Professor Alison Baverstock
Faculties, departments and locations
- Kingston School of Art
- Department of Journalism, Publishing and Media
- School of Creative and Cultural Industries
- Penrhyn Road
Professor of Publishing, Director of the Kingston University Big Read, founder of Reading Force
- Email:
- [email protected]
About
I co-founded MA Publishing at Kingston in 2005–6 and have been heavily involved in the international development of publishing studies throughout the period. I believe strongly that a professional discipline, offering both academic thinking and professional practice at the highest level, equips our graduates for a career in publishing, as well as allied fields. Understanding both the 'how' and 'why' leaves them well placed to solve problems we do not yet even anticipate.
Prior to working in higher education, I was a publisher. I have researched and written broadly about the industry and contemporary culture. My books are widely translated and used world-wide within industry, academia – and general society.
A lot of my research related to my commitment to widening awareness of the ongoing benefits that come from involvement in reading and books. I have been significantly involved with initiatives to encourage participation. These include founding the award-winning Well Worth Reading within public libraries (1985 onwards, now part of The Reading Agency), Reading Force (www.readingforce.org.uk) within Forces families and at Kingston our pre-arrival and internationally recognised shared-reading scheme – The Kingston University Big Read (which won a Times Higher Education (THE) Award for Widening Participation in 2017).
My industry-related research has explored the discipline of publishing studies, self-publishing, marketing in publishing, what shapes an author and how shared reading can serve to make transition between educational stages easier (now working within schools as well as HE).
I have also published four books (with Gill Hines) on parenting, including the bestselling Whatever! A down to earth guide to parenting teenagers (Piatkus), and introducing young people to art – a personal passion. A first generation student myself, I am committed to widening participation, inclusion and civic engagement.
I live in Kingston. I'm always keen to convince others that it's a great place to live, as well as work.
Qualifications
- PhD
- MA
- PFHEA
- National Teaching Fellow (2018)
- Winner of the Pandora Award, for a significant contribution to the publishing industry (2007)
- Recipient of a PM's Pillar of Light Award (2019)
- Lifetime contribution to military wellbeing from 'Soldiering On' (2022)
- Winner, with Claire Jackson, of the Universities Alliance, Best Innovation Award (2022)
Domains
Courses taught
I am currently supervising PhDs within publishing history, literacy, bibliotherapy and marketing in publishing and have supervised several candidates for PhD by Publication to completion. Please get in touch if you have a proposal for consideration as a PhD, or a body of work you think might be presented for PhD by Publication.
Publications
Want to read more?: Two experts give their tips on what you can do
Paliokosta, Paty and Baverstock, Alison, 2026, The Conversation, Published
Supporting forced-migrants’ pathways to and through university: what were the aims, processes and outcomes of a collaboration between a university and their local government authority?
Baverstock, Alison and Smallbone, Gabrielle, 2025, Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning (27), 3pp 8-33, Published
How did the embedding of a shared-read within a programme of Outward Bound activity impact on cohort bonding?
Baverstock, Alison, Steinitz, Jackie, Thow, Georgina, Gordon, Hattie and Harsham, Jane, 2025, Logos (35), 4pp 32-42, Published
What were the processes and impact of establishing a book group in the hilltop benefice?
Baverstock, Alison, Bates, Leah and Steinitz, Jackie, 2024, Logos (35), 1pp 58-68, Published
What were the processes and associated impact of enabling Education students to increase their awareness of the specific educational issues of Service families?
Baverstock, Alison, 2023, Education 3-13 (51), 2pp 212-228, Published
How can shared-reading be used to develop community connectivity within the contemporary church?
Baverstock, Alison, Steinitz, Jackie and Cowie, Andrew, 2022, Logos (33), 1pp 36-45, Published
What were the processes and outcomes of offering shared reading as an intervention for veterans in prison?
Baverstock, Alison, Boorman, Elaine, Morgan-Armstrong, Corin, Jenkins, Leanne and Morgan, Helen, 2021, Logos (32), 3pp 7-27, Published
The Big Read Collaboration between Kingston University, the University of Wolverhampton, Edge Hill University, and the University of the West of Scotland, 2018-2019
Baverstock, Alison, Steinitz, Jackie, Shelar, Tanuja, Squires, Kelly, Karodia, Nazira, Butler, Rebecca, Smith, Sara, Sopromadze, Natia, Crowley, Sara, Clark, Alison, Hutchinson, Maya, Holderness, Rebecca, Carney, Clare, Castle, Jeanette and Jefferies, Richard, 2020, Logos (31), 3pp 34-65, Published
What significance does Publishing Studies have right now?
Baverstock, Alison, 2020, Learned Publishing (33), 4pp 449-452, Published
What President Trump has shown us about choosing a subject for political biography
Baverstock, Alison and Steinitz, Jackie, 2019, Logos (30), 2pp 7-11, Published
What makes a writer? How do early influences shape, and working habits develop, those who write?
Baverstock, Alison and Steinitz, Jackie, 2019, Publishing Research Quarterly (35), 3pp 327-351, Published
What were the processes and outcomes of involving secondary school pupils transitioning from primary to secondary school in pre-arrival shared-reading? A case study
Baverstock, Alison, Steinitz, Jackie, Morris, Julie and Fenwick, Catherine, 2019, Education 3-13 (47), 8pp 933-956, Published
Using pre-arrival shared reading to promote a sense of community: a case study across two institutions
Baverstock, Alison, Steinitz, Jackie, Webster-Henderson, Brian, Bryars, Laura, Cairncross, Sandra, Ennis, Laura, Morris, Wendy, Gray, Avril and McLuckie, Connie, 2018, Logos (29), 4pp 37-52, Published
What value do academic qualifications have within a profession-oriented discipline?
Baverstock, Alison and Wenger, Debora, 2018, Journalism Education (6), 3pp 72-84, E-pub ahead of print
Does free mean without value? And is free ever worth stealing? The process, outcomes and learnings from a practice as research project encouraging recipients of a free book to value what they received
Baverstock, Alison and Somerville, Clare, 2018, Logos (29), 1pp 38-55, Published
How do you choose a book for a pre-arrival shared reading scheme within a University? A case study
Baverstock, Alison, Steinitz, Jackie, Bryars, Laura, Sheehan, Kimberley, Butler, Charlotte, Williams, Allison, Dalba, Angelika, Brixey, Dan, Conor, Adam, Higgins, Ciara and Waddington, Elle, 2017, Logos (28), 3pp 41-57, Published
What were the process and response of university staff and students to the availability of a shared reading scheme for those embarking on a university education? A case study
Baverstock, Alison, Steinitz, Jackie and Bryars, Laura, 2017, Logos (28), 1pp 29-44, Published
Using shared reading to switch students onto books
Baverstock, Alison, 2016, The Bookseller : Futurebook, E-pub ahead of print
12 tips on how to work across a university
Baverstock, Alison, 2016, Times Higher Education, Published
Book Review of: 'The cottage by the highway and other essays on publishing : 25 Years of Logos' edited by Angus Phillips
Baverstock, Alison, 2016, SHARP News (25), 1pp 29-29, Published
The implementation of a shared reading programme within a university: a case study
Baverstock, Alison, Steinitz, Jackie and Bryars, Laura, 2016, Logos (27), 2pp 48-61, Published
What are the barriers to trying to reach, and evaluate the impact of working with, Forces Families? Assessing the effectiveness of Reading Force, a programme to promote shared reading within the Forces community
Baverstock, Alison, 2016, Logos (27), 4pp 36-56, Published
Is peer review still the content industry's upper house?
Baverstock, Alison, 2016, Learned Publishing (29), 1pp 65-68, Published
How the role of the independent editor is changing in relation to traditional and self-publishing
Baverstock, Alison, Blackburn, Robert and Iskandarova, Marfuga, 2015, Learned Publishing (28), 2pp 123-131, Published
Does the UK book-publishing industry today lack boundaries - or frontiers?
Baverstock, Alison, 2015, Logos (26), 1pp 27-39, Published
Who are the independent editors, how did they reach their role and what are their associated job satisfactions?
Baverstock, Alison, Blackburn, Robert and Iskandarova, Marfuga, 2015, Learned Publishing (28), 1pp 43-53, Published
How is the discipline of publishing studies accommodated within universities?
Baverstock, Alison and Steinitz, Jackie, 2014, Learned Publishing (27), 4pp 291-300, Published
Barriers and opportunities for research in publishing studies
Baverstock, Alison and Steinitz, Jackie, 2014, Learned Publishing (27), 3pp 207-221, Published
What satisfactions do self-publishing authors gain from the process?
Baverstock, Alison and Steinitz, Jackie, 2013, Learned Publishing (26), 4pp 272-282, Published
Who are the self-publishers?
Baverstock, Alison and Steinitz, Jackie, 2013, Learned Publishing (26), 3pp 211-223, Published
Reading Force: can an experience of shared reading be used as a conduit to effective communication within both Services families and their wider communities?
Baverstock, Alison and Gordon, Hattie, 2013, Children in War: The International Journal of Evacuee and War Child Studies (1), 10pp 77-88, Published
Are publishers born or made?
Baverstock, Alison, 2012, Logos (23), 1pp 30-37, Published
How well do UK publishers of marketing textbooks investigate and understand the market to which they are selling?
Masikunas, George and Baverstock, Alison Mary, 2011, Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery (8), 4pp 93-102, Published
Where will the next generation of publishers come from?
Baverstock, Alison, 2010, Journal of Scholarly Publishing (42), 1pp 31-44, Published
What competencies do today's academic authors need?
Baverstock, Alison, 2010, Journal of Scholarly Publishing (41), 3pp 354-363, Published
Big audio-visual dynamite?
Baverstock, Alison, 2008, Journal of the Japan Diabetes Society (38)pp 8-12, Published
Wanted: first job in publishing
Baverstock, Alison and Davies, Hannah, 2008, Journal of Oral Implantology (5323)pp 52-52, Published
Trouble and strife on the home front
Baverstock, Alison, 2007, Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicinepp 9-9, Published
Is there a book in you? The resources writers need to get published
Baverstock, Alison, 2007, Journal of Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Procedures (4), 3pp 87-92, Published
Supermarket sex: it's the write stuff
Baverstock, Alison, 2004, The Times Newspaper (68151)pp 6-6, Published
Practice to a peak: is private coaching skewing standards?
Baverstock, Alison, 2004, The Times Newspaper (67971)pp 16-16, Published
Standing up for copyrights
Baverstock, Alison, 2003, Middle Eastern Studies (5076)pp 10-10, Published
Why they don't buy books
Baverstock, Alison, 2002, Parallel Processing Letters (5049)pp 26-27, Published
University challenge
Baverstock, Alison, 2002, Technical Digest - International Electron Devices Meeting (5023)pp 16-16, Published
At the height of the moon: a book of bedtime poetry and art
(2021). Munich, Germany: [Published]
Contemporary publishing and the culture of books
(2020). London, U.K.: [Published]
Later! a guide to parenting a young adult
Hines, Gill and Baverstock, Alison (2014). London, U.K.: [Published]
Writing family memoir: a 60-minute masterclass
Baverstock, Alison (2014). London, U.K.: (The Guardian) [Published]
13 British artists children should know
Baverstock, Alison (2011). Munich, Germany: (Prestel) [Published]
The naked author: a guide to self-publishing
Baverstock, Alison (2011). London, U.K.: [Published]
How to get a job in a museum or art gallery
Baverstock, Alison (2010). London, U.K.: [Published]
It's not fair! Parenting your bright and challenging child
Hines, Gill and Baverstock, Alison (2009). London, U.K.: [Published]
How to get a job in publishing: a really practical guide to careers in books and magazines
Baverstock, Alison, Carey, Steve and Bowen, Susannah (2008). London, U.K.: [Published]
How to market books: the essential guide to maximizing profit and exploiting all channels to market
Baverstock, Alison (2008). London, U.K.: [Published]
Is there a book in you?
Baverstock, Alison (2006). London, U.K.: [Published]
Whatever! a down to earth guide to parenting teenagers
Baverstock, Alison and Hines, Gill (2005). London, U.K.: [Published]
Joseph Cornell: secrets in a box
Baverstock, Alison (2003). Munich, Germany: (Prestel) [Published]
Publicity, newsletters and press releases
Baverstock, Alison (2002). Oxford, U.K.: (Oxford University Press) [Published]
Marketing your book: an author's guide
Baverstock, Alison (2001). London, U.K.: [Published]
Commonsense marketing for non-marketers: straightforward techniques for spectacular results!
Baverstock, Alison (1995). London, U.K.: [Published]
Are books different?: Marketing in the book trade
Baverstock, Alison (1993). London, U.K.: [Published]
Well worth reading: an experiment in fiction promotion
Baverstock, Alison and McKearney, Miranda (1990). Winchester, U.K.: [Published]
Who takes legal responsibility for published work? Why both an understanding and lived experience of copyright are becoming increasingly important to writers
Baverstock, Alison (2019). In: Jeffries, Janis, Kember, Sarah, (eds.), [Cambridge, U.K.]:pp 105-128 [Published]
Helping to market your book
Baverstock, Alison (2012). In: Owen, Alysoun, (eds.), London, U.K.:pp 306-309 [Published]
How to attract the attention of a literary agent
Baverstock, Alison (2012). In: Owen, Alysoun, (eds.), London, U.K.:pp 425-428 [Published]
Is there a book in you?
Baverstock, Alison (2012). In: Owen, Alysoun, (eds.), London, U.K.:pp 279-282 [Published]
How to present yourself as a writer
Baverstock, Alison (2007). In: Earnshaw, Steven, (eds.), Edinburgh, U.K.:pp 369-375 [Published]
Help along the way: Alison Baverstock
Baverstock, Alison (2004). Edinburgh, U.K.:pp 86-87 [Published]
What part can pre-arrival shared-reading play in student understanding of their transition to higher education and the nature and role of assessment within universities?
Baverstock, Alison(2018). [Published]
Hands across the sea: UK/USA collaboration on common reading
Baverstock, Alison, Morris, Wendy, Bannerhan, Leslie, Knight, Dewey and Dennis, Melissa(2018). [Published]
Using shared reading to promote a sense of community - between 30,000 students, 10,000 staff and over 400+ miles
Baverstock, Alison, Bryars, Laura, Webster-Henderson, Brian and Rivera, Errol(2017). [Published]
Case study: effectively engaging students - The Kingston University Big Read
Baverstock, Alison and Bryars, Laura(2017). [Published]
How can pre-arrival shared reading build a university community?
Baverstock, Alison, Ennis, Laura, Morris, Wendy and Moulton, Joanne(2017). [Published]
Why self-publishing now demands research rather than disdain
Baverstock, Alison(2012). [Published]
But who will buy it?
Baverstock, Alison(2010). [Published]
What has changed? Publishing at a crossroads in the 21st century
Baverstock, Alison(2010). [Published]
Getting started as a writer
Baverstock, Alison(2010). [Published]
It's not fair! Parenting the bright and challenging child
Hines, Gill and Baverstock, Alison(2010). [Published]
How to get a publisher or agent to notice your work
Baverstock, Alison(2009). [Published]
Is there a book in you? The resources writers need to get published
Baverstock, Alison Mary(2006). [Published]
How books became less 'different ': an exploration of the rise of marketing within the publishing industry 1980-2010, and consideration of how this not only changed the business model, but impacted on the role of the author; with consideration of the likely associated implications of these developments in future
Baverstock, Alison Mary (2012), PhD thesis [Accepted/In press]