and B&T Publisher Services distributes books from more than 250 small presses. Small publishers are particularly in need of distribution services after the closure of Small Press Distribution.

B&T did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company is headquartered in Charlotte, NC."

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Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 3d

Not often I get a chance to grab a physical copy of The Skinny but nice to see two titles I've typset recently (La Lucha and The Hajar Book of Rage) getting their deserved props. Unsurprisingly, it's a time for rage-fuelled non-ficition again (not that it ever stopped)

Positive reviews of La Lucha and The Hajar Book of Rage

Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera

Sylvia @sylvia-suffragette.bsky.social · 3d

We all have the same conversation, everyday 😂

Cartoon of 2 people having a coffee
1st square - Person 1 “Let's not talk about politics anymore, I can't bear it” “
Person 2 “Same”
2nd square - Both stare silently
3rd square - Person 1 “THE THING IS THOUGH…”
Person 2 “THOSE FUCKING IDIOTS”
@emilyscartoons

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Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 4d

You can't make this up

Question 1, which is a fundamental principle of British life? Actively supporting your local football team, participation in community life, ignoring your neighbours, eating fish on a Friday

Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 4d

I really didn't want to spend £30 on this but oh well hwfg

The Life in the UK study books for indefinite leave to remain

Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera

Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 8d

Happy to be part of the Start It Yourself panel at @ptbopoetry.bsky.social on the morning of Friday 21st November! Speaking all about starting 404 Ink/your own thang

pushtheboatout.org/events/start...

Start It Yourself - 2025 Push The Boat Out Festival

pushtheboatout.org

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Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 8d

I'm guessing being acquired by DK is a reason/excuse? I can only imagine the struggle to get any kind of reply because of that...

Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 8d

Start It Yourself - 2025 Push The Boat Out Festival

pushtheboatout.org

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Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 8d

Everyone be doing sustained campaigns of violence now

New article stating overly confident black Swan with a bit of an ego banned from town

Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 9d

Started back at school today. Best email so far

Screenshot of an email from the Stirling student union showing an animal costume that I assume is the mascot, maybe a squirrel?

Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 9d

Thinking of getting a paid subscription for @edinburghminute.bsky.social not just for the excellent daily coverage, but also to keep up their correct beef with Edinburgh Live

The Edinburgh Minute @edinburghminute.bsky.social · 9d

After the last Edinburgh 'battering' failed to show up, it's only taken 22 days for the next one:

www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...

Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 13d

Mega nostalgia alert

Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 14d

Thanks both!

Laura Jones-Rivera @laurafjones.bsky.social · 14d

Pal, do you have the source for that £20 stat? That'd be super useful for numerous things I'm writing about!

Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera

The Bookseller @thebookseller.com · 14d

Don’t misunderstand the moment; crowdfunding for publishing isn’t dead, it’s evolving, says Nick Coveney in our recent Comment piece 👇 #BookSky

Crowdfunding still works

ebx.sh

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Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera

Sean Bell @seancmbell.bsky.social · 14d

In my first piece for Tribune, I write in defence of the noble art of shoplifting.

Tribune @tribunemagazine.bsky.social · 14d

The rise of shoplifting is a consequence of the cost-of-living crisis, not a breakdown in the social order — the Left must think about how to represent those who are forced to engage with it.

Britain’s Shoplifting Epidemic

The rise of shoplifting is a consequence of the cost-of-living crisis, not a breakdown in the social order — the Left must think about how to represent those who are forced to engage with it.

tribunemag.co.uk

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Reposted by Laura Jones-Rivera

The Daily Tism @thedailytism.com · 17d

“It could be because autistic people tend to have big, beautiful eyes, an air of mystique and a fathomless, unknowable heart… Oh. Oh, God. Er, excuse me for a minute.”

Rising autism diagnoses confirm that we totally fuck

A recent public health report has revealed that autism is more common than previously thought, confirming that autistic people are really good at sex. The government-commissioned report found a stagge...

thedailytism.com

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