Have you got a book idea in you? Maybe you’ve been thinking about it, but don’t know how or where to start. Or you’ve started writing a proposal or even have draft chapters. Maybe you’re sitting on a full manuscript or you’re considering a second (or third, or fourth!) book but need a refresh and want to know the current state of publishing.
We’ve got a brilliant and varied panel including Helen Ochyra, a freelance journalist who chose the partnership publishing route for her debut travelogue in 2020; Lizzie Pook, travel journalist and editor whose debut novel sold at auction last year; Julia Silk, an agent at Kingsford Campbell Literary Agency; Rhiannon Smith, editorial director at Little, Brown publishers; and Abiola Bello or Helen Lewis, co-founders of The Author School, ink! publishing services, Hashtag Press and Hashtag BLAK, dedicated to publishing under-represented voices. They’ll share their experience and knowledge from all sides of the publishing process, from the positives to the pitfalls. The debate will be chaired by BGTW events director and travel writer Meera Dattani.
BGTW Talks Travel discussions are part of a series of online events to bring people together and help our members and other travel professionals move forward. By connecting leaders in the world and featuring the latest travel opinion and developments, we help keep you at the forefront, creating and innovating.
The panel*
Lizzie Pook, travel journalist, editor and author
Lizzie is an award-winning freelance journalist covering wildlife, wellbeing and adventure travel for titles such as Condé Nast Traveller, The Telegraph, the Evening Standard and The Independent. Her debut novel, Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter, sold at auction in 2020, and will be published around the world in 2022.
Twitter @LizziePook; Instagram @LizziePook
Helen Ochyra, travel journalist, broadcaster and author
Helen is a freelance writer, author and broadcaster specialising in travel and lifestyle. She particularly specialises in writing about travel to and around Scotland and is the author of Scotland Beyond the Bagpipes, published (via partnership publishing) by The Book Guild in 2020.
Twitter @helenochyra; Instagram @helenochyra
Julia Silk, literary agent, Kingsford Campbell Literary Agency
Julia has worked in publishing for more than 20 years. She is an agent with Kingsford Campbell, where she represents a wide range of literary and commercial fiction, as well as non-fiction in the areas of health, lifestyle and memoir. She is drawn to character- and voice-driven stories with a pitchable hook, and her clients include Charlotte Philby, Rebecca Schiller and Maisie Hill.
Twitter: @juliasreading; Instagram @juliasreading
Rhiannon Smith, editorial director, Little, Brown publishers
Rhiannon is editorial director for Fleet and Sphere non-fiction at Little, Brown Book Group, acquiring a wide range of fiction and non-fiction projects. She publishes a broad range of titles spanning literary fiction, memoir, popular non-fiction, true crime, and many genres in-between.
Twitter: @RhiannonRSmith
Abiola Bello or Helen Lewis, co-founders of The Author School, ink! publishing services, Hashtag Press and Hashtag BLAK, dedicated to publishing under-represented voices.
Abiola, known as ‘A. Bello’ for her books, is a middle-grade and Young Adult author. She wrote the first in the Emily Knight saga to fill a gaping hole in children’s fiction for an inspirational, strong, black female protagonist, and is passionate about writing books that are diverse and inclusive. Helen is an entrepreneur and director of a prize-winning publicity agency, Literally Public Relations Ltd. In 2020, Helen and Abiola launched The Diverse Book Awards, now in its second year.
Twitter: @hashtag_press; Instagram @hashtag_press; Facebook @hashtagpressbooks
Host: Meera Dattani, events director, BGTW
Meera is a travel journalist, co-editor of online travel magazine Adventure.com, and co-founder of the Unpacking Media Bias newsletter.
Twitter @no_fixed_plans; Instagram @nofixedplans
* Scheduled to appear.
The event is free to all BGTW members. Get in touch with the Guild secretariat to sign up.
Non-members are welcome to attend for just £6 (including booking fee and recording). Click below to get your ticket! We welcome questions in advance so we can ensure the debate covers everything you’ve always wanted to ask. You can also ask questions through the Q&A option during the event, and the Chat box will be open. We’ll leave plenty of time for a Q&A at the end.
Can’t make it on the day? If you register for the session, you’ll also receive a recording/link to the discussion a few days later, as will all attendees.
Consider making an additional donation
Your additional donation helps the Guild provide content like this free of charge for those who can’t afford a ticket and helps us put on future events.
How do I join a BGTW Talks Travel discussion?
- Sign up for the event by clicking the button above and buying your ticket.
- You’ll then receive a Zoom registration link. You need to complete this in order to be sent a Zoom link to join on the day. We advise you register as soon as you buy your ticket to avoid missing the event or the start of the event. (You can sign up and download Zoom here).
- At the time of the webinar, simply click on the Zoom link in the email and you’ll be taken to the Zoom website. You can join via the website or the desktop or mobile app.
- Once the panel is ready to begin, you’ll be admitted to the room. You will be able to see and hear the panellists and our moderator, type messages via the Zoom chat function, and send questions in the Q&A box. You will be not be visible or audible to other participants, but your name will be visible if you join in the chat.
Any questions? Let us know and we’ll do our best to help. We hope to see you there!