Monday 20 April 2015

My visit to The London Book Fair 2015


This year's London Book Fair moved from Earl's Court Exhibition Centre to Olympia. Although Olympia was more difficult to get to, involving taking a tube and then an overground bus, the new venue was perfect. With natural lighting and a balcony view of events and stands, it was an altogether more pleasant internal space than Earl's Court. There was a huge amount that could be discovered at The London Book Fair. There were companies that could convert your book to digital, seminars that showed different approaches to marketing, a future-gazing presentation that could change your strategy. The exciting thing is that there just be a chance meeting that leads to future success.



The variety of topics covered and the number of stands was huge. It gave visitors access to an incredible line-up of educational seminars, interviews, workshops and demonstrations. The first talk I was interested in listening to was Introduction To Publishing - The Roles Of Publisher And Literary Agent. This took place in the Author HQ and consisted of conversation between the audience and David Shelley, CEO of Little Brown and Lizzy Kremere, Literary Agent.


At the Children's Hub a couple of hours later, there was a talk about The Power Of Reading: Developing Reading For Pleasure In Schools. Having three ideas for children's books that are only scribbles in notebooks at the moment, I found this very helpful.


I met a couple of fellow writers in the cafe and we became engrossed in conversation, swapping notes and simply enjoying the company of other writers who'd come to explore. We had to sneak into the back of a seminar that had already started but which turned out to be an excellent question/answer session. Questions were asked from the audience about writing a synopsis, how important a 'hook' is in the first chapter (not always was a surprising answer), how publishing has changed and how too much description should be avoided. I always find these sessions the most useful because the questions are so varied, as opposed the talks about one particular aspect of writing.


There were lots of books for sale and literary gifts to buy. This is the pile I brought back from London with me. (Note to self; they were heavy - take a shopping trolley next year!)


Oh, I nearly forgot - I also found a little something else in Harrods!


8 comments:

  1. I loved reading this. I've never been to a book fair and it was nice to be able to read about your experience. I think I would need a shopping trolley too xx

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  2. The bonus of a shopping trolley is that you could have hidden the Chanel sunglasses from hubbie until the sun came out and you could get out, 'Oh, these old things...?' Nice post - made me want to go!

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  3. Sounds wonderful, Ange! I'd love to go one year. What a heavy pile of books to take home!

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  4. Thank you, Teresa. You really ought to visit one year. The trouble is you'll get hooked! x
    Oh I never thought of that, Jackie. I could always try that next year! x
    Thankfully I stuffed them in my small suitcase on wheels, Rosemary. It was just underground staircases that caught me out! x

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  5. Looks like you had a good time, Angela. Glad you enjoyed it.

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  6. It was really interesting, Keith. Have you been before? : )

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  7. Hi Ange,
    Never been to a book fair, I've heard many good things about this one though...sounds like you had a lot of fun!

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  8. There's always so much to see, Maria. Well worth a visit. xx

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