Most nominations of any Independent Alliance publisher go to Atlantic

4th April 2025

Atlantic Books has been shortlisted for five awards in total across this year’s British Book Awards (known as ‘The Nibbies’) and the Independent Publishing Awards.

The British Book Awards

Atlantic Books has been shortlisted for Independent Publisher of the Year. Detailing their reasons behind the shortlisting, The Bookseller said:

Atlantic epitomised the ability of independents to spot gaps and take risks in literary publishing. Martin MacInnes’ In Ascension and Colin Walsh’s Kala were examples of its passionate author support. It hit the TikTok jackpot too, getting 300,000 sales out of a six year-old backlist title, The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga, with a brilliant reissue campaign. Total TCM sales rose 15%.

In addition, there were two further shortlistings for individuals within the company.

James Roxburgh, publishing director for Atlantic Fiction, has been shortlisted for Editor of the Year:

Publishing director James Roxburgh has tripled Atlantic Fiction’s sales in five years, thanks to astute acquisitions on modest advances. Several of his long-term authors came good in 2024, including Martin MacInnes with In Ascension, which is nearing six-figure sales, while Colin Walsh’s Kala was a smash debut. Roxburgh has also pioneered Atlantic’s rights-based commissioning project Workshop.

Creative Director Felice McKeown was also shortlisted for Marketing Strategy of the Year:

Felice McKeown’s campaign for The Courage To Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga shows how marketing can transform old as well as new titles. The book had gone viral on TikTok, but with complex content and no author support, there was no guarantee of big sales. Superb collaboration with influencers and TikTok Shop and data-driven follow-up throughout 2024 made sure it did.

The winners will be announced at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London on 12th May 2025.

The Independent Publishing Awards

Atlantic Books has been shortlisted for PBShop Trade Publisher of the Year, five years after winning in 2020. About the company, the judges said:

Atlantic has got a really good, clear strategy and growth plan. Its publishing is excellent across the board.

Felice McKeown has once again been recognised for her work on The Courage To Be Disliked, and has been nominated for the IPG Impact Award:

This is a fine example of opportunistic marketing, and of how books can be reimagined. To get bestseller status from a backlist title like this is extraordinary.

The winners will be announced at the OXO Tower, London on 30th April 2025.