Summer Digital Book Party

Presented by Byte the Book and The Literary Consultancy

The Literary Consultancy has teamed up with Byte the Book to produce an exciting new event on Friday June 5th with a carefully curated selection of the latest publishing, writing and digital projects. Combining key elements of our traditional Writing in a Digital Age Conference, and Byte the Book’s renowned salons – with a cracking good party thrown in for good measure. The programme includes an exclusive, up-to-date research presentation about e-book trends by Steve Bohme (Nielsen Book Research), in conversation with Roger Tagholm (Publishing Perspectives), along with five presentations by writers and organisations playing a key role in the future of publishing, hosted by Claire Armitstead (The Guardian) and a keynote about book marketing by Chris McCrudden (Midas PR). The day will conclude the return of our popular TLC Pen Factor Writing Competition.

We expect this event to sell quickly so book early to avoid disappointment. Early Bird tickets available until April 30th.

TO BOOK NOW, CLICK HERE AND SCROLL TO ‘PRICING AND BOOKING’ FOR BOOKING INSTRUCTIONS AND TO REDEEM ANY DISCOUNTS (50% for TLC clients and Byte the Book members)

• Exclusive industry snapshot by Nielsen Book Research
• Keynote on e-book marketing by Chris McCrudden (Midas PR)
• In a session hosted by Claire Armitstead (The Guardian), innovative projects and platforms from Dylan Collins (Super Awesome), Stuart Evers (NetGalley), Anna Jean Hughes (The Pigeonhole), Laurence Howell (Audible), Tom Hunersen (Spritz), and Sam Missingham (HarperCollins)
• TLC Pen Factor Writing Competition with live-pitching to a panel of agents and editors including Patrick Walsh (Conville & Walsh), Hellie Ogden (Janklow & Nesbit), Tom Witcomb (Blake Friedmann) and the editor of runaway bestseller Gone Girl  Kirsty Dunseath (Orion)
• £1,000 of prizes to be won in the TLC Pen Factor Writing Competition: free to enter for all ticket-holders
• High-level networking evening for writers, and those working with writers

Presenters include:

• Dylan Collins, CEO at Super Awesome: the head of the world’s largest advertising platform for kids and teens asks, what is the future of getting your content to young readers, and how this can be used to reach adults, too?
• Stuart Evers, Community Manager at NetGalley: how to leverage digital book proofs and build relationships with bloggers, reviewers and book lovers around the world

• Anna Jean Hughes, Founder of The Pigeonhole: are weekly instalments (staves) the future of reading? A showcase for the power of a collective reading experience and the potential it offers writers to reach new audiences

• Laurence Howell, Director of Content at Audible: steps writers (published and self-published) can take to engage with the audiobook market, and the opportunities available for producing your own content.

• Tom Hunersen, Director EMEA at Spritz Technology Inc: a platform that makes it possible to consume vast levels of content incredibly quickly, Spritz is on a roll and disrupting the way people read. What does this mean for writers and publishers?

• Sam Missingham, Head of Audience Development at HarperCollins: A Virtual Romance Festival, Sci-Fi Festival and, most recently, a ‘Killer’ Crime Festival are examples of a new approach to author-driven festivals being led by a publisher. What are the benefits for the trade of publishers joining forces, and how can self-published writers get involved?

Programme:

Afternoon Session 3pm – 5.30pm
3-3.15pm   Welcome from Justine Solomons and Rebecca Swift
3.15-4pm   An exclusive presentation of the latest self-publishing and publishing statistics from Nielsen Book Research, with Steve Bohme and journalist Roger Tagholm (Publishing Perspectives)
4.15-5.30pm   Presenting writers and organisations that are changing publishing, hosted by Claire Armitstead of The Guardian
5.3-6pm      Break

Evening Session 6 – 8.45pm
6-6.15pm     Keynote from Chris McCrudden, of Midas PR on Book Marketing
6.15-7pm       The Book Party begins: drinks, food, music and networking
7.pm-8.30     The return of TLC’s Pen Factor Writing Competition with literary agents and publishers give a live critique to our shortlisted writers *
9pm-late      The Book Party continues: at the Betsey Trotwood Pub

*Admission to the TLC Pen Factor Writing Competition is open to all who attend either the whole day or evening session only. When you book fully you will be provided with details of how to enter. Four finalists will be selected to live-pitch at the event.

Pricing and Booking (A quota of Earlybird tickets is available until April 30th):

Byte the Book Members and TLC clients*:
Full Ticket Earlybird    £49.00
Full Ticket Standard     £65.00
Evening Only Earlybird     £27.50
Evening Only Standard      £35.00

Non Members:
Full Ticket Earlybird      £99.00
Full Ticket Standard        £115.00
Evening Only Earlybird £49.00
Evening Only Standard £60.00

*TLC clients and Byte the Book members will be checked against our respective databases

Booking is now open via the Free Word Box Office