Some news about my publisher

A UK publisher stranded in Spain due to COVID-19 is continuing to release books despite being locked-down in a tiny Madrid apartment.

Sara-Jayne Slack, MD of ethical indie-press Inspired Quill (IQ) has been running the press from the cramped second floor apartment she’s staying in with her partner and mother-in-law after plans to return to the UK last month were scuppered by the virus.

Now entering week five of the tough Madrid lockdown, Sara and her partner Laura are determined to stick to their publishing schedule, ensuring freelancers and contractors are paid on time and supporting authors in lockdown across the world. They’ve even offered royalty advances and frequent Skype check-ins to authors struggling financially or emotionally with the situation.

Stranded

Sara, who set up IQ nine years ago, said: “We were staying with my mother in law while Laura completed her PhD. We had a flight booked for 20^thMarch, but we’re stranded for the foreseeable.

“We’ve been in lockdown for 30 days. I go out once a week with my backpack for groceries for the three of us. Everyone else stays in. When you do go out, there’s a weird vibe out there. Our normally bustling street is completely dead. Everyone is super tense, trying to hold it together. And people are suspicious. If you feel the urge to cough, you’ve had it!”

Recently the couple witnessed a man being brought out from a neighbouring apartment in a body-bag by officials in full Covid-19 protective gear.

Laura, who quit her job in Spain in preparation for the move to the UK, said: “It’s scary. It’s so quiet in the street. Every time you hear a siren it seems really loud and you think – is that an ambulance? You wonder about the person being taken to hospital.

“Mental health in this situation is super important. I’ve been struggling with this. Every day feels the same. I want to help, but all we can do is stay home. Working on Inspired Quill gives me the opportunity to make a small difference.”

Solidarity

Although the apartment has no balcony, each evening at 8pm Sara and Laura lean out of their window and join in the daily applause for the nurses and other key workers. This keeps spirits up and helps them connect with neighbours in adjoining apartments.

“It’s emotional seeing people out on their terraces. This is the only way we can show our appreciation for the people who are handling the crisis, the doctors and nurses of course, but also the cleaners, shop workers and everyone else who’s keeping the country going,” said Sara.

“The other day someone in a neighbouring block had a birthday and we all sang happy birthday!”

Sara celebrated her own 31st birthday in lock-down, with a cake made by her mother-in-law.

Although publishing continues, book sales have plummeted due to more competition from other online outlets and the cancellation of literary festivals and events.

“Suddenly everyone has an online shop,” said Sara, “so the market’s more saturated. This benefits the big publishers, but small presses like us can be overlooked. And although people are buying more books, the initial trend was to buy ‘bucket list’ books – classics you’ve not yet read – like Moby Dick.

“Events are huge for us, and we were planning on ramping up our presence at events when we moved back to the UK, so we’ll lose a lot of income that way too.”

Authors in lockdown

Inspired Quill has 19 authors on its books in places as far flung as the US, Northern Ireland, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. All are affected in varying ways by the pandemic.

Young Adult fantasy writer Dorothy Winsor, 72, is locked down in an over 55s condo building in Chicago, USA, with her 75-year old husband. They are both vulnerable, so have to be extra careful.

Dorothy’s Young Adult fantasy novel, The Wysman, is due out in June, so she would normally be busy promoting it by now. “I usually promote at library fairs and conventions, but those are all cancelled. I’ll do a launch event once things have settled down – but obviously that depends on how long this situation lasts. I’m sad because I love this book and want other people to read and love it too, but they can’t do that if they don’t know about it.”

 

Fantasy writer Daniel Stride is in Dunedin, New Zealand, where the advice is to stay home except for essential food shopping or exercise. Daniel is going for walks at 2am!

He managed to promote his books at Dunedin’s annual fantasy festival, which went ahead in March just before the lockdown came in.

Daniel, who has several short stories due to be published, said: “I’m less productive than I usually am, due to multiple distractions. I’m hoping that will change. I’m pretty well myself, but worried about others.”

Clare Stevens, who writes literary/magical realism fiction, is locked down, UK-style, in Nottingham. She said: “I’m supposed to be finishing my next novel, but it remains stubbornly incomplete! Social isolation ought to be the ideal time to write, but Corona-angst gets in the way.

“I feel lucky to be with IQ. Their strong ethics are shining through at a time like this, when so many people are being laid off and freelancers left without an income. I’m so impressed with the way our publisher is keeping going and supporting us even though they are on very strict lockdown.

“Because IQ’s so small, there’s much more of a sense of connection with the publisher and other authors. That’s especially helpful at times like this. There’s a sense of family and solidarity with each other even though we’re all in different countries, which I find encouraging.”

IQ author Mark Cantrell is locked down in Stoke on Trent, UK, with his 93-year old father who has dementia and COPD. Mark, who writes horror and dystopian fiction, recently quit his job as a journalist to take better care of him. He said:

“Already when the outbreak began there was a loss of purpose and identity – a weird sense of disconnection from the world that goes beyond social isolation.

“Lockdown has turbocharged those feelings. There’s the added fear that if I pick up the bug I could give it to my father before I even know I’ve got it.”

Literary Fiction author Anne Goodwin, of Mansfield, UK, has a novel coming out in May 2021.

“I had hoped for it to come out this year but now I’m feeling lucky. Many of my readers prefer print books so cancelled events have an impact. I’d been due to give an illustrated talk on Literary Landscapes in the Peak District featuring Jane Eyreand my own novel Sugar and Snails.

“I don’t have the right headspace to create new fiction. I am doing a very deep edit of my next novel. It’s the right kind of work for a mind that can’t function at 100% capacity but it’s still useful work.

“I’ve actually felt better since lockdown as the previous weekend felt chaotic and conflicted. I suspect I have it a lot easier than most as I’m an introvert, self-motivated and content in my pessimism, and haven’t had to contend with major lifestyle changes. But I can’t guarantee that will last.”

Ethical publishing

Inspired Quill prides itself on encouraging diversity among its titles. A non-profit that ploughs funds (and time) back into community initiatives and partners with charities, the small press publishes fiction ranging from fantasy and dystopian to literary and non-fiction.

During the pandemic, they’ve made one recent title, mental health memoir Down Days by Craig Hallam, free on Kindle, as a way to help readers struggling with anxiety in uncertain times.

Readers can purchase books direct from the website at https://www.inspired-quill.com

Notes to editors

Inspired Quill is a traditional indie press setting new standards for how publishers should work, the focus being on eco friendly, people orientated practices and diverse, inclusive publishing.

 The MD, Sara-Jayne, is available for additional comments or interviews: sjslack@inspired-quill.com