 "A season of change")
Diya Kar Hazra began her career in publishing with HarperCollins and then Penguin India, helped Bloomsbury set up its India division as publisher, and has just joined Pan Macmillan as its Publisher. She spoke to Business Standard about shifts, trends and competition in a rapidly changing scenario
On Pan Macmillan
Pan Macmillan India launched its Indian distribution around five years ago and had also decided, at the time, to build its local publishing. While it was a challenging environment in which one had to establish oneself and grow, it also presented an immense opportunity for the company and the list. The industry has changed more in the last five years than it has ever done and the changing profile of the Indian reader has also meant opportunities in areas previously unexplored by us. We've been able to lay a strong foundation and have every intention of expanding both our local list as well as distributing our international lists.
On the Indian market and the large number of English language trade publishing houses in Delhi
In the last few years we've seen well-established publishing houses beef up their lists; we've seen international publishers set up offices in India, the birth of independent publishers and new imprints, and been witness to some significant mergers and tie-ups. It's testament to one of the most exciting periods in Indian publishing. The fact that we're still around, doing what we're doing, reflects the tremendous opportunities that this dynamic, thriving market offers.
The challenge lies in doing things differently. In discovering new voices; exploring new genres; publishing innovatively, creatively.
Embracing and making the most of new platforms - social media, retail. In a fiercely competitive climate, this is going to be key.
I'd like to believe we have enormous talent, that there is still much that remains unexplored, untapped, and that we will always have ideas and find ways that will allow us all to co-exist.
On the closure of independent bookstores, whether online bookstores are enough to plug that gap, and whether publishers have sufficient visibility
It's extremely upsetting to see some of our beloved bookshops shutting down, and even some bookstore chains downsizing. Yet it seems inevitable, as brick-and-mortar bookstores find it difficult to match the high discounts offered by their online counterparts. This is particularly hard on new titles and a frontlist, as pre-orders on online retail are limited. Apart from shrinking shelf space, this marks the end of the reading experience that's about a space that brings together the discerning bookseller and the reader, a space that provides many worlds at a glance. It marks the end of browsing, of discovering a new writer or a book you didn't know you wanted. This is why social media and word-of-mouth are more important than ever; why outstanding publicity and marketing is crucial if one is to survive.
On expanding English language readership and bestseller trends
It's particularly exciting to see the rise of non-fiction (while fiction was 23 per cent of the market in the first quarter, non-fiction was 46 per cent). Sadly, we don't have enough data to lay claims - Nielsen BookScan's doing a terrific job but there are still quite a few booksellers and channels that don't share figures. I'd like to see growth in readership in general, and if we weren't optimistic about the future we'd be a cynical lot.
Tailpiece: Mobile phone readers
Chiki Sarkar's new publishing house, Juggernaut, has just rolled out with the formidable Durga Raghunath in the CEO's chair. Sarkar and Raghunath plan to tap India's potentially massive mobile phone market. Dedicated e-readers (the Kindle, the Wink) haven't done well here, but it's a safe bet that as in China, many would read on their smartphones if content was suitably tailored.
From cricket to cookbooks to college-crowd bestsellers, publishers will have to work hard to figure out what might sell. The devotional sector, for instance, already has a massive readership: from the Hanuman Chalisa to the Koran or the Guru Granth Sahib, religious books are among the most popular mobile phone downloads. Perhaps Juggernaut will be the first to tap the God squad.
nilanjanasroy@gmail.com
On Pan Macmillan
Pan Macmillan India launched its Indian distribution around five years ago and had also decided, at the time, to build its local publishing. While it was a challenging environment in which one had to establish oneself and grow, it also presented an immense opportunity for the company and the list. The industry has changed more in the last five years than it has ever done and the changing profile of the Indian reader has also meant opportunities in areas previously unexplored by us. We've been able to lay a strong foundation and have every intention of expanding both our local list as well as distributing our international lists.
On the Indian market and the large number of English language trade publishing houses in Delhi
In the last few years we've seen well-established publishing houses beef up their lists; we've seen international publishers set up offices in India, the birth of independent publishers and new imprints, and been witness to some significant mergers and tie-ups. It's testament to one of the most exciting periods in Indian publishing. The fact that we're still around, doing what we're doing, reflects the tremendous opportunities that this dynamic, thriving market offers.
The challenge lies in doing things differently. In discovering new voices; exploring new genres; publishing innovatively, creatively.
Embracing and making the most of new platforms - social media, retail. In a fiercely competitive climate, this is going to be key.
I'd like to believe we have enormous talent, that there is still much that remains unexplored, untapped, and that we will always have ideas and find ways that will allow us all to co-exist.
On the closure of independent bookstores, whether online bookstores are enough to plug that gap, and whether publishers have sufficient visibility
It's extremely upsetting to see some of our beloved bookshops shutting down, and even some bookstore chains downsizing. Yet it seems inevitable, as brick-and-mortar bookstores find it difficult to match the high discounts offered by their online counterparts. This is particularly hard on new titles and a frontlist, as pre-orders on online retail are limited. Apart from shrinking shelf space, this marks the end of the reading experience that's about a space that brings together the discerning bookseller and the reader, a space that provides many worlds at a glance. It marks the end of browsing, of discovering a new writer or a book you didn't know you wanted. This is why social media and word-of-mouth are more important than ever; why outstanding publicity and marketing is crucial if one is to survive.
On expanding English language readership and bestseller trends
It's particularly exciting to see the rise of non-fiction (while fiction was 23 per cent of the market in the first quarter, non-fiction was 46 per cent). Sadly, we don't have enough data to lay claims - Nielsen BookScan's doing a terrific job but there are still quite a few booksellers and channels that don't share figures. I'd like to see growth in readership in general, and if we weren't optimistic about the future we'd be a cynical lot.
Tailpiece: Mobile phone readers
Chiki Sarkar's new publishing house, Juggernaut, has just rolled out with the formidable Durga Raghunath in the CEO's chair. Sarkar and Raghunath plan to tap India's potentially massive mobile phone market. Dedicated e-readers (the Kindle, the Wink) haven't done well here, but it's a safe bet that as in China, many would read on their smartphones if content was suitably tailored.
From cricket to cookbooks to college-crowd bestsellers, publishers will have to work hard to figure out what might sell. The devotional sector, for instance, already has a massive readership: from the Hanuman Chalisa to the Koran or the Guru Granth Sahib, religious books are among the most popular mobile phone downloads. Perhaps Juggernaut will be the first to tap the God squad.
nilanjanasroy@gmail.com