Exciting news for NOP: we appoint our first ever employee! Meet Julian Pilkington-Sterne our new Marketing Executive and Mischief Manager

Press Release

**For Immediate Release**

Nottingham, UK – 7 October 2025

Nick Owen Publishing (NOP) is delighted to announce the appointment of Julian Pilkington-Sterne as our new Marketing Executive and Mischief Manager: a move that marks the start of a new era of creative growth and digital innovation for the company.

Julian, a graduate of the University of Leeds with a BA in English Literature and Digital Media, joins NOP following a series of freelance roles supporting independent authors, theatre collectives and arts organisations across the UK. His previous campaigns — blending social media storytelling, brand identity, and humour-driven engagement — have already earned him a reputation as one of the most promising young voices in creative publishing.

“Julian represents the next generation of literary marketeers,” said Nick Owen MBE, Founder and Publisher at NOP. “He understands that books are not just products — they’re conversations. His mix of insight, imagination and mischief fits our ethos perfectly.”

A New Chapter for a Bold Independent

Since its founding, Nick Owen Publishing has built a loyal following for its distinctive blend of satire, sincerity, and literary wit — with titles including Confessions of an Ageing Tennis Player, The Courting Lives of an Ageing Tennis Player, and Les Conquêtes Normandes d’un Tennisman Vieillissant.

Julian’s appointment signals an expansion of the publisher’s digital presence, with plans for:
• A refreshed website and online shop experience
• The launch of The Mischief List, NOP’s new reader newsletter
• Creative social media storytelling and interactive campaigns
• A podcast, audiobook and live event strand under development for 2026

“My goal is to grow NOP’s audience without losing what makes it special,” said Julian. “This is a publishing house with a soul — one that believes humour and honesty can share the same sentence. I’m here to make sure more people get to read, laugh, and join the mischief.”

About Julian

Born in Manchester and now based in Nottingham, Julian studied English Literature and Digital Media at the University of Leeds, where he specialised in narrative design, audience engagement, and cultural marketing. Before joining NOP, he worked with a range of independent writers and small presses, helping them build brand identities rooted in authenticity and creative play.

He describes his role at NOP as “half marketing, half matchmaking — connecting good books with the curious minds who need them most.”

About Nick Owen Publishing

Nick Owen Publishing (NOP) is an independent British publisher of literary fiction, satire, playscripts, and creative non-fiction. Founded by Nick Owen MBE, the press champions writing that blurs the line between humour and humanity — publishing “the truth, the whole truth, and anything but the truth.”

Based in Nottingham, NOP’s catalogue includes the acclaimed Confessions series and an expanding list of authors exploring creativity, community, and chaos in equal measure.

Julian joins a growing gang of mischief makers: Paul Warren (illustrator), Alexander Moore (editor), and Gary Carpenter (composer), pictured below:

Press Contact

Press Enquiries:
Nick Owen Publishing Ltd
📧 nick@nickowenpublishing.co.uk
🌐 http://www.nickowenpublishing.com
📍 Nottingham, United Kingdom

ENDS
For images, interviews, or additional press materials, please contact the NOP Press Office.