I liked the 2008 edition of the Writer's Market UK, but the 2009 edition is even better. That's due largely to the increased information given in the labelling at the side of each page: whereas the 2008 edition detailed simply "Listings: Publishers", the 2009 edition now details additional information such as "Listings: Publishers: UK & Irish Books", or, "Listings: Publishers: magazines", which makes the guide even easier to use.

The articles are a real strong-point, and are all entertaining, pertinent and informative. There's a foreword from Joanne Harris, author of Chocolate; a piece about crime writing from Simon Brett; Writing on the Web by Scott Pack, Commercial Director of the publishing imprint The Friday Project; Acquiring Fiction by Penelope Hoare, Deputy Publisher of Chatto & Windus; and many other interesting and helpful articles from editors, writers and agents. I would have liked to see more information about the mechanics of the publishing industry, and more specific information to help people spot scams and dubious practices for themselves--but that's not surprising since it's my own personal obsession (which I blog about at www.howpublishingreallyworks.blogspot.com).

My main reservation about this, and other similar guides, has more to do with misconceptions about writers' guides rather than with the guides themselves.

A novice writer recently told me that she was sure the publisher she'd submitted to was legitimate as it was included in both the Writer's Handbook and the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook. She made the common assumption that all entries were vetted in some way before being included in these guides. When it turned out that she had submitted to a vanity press she was hurt and upset, and felt doubly foolish having made such a public announcement of what she thought of at the time as a writing success.

Consequently, I'd like to see the editors of this, and all other writers' guides, add a prominent warning that inclusion in their guide does not mean endorsement, and cannot substitute for good, informed research.