Who We Are

Speaking of Books is a family business:

Jan Powling worked for 17 years on the children’s book magazine Books for Keeps which in 1996 won the Eleanor Farjeon award for “services to children’s literature”. During this time she was also a consultant to Wessex Book Supplies, a specialist children’s bookseller. With Hampshire Schools’ Library Service she helped create and run the Wessex Children’s Book Fair.  She set up Speaking of Books in 1998 after a suggestion from the authors Adele Geras and Jacqueline Wilson and advice from Jill McGilvray who ran a similar operation in Australia.  Jan is married to the children’s author (and teacher for thirty years) Chris Powling.

Kate Powling joined Speaking of Books after working for over 10 years as the Arts Producer for News at Ten, which she left to start her family. Although new to the company, her family background makes her feel she’s been in the business for 35 years! Like her Mum (Jan), she’s married to a teacher.

Ellie Powling worked for Speaking of Books for 5 years. She now balances doing the accounts, being a mum, and working part-time at IPC Media. She’s not married to a teacher, but is a very active School Governor (with responsibility for Literacy).