The UK’s Biggest Book Event Returns to Kensington Olympia, 10-12 April
London. Tuesday 3rd April 2018: The London Book Fair, one of the world’s largest publishing events, has unveiled its full 2018 programme, spanning author events, seminars, panel debates, awards, and much more.
From AI to audio, #MeToo to mental health, and from Brexit to Blockchain, this year’s seminar programme at The London Book Fair includes seminars, panel debates, keynotes, and more, giving delegates an insight into the entire publishing zeitgeist.
Authors taking part in The London Book Fair 2018 include: Jacqueline Wilson, Joanna Trollope, Lauren Child, Kit de Waal, Adam Kay, David Baldacci, Chris Riddell, Laura Bates, Rachel Abbott, Jonny Benjamin, Natasha Devon, Nick Harkaway and many more.
This year’s Market Focus country is the Baltics, with 12 of the most prominent and engaging writers from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania taking part in The London Book Fair, including the Market Focus Authors of the Day Kristina Sabaliauskaitė (Lithuania), Nora Ikstena (Latvia) and Mihkel Mutt (Estonia). In addition to author talks, the Fair will offer a window into publishing in the Baltics, with 22 covering a wide range of themes, including poetry, translating children’s books, writing history as fiction, education publishing, top literary events in the Baltics and the challenges and opportunities of publishing literature in translation.
Poetry and illustration are at the heart of The London Book Fair in 2018, with the Fair introducing a Poet of the Day – Imtiaz Dharker – and Illustrator of the Day – children’s laureate, Lauren Child MBE – for the first time, in addition to a number of exciting poetry and illustration events.
Must-see events at The London Book Fair 2018 include:
Day One – Tuesday 10 April 2018
What Works Education Conference for educational publishers and technology providers seeking insights into international developments impacting their industries and markets, Olympia Conference Centre, 9:30-13:00, £
International Press Briefing: Insights into publishing 2018 with LBF Director, Jacks Thomas, Buzz Theatre, 9:30-10:00
Censor, Advocate, or Disruptor? The Role of Publishers in an Evolving Publishing & Media Landscape, LBF launches inaugural Freedom to Publish seminar in association with IPA. Club Room, 10:00-12:15
An Introduction to Kindle Direct Publishing – how to get started, with Kindle’s number one bestselling author, Rachel Abbott, Author HQ, 10:45-11:30
The Wonderful World of Mr Men and Little Miss – entertaining generations from the 1970s, CrossMedia Theatre, 11:00-12:00
Collaboration and Community: The transition to Open Access, The Faculty, 11:30—12:30
A ‘Bookish Brexit’ – hosted by the Publisher’s Association, Olympia Room Grand Hall, 11:30-12:30
The Launch of the Club at the Ivy – with Gyles Brandreth, The Club at the Ivy, 12:00-12:30
Laura Bates in Conversation – founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, English PEN Literary Salon, 12:30-13:00
Being Mental: is there a right way to publish on mental health – with Jonny Benjamin MBE, Natasha Devon MBE, and Sue Baker, Director at mental health charity, Mind, Club Room National Hall Gallery, 13:00-14:00
Montenegrin Translation Slam!, Literary Translation Centre, 13:00-14:00
LBF Opening Ceremony, including celebration of Baltic Countries LBF Market Focus, DIT Theatre, 14:30
Joanna Trollope (Author of the Day) in conversation, English PEN Literary Salon, 14:30-15:00
Building Communities: How to connect with Readers and Writers Nick Wells, Flame Tree Publishing, bookseller Jo Heyford and authors Donna Cuttress and Liam Hogan, 15:30
Blockchain For Books: Towards An Author Centred Payment Model, Olympia Room Grand Hall, 14:30-15:30
Poetry for a Change: Health and Happiness, Poet’s Corner, 14:30-15:30
Taking the fear out of AI – ethics, machine versus human, and real-life applications, The Buzz, 15:15-15:45
Building Communities: How to connect with Readers and Writers Nick Wells, Flame Tree Publishing, bookseller Jo Heyford and authors Donna Cuttress and Liam Hogan, 15:30
Kit de Waal in conversation with Cathy Rentzenbrink, English PEN Literary Salon, 15:30-16:00
Writing History as Fiction: The Baltics and beyond, with Kristina Sabaliauskaitė (Lithuania) and Rein Raud (Estonia), 16:00
Revealed or Lost in Translation: Literature from the Baltics, with Kārlis Vērdiņš (Latvia), Maarja Kangro (Estonia), Romas Kinka (Lithuania), Christopher Moseley (Estonia/Latvia), and Daniel Hahn (UK). Literary Translation Center, 16:00
How I Write – David Baldacci, Author HQ, 16:45-17:30
Books in Prison – Legitimate Escape Methods with LBF Charity of the Year, the Kittiwake Trust, Club Room National Hall Gallery, 17:30-18:30
International Excellence Awards, Conference Centre, 18:30-20:30
Day Two – Wednesday 11th April 2018
The Research & Scholarly Publishing Forum. Tackling the major issues shaping the future of academic publishing, including the impact of Open Access and the future of peer review processes.Conference Centre, 9:00-13:20 £
#MeToo: Passion, Politics & Poetry the power of the collective, Poet’s Corner, 10:00-11:00
Jennifer Clement in conversation, English PEN Literary Salon, 10:00-10:30
Nick Harkaway in Conversation, English PEN Literary Salon, 11:00-11:30
The Association of Illustrators (AOI) in Conversation with Lauren Child, CrossMedia Theatre, 11:30-12:30
The Three Ages of Bookselling, High Street Theatre, 11:30-12:30
‘Doing it Live’: Taking Book Campaigns to the Next Level, Olympia Room Grand Hall, 13:00-14:00
Illustrators Business Masterclass, CrossMedia Theatre, 13:00-14:00
Baltics Author of the Day – Nora Ikstena in Conversation, with Nora Ikstena (Latvia). English PEN Literary Salon, 13:00
Women Whose Names Were Erased, 11 Apr 2018, 13:00, Poets’ Corner, Indonesian poet Avianti Arman examines this phenomenon in her prize-winning collection of poetry, “Women Whose Names Were Erased”. In a joint-reading and discussion with Estonia’s Maarja Kangro, moderated by Peggy Hughes of the Writers’ Center Norwich.
Baltics Author of the Day – Mihkel Mutt in Conversation, with Mihkel Mutt (Estonia). English PEN Literary Salon, 14:00
Baltics Author of the Day – Kristina Sabaliauskaitė in Conversation with Kristina Sabaliauskaitė (Lithuania). English PEN Literary Salon, 15:00
Sticking to the Facts: Translating Nonfiction, Literary Translation Centre, 14:15-15:15
Memoirs that Matter: Adam Kay This is Going to Hurt, Olympia Room Grand Hall, 14:30-15:30
Poetry for Change: Why Poetry is Booming, Poet’s Corner, 14:30-15:30
The Klauss Flugge Prize: Once Upon a Picture, Children’s Hub, 14:30-15:30
PJ Masks – From Books to Consumer Products – Case Study, CrossMedia Theatre, 14:30-15:30
The Future of Publishing: How to thrive in the evolving book world with Trailblazer Award winners past and present, Club Room National Hall Gallery, 14:30-15:30
Poet of the Fair Imtiaz Dharker in conversation, Poet’s Corner, 16:00-17:00
From Soviet State-Sponsored Textbooks To Digital Learning And Teaching Materials In Thirty Years Educational Publishing In The Baltics, The Faculty, 16:00-17:00
The Inclusivity Toolbox: Practical Tips for Understanding Inclusion, Club Room National Hall Gallery, 16:00-17:00
The Agony and Ecstasy of becoming a Self-Publisher: How to make it fun and profitable, Author HQ, 16:45-17:30
Poetry for a Change: Drinks Reception with Poet of the Fair, Poet’s Corner, 17:30-18:30
Chris Riddell will be doing live drawing, Wednesday 11 April, 17:30-18:30, Children’s Hub
Introducing Indonesia and its Creative Content, 11 Apr 2018, 17:30 – 18:30, The Cross-Cultural Hub. With John Simanjuntak, Deputy Marketing Director of BEKRAF, Indonesia’s Creative Economy Agency, John McGlynn, Lontar Foundation, Laura Prinsloo, Indonesia’s National Book Committee and Kesaint Blanc, moderated by Phillip Y. Kim Asia Literary Review.
Day Three – Thursday 12th April 2018
CMC Exchange @ LBF, An event for anyone looking to buy and sell Children’s IP – especially those looking to meet potential partners in broadcasting and children’s content production. Olympia Conference Centre, West London, 9:30-17:00
Sex & the Country, with Theodora Danek and Tessa Lewis, Literary Translation Centre, 10:00-11:00
Writing the City: Baltic spaces, British places with Kristina Sabaliauskaitė (Lithuania), Inga Ābele (Latvia), Vahni Capildeo (Trinidad/UK), Steven Fowler (UK), 10:00
The Power of Brand Partnerships with Eric Huang, Rosalyn Carmoody, Daryl Shute, Julia Posen and Paul Denton, Children’s Hub, 10:00
Getting to the Heart of Picture Books, with author Vivien French and agent Lucy Juckes, Cross Media Theatre, 10:00-11:00
Amy Sackville in conversation with Daniel Hahn, English PEN Literary Salon, 11:00-11:30
Publishing Literature in Translation with Christopher MacLehose (UK) and Krista Kaer (Estonia), 11:30 a.m.
Literary Events and Literary Residencies in the Baltics, with Peggy Hughes (UK) with Juta Pīrāga (Latvia), Marja Unta (Estonia), and Rūta Elijošaitytė-Kaikarė (Lithuania). High Street Theatre, 11:30
Children’s Spotlight: Jaqueline Wilson (Author of the Day), Author HQ, 12:45-13:30
Festivals Unbound, CrossMedia Theatre, 13:00-15:15
Through a child’s eyes: Baltic and UK perspectives on fiction writing with Claire Armitstead (UK), Luize Pastore (Latvia), Nora Ikstena (Latvia), Alvydas Šlepikas (Lithuania) Rebecca Stott (UK) 13:00
Transforming Children’s Poetry: New Formats, Fresh Marketing, Poet’s Corner, 13:00-14:00
Book Blog Awards, Cross Media Theatre, 14:30-15:15
Dame Jacqueline Wilson (Author of the Day) in conversation, English PEN Literary Salon, 14:30-15:00
The Write Stuff, Author HQ, 14:30-16:00
