Passionate about publishing, dedicated to digital

You have a host of factors to weigh up when you select a digital agency to work with. We know that. We get it. So we've thought about it, and these are the reasons we reckon you should be looking to work with us...

We understand publishing. We read the Bookseller every week. You don't have to explain ONIX feeds, AI sheets, ARCs, TCM figures or ISBNs to us. This means we can spend more time talking about what you actually want to achieve, whether you're a publisher or an author.

We're incredibly good value. We keep our costs very low and put together project teams of people we trust to deliver each piece of work.

We're nice people and we like to focus on the books you're working on - because we really love books. We find that makes all the difference.

Don't just take our word for it...

"Simon is fantastic to work with: he makes the briefing process simple and straightforward, provides ideas and encourages creative thinking. He is a man who does not say 'no, it can't be done' but rather 'how can we get around this to make it happen'."

David Roche, Owner of David Roche Enterprises Ltd

"Applying knowledge, skill, creativity and lots of support Bookswarm delivered on time and to budget exactly what I needed for my eBook. I will be hiring them again."

Helen Hokin, author and publisher, Food Tripper Books

"The Bookswarm team built me a site that was not only lovely-looking, but intuitive to use. I can thoroughly recommend them and have done so already to some of my fellow authors."

Christina Hopkinson, author of The Pile of Stuff at the Bottom of the Stairs and Just Like Proper Grown-Ups (Hodder & Stoughton)

"Bookswarm have a strong understanding of the role websites play within the publishing industry and, specifically in my case, within the world of children’s fiction. They created a site that perfectly captured the playfulness of my stories, was easy to navigate, colourful and intelligently designed."

Jo Simmons, author of the Pip Street books for children (Scholastic)

"Bookswarm have been a pleasure to work with. They are highly creative, super-organised, and have an excellent understanding of how to run effective social media campaigns."

Jodie Mullish, Senior Marketing Manager, Pan Macmillan

"Simon is a pleasure to work with, creative, entrepreneurial and deeply knowledgeable about digital media in the books and publishing sector, Simon's friendly manner, wise advice and holistic approach helped ensure that his business delivered great solutions for our online needs and made the entire project seamless from start to finish. I would highly recommend Bookswarm."

Alistair Burtenshaw, Director, Publishing Connections

"Simon has successfully delivered a diverse range of projects for us at Octopus, from hand-crafted illustrated e-books and complex apps to websites and databases. He understands book publishing extremely well, is bang up to date yet refreshingly free of geek-speak, and is a highly creative, nimble problem solver."

Denise Bates, Group Publishing Director, Octopus Publishing Group

"Redesigning my website was a very enjoyable experience right from the minute I sat down with the Bookswarm team. Truthfully, I can’t recommend Simon and the Bookswarm team highly enough."

Raymond Khoury, New York Times Bestselling Novelist, author of The Last Templar (Orion)

"Masters of the digital art, Bookswarm exceeded all my expectations and delivered an author website that everyone from readers and fans to industry insiders has raved about. I can't recommend them highly enough."

William Hussey, author of the Witchfinder Trilogy for young adults (Oxford University Press)

“Bookswarm’s technical and aesthetic experience clearly shines through in their work. When this is matched with a clear understanding of books and readers, it’s a powerful combination. We’re delighted with the results.”

Chris Hamilton-Emery, Operations Director, Salt Publishing

"Genuine 24/7 support, full of good ideas and advice, and an ability to make the most complicated web-speak accessible to a Luddite (and techo-phobe) like myself, I can't recommend Simon Appleby and the Bookswarm crew more highly."

Lesley Lokko, bestselling author (Orion)

"I think Bookswarm are unique in that they combine technical and creative expertise with a can-do spirit and an understanding of what writers, readers and publishers need from the web."

Chris Cleave, New York Times #1 Bestselling Novelist, author of The Other Hand and Gold(Sceptre)

"The Bookswarm team are very professional, really know their technology and social media, and above all love books."

Joanna Ellis, Marketing Director, Faber and Faber

"I can’t speak highly enough of Simon Appleby and the team at Bookswarm. They built a beautiful website for me and Simon was always available to help me learn how to use it. I don’t believe there is anything he doesn’t know about websites and he has a real flair for design. Not once did I have to wait for a reply to a query."

Pam Evans, family saga author, most recently of A Distant Dream (Headline)

"Bookswarm's classy design has transformed my website. It looks great, is simple to navigate, and - vital for a non-techno like me - even easier to update."

Saul David, Historian, Novelist and Broadcaster (Penguin / Hodder & Stoughton)