Wild Swan Publications now with Titfield Thunderbolt

65447 · Post by **65447** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 4:47 pm

My friendly neighbourhood bookseller Bob Pearman informs me that WSP has been sold, and he is presently trying to obtain an answer as to the status of LNER Wagons 4b.

Apparently the magazines are still being published but under the imprint of Cygnet Publishing, would you believe?

teaky · Post by **teaky** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 9:17 pm

There's a thread over on the darkside about this. MRJ is still with Paul Karau but under Cygnet Publishing. The books are still under Wild Swan but this is now with The Titfield Thunderbolt.

I haven't dealt with them myself but this seems to have been well received.

65447 · Post by **65447** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 9:49 am

Statement on Titfield Thunderbolt website here: http://www.titfield.co.uk/ that suggests Wild Swan will have its own website at long last!

Post by **richard** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 4:48 pm

There's already a publisher called Cygnet Press - oh dear...

Hopefully Titfield can keep the excellent content & final product quality whilst modernising the production process. If any of the stories I've heard about their production techniques have a grain of truth, we should be glad Wild Swan was sold as a going concern and didn't go broke first...

65447 · Post by **65447** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 5:34 pm

I've now made an enquiry of Titfield re LNER Wagons 4B and will post any information once it is received.

Autocar Publicity · Post by **Autocar Publicity** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 11:21 pm

Now the information's released, I can comment on this. Yes, the new owner of the 'Book Division' of WS's activities (Simon Castens of Titfield) has various plans, including a web-site and yes, Wild Swan did produce their titles using 'traditional' methods, which did increase costs considerably. I have spoken to several people (including Richard) in the past about their prices and I think we are all very glad the brand is continuing.

I believe Paul Karau is intending to work with the new owner for an interim period. LNER Wagons 4B, I hear the ambition is to have it for Easter 2015, however, I'm told that is an aspiration rather than a firm prediction. Inevitably, there could be some turbulence in transfering operations from one owner to another.

65447 · Post by **65447** » Sat Dec 20, 2014 10:20 am

A person such as Kevin Robertson (Noodle Books) would be a good mentor for this style of production and publishing and, co-incidentally, has already worked with Peter Tatlow on the latter's two volume history of Railway Breakdown Cranes. He also has experience of producing reprints of sought-after works such as Michael Harris' LNER Carriages.

We are all more than aware of the Wild Swan 'heritage' production methods but it would be a great shame if the house style were to be lost; especially when there are concluding or further volumes in existing series yet to be published.

I'll have to check with Peter, but as far as I'm aware he had substantially if not wholly completed checking the proofs of Wagons 4B.

65447 · Post by **65447** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 9:38 am

Received a very nice reply from Simon Castens in response to my e-mail to him, which I trust he will not mind my quoting:

'Whilst it is difficult to give exact dates for anything just at the moment as I get to grips with a new business (and also because I am extremely wary of setting up any expectations that I cannot deliver upon) I can say with certainty (as I told Peter) that his LNER Wagons part 4B is the very first book that will be produced under my stewardship.

You can also rest assured that I appreciate the keen anticipation surrounding this last part of the series, I know from my own bookselling experience (even down here in Great Western territory) that it will prove a popular work of reference on an important subject and I very much look forward to getting it published.

If anyone has any queries in the meantime then by all means get in touch, I also hope to "construct" the website for Wild Swan over this holiday period.

Best wishes and seasons greetings to you too.

Simon Castens'

All of which is most reassuring and I hope that all forum members will wish him and his publishing venture every success in 2015.

JASd17 · Post by **JASd17** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:25 pm

65447 wrote: All of which is most reassuring and I hope that all forum members will wish him and his publishing venture every success in 2015.

I certainly agree with that 65447.

I think a trip to Larkhall may be in order sometime, a couple a decent pubs as I recall, and a railway book shop, can't be bad. Oh, and a world famous city just a stroll along the road.

John

drmditch · Post by **drmditch** » Tue Dec 30, 2014 12:41 pm

65447 wrote:Statement on Titfield Thunderbolt website here: http://www.titfield.co.uk/ that suggests Wild Swan will have its own website at long last!

Just in case people haven't found it:- ...it's here!...

Not Jeremy · Post by **Not Jeremy** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 5:40 pm

Thank you for the nice comments made above.

I can announce that the finished book is now with Amadeus and I am hoping for a release in time for the Easter shows.

I have set the publication date for the 1st April on Neilsen's bibliographic database.

LNER Wagons Part 4B Standard and other designs.

Dustjacketed hardback uniform with earlier volumes, 184 printed pages, 240 illustrations, ISBN 9780953877119, price £38.95.

Available from your favourite bookseller who can pre-order now and will have copies as soon as they are available.

I am also happy to accept pre orders directly, if this suits anyone then please email me at:

sales@wildswanbooks.co.uk

Trade enquiries welcomed too at the same e-mail address to any bona fide retailers reading this who'd like to stock the book (and others in the range too)

I am still working on a new Wild Swan website to replace the current temporary arrangement, this should be available shortly and will set out ideas for the future in a bit more detail.

I also now have a printed list of all available titles which I am happy to supply to anyone who would like one.

Other new titles are in the pipeline too.

Thanks for reading this and apologies for "blatant plug" aspect of this post(!)

Best Wishes

Simon Castens

Wild Swan Books Ltd

Post by **richard** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 10:24 pm

Thanks Simon.

Regarding the "blatant plug": Yes future commercial posts should be in the Classifieds this (could be a good place for announcing a book like Tatlow vol 4B...). Here I think it is okay as it is updating an existing thread on the status of Wild Swan.

The LNER Encyclopedia