Life of a Book: Working with Publishers

Date/Time
Date(s) - Wed 15th May, 2024
3:00pm - 4:00pm

Session 3: Working with Publishers

Now you’ve written the book and have either approached a publisher or are working with an agent – what’s next? In this third session of the week, literary consultant Aki Schilz will lead the discussion around different publishing processes and what to expect. She will be joined by agent Lisa Highton, previously publishing director at Two Roads, Doubleday, HarperCollins, and Hodder; 404Ink publisher Laura Jones-Rivera; and editor and co-founder of Arkbound Publishing, Steve Mcnaught.

Below are a selection of questions and topics the conversation may cover.  You also have the opportunity to let us know if you have any other themes or questions you’d like to hear the panel discuss in the booking form below, and there will also be a Q&A opportunity during the session.

What is a publisher? From Big 5 to Indie presses

Diversity in publishing – whose stories are told, who is promoted and given support?

How can this be changed and challenged?

What can and can’t publishers do?

Timeline of a book from deal to publication – editing, printing, cover design etc

Marketing – what is it, who does it, can authors help?

What is a good deal? Advances, royalties and more

How do publishers decide what to publish? Acquisitions meetings, P&L, sales figures, IP Work

Where will a book get stocked & who decides? Supermarkets, bookshop buying & more

What format will my book be in? Audio, translation rights, film rights

Agent & Publisher relationships

About the Panel

Aki Schilz is the Director of The Literary Consultancy, the UK’s longest-running editorial consultancy. She has twice featured in the Bookseller 150, a list of the most influential figures in UK publishing, in recognition of her work campaigning for more equitable cultures within the publishing and creative industries. She has been a finalist for the Kim Scott Walwyn Women in Publishing Awards and the h100 Awards. In 2018, Aki set up the Rebecca Swift Foundation, a charity that advances the craft, creativity and wellbeing of women poets. She is also co-producer of Being A Writer, a programme that focuses on resilience and wellbeing. https://literaryconsultancy.co.uk/about-tlc/our-team/

Lisa Highton joined Jenny Brown Associates as an Associate Agent in 2022. Most recently, Lisa was Publisher of Two Roads, an imprint of John Murray Press/Hachette where she published authors including Kirsty Wark, Sally Magnusson, Monty Don, Ruth Hogan, Janet Skeslien Charles, Janet Ellis, Sarah Haywood, Susan Calman and Wendy Cope. Prior to establishing Two Roads in 2011, Lisa was Deputy MD of Hodder & Stoughton, but always an editor at heart. Over a long career in publishing both in the UK and Australia where she was publishing director of Doubleday, HarperCollins and then Hodder, Lisa has published many bestsellers. Her passions are distinctive storytelling, finding those hidden stories with emotional heart and then connecting those authors and stories with readers. https://jennybrownassociates.com/

Laura Jones-Rivera is the co-founder and co-publisher of the award-winning 404 Ink, most recently named Scotland’s Small Press of the Year by the British Book Awards in 2024 . She has co-ran 404 Ink since its inception in 2016 while also working for numerous other publishers as a freelance production specialist such as Charco Press, Bloomsbury, Cipher Press, and many more. She was previously Dead Ink’s Interim Publisher and named a Rising Star by the Bookseller in 2022. https://www.lauraflojo.com/

Steve Mcnaught has worked as an editor for Arkbound publishing and enjoys working on books that have powerful messages and turn stereotypes on their head, encouraging widespread positive change. He previously helped develop the Writing Within Walls programme and participated in journalism projects run by the Council of Europe. https://arkbound.com/

Please note: There has been a panel change and Laura Jones-Rivera will be joining the panel in place of Heather McDaid.

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This programme has been developed and funded by Creative Scotland, with support from Hawthornden Foundation with Society of Authors, and facilitated by Moniack Mhor. All sessions are free to attend. A Zoom link will be sent on booking and we will also send a reminder email on the day of the event.

Please let us know when booking if you have any access needs, or contact us on info@moniackmhor.org.uk.

If you would like to book all five panel sessions, please click here, or email us on info@moniackmhor.org.uk

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