7TH & 8TH NOVEMBER 2020 SBWN Networking Conference 2020
Professional dEVELOPMENT & nETWORKING FOR WRITERS OF COLOUR
1:1 Session INformation INSTRUCTIONS // NOVEMBER 0 2 INSTRUCTIONS
Participants are invited to take part in 15- minute sessions with industry professionals. Scottish BAME Writers Network is grateful to everyone who has donated their time to our 1:1 conferencing. In this document, you can find a list of all our volunteers.
From this list, please select up to six industry professionals you would like to have a 15 minute 1:1 session with
Please enter your selection of six in the relevant box during your registration on Eventbrite
We will randomly allocate you to three industry professionals of your choice, for a total of three 15-minute sessions. If this is not possible, we'll be in touch VOLUNTEERS // NOVEMBER 2020 0 3
HEATHER PARRY
I'm a Glasgow-based writer, editor, event chair and podcast host. My fiction explores self-deception, transformation, the grotesque and the body. I'm the Editorial Director of Extra Teeth, a Scottish literary magazine, and as a freelance editor I work with small presses and writers in the UK and abroad. I'm open to questions relating to my experiences as a writer, editor and publisher - anything from improving your own writing to getting funding for a project you want to start. I've spent 10 years in the publishing industry in a bunch of different roles, so I'm open to answering anything as best I can.
DAISY WATT
I’m Jonathan Cape’s Assistant Editor, working across literary and literary/commercial crossover fiction, memoir and graphic novels. I’m here to chat about writers’ goals and demystify the publishing process, and I can provide feedback on a sample of up to 1,000 words of writing (or 10 pages of a graphic novel).
ALYCIA PIRMOHAMED
I'm happy to provide writers that are beginning their poetry publishing journey with advice on how to start getting their work out there. My experience is mostly with individual poems being published in literary magazines and with chapbooks (pamphlets). Poetry publishing often looks different than fiction and prose publishing, and is often self-led by writers themselves. I can also give feedback on 1-2 poems during this session. VOLUNTEERS // NOVEMBER 2020 0 4
REBECCA WOJTURSKA
Hello! I'm Rebecca Wojturska and I run a wee publishing company called Haunt Publishing. I specialise in Gothic and horror fiction (and anything with dark or spooky vibes) and would love to connect with writers working in these areas. I have worked in publishing – both academic and trade – for almost a decade and have experience in most departments, particularly editorial and copy-editing. I'd love to chat and advise on submission and publication processes as well as what makes Gothic and horror fiction effective.
FRANCESCA BARBINI
Francesca Barbini is the founder of Luna Press Publishing, an SFF small press, based in Edinburgh. In this 1:1 slot you will be able to ask about the different publishing routes (from self-publishing to traditional) and their pros and cons; aspects of the publishing process; contracts and what to look out for; being a sole trader and the joys of self- assessment.
JENNY KUMAR
Literature Alliance Scotland (LAS) is Scotland's largest literary network. We bring together writers, publishers, educators, librarians, organisations and cultural bodies in a collective voice. If you'd like help making connections, have an industry question or think we can help, come and have a chat with Jenny Kumar, LAS' Projects & Comms Manager. VOLUNTEERS // NOVEMBER 2020 0 5
JULES DANSKIN
Jules Danskin is a freelance publicist based in Leith, Edinburgh specialising in working with independent presses, such as Charco Press and Archipelago Books, and is the Managing Director of Extra Teeth, a literary magazine. She is very happy to discuss anything around marketing and publicity including crafting pitches, marketing your book and yourself as an author, running literary events and working with booksellers. Jules is offering feedback on fiction and non-fiction work up to 1000 words.
FULLY BOOKED - ELLAH WAKATAMA
I'm editor at large for Canongate and commission a small section of the list. I’m focused on books (both fiction and creative non-fiction) that have at their heart an urgent message of political or social resonance. I am most excited by writers who bold and ambitious when it comes to form. I’m happy to be asked anything at all.
EMMA LAYFIELD
After twenty years of working with Hachette Children's Group in London, Emma recently took on a new role as Picture Book Development Director, North, based in Manchester. She is focused on acquiring picture book writers living in the North and Scotland. Emma is happy to review picture book manuscripts ahead and give feedback during the 1-1 session. Picture book texts should be a maximum of 1000 words and aimed at 3-7 year-olds. Emma is also happy to answer any questions you have about the picture book market or the children’s publishing industry. VOLUNTEERS // NOVEMBER 2020 0 6
GRACE WANG
I work in the central marketing department at Penguin Random House, in the Audience Development team which looks after Penguin website, social media and various consumer facing brands. I’d be happy to talk about interview / cover letter tips, explain the types of roles available in publishing, and share personal experiences of working here.
NANCY ADIMORA
Nancy Adimora is the Talent and Audience Development Manager at HarperCollins and works across the business to help attract new authors and reach new readers from diverse communities across the UK. She joined HarperCollins in 2017 through the company’s traineeship scheme, and is also the founding editor of AFREADA, an African literary magazine. Nancy is open to all questions that can help demystify publishing, so feel free to ask her anything about any part of the publishing process.
ALISON LANG
Alison Lang is the director of the Gaelic Books Council. In this session, you'll receive a general introduction to the Gaelic Books Council and the kind of support offered to writers – grants, development opportunities, bursary schemes, editing courses, etc – as well as a chance to discuss what you're working on. VOLUNTEERS // NOVEMBER 2020 0 7
JULIE FERGUSSON
Julie has a degree in mathematics and a master’s in creative writing, both from the University of Edinburgh. She worked for several years as an editor before becoming an agent in 2017. Julie is building a list of commercial and literary novels, as she is also interested in non-fiction that explores big ideas in the areas of popular science and social justice. Julie is open to pitches in this 1:1 session.
ANA FLETCHER
I’m a senior editor at Jonathan Cape, where I commission and publish fiction and non-fiction. Before joining Cape I worked as an editor for the independent publishing house And Other Stories. I have a BA in English from the University of York and an MA in Comparative Literature from UCL. I was born and raised in Portugal. I’m open to giving feedback on manuscripts and answering any questions about getting into publishing as a career or about having your manuscript published as an author.
KAY FARRELL
I have been with Sandstone Press since 2016 as Assistant Publisher. I now manage all design and production for the company, sit on the acquisitions panel and edit a number of books – including the Man Booker International winner 2019, Celestial Bodies. I can answer questions on submitting to agents and publishers, and editing your own work. I’m always keen to see fiction set in the future and non-fiction from underrepresented points of view. VOLUNTEERS // NOVEMBER 2020 0 8
SHANNON CULLEN
I’m the publishing director for Ladybird, and previously at Puffin, at Penguin Random House UK, and I have 20 years of experience in children’s publishing from baby through to YA. I’m happy to provide feedback on a complete picture book text or an outline or concept for fiction/non-fiction, totalling up to 800 words. I also ask that these are accompanied by an ‘elevator pitch’ – how would a bookseller describe your book to a parent or child in one sentence.
NATHANIEL KUNITSKY
Founder of and publisher at Knight Errant Press (2017), creative writing workshop facilitator and professional book hoarder. My personal interests include building community, flash fiction, SFF and queer, butch and trans-masculine culture and aesthetics. Happy to talk all things queer, small-scale publishing, anthologies, workshops, Kickstarter and running a small press.
SOPHIE WHITEHEAD
I am Managing Editorial Assistant at Cornerstone, a division of Penguin Random House, and have been working in publishing for just over a year now. I like to read a variety of books, though my main area of interest is literary fiction. I’m open to any conversation that might be useful to writers, including feedback on work (up to 1000 words). VOLUNTEERS // NOVEMBER 2020 0 9
SRIYA VARADHARAJAN
I work in publicity for Michael Joseph, a division of Penguin. We publish commercial fiction – crime, thrillers, women’s fiction, memoirs, lifestyle books, cookery, and much more! My job involves getting a book into the hands of readers by getting it reviewed in all the right places, organising interviews with authors, working with authors to develop ideas for pieces that they could write for magazines and newspapers, and setting up events where authors can meet their readers. I love it because it means I get to work closely with authors and I work on a huge range of books. If you’re curious about the publication process after a book has been edited, and how publishers work with media to get their books to readers, I can help.
VIKKI REILLY
Vikki is the Marketing, Events & Sales Support Manager at Publishing Scotland, the trade and network body for Scottish publishing. She has worked for nearly 20 years the book industry, first as a bookseller, then in the sales and marketing departments of Mainstream Publishing, Mercat Press and Birlinn Ltd, where she was also a member of the editorial board. In October 2020 she published her first book, The Beatles 101: A Pocket Guide in 101 Moments, Songs, People and Places. You can ask her questions on submitting to agents and publishers, the commissioning process, working with sales and marketing teams, building your author platform, and the Scottish publishing scene.
MAIRI OLIVER
I run Lighthouse - Edinburgh's Radical Bookshop, and have just over a decade working in indie Bookshops. I'm happy to speak to anyone interested in working with bookshops - be that getting their books stocked in shops, doing events /launches /chairing, become a writer-in-residence. I can also speak to general trends in the industry/patterns in particular genres, so I can answer questions about how to shape your pitches/work to publishers or agents too! VOLUNTEERS // NOVEMBER 2020 1 0
SAMARA SMITH
I work in International Sales Operations at PRH. I’ve been involved in a lot of campaigns, networks and committees – from being a Creative Responsibility Champion, to desk swapping for a week at Ebury, from reading books as a Volunteer Reader at a local primary school, to reading submissions for Write Now – it’s a broad range and so I know a little bit about a lot of things! I’ve been trying to get into Editorial for quite some time, and so I’ve done a lot of research into their processes and structure. I have a few friends across the industry in Editorial who I’ve tried to convince to give me their secrets… which I’m still working on. Samara can offer feedback on work in any genre.
MOIRA FORSYTH
Since 2002 I have selected, commissioned and edited both fiction and non-fiction for Sandstone Press, including books which have won or been listed for awards. I am also the author of five published novels. I most love to read literary biography and enjoy traditional crime novels For Sandstone I’m looking for strong contemporary fiction and quirky offbeat non-fiction. I’m happy to advise on editing your own work, submitting to agents and publishers, building your profile as a writer, and how to combine writing with a day job or other commitments.
SALLY POLSON
I’m Editorial Director at Floris Books, the largest children’s publisher in Scotland. I’ve also worked in children’s fiction at HarperCollins in London, and I’ve been editing children’s books for 18 years. I’ve worked across all age groups and genres, including picture books, chapter books, middle grade, teen and YA novels, as well as children’s non-fiction. I’m open to pitches and happy to review manuscripts in advance: picture books of up to 1000 words; or a short synopsis and 3 sample chapters of longer texts for children. I can also chat about ways to develop your writing, how to submit to agents and publishers, and about any aspect of the editing or publishing process, including marketing and promotion.