Bridget Williams Books is a New Zealand book publisher, established in 1990 by Bridget Williams.
 | |
| Founded | 1990 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Bridget Williams |
| Country of origin | New Zealand |
| Headquarters location | Wellington, New Zealand |
| Distribution | David Bateman Ltd |
| Nonfiction topics |
|
| Imprints | BWB Texts |
| Official website | www |
Establishment
editWilliams established the company in 1990 when the company she was working for, Allen & Unwin, was sold. She purchased the titles which she had developed as Allen & Unwin's managing director and started her own publishing company.[1] Williams' vision for the company was for it to publish "good books that sell" – books with significant messages. Her personal interests in women's and Māori history, and New Zealand general history, have influenced the books that the company publishes.[2]
From 1995 to 1998, the company published under a joint imprint with Auckland University Press,[3] before returning to independent publisher status in 1998.[citation needed]
Development
editIn 2006, the company established the Bridget Williams Publishing Trust, which applies for grants from philanthropic organisations to support publication of specific titles.[1] For example, in 2013 the J.R. McKenzie Trust provided funding towards the publication and promotion of Inequality – A New Zealand Crisis.[4]
In 2011, Tom Rennie was hired as associate editor, and began to develop a digital publishing strategy for the company.[5] As a result, in 2013, BWB Texts were released – a series of short texts on topics of New Zealand interest, published first as e-books and later than paperbacks.[6] Certain titles in the series are funded by Creative New Zealand, and others are funded through the Bridget Williams Books Publishing Trust.[6]
Awards
edit- In 1996, Redemption Songs won Book of the Year at the Montana New Zealand Book Awards[7]
- In 1997, The Story of Suzanne Aubert won Book of the Year at the Montana New Zealand Book Awards.[8]
- In 2010, Encircled Lands: Te Urewera 1820–1921 won the NZ Post Book of the Year Award.[9]
- In 2015, Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History won the Royal Society of New Zealand Science Book Prize,[10] and the Kōrero o Mua (History) category of the Ngā Kupu Ora Aotearoa Māori Book Awards[11]
- In 2015, Bridget Williams Books won the NZ Book Industry Special Award, for the innovative publishing list and the expansion into digital publishing.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b "Minding the gap, Profiles, Otago Magazine, University of Otago, New Zealand". www.otago.ac.nz. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ Wannan, Olivia (5 July 2012). "Wellingtonian Interview: Bridget Williams". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ "About BWB | BWB Bridget Williams Books". www.bwb.co.nz. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ "Bridget Williams Books Publishing Trust". J R McKenzie Trust. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
- ^ "Tom Rennie now associate publisher at Bridget Williams Books". BookSellers New Zealand. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ a b Oliver, Henry (22 November 2015). "BWB Texts and the state of non-fiction book publishing in New Zealand". Idealog. Idealog Limited. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ "Judith Binney | BWB Bridget Williams Books". www.bwb.co.nz. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ "New Zealand Book Council". www.bookcouncil.org.nz. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ Dekker, Diana (28 February 2011). "The life of a publisher". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ "2015 Royal Society of New Zealand Science Book Prize". Royal Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ "2015 Ngā Kupu Ora Aotearoa Māori Book Awards – Massey University". www.massey.ac.nz. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ "2015 New Zealand Book Trade Industry Awards Winners | Booksellers New Zealand". booksellers.co.nz. Retrieved 4 December 2015.