As Managing Editor of The Bookseller, Tom Tivnan shapes global conversations about publishing's evolving landscape. With 18 years' experience, he's become the UK's foremost analyst of:
Do: Lead with surprising data visualizations · Highlight debut authors with unique platforms · Connect stories to policy debates
Avoid: Celebrity memoirs · Genre fiction without cultural commentary · Pitch emails exceeding 200 words
We trace Tom Tivnan's journey from his early days as a features writer at The Bookseller in 2007 to his current role as Managing Editor, where he oversees data-driven investigations and special projects. His 18-year tenure has seen him develop three distinct phases of expertise:
In this conference roundup, Tivnan dissects literary agent Nelle Andrew's controversial "Not dystopias" manifesto with surgical precision. He contextualizes the anti-dystopian trend within broader market shifts, contrasting Andrew's position with counterarguments from editors at Faber and Bloomsbury. The analysis stands out for its use of Nielsen BookScan data to track genre sales patterns, revealing a 22% decline in dystopian YA sales against a 37% rise in climate fiction.
What makes this piece essential reading is Tivnan's ability to transform conference soundbites into actionable industry intelligence. His interview technique draws out unexpected connections - notably between pandemic reading habits and the demand for "hopeful speculations." Publishers Weekly later cited this analysis in their 2022 trends report.
Tivnan collaborates with industry veteran Caroline Sanderson to demystify the UK's publishing phenomenon where 600+ titles launch simultaneously. The article combines historical context (tracing Super Thursday's origins to 2013) with hard sales data, revealing how 2023's event generated £14.2m in first-week sales despite industry skepticism.
His signature approach shines in the comparative analysis table contrasting "Big Name" releases vs. debut authors' performance. By tracking backlist sales spikes, Tivnan identifies Super Thursday's hidden value as a discovery engine - a insight that influenced Hachette's 2024 staggered release strategy.
This prescient analysis marries political commentary with rights market forecasting. Tivnan identifies a 400% increase in LGBTQ+ submissions compared to 2020, linking this to both cultural shifts and anticipated regulatory battles. His profile of "Sapphic romantasy" as the emerging megagenre demonstrates his knack for spotting commercial patterns before they trend.
The article's lasting impact lies in its warnings about AI copyright challenges, predicting the current Authors Guild vs. OpenAI lawsuit six months before filing. Tivnan's access to unpublished manuscripts allows him to showcase how authors are embedding anti-MAGA themes in genre fiction - a trend now dominating 2025 bestseller lists.
Tivnan consistently champions nonfiction that combines rigorous research with narrative flair. His analysis of Mary Beard's SPQR sales patterns (2023) demonstrates his interest in academic works with mainstream appeal. Pitches should include comparative title analysis using BookScan or Nielsen data, similar to his approach in tracking the 2024 surge in "smart nonfiction."
Whether profiling an author or analyzing trends, Tivnan seeks stories that reveal systemic shifts. His 2024 piece on BookTok's effect on print runs shows how to connect cultural phenomena to supply chain impacts. Successful pitches will identify similar crossover points between content and commerce.
While Tivnan covers industry giants, his most enthusiastic writing emerges when profiling marginalized creators. The 2023 feature on queer Welsh fantasy writers demonstrates his commitment to geographic and cultural diversity. Pitches should emphasize authentic voices rather than tokenized "diversity projects."
With his finger on the legislative pulse, Tivnan prioritizes stories exploring copyright, AI regulation, and free speech battles. His prescient 2024 analysis of the EU's AI Act makes him particularly receptive to pitches involving author rights in emerging markets.
Tivnan's work consistently critiques the "memoir industrial complex." His scathing 2022 takedown of ghostwritten influencer books remains required reading for publicists. Focus instead on authors with unique expertise or unconventional career paths.
The Professional Publishers Association recognized Tivnan's groundbreaking data journalism series tracking COVID's impact on indie bookshops. Judges praised his "ability to transform spreadsheets into compelling narratives," particularly his interactive map showing regional sales variations.
Tivnan earned this accolade for his investigative series on Amazon's algorithmic bias, which revealed a 40% underrepresentation of BAME authors in recommendation engines. The Financial Times later cited this research in their antitrust investigations.
As content architect for The Bookseller's 2021 redesign, Tivnan spearheaded the introduction of real-time sales dashboards now used by 89% of UK publishers. His "Data Dive" column increased subscriber engagement by 62% year-over-year.
