Skip to main content

Programme

You can download the PDF version of this programme here.

Scottish Book Trade Conference Programme

Central Hall, Edinburgh – Thursday 18 May 2023
Conference Chair: Jenny Brown, Literary Agent, Jenny Brown Associates

9.00: PITCHING breakfast for publisher members and booksellers (1 hour) – Sponsored by Waterstones (Please note that the pitching slots are now full and there is a waiting list. Publishing Scotland members can contact Vikki Reilly to be added to the waiting list).

9.30: ARRIVAL AND REFRESHMENTS – Sponsored by Nielsen BookData

10.15: CONFERENCE OPENS Welcome from PS, the BA, and Chair

10.25: BOOKS AND CONSUMERS SESSION What’s the state of the book-buying nation. Steve Bohme, UK Research Director, Nielsen BookData.

11.10: FIRST KEYNOTE Robin Ince, author, broadcaster, comedian and bookshop champion – Sponsored by Gardners

11.40: MORNING TEA – Sponsored by Above the Treeline

12.10: EDINBURGH BOOKSELLING CHAMPS, a collaboration success story.
Chaired by Tom Tivnan (The Bookseller) with Marie Moser (The Edinburgh Bookshop), Jim Taylor (The Lighthouse Bookshop), Adam Barclay (Argonaut Books), Duncan Furness (Toppings Edinburgh), and David McCormack (Waterstones).

12.45: SECOND KEYNOTE Tim Whiting, Managing Director, Bonnier Books UK – Sponsored by Askews

13.15: LUNCH – Sponsored by Ingram

14.15: PUBLISHER AND BOOKSELLER SESSIONS 

For publishers – Digital diligence: What’s the ‘state of play’? Where to spend our time? Rachel May Quin, Marketing Consultant 

For booksellers – Safe Harbour: Making Your Bookshop a Destination 

15.00: LET’S DEBATE: The value of books chaired by Katy Lockwood-Holmes (Floris Books), with Lewis Dawson (Bookspeed), Sally Pattle (Far from the Madding Crowd), Mary Paulson Ellis (Society of Authors in Scotland), and Kevin Duffy (Bluemoose Books).

15.45: AFTERNOON TEA – Sponsored by BatchLine POS

16.15: SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTION a conversation with Kate Chambers (Environmental Social and Governance consultant) and Rob Lovell (Scottish Mountaineering Press)

16.45: A FOCUS ON CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING Screening of a specially commissioned film followed by discussion with Melanie Ramdarshan Bold (University of Glasgow, Programme Leader in Children’s Literature) in conversation with Alan Windram (Little Door Books)

17.30: CONFERENCE ENDS Chair’s notes / close 

17.30–19.00: DRINKS RECEPTION Sponsored by PLS Ltd

Our printed programme is printed and sponsored by Tempus.

National Book Tokens is a Bookseller Delegate Sponsor.

Ticket Prices and booking

  • In-person: £110+VAT (£132) for Publishing Scotland members; £121+VAT (£145.20) for non-members
  • Virtual: £77+VAT (£92.40) for Publishing Scotland members; £88+VAT (£105.60) for non-members
  • Students: £33+VAT (£39.60). If you are a publishing student at Edinburgh Napier or Stirling, please ask your course leader about attending.

We are offering a discount for member publishers looking to send multiple team members. You can buy one in-person ticket at full price, and then add more via the additional tickets option at a discount.

If you are from an under-represented background or have been impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, we may be able to offer you a FREE digital-only place at the conference. The number of places is limited, so please contact Lucy Feather as soon as possible if you are interested.

Accessibility

We aim to make our conference as accessible as possible so please let us know on the booking form, or ask in advance, if you have any queries about the venue and other matters.