A University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) publisher has been named as one of The Bookseller’s Rising Stars of the Class of 2020.

Hazel Holmes, who runs the University’s award-winning Publishing House, has joined a select group of industry professionals recognised by the leading magazine covering the publishing sector.

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She has worked for UCLan Publishing for the past two years and has been a leading figure at attracting authors such as Dan Walker, Eve Ainsworth and Bryony Pearce.

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The UCLan alumna, who graduated in 2005 from the English literary studies degree course, said: “I feel really proud. The team has worked tirelessly for the past two years, and to get industry wide recognition is amazing.”

She started her career as the children’s book specialist at Borders, later moving to library suppliers Askews and Holts Library Services to work as the children’s buyer, before joining UCLan Publishing, which is now in its 10^th year.

The Prestonian is an advocate for the integration of publishing and education, working alongside academic colleagues to support the University’s MA and BA Publishing programmes.

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As organiser of the Northern Young Adult Literary Festival, a free event which attracts thousands of avid young book enthusiasts to UCLan’s Preston Campus every year, she is a champion of children’s literacy and the development of the publishing industry in the North of England.

Hazel said: “The Arts Council funded Northern Young Adult Literary Festival is the main highlight, making books and reading more accessible in the North, and the support from industry has helped to make this the success it is.

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“I really love my job and feel really lucky to have this role based in my hometown.”

In The Bookseller, Young Adult author Melinda Salisbury said: “Many people wax lyrical about how the publishing industry could be improved, but very few actually do something about it. Hazel Holmes is one of those few.”

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