Bloomsbury Publishing turned the spotlight away from its Harry Potter series as it geared up for what it believes will be a record autumn.

Chairman Nigel Newton said the release list for the coming months was Bloomsbury's "strongest ever" following its recent growth.

New titles from bestselling authors Donna Tartt and Tim Pears will be launched alongside Jeffrey Eugenides' new epic Middlesex.

Bloomsbury also plans a raft of reference titles after four acquisitions in the sector over the first half of the year.

Mr Newton added that the release of the second Harry Potter film in November would further boost sales of the kid wizard's back catalogue.

The publication date for the fifth book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix, is being kept under wraps.

The release date for the fifth Harry Potter book would be decided once Bloomsbury received the manuscript from JK Rowling.

Pre-tax profits across the group rose 11 per cent to £2.8 million in the six months to June 30 on sales of £24.5 million, an increase of eight per cent.

Mr Newton said: "The first half is traditionally the quiet half because of the weighting towards Christmas so we feel it was a good result.

"We are very pleased to have consolidated our position in a lot of areas."

Bloomsbury has been building up its presence in the US and in reference markets as it widens its portfolio.

It added Whitaker's Almanack, one of the UK's best-known reference brands, to its stable through reference subsidiary A&C Black.

A&C Black has since bought Thomas Reed Publications, home to more than 100 nautical titles, and on Monday acquired specialist dictionary business Peter Collin.