Sheila Bounford is currently Interim Managing Director at Inpress Books, and is founder of Off the Page Ideas, a consultancy business working with independent publishers. She is also speaker at BookMachine Cambridge on 8th June and BookMachine London on 9th June 2015.

1) Do you read books on mobile devices?

I read books on my Samsung Galaxy Note, my iPad, and of course in the original mobile device – print.

2) How do you think mobiles are impacting reading generally?

Many people who are not traditional book readers are reading more: accessing specialist information relating to hobbies and interests online via mobile devices (although the current trend to video will gradually erode the amount of reading involved in accessing special interest content online).

3) In your opinion, which apps and sites facilitate mobile reading well?

The Kindle store is probably top of the list in terms of use for “formal” reading. Otherwise, Twitter and Facebook act as the gateways for my online content snacking. I think there’s a long way to go in this area.

4) Do you think there is a stigma towards short stories in the literary publishing world?

I’m not from “trade” publishing, so I don’t feel qualified to answer questions about “stigma”. However as an observation I would say I have become more aware of short stories in the past few years, largely as a result of my online life.

5) Could we please have a clue as to what you might talk about at BookMachine on 8th and 9th June?

The reading brain.

Meet Sheila at BookMachine