Location: Conway Hall
Date: 24th January 2024
Time: 9:30 - 16:00
The Inpress Festival of Publishing is a celebration of all things creative, with a practical twist. It is a showcase of the inventiveness, innovation, diversity and agility of independent publishers, and all those working in the book trade.
Designed as a networking and sharing of ideas event, the Inpress Festival of Publishing is a day of presentations and panel events featuring an eclectic mix of experts ready to share their experiences and their discoveries. It is a chance to inspire and be inspired, to hone bookish ideas and meet new collaborators in a supportive and creative environment.
We are very excited about the speakers we have lined up - read on for further details about our programme or download our digital programme here.
More Information
The Inpress Festival of Publishing is a celebration of all things creative, with a practical twist. It is a showcase of the inventiveness, innovation, diversity and agility of independent publishers, and all those working in the book trade.
Designed as a networking and sharing of ideas event, the Inpress Festival of Publishing is a day of presentations and panel events featuring an eclectic mix of experts ready to share their experiences and their discoveries. It is a chance to inspire and be inspired, to hone bookish ideas and meet new collaborators in a supportive and creative environment.
We are very excited about the speakers we have lined up, and are delighted to be able to reveal our programme for the day.
Print and planet – panel
Environmental sustainability is a hot topic among publishers, and one we’re unlikely to be able to put to bed any time soon. From production and printing, to office practices and logistics, we want to discuss what’s being done, what can be done, and how we can best work together across the industry to minimize our environmental impact.
Featuring:
- Davinder Bedi, Managing Director – BookSource
- Stefan Tobler, translator and founder – And Other Stories
- Derek McRae, Director – Seacourt
- Lloyd Sowerbutts, Operations Manager - Libreria
Taking to TikTok – presentation
Indie publisher Legend Press has had ‘unprecedented success’ with sales since launching their TikTok shop in spring 2023. What have they learnt about audience development, new routes to market, selling direct to readers, and making the most of social media?
Featuring:
- Olivia Le Maistre, Marketing Manager – Legend Press
Influencing influencers – presentation and Q&A
We all love to see books receive glowing reviews online, but, with hundreds of books published every week, how can you find space for your books on Bookstagram, BookTube, Book Blogs or BookTok? We’ve invited two experts to share some dos and don’ts for working effectively with online influencers.
Featuring:
- Sukhy Cooke, @mrscookesbooks - Tandem Collective
- Kristel Buckley, Freelance Editor & Social Media Manager – Freelance
Inclusivity in action - panel
There’s some brilliant publishing happening with a focus on inclusivity, with small and independent presses leading the way. What can the industry as a whole learn from publishers focused on improving representation? What’s working? What are the challenges?
Featuring:
- Sonya McGilchrist, Publisher – Dinosaur Books
- Roxy Bourdillon, Editor-in-Chief – DIVA Magazine
- Daphne Tonge, Founder - Daphne Press & Illumicrate
Teamwork makes the dream work – case study presentations
Partnerships can lead to exciting creative output, but can also be a great way to reach new audiences both online and offline. We’ve invited two publishers and their partner organisations to discuss their recent collaborative projects.
Featuring:
- Cherry Potts, Director – Arachne Press
- Meera Ghanshamdas, Co-Director - Round Table Books CIC
- Ceris Jones, Sales and Marketing Manager – Inpress Books
A lush collab – chaired Q&A
Over the last few months, the Poetry Pharmacy team has been working on an incredible collaborative project. We’re delighted that Deborah Alma, founder of The Poetry Pharmacy, will be joining us to talk about her exciting partnership with high-street highlight Lush.
Featuring:
- Deborah Alma (AKA the Emergency Poet), Founder – The Poetry Pharmacy
- Chaired by Sophie O’Neill, Managing Director – Inpress Books
About Us
In case you’re unfamiliar with our work, Inpress is the UK’s specialist sales and marketing agency for independent publishers. With funding support from Arts Council England, we work with over 60 innovative, literary small presses across the UK and Ireland (including several recognised by the Booker Prize, the Women’s Prize, The Guardian, The New Yorker and more) to offer a one-stop-shop for booksellers and bookworms who want something a little bit different.