Scottish Book Trade Conference 2019

Registration

This year's conference was so busy that we handed out badges and bags outside the venue. It was under cover but we were lucky that it was unseasonably fine weather! Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Jenny Brown

Jenny Brown of Jenny Brown Associates chaired our biggest yet conference with her customary élan. Here she is welcoming everyone at the very start. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Marion Sinclair

Marion Sinclair, Chief Executive of Publishing Scotland, welcomed everyone in English and Gaelic. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Meryl Halls

Meryl Halls, Managing Director, The Booksellers Association also welcomed everyone. There was an increase in the number of booksellers attending this year. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Nielsen

Steve Bohme and David Watson of sponsors Nielsen were early arrivals. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
James Daunt

James Daunt, Managing Director of Waterstones, delivered the Keynote Speech. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Packed house for the Keynote Speech

Over 200 people were in the audience for the Keynote Speech from James Daunt, Managing Director of Waterstones. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Steve Bohme

Steve Bohme's topically themed presentations are always one of the conference highlights. The presentation is under embargo until Steve delivers this annual review on the UK book market at Nielsen's Book Research Lecture in London on 20 March 2019. It will then be available to our members. As Laura Jones of 404 Ink tweeted: 'Lord please protect Steve Bohme and all he does for Nielsen data presentation every year'. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
The Bookseller Team

We were delighted to have Nigel Roby, Emma Hare and Natasha Onwuemezi from The Bookseller in attendance. We were also very happy that they brought along copies of the Bookseller's 'Scottish Issue' for everyone. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
James Daunt with fellow booksellers

James Daunt chats with fellow booksellers after his keynote speech. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Networking

There were plenty of opportunities to catch up with others in the trade between sessions. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Publisher talk

Sun streams in on Sara Hunt of Saraband and Katy Lockwood-Holmes of Floris Books as they chat. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
A chance to catch up

Kate Deans of Creative Europe and Kirsten Graham of Floris Books catch up during a break. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Juliet Mabey

Juliet Mabey, Co-founder and Publisher of Oneworld Publications, talked to us about the Joys and Challenges of Independent Publishing. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Questions

There were opportunities throughout the conference for delegates to ask questions. Here Fiona Brownlee of Fiona Brownlee Associates asks Juliet Mabey a question about publishing children's books. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Gavin Smith

Gavin Smith, Commissioning Executive for Comedy, Drama and Entertainment BBC Scotland, talked about what content the BBC is looking for. He focused on local output and the new BBC Scotland channel. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Stuart Cosgrove

Stuart Cosgrove gave us an insight into the commissioning processes from both sides. An experienced tv executive, he is also an author with broadcasters interested in optioning his books. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Booksellers Brains Trust sessions

While the publishers were hearing from Juliet Mabey, Gavin Smith and Stuart Cosgrove, the booksellers were taking part in round table sessions focussing on bookselling issues. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Catching up at lunchtime

Some delegates find a seat for lunch beneath a plaque listing eminent surgeons. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Fever Pitch cover vote

Ann Crawford, Publisher at the National Galleries of Scotland, asks the Fever Pitch audience which cover they prefer. Fever Pitch is an opportunity for publishers to pitch books to the assembled booksellers. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Pitching to booksellers

Christine Wilson from Historic Environment Scotland pitches to the assembled booksellers during Fever Pitch 2019. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Maria Vassilipoulos

At the same time as Fever Pitch, there were several breakout sessions for those who were not pitching. The biggest was Maria Vassilipoulos's session on The Secret History of Books. Aimed mainly at the students from Edinburgh Napier, Stirling, Leipzig and Mainz, quite a few non-students also attended it. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Eagerly awaiting the First Minister

There was quite a buzz in the packed hall as everyone gathered for the First Minister's speech. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Nicola Sturgeon

The delegates warmly welcomed our book-loving First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who talked passionately about why books and reading matter and what they mean to her. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
First Minister's Question Time

This First Minister's Question Time was very different from the one that takes place at Holyrood. While most of the questions from publishers and booksellers were serious and received serious answers, the final question was more light-hearted but no less thoughtfully dealt with. When the First Minister was asked which book she would gift to Theresa May, she said it would be Andrea Levy's Small Island (Tinder Press) which she'd been rereading on hearing of the author's death. It chronicles the Windrush generation, is a reminder of the huge contribution immigrants make, and highlights the existence of deep seated discrimination and prejudice. The First Minister hoped it might change the Prime Minister's views on immigration and her hostile environment for immigrants. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Team photo with the First Minister

Here is (most of) the Publishing Scotland team plus Jenny Brown with the First Minister. From the left: Andrew May, Finance Officer; Vikki Reilly, Marketing and Events Manager; Lucy Feather, Member Services Manager; Jenny Brown, Jenny Brown Associates; Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister; Marion Sinclair, Chief Executive; and Joan Lyle, Training and Information Manager. Sadly Jess Walter, our Programme Support Officer missed out (but she did get a picture with Michael Palin later!). This is possibly the only picture Lucy appears in as she was our main organiser of the event and hardly stood still all day. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Booksellers Association team with the First Minister

From left: Emma Bradshaw, Alan Staton, Nicola Sturgeon, Meryl Halls and Naomi Gane. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Outdoors between sessions

It was so nice during the afternoon that some delegates headed outside during the breaks. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Bringing Communities Together Through Literacy

The penultimate session was a panel discussion on literacy and projects currently being undertaken by HarperCollins (HC) in Glasgow (and elsewhere) and the Publishers Association (PA). Pictured are speakers: Ben Hurd (HC), Sheena Barclay (HC), Ruth Howells (PA) and Katie Fulford (HC). Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Gina Miller

The consensus seems to be that this was one of our best conferences ever and it was drawn to a fitting close with an inspiring talk from Gina Miller - Canongate author, business woman and transparency activist. Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.
Jenny Brown and Gina Miller

It is only fitting that our last picture of the conference features Jenny Brown who was, as always, an integral part of the day's success. Here she is asking for questions for Gina Miller to answer. After that we all headed off for a well-deserved drink! Photo by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.

The Publishing Scotland annual conference is a key event in our calendar. It's a one day event with fees for delegates kept as low as possible.

The programme takes its focus from the challenges and opportunities facing our members as well as current trends and issues in the industry

Due to the pandemic, the most recent joint Publishing Scotland and Booksellers Association Annual Scottish Book Trade Conference #scotbookconf took place on Tuesday 26 February 2019 at Surgeons Quarter in Edinburgh.

The programme featured a wide range of speakers from the book trade, pitching sessions with booksellers and breakout sessions. The conference was followed by a drinks reception.

The photographs above of the day are by Sandy Young of Sandy Young Photography.

PROGRAMME

Conference Chair - Jenny Brown, Jenny Brown Associates
09.00: Registration and refreshments sponsored by Nielsen

09.30: Welcome from Publishing Scotland, the Booksellers Association and Conference Chair

09.40: Keynote speech sponsored by Bertrams - James Daunt, Waterstones

10.15: The Key Retail Market Trends 2017/18 - Steve Bohme, UK Research Director, Nielsen Book

11.00: Morning refreshments sponsored by Gardners

11.20: Separate sessions for publishers and booksellers

For publishers
1. Juliet Mabey, co-founder and Publisher of Oneworld Publications - The Challenges and Joys of Independence
2. Gavin Smith, Commissioning Executive for Comedy Drama and Entertainment BBC Scotland and Stuart Cosgrove television executive - Opportunities to go from Page to Screen

13.00: Lunch sponsored by Bertrams

14.00: Fever Pitch - publishers pitching to booksellers (pre-booked slots) sponsored by Gardners
OR workshop sessions for publishers:
1.  Society of Authors in Scotland with Merryn Glover and Caroline Dunford - Good stories or high sales?
2. Student session with Maria Vassilopoulos - The Secret History of Books - researching archives in publishing
3.  Nielsen Book with Jo Shaw - Digital Marketing with Book2Look
4.  Scottish Book Trust with Philippa Cochrane - Book Week Scotland and You - how and why to join the Conversation

15.00: Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland

15.45: Afternoon refreshments sponsored by PLS

16.15: Bringing Communities Together Through Literacy - HarperCollins diversity project with Sheena Barclay, MD Geo & Deputy MD Collins; Ben Hurd, Trade Marketing Director; Katie Fulford, Special Projects Director (all HarperCollins); and Ruth Howells, Publishers Association

16.45: Closing Keynote Gina Miller, Canongate author, businesswoman and transparency activist

17.15: Conference ends

Drinks reception sponsored by Batch LTD

Overall conference sponsorship by Ingram

DOWNLOAD FULL PROGRAMME
Download a PDF copy of the full 2019 programme.

PRESS RELEASE
Read the press release (PDF version)

Scottish Book Trade Conference 2019

Registration

Jenny Brown

Marion Sinclair

Meryl Halls

Nielsen

James Daunt

Packed house for the Keynote Speech

Steve Bohme

The Bookseller Team

James Daunt with fellow booksellers

Networking

Publisher talk

A chance to catch up

Juliet Mabey

Questions

Gavin Smith

Stuart Cosgrove

Booksellers Brains Trust sessions

Catching up at lunchtime

Fever Pitch cover vote

Pitching to booksellers

Maria Vassilipoulos

Eagerly awaiting the First Minister

Nicola Sturgeon

First Minister's Question Time

Team photo with the First Minister

Booksellers Association team with the First Minister

Outdoors between sessions

Bringing Communities Together Through Literacy

Gina Miller

Jenny Brown and Gina Miller

PROGRAMME