Honno Books celebrates 40 years publishing women writers in Wales

Welsh women's press Honno Books is celebrating 40 years of publishing this autumn, The Bookseller reported. The publisher currently operates with three part-time staff members. These include sales, marketing and business officer Elen Martin, commissioning editor Rebecca Parfitt, and production editor Gemma June Howell. [1]

Elen Martin told The Bookseller that there is a real sense of pride in how far the press has come over four decades. She added that while the company is taking the press in new directions, its founding principles remain central to its work. Martin also serves as a board member at Cyhoeddi Cymru, which is also known as Publishing Wales. [1]

The press relies on a small team with varied roles across writing, academia and publishing operations. Commissioning editor Parfitt works as a writer, poet and film-maker alongside her role at the press. Production editor Howell is a novelist, academic and the founder of Women Publishing Wales, according to The Bookseller. [1]

The milestone comes during a period of growth for the Welsh book industry. As FTMQ Books reported earlier, independent publishers based in Wales generated 6.5 million pounds through the Total Consumer Market over the past five years following the creation of trade body Publishing Wales. Sales for Welsh publishers increased by 4 percent compared to the prior five-year period. [5]