Small Is Beautiful

Finally a shortlist which has its fair share of small publishers.  The World Book Day Spread The Word initiative has set out to uncover a hidden gem, a recent book that deserved to be a bestseller but didn't quite make it.

The longlist of 100 has been whittled down to 10 by public vote and lo and behold there are titles from Snowbooks, Beautiful Books, Legend Press, Rowmark and Serpent's Tail. 

Interesting to see which books make a shortlist when the selection panel aren't a bunch of literati (although I am sure lots of mouse clicking went on in certain publisher's office over the past few weeks!).

I have read three of the books on the list.  Salt & Honey by Candi Miller is notable as the first novel to feature the tribal click language of southern Africa.  Fascinating.  Joshilyn Jackson's Gods In Alabama is a really fun read.  And In Cold Daylight is a cracking maritime mystery.  Any of the three count as a hidden gem if you ask me.

The BBC have an informative piece on the final ten books here.

Comments

[Anne Brooke]

Indeed, small publishers are always the best! Couldn't be without 'em.

:))

A
xxx

[alex Johnson]

Pauline knows you can never underestimate the appeal of shed lit.