SYP Annual Conference 2016: How to Make a Bestseller

While much in publishing has changed over time, one truth remains universal: We absolutely adore a good bestseller. We love discovering them, reading them, sharing them with friends, writing them, and producing them.  And if there is one thing we wish we could figure out it’s the secret recipe to writing, commissioning, editing, translating, marketing, and selling them.

This year’s conference is dedicated to exactly these questions. We will discuss what it takes in today’s fast-paced market to turn a story into a bestseller. Who are the key players? What do current trends tell us? And how has the digital revolution shaken up the process? These, and many more questions, will be addressed by industry experts in a wide range of seminars and taking place throughout the day.

Earlybird tickets are now available via Eventbrite. We’re looking forward to seeing you all there and will be sharing more exciting details in the coming weeks. To not miss an update, follow us on Twitter (SYPconf16) and Facebook or join our mailing list.

Confirmed speakers for the conference:
Keynote speaker: David Shelley, CEO of Orion and Little, Brown

Closing debate: Jonny Geller, Literary Agent at Curtis Brown, Catherine Burke, Publisher at Little, Brown, and Craig Glenday, Editor in Chief at Guinness World Records.

STREAM 1:

Writing a Bestseller: Martha Ashby, Commissioning Editor at HarperCollins, Jack Jordan, bestselling self-published author, and Joanna Swainson, Literary Agent

Bestsellers in Translation: Jenny Parrott, Editorial Director at Oneworld, Katharina Bielenberg, Associate Publisher at MacLehose Press, and Eleanor Goymer, Head of Rights at HarperCollins

Producing a Bestseller: Alex Bell, Production Programme Manager at DK, Anna Robinette, Junior Production Controller at Egmont, and Jack Smyth, Designer

Runaway Bestsellers: Clio Cornish, Editor at HQ (HarperCollins), Ailah Ahmed, Commissioning Editor at Little, Brown and Kathryn Taussig, Commercial Fiction Editor at Quercus

STREAM 2:

The Role of Retail: Emine Nicholson, Waterstones Bromley, Sam Shone, Director of Online Sales and Marketing at Quarto UK, Hannah Welsh, Key Account Manager at Avon HarperCollins and Drew Hunt, Assistant Buyer at Foyles Charing Cross Road

The Role of the Literary Agent: Felicity Trew of the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency, Sarah O’Halloran, Literary Scout, and Gaia Banks, of the Sheil Land Literary Agency

Unusual Publishing Business Models: Nick Barreto, co-founder of Canelo, Nichola Smalley of And Other Stories, and Tom Bonnick of Nosy Crow

More than just Print: Sarah Shrubb, Audio Publisher at Little, Brown, Pandora White, Audio Publisher at Orion Publishing Group, and Karen Sullivan, Publisher at Orenda Books

STREAM 3:

How to Market and Publicise a Bestseller: Ellen John, Senior Campaigns Manager at Quarto Children’s Books, Zoe Hood, Deputy Publicity Director at Little, Brown, Yassine Belkacemi, Publicity Manager at John Murray Press and Emma Finnigan, Director of Emma Finnigan Book PR.

Who’s Buying Our Books? Jennifer Kerslake, Editor at Orion Publishing Group, Sarah Thrift, Senior Digital Marketing Executive at Penguin, Lizzie Huxley-Jones, Bookseller at Waterstones

The Role of Digital: Natasha Williams, Digital Sales Manager at HarperCollins, Helena Sheffield, Digital Marketing Manager at Avon HarperCollins, and Louise Rice, CEO of Amphio (formerly Touchpress)

Marketing a Series and Building a Brand: Kat McKenna, Marketing Manager at Macmillan Children’s Books, Cait Davies, Marketing Campaign Manager at HarperFiction, and Beth Cockeram, Marketing Executive at Michael Joseph Books (Penguin)

STREAM 4:

The Perfect Package: Karine Nipcon, Senior Publishing Recruitment Consultant at Atwood Tate, Helen Youngs, Senior Consultant (Publishing Trade Specialist) at Inspired Selection, and Eleanor Helsby, Career Adviser at Hachette UK

Networking Game: Sam Missingham, Head of Audience Development at HarperCollins Publishers, John Bond, CEO of Whitefox Publishing Services, and Justine Solomons, Director and Founder of Byte the Book

What Suits You Best? Nick Coveney, Head of Digital and Social Media at Bonnier, Zeba Talkhani, Literary Consultant, Hilary Fine, Senior Publisher at Rising Stars UK, and Emma Smith, Commissioning Editor for Non-Fiction at Trapeze (Orion)

Outside the 9-5: Jasmin Kirkbride, Journalist, Editor and Author, Alastair Horne, Social Media Consultant and Speaker, and Stephanie Broadribb, Author and Crime Blogger