In the U.K., September Publishing has been acquired by Duckworth Books for an undisclosed sum. The September Publishing team, including publisher Hannah MacDonald, will transition to Duckworth, with September continuing as an imprint under MacDonald's leadership.
September Publishing, established by MacDonald in 2014, has been recognized as Regional Small Press of the Year twice by the British Book Awards, and has been shortlisted annually since the award's inception. The company has focused on upmarket mind-body-spirit titles, including five successful books by author Sharon Blackie, as well as illustrated and narrative nonfiction. September also maintains publishing relationships with the Van Gogh Museum and the charitable organization English Heritage.
Duckworth Books, founded in 1898, is one of the UK's oldest independently owned publishing houses. Its main imprint, led by Clare Bullock, specializes in biography, memoir, history, science, and literary fiction. Throughout its history, the company has published works by a wide range of authors, including Beryl Bainbridge, Hilaire Belloc, Henry James, D. H. Lawrence, Oliver Sacks, Alice Thomas Ellis, and Evelyn Waugh, among others. The company also includes the Farrago Books imprint, which focuses on humorous fiction, and has a distribution arrangement with the School of Life.
"September has grown considerably since Charlotte Cole and I published the first three books in 2015," MacDonald said, commenting on the acquisition. "It's been a rewarding journey thanks to our brilliant authors, and the talented freelancers and expert teams we've worked with. But we now need greater infrastructure support and wider, global distribution."
She added: "Joining forces with Duckworth gives us space and structure for growth, within a publisher whose values align with ours, and whose rich history of independent publishing is currently more exciting than ever."
Pete Duncan, managing director of Duckworth, expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition. "Since we first met I have come to know Hannah as one of the most thoughtful publishers of our time," he said. "The quality of the list she has built since founding September Publishing is second to none, and we can't wait to collaborate with Hannah and her team on it now, as a sister imprint to Duckworth."
