Gillian Baxter News

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Evans, Gillian Baxter's publishers, have their fiftieth anniversary next year, and so are re-publishing some of their children's books. As far as I can tell from the very scanty information on their website (it's here in a PDF file, and you want page 12) the books are hardback versions of Ribbons and Rings and Tan and Tarmac. Evans are also doing some of Malcolm Saville's Buckinghams series, and Enid Blyton's Nature Lover's Book, which I absolutely adored as a child: it has the most enchanting pictures and I think I will be in the queue for one when they're published. The Savilles and Blyton are out in March 2008; the Gillian Baxters and a Worzel Gummidge in September 2008.

I'd be interested to know why they've decided to do this - does it have anything to do with the resurgence in re-publishing classics by companies like Fidra?

Still, it's been a very, very long time indeed since a hardback pony book with a dustjacket was published (except I suppose for some of K M Peyton's), so all power to Evans' elbow. I hope they sell well. Maybe if they do, Evans could be persuaded to re-issue some more.

Comments

Unknown said…
As you say, bravo to Evans. I imagine libraries may pick up some of the shiny new hardbacks (especially if we ask them to). I hope Evans make enough sales to make the venture worthwhile.

I wonder why they chose those two of Gillian Baxter's titles ? I like both, but both feature older children - old enough to be in work. 'Ponies in the Heather' and 'Ribbons and Rings' as a pair would have featured a wider age range, and they share the character of Sean, the Irishman. (whose surname currently escapes me - O'Leary ?). The guy with the excitable seal-brown Spanish horse.
27 November 2007 at 15:24
haffyfan said…
Good books but I wish they'd done Horses In The Heather as I need that one!

I wonder if they chose those ones hoping all us old farts will boost the sales? I would have thought personally Jump To The Stars would have been a good one to choose, being quite hard to find now.
27 November 2007 at 19:00
Susan in Boston said…
Jane
It would be so fantastic if this was a start of things to come...as you said, the hardcover with dj horse books are few and far between these days! I'm trying to think of what other pony book authors Evans printed...the only one I can think of off the top of my head would be Kathleen MacKenzie

Gillian and Haffyfan:
I expect Horses and Heather is a non starter, as Evans didn't publish it originally, it was a Frederick Warne imprint.
27 November 2007 at 19:58
Susan in Boston said…
Jane
It would be so fantastic if this was a start of things to come...as you said, the hardcover with dj horse books are few and far between these days! I'm trying to think of what other pony book authors Evans printed...the only one I can think of off the top of my head would be Kathleen MacKenzie

Gillian and Haffyfan:
I expect Horses and Heather is a non starter, as Evans didn't publish it originally, it was a Frederick Warne imprint.
27 November 2007 at 19:58
haffyfan said…
Ooh Susan you've got me all excited I love Kathleen Mackenzie but hadn't made the connection. Shall we start to lobby them?
27 November 2007 at 20:07
Susan in Boston said…
haffyfan

I'm game! I vote for the Pentire series...I haven't been able to find a single one yet! :-(
28 November 2007 at 01:37
Jane Badger said…
Some of those Pentire books are very, very hard to find indeed so maybe Evans will strike out. I expect the rights to Horses in the Heather have probably reverted to Gillian Baxter by now, so I expect Evans could negotiate the rights with her. I will try and find out.

I think lobbying Evans would be a good idea - the more positive feedback, and I suppose, good old-fashioned sales, they get, the more likely they are to carry on.
28 November 2007 at 16:53
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