Adele Parks • Beth O’Leary • Bobby Palmer • Elif Shafak • Maggie Aderin-Pocock • William Hussey • Jamie Smart • Black British Book Festival • Lou Gilmond • Bonnier Books • Penguin Random House UK • Meet Cute Book Fest • The Booksellers Association • Society of Authors • Abiola Bello • Jojo Silva • HarperCollins Author and Design Academy • Simon & Schuster • Alice Mcllroy • London Writers Salon • Alliance of Independent Authors • Bloomsbury • Books on the Hill • Saara El-Arifi • The Women’s Prize Trust
London, Thursday 12 December 2024. The London Book Fair (LBF) is excited to reveal speakers and topics for the 2025 editions of its hugely popular offering for authors and illustrators: the three-day Author HQ programme, and one-day Writers’ Summit conference.
L-R: Bobby Palmer, Saara El-Arifi, Beth O’Leary, William Hussey, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock
Opening the week of the Fair, the one-day Writers’ Summit conference will take place on Monday 10th March, at Novotel West London. The annual conference aims to provide authors with practical tools for their writing career, enabling them to get their work noticed by agents, publishers and readers in an increasingly crowded market. The day will feature workshops, panel discussions, industry and expert advice, as well as networking opportunities.
Speakers include authors Alice McIlroy and Abiola Bello, Capital Xtra radio presenter Jojo Silva and leading experts from London Writers Salon, Simon & Schuster, Alliance of Independent Authors, Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency, Maggie Marr Legal among others.
With a keynote delivered by Rose Sandy, Founder of the HarperCollins Author and Design Academy, topics discussed on the day will include how writing courses can help authors get published, what to expect from the publishing process and top tips for securing an agent. Guests will also enjoy a live-guided journalling session, to help them absorb the lessons of the day and return to the conference renewed and connected.
Taking place between Tuesday 11th and Thursday 13th March at London Olympia, the much-anticipated Author HQ programme of talks and panels will feature: Elif Shafak, Adele Parks, Bobby Palmer, Beth O’Leary, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, William Hussey, Gill Lewis and Georgina Moore alongside key industry experts from Penguin Random House UK, Bonnier Books, The Booksellers Association, BKS, Meet Cute Book Festival, Black British Book Festival , The Women’s Prize Trust and more.
Talks at Author HQ are designed to share insights into current trends and hot topics in the book industry, as well as offer advice for aspiring, emerging and established authors. The 2025 programme will cover tips for growing an audience on social media, how to prepare for publication, the romance category and its future trajectory, how the publishing industry can support dyslexic authors and readers, and more. Once again, Author HQ will be sponsored by Kindle Direct Publishing.
On the afternoon of Wednesday 12th March, Author HQ will bring back its special Illustrators Programme, featuring sessions from the Association of Illustrators before a networking reception for illustrators.
Confirmed speakers at the Illustrators Programme include a special session with the first ever Creative of the Fair, Jamie Smart including an interactive draw-along where guests will be able to recreate some of his much-loved characters. The Illustrators Gallery will also host a special display of the winners of the 2024 World Illustration Awards.
Rose Sandy, Founder of the HarperCollins Author and Design Academy, said: “I’m thrilled to be delivering the keynote at the London Book Fair’s Writers Summit 2025, where we’ll explore how every writer has their own unique path to success. Stories shape our world, whether through traditional publishing, digital media, screen or groundbreaking new formats. I can’t wait to share insights about the four writer archetypes I’ve identified and help authors discover which resonates with their creative spirit. After all, there’s no single ‘right way’ to be a storyteller – there’s only your way.”
Adam Ridgway, Director of The London Book Fair, said: “Our dedicated programme for authors and illustrators is integral to The London Book Fair – as one of our most popular theatres, Author HQ proves how important a creative community is for nurturing talent. Meanwhile, the Writers’ Summit is sure to equip both emerging and established authors with essential tools to navigate the industry, and getting their work noticed. It’s a honour to bring together a wealth of author and illustrator guests to hear insights from some of today’s finest creative talents and expert industry speakers. We are thrilled to have the chance to be a part of their publishing journey, whether they are just embarking or developing an already established career.”
WRITERS’ SUMMIT | MONDAY 11TH MARCH | NOVOTEL WEST LONDON
Highlights from the Writers’ Summit programme include:
Chair’s Opening Remarks: Join Jojo Silva, Capital Xtra Radio Presenter, for her welcome and introduction to summit.
Keynote Address: Choose Your Own Adventure: The session will invite writers to discover four distinct writer archetypes: The Legacy Keeper, The Voice of Change, The Story Fountain and The Strategic Storyteller. Through real-world examples, from the meticulous craft of John Le Carré to the social impact of Margaret Atwood, to the platform-building prowess of James Clear — this keynote demonstrates how understanding a personal creative archetype can inform not just an author’s publishing decisions but their entire storytelling career.
Getting Published, Tackling Big Themes & How a Writing Course Can Help: Author Alice McIlroy discusses her journey from sprinting to the creative process of writing a full-length sci-fi novel, developing a writing community, the steps to engage and work with an agent and how a course like the Faber Academy Novel Writing Course can help.
Writers’ Hour at Writers’ Summit: Led by Co-Founders of London Writers Salon, Parul Bavishi and Matt Trinetti, this live Writers’ Hour Session will offer attendees the chance to make friends and write alongside peers in a guided journaling workshop, designed to help them absorb the lessons of the day and return to the conference renewed and connected.
In Conversation With: Lucy Pearse and Abiola Bello: Fiction Editorial Director at Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, Lucy Pearse talks to and Abiola Bello, bestselling author of children’s and YA literature, exploring the publishing process from manuscript to market. Expect an inside perspective on what publishers seek in submissions, as well as tips on connecting with publishers and agents based on tried and tested methods, making this an essential session for any aspiring authors looking to navigate the literary landscape.
Society of Authors Panel Session: What Does a Publisher Actually Do? This session will help authors spot the worthwhile publishing deals from the scams, with experts offering insider tips, advice, best practise and guidance, as well as pinpointing exactly what a traditional publisher will offer and where they can add value.
Interactive Panel: Top Tips from Agents: Leading literary agents Ethan Ellenberg and Maggie Marr join Orna Ross, the Founder and Director of the Alliance of Independent Authors to share practical advice on connecting with agents and securing that all-important representation to kick-start your publishing journey.
Chair’s Closing Remarks: Jojo Silva, Capital Xtra Radio Presenter, will wrap the day and reflect on key learnings and takeaways from the conference.
AUTHOR HQ | TUESDAY 11TH MARCH – THURSDAY 13TH MARCH
Highlights from the Author HQ line-up, sponsored by Kindle Direct Publishing, Lulu Book Publishers and Kevin Anderson Associates include:
Preparing for Publication: Get expert advice on how to prepare for the publication of your next book, with speakers Lou Gilmond, Founder of Fairlight Books and thriller author, Amber Ivatt, Head of Publicity at Bonnier Books UK and Bookseller Rising Star 2024, and Esther Solomon Tulley, author and founder of diverse book publishing company Authentic Worth, chaired by James Spackman, co-founder of the bks Agency.
Keeping up with Social Media: Social media is a huge tool for readers and book buyers, but how far should authors be keeping up with it when it can sometimes feel so overwhelming? With a particular focus on TikTok and whether this will continue to be the most impactful platform for books, what advice do the experts have for authors to promote their brand and books? Panellists will include Social Media Manager at Penguin Random House UK Faith Kelly and Rising Star Content Creator of the Year (TikTok Book Awards) JP Reads, chaired by Yolanda Copes-Stepney.
How I Write: Well-known authors Elif Shafak (There Are Rivers in the Sky, The Island of Missing Trees), Adele Parks (First Wife’s Shadow, Just Between Us) and Bobby Palmer (Isaac and the Egg) talk to Georgina Moore (The Garnett Girls) about their writing life and processes, offering insight into how they wrote their best-known books.
Spotlight On Dyslexia: 1 in 10 people in the UK alone live with dyslexia, a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. So how is the publishing industry meeting the needs of dyslexic authors and readers? We hear from author and industry voices including non-fiction author and space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock (Am I Made of Stardust), children’s author Gill Lewis (Sky Hawk, The Island Vet), Alastair Sims, Publisher at Books on the Hill, Elizabeth Kellingley from Bloomsbury and Ailsa Bathgate from Barringtonstokes.
Beyond the Love Story: Charting the Future of Romance in Publishing: The romance category is trending right now, and with so many popular books in the market, how can writers get theirs to stand out, and what are readers and publishers looking for next in the genre? Andi Forsythe, founder of Meet Cute Book Fest talks to authors William Hussey (The Boy I Love, Broken Hearts and Zombie Parts), Beth O’Leary (The Flat Share, The Switch) and Saara El-Arifi (Faebound Trilogy, Cleopatra).
Author Connections: Maximising Opportunities with Bookshops and Festivals: Bookshops and festival organisers offer advice on how to connect with readers through events, what’s working right now as well as the challenges they face, and how to establish those all-important connections, to get an event off the ground. Fleur Sinclair, President of the Booksellers Association and owner of the award-winning Sevenoaks Bookshop, talks to Selina Brown, Founder of the Black British Book Festival, Sue Porter, owner of Linghams Bookshop and Euan Tait, Events Manager at Portobello Bookshop.
The Women’s Prize 30 Years on: Why We Still Need to Tackle Inequality for Female Writers: The Women’ Prize for Fiction celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025. During this milestone year, the Women’s Prize Trust, the charity behind the global prize that is awarded annually, looks back at what it’s achieved over the last three decades, whilst exploring what is now needed to achieve genuine equity in the world of books. Claire Shanahan, the Trust’s Executive Director, will be speaking to the writers Kit de Waal and Chloe Timms about how we might remove barriers for writers from all backgrounds.
ILLUSTRATORS AFTERNOON | WEDNESDAY 11th March
Highlights from the Illustrators Afternoon programme, as part of Author HQ, include:
Creative of the Fair – Jamie Smart: A special in-conversation event with the first ever Creative of the Fair, Jamie Smart including an interactive draw-along where guests will be able to recreate some of his much-loved characters. Jamie was named Illustrator of the Year at the British Book Awards 2024, and won Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year for Bunny vs Monkey: Multiverse Mix-up and Illustrator of the Year at The Lollies Awards 2024. His comic Fish-Head Steve was the first comic to be shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. Jamie has illustrated comics for The Sunday Times, the Dandy and the Beano. His well-loved Bunny vs Monkey and Looshkin stories are regularly published in The Phoenix comic, and as bestselling graphic novels.
AOI Publishing Contracts Masterclass with Q&A: In this mini masterclass, The Association of Illustrators (AOI) will guide you through copyright, contracts, rights, advances, royalties and important clauses to watch out for, led by Sarah Morris, Membership Manager at AOI.
Getting your Illustrations Published: Want to know how to catch a decision maker’s eye, and get published? Join the AOI’s CEO, Rachel Hill for an open and honest discussion with three commissioners from the publishing industry.
Illustrators’ Afternoon Networking Reception: Join fellow illustrators and creatives in the Illustrators Gallery area for an informal networking reception.
Further details about The London Book Fair line-up will be revealed in the run up to the Fair and will be available at this page.
The London Book Fair (LBF) is the world’s largest spring book trade and publishing event, and will return to its home at Olympia London from 11 -13 March 2025. Visitor registration is now open here.