Alison, why did you decide to start your business?

One of the reviews for my first book, The Visual Time Traveller, perfectly sums up why I started my publishing business, 21st Century Renaissance. “This is a labour of love, insanity, beauty and, perhaps, an attempt to reintegrate history, art and science together again.” (Simon Cocking, Irish Tech News)

It was during my 13 years in my role as Representative of the Institute of Physics in Ireland that I conceived the idea for the book. I authored, curated and launched it in 2013 with an exhibition and a TED style talk at the RHA Gallery in Dublin.

There is also a personal story behind this piece of work which relates to my Mum and her passing when I was a young girl. In many ways, I created this book as a gift to my Mum (and to my 12-year-old self). It represents my love for us both.

I share the story of how The Visual Time Traveller came into being on our YouTube channel.

 

You’ve raised the profile of two poets and published their extraordinary anthologies. But how has your own business success impacted your life?

Well, it can be quite something to realise that as you grow your business your business grows you!

I’ve always been a person who likes to connect with others. In my role as founder of 21st Century Renaissance, much of that element of my personality comes to the fore.

I have built the business over the last 10 years with a lot of sweat equity focused on a quality product that makes an impact internationally. Every aspect of the creation of The Visual Time Traveller was realised by Irish artisans — a unique collaboration of writer and design team. This has been noticed, and I am honoured to be a patron of the Irish arts in my capacity as a publisher.

One of the most tangible ways the success of 21st Century Renaissance, (and success extends beyond what a balance sheet might show) is that our customers know our books are different, that the poetry we publish is genuine, born out of our deep editorial conversations about what a poet really wants to say, as opposed to what we think will sell.  How we approach history, poetry and any other subject we publish is always collaborative and always design and quality led: integrity is never compromised.

One way this recognition is being measured is in the number of meetings I’m booking at the forthcoming Frankfurt Book Fair. This says something about how our brand is getting out there and becoming synonymous with innovation and quality.

EU Business News recognised this in their 2022 award nominating us as the Best Independent History Publishing Company in Dublin, "Nothing is as it seems with 21st Century Renaissance. The publishing house produces the wondrous, the beautiful and the compelling and does it all with dignity, professionalism, innovation, and a passion that guides the overall direction of the business."

           

Can you share some of the more challenging aspects of your entrepreneurial journey on the way to success?

Creative businesses, perhaps more than any other, are immensely heart-centred.

However, I have discovered that combining my passion with a cool, business head makes for a more robust entrepreneurial journey.

It has been challenging to be taken seriously as a publisher. The publishing industry can be a bit cliquish and doubtful about newcomers. As I’ve grown in confidence in myself and the work 21st Century Renaissance creates, these barriers have become easier to overcome.

And, it would be disingenuous to not mention the challenges around accessing grants. Although professional bodies, funded by taxpayer money, highlight the grants on offer, my experience has been these are nigh on impossible to secure.

However, I’ve become creative in setting up additional revenue streams, most notably the pop up gallery/shops I open for 21st Century Renaissance publications products including the exhibition of The Visual Time Traveller, my first book. That’s the silver lining.

But I won’t mince my words on the frustration and disappointment over not being able to access grants that are earmarked for creative businesses.

Have you experienced being underestimated for being such a founder of a poetry publishing firm?

It’s important to note that 21st Century Renaissance publishes on a range of subjects, not only poetry.

But to answer your question, yes, I have been underestimated when it comes to being a publisher of poetry.

Poetry is seen as not commercial enough and tends to be judged as “too niche”.

But I believe poetry underscores everything. We know people turned to poetry for comfort and solace during COVID-19. Google Trends shows exponential leaps in search volume for poetry during 2020 and 2021.

 

How do your clients find you?

I’ve invested right from the beginning of 21st Century Renaissance’s inception in being visible. People find me through my websites and social media channels but mainly by recommendation, especially when I can own a shop window with my branding.

Secondly, the analogue world is hugely powerful. I’d say even more so post the lockdowns we experienced. I’ve built strong relationships with bookshops and we always host a launch party for our publications. This is a strong way to highlight the presence of 21st Century Renaissance and helps customers find us.  

But book fairs are when you get to play with big boys (and girls!) in selling rights. Having the 21CR ‘shop’ open at a bookfair is the most powerful marketing tool I have. Relationship-building opportunities are in abundance during the intensity of a 5-day book fair, with thousands of publishers, agencies, scouts and more present, the possibilities for international collaboration are everywhere.

I’ve also occasionally presented at schools. Once children see The Visual Time Traveller, they petition their parents to buy them a copy!

 

How would you define your mission?

As the founder of 21st Century Renaissance, my mission is to influence change and raise debate across a wide section of society through the right blend of design and writing.

Our focus is on high quality print publications created and produced in Ireland as far as possible. A growing number of authors and illustrators are being published by 21st Century Renaissance.

In five words, 21st Century Renaissance can be summed up as:

interdisciplinary, iconoclastic, open-minded, truth seeking, creative.

 

What is next for 21st Century Renaissance?

We have a busy next quarter coming up.

In addition to The Visual Time Traveller, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2023, I also edits other poets and am in a discussion with a Polish poet living in Ireland and writing in both English and Polish; I present keynote talks, open popup galleries and bookshops, and still have time for the political sport of regularly writing letters to the editors of newspapers.

I have a new book project in production due out in the fall of 2023. Authored by consultant liver transplant surgeon, Justin Geoghegan,entitled, Medicine: From Dark Art to Enlightened Science. This will be the second book in The Visual Time Traveller series and promises to be even more exciting and beautiful.

And Twenty First Century Renaissance will be exhibiting and negotiating rights at the Ireland stand at the Frankfurt Book Fair from 19 Oct — 23 Oct.

https://www.21cr.ie/ 

https://www.thevisualtimetraveller.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChZTeDvJas1KRHT0oBdPzCg 

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Claire Mason is a Thought Leadership Publicist who works with high impact entrepreneurs making the world a better place. She has earned clients bylines in publishers around the world, including Forbes, Business Insider and the Financial Times. She also ghostwrites for clients and writes short stories in her spare time.