Song for the Forgotten: book release and reflections on the National Trust Publishing Project by Juliet Robertson
Cover artwork by Steven Buckler
We are incredibly excited to announce the release of Song for the Forgotten, written by award-winning Cornish author Natasha Carthew and illustrated beautifully by Falmouth MA student Steven Buckler. This book tells a melodic tale, combining poetry and prose to imagine a vivid underland of Cornwall’s rugged coast and deep mining history. Song for the Forgotten is a story of loss and fear, of the borders imposed on the working class and the strong women who rise up against them.
What was the National Trust Publishing Project?
The National Trust Publishing Project was a student-led collaboration between Falmouth University and National Trust Books. This collaboration gave the student team an amazing opportunity to work with publishing professionals and gain insight into the publishing industry.
Photos provided by the National Trust Publishing Project Team
Team members left to right; Juliet Robertson, Rosie Tanner, Chloe Francis, Sidonie Baylis and James Cavanagh.
How do the team members reflect on the project?
Sidonie Baylis –
My main role during this project was typesetting the book, which was a learning experience to say the least. We used Adobe InDesign, which was not a programme I’d used before beyond a short crash course, so it was a definite case of learning on the job. I had a lot of help from Luke, the lecturer leading us on the project, but the time and effort we put into it paid off and we’ve come out the other end with a gorgeous little book. It is a shame it never got the launch it deserved. This project was a great opportunity; it gave me the chance to learn a new skill that would be used in a professional setting, as well as learning valuable editing, marketing and networking skills which will be invaluable in my professional career. It also gave me the most important thing – work experience, and a professional credit to go with it.
James Cavanagh –
I was excited to start the National Trust Publishing Project from our first meeting, the opportunity to have a behind the scenes experience of what it takes to publish a book is something I was keen to learn more about. There were areas I did not expect to learn about, such as printing and materials, as well as the project costs. I found being involved in each area of the project to be beneficial for learning the details behind a publication, and essential to furthering my skills surrounding publication, editing and marketing. The parts of the project I found most interesting were the editing, marketing and communication with industry professionals - such as Katie Bond - who was extremely helpful. I also enjoyed working in a team, particularly such a hard-working and dedicated one. We all knew our strengths and weaknesses, whilst being willing to try new things and develop new skills. Thanks to this project, I understand the areas of publication suited to me and where my skill set would be beneficial. I look toward a career focusing on the editing, marketing and communication roles within publishing.
Chloe Francis –
This was one of the most interesting projects I’ve been part of. It’s so exciting to hold the finished book in my hands! Throughout the project, I gained so many new skills, made new contacts, and had a little window into the world of publishing, with all the hard work and collaboration that goes into producing a book. It made me certain that publishing is where my passion lies. I am now doing a master’s degree in Publishing Media at Oxford Brookes. While the project was a learning curve, it was so much fun to be a part of and definitely an experience I will not forget.
Juliet Robertson –
Being part of the National Trust Publishing Project was not only valuable in terms of acquiring useful knowledge, experience, and skills from within the fascinating world of publishing but was also enjoyable and rewarding. We had the opportunity to work closely with industry professionals, like visiting Roy at Palace Printers in Lostwithiel, and skype calling with Katie Bond from National Trust Books. We were involved in the whole process necessary to publish a book, from reading the author’s first draft, to editing, to commissioning an illustrator, to printing and marketing. I particularly enjoyed corresponding with the brilliant author Natasha Carthew throughout the project, and seeing the book come to life before our eyes with the help of the talented illustrator, Steven Buckler. Having a passion for Cornish culture and heritage, I am deeply proud to have been involved in the production of a publication that features strong Cornish themes and history. For this reason, amongst many others, I am so excited about the release of Song for the Forgotten and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Song for the Forgotten is available to buy on the National Trust website:
https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/song-for-the-forgotten.html#reviewinfo
Natasha Carthew is the artistic director of The Working Class Writers Festival (@ClassFestival), taking place in October 2021 and will be on a UK-wide tour next year of festivals, including @fowey_festival and @PenzanceLitfest .
Edited by Jasper Evans