about us
new modern
New Modern was established in 2025 as the first imprint of Putman Publishing. We shine a light on great music and pop culture writing. We celebrate and chronicle artistry and creativity, pastimes and pursuits in all their glorious, eclectic forms.
new modern arcade
Launched in July 2026, New Modern Arcade is our new narrative non-fiction imprint. It is a home for distinctive stories written for curious readers who are looking to be enlightened, inspired and delighted by the stuff of life.
Doug Putman
James Lilford
Doug Putman
Owner
Doug is a canadian businessman and entrepreneur, predominantly trading across the European and North American retail sector.
Through his firm Putman Investments he owns numerous retail chains including HMV UK, Toys R Us Canada and Sunrise Records.
He lives in Ancaster, Ontario with his family.
Pete Selby
James Lilford
Doug Putman
Managing director
Pete has over thirty years publishing and music experience both across retail and at Nine Eight Books, which he founded in 2020.
He enjoyed significant critical acclaim with books by – amongst others - Miki Berenyi, Bob Stanley, Trevor Horn, PP Arnold, Ian Broudie and Penderyn Prize-winning authors Will Hodgkinson and Michael Cragg.
Pete lives in Surrey, England, with his two teenage children.
James Lilford
James Lilford
James Lilford
Publishing director
James has worked in independent publishing for the past ten years. He has worked on all manner of books – from popular science, history and politics titles to sports biographies, music memoirs and poetry collections.
He joined Nine Eight Books in 2023 before establishing Putman and New Modern with Pete in 2025.
He lives in south London with his wife and children.
Rose Green
Victoria Lawrance
Eleanor Porter
Editorial director
Rose joined New Modern in mid-2026, having worked previously at Doubleday, Footnote Press, and MacLehose Press, among others.
She is drawn to distinctive fiction with an international focus, and her books have won or been shortlisted for major literary prizes, including the International Booker, the Dylan Thomas Prize and the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize.
Rose lives in London with her partner and their cat.
Eleanor Porter
Victoria Lawrance
Eleanor Porter
Editorial assistant
Eleanor joined the New Modern team in 2026, having completed an MA in Publishing at UCL in 2025.
A keen traveller with a particular interest in international literature, her dissertation centred on independent publishers who specialise in translation.
She also has a BA honours degree in History from the University of Sussex. Eleanor is based in London.
Victoria Lawrance
Victoria Lawrance
Victoria Lawrance
Rights and Export manager
Victoria started her career in Rights at DK, and worked most recently at Bloomsbury before joining New Modern in 2026.
Over the last decade, she has worked across 20 territories and languages, and a wide variety of lists - everything from illustrated reference books, travel guides, and cookery, to non-fiction, specialist subjects, and commercial and literary fiction.
Victoria lives in Surrey, England with her partner and their cat.
