Mick Felton has been working at the heart of Seren for over thirty years. It is with immense gratitude for his contribution to Seren, Poetry Wales magazine, and to the publishing landscape of Wales, that we announce he will retire in 2023.
During Mick’s tenure, Seren has grown into one of Wales’s leading independent literary publishers. Throughout he has championed the voices of writers from Wales, ensuring that their work is given a wider platform both within the UK and internationally. His commitment to quality and innovation has allowed Seren to punch above its weight within the industry, publishing books recognised by major prizes including the Man Booker Prize, RSL Ondaatje Prize, Wales Book of the Year, and most recently the Forward Prize. His dedication to the business, and most importantly its staff, has allowed Seren to thrive during challenging times. His insight, knowledge and guidance will be sorely missed by his authors and colleagues.
On behalf of the Seren Board of Directors, Chair Sarah Morse, says, “Mick’s retirement from the role of Publisher after over thirty years’ association with Seren / Poetry Wales Press Ltd is a significant moment in the history of the organisation. The directors, staff and authors of Seren and Poetry Wales are incredibly grateful to Mick for his stewardship, and we are indebted to him for his generous and patient contribution not only to the business, but to the cultural life of Wales. Diolch o galon, Mick.”
Cary Archard, who founded Seren in 1981, adds: “It took real commitment, and some courage, to accept the post as the only employee of a fledgling publishing company, in a different part of the country, when you were in your twenties. But that is what Mick did some forty years ago. It took belief too, in Seren’s mission. There aren’t many roles within the business which Mick hasn’t had a hand in, and during his time here he must have become the most experienced and most hands-on publisher in Wales (if not the UK). A lot has changed in publishing during the past forty years, and Mick has managed these changes with calmness and efficiency. Commitment and belief have characterised his career. As a result, these qualities have become ingrained in Seren. They are in its DNA. Whoever takes over Mick’s role has a hard act to follow but solid foundations to build on.”
It is Seren’s future which Mick wishes to focus on. The next few years will be an exciting time for Seren. The current shifts towards better accessibility and better diversity within publishing, and a thriving literary scene in Wales hold great promise for the business.
Seren will begin searching for a new publisher early next year, and Mick’s successor will be responsible for ensuring Seren remains an innovative, inclusive and sustainable publisher at the forefront of these changes.
