Our annual gathering of writers and publishing professionals
PUBLISHING INDUSTRY DAY: TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Saturday 26 April 2025
New Writing South’s Publishing Industry Day brings together some of the best agents, publishers and experts in the industry to offer insights into the publishing process. The day is designed to demystify the industry, to provide insightful and practical information and give delegates the chance to put their questions directly to industry professionals. It is invaluable for anyone interested in getting an agent, getting published and setting up their author brand.
This year’s Publishing Industry Day will explore the Rights of a Writer, with panelists from Society of Authors, ALCS and Writers Guild. An Independent Publishing panel includes Muswell Press, Peepal Tree Press and Hera Books. Agents are represented from agencies including C & W Agency, Seventh Agency, Andrew Nurnberg Associates and AM Heath. Competitions and Prizes will be discussed by guests from the Polari Prize and The Literary Consultancy and Jhalak Prize.
Low cost places available
We believe the price of our courses should never be a barrier to your learning. If you are unable to pay for a place on this event, contact us to apply for a bursary place.
Full Programme
9.30-10am
Registration with tea and coffee
10 – 10.30am
Opening Keynote: Anna Ganley, Chief Executive, The Society of Authors
10.30 – 11.30am
What Are Your Rights? panel with Anna Ganley (Chief Executive, The Society of Authors), John Sailing (The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain), Barbara Hayes (Chief Executive Officer, ALCS), chaired by Sile Edwards (Literary Agent, Andrew Nurnberg Associates)
Writing can often feel like a solitary pursuit, but you’re not alone—and there’s plenty of guidance available to help navigate your career. How does a trade union for writers work, and should you join one? What should you watch out for in a contract? How can you ensure you’re paid fairly for your writing? This panel, hosted by literary agent Silé Edwards, will explore the practicalities of building a sustainable writing career. Gain insights on earning a living as a writer, avoiding common pitfalls faced by emerging authors, and making informed decisions about your professional journey.
11.30am-12pm
Comfort break
12-1pm
Independent Publishers panel with Sarah Beal (Publisher and Editorial Director, Muswell Press), Kadjia Sesay (Co-Director of Inscribe Writers Development Programme, Peepal Tree Press), Keshini Naidoo (Co-Founder and Publishing Director, Hera), chaired by Umi Sinha (Author and Director, The Writing Clinic)
Publishing in 2025 is more vibrant and diverse than ever, with independent publishers leading the charge in breaking boundaries and championing fresh voices. This panel delves into the world of publishing beyond the big headlines. Discover the kinds of stories these trailblazers are eager to share, gain insights into the realities of their business, and learn how to get noticed by innovative publishers seeking bold new talent. Whether you’re an emerging writer or just curious about the indie publishing scene, this session is your gateway to understanding what’s shaping the independent literary landscape today.
1-2pm
Lunch
2-3pm
Agents panel with Joe Sedgwick (Seventh Agency), Tom Killingbeck (AM Heath), Gyamfia Osei (Andrew Nurnberg Associates), Sarah Ballard (C&W), chaired by Ruth Harrison (Spread the Word).
For many writers, securing an agent is the first major step toward publication—but finding the right one can feel like a minefield. This insightful panel, hosted by Ruth Harrison, brings together agents from some of the UK’s leading literary agencies to demystify the process. Learn what agents are really looking for in a submission, what grabs their attention, and the common missteps that land writers in the “no” pile. Whether you’re preparing to query or simply curious about the industry, this session offers invaluable advice straight from the experts.
3-3.30pm
Comfort break
3.30-4.30pm
Competitions and Prizes panel with Sunny Singh (Founder, Jhalak Prize), Paul Burston (Founder of The Polari Prize), Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow (writer and freelance editor longlisted for Booker Prize), chaired by Aki Schilz (Director, The Literary Consultancy)
Competitions and prizes are often seen as the ultimate pathway to agents, publications, and future success for writers. But what does that journey look like in practice? In this panel, chaired by Aki Schilz, gain valuable insights into how these opportunities support early-career writers. Explore the realities behind selecting writers for shortlists and prize wins, and discover the tangible impact that winning a competition can have on a writer’s career and creative journey.
4.30-5.30pm
Networking drinks at the Colonade Bar with the first drink on us.,
About the participants
Sarah Ballard studied English Language and Literature at Oxford University and Publishing at Oxford Brookes University before starting her publishing career in editorial at Sceptre, Hodder & Stoughton. She was In House Editor at PFD from 2000, working across the agency’s client list to develop and support every sort of writing, and particularly with the legendary agent Pat Kavanagh. She began working solely as a literary agent in my own right in 2008 with the creation of United Agents, which she helped to establish, and where she worked for 16 years. She has held the position of Treasurer to the Association of Authors’ Agents and been shortlisted for the British Book Awards Agent of the Year.
In 2024 she was delighted to be invited to join the team at C&W.
Sarah Beal is publisher and editorial director at Muswell Press, the company she co-owns with her sister Kate. Muswell Press is a small independent, publishing biography, crime, contemporary fiction and lgbtq titles. Sarah was a director of a Bloomsbury Publishing for over 20 years where she worked with authors from Margaret Atwood to JK Rowling, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to Khaled Hosseni.
Paul Burston is the author of six novels and five non-fiction books and the editor of two short story collections. He hosts the award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon Polari and is the founder of The Polari Prize book awards for LGBTQ+ writers. In 2016 he featured in the British Council’s Global List of ‘33 visionary people promoting freedom, equality and LGBT rights around the world.’ His memoir We Can Be Heroes is published by Little A and has been described by Russell T. Davies as “brutally honest” , by Bernardine Evaristo as “a compelling and hugely enjoyable memoir about a fearless life lived to the full” and by ES Magazine as “probably the gay book of the year” Born in York and raised in South Wales, he now divides his time between London and Hastings.
Silé Edwards joined Andrew Nurnberg Associates as an agent in 2022 bringing with her the dynamic and varied list of commercial fiction and accessible non-fiction authors that had built in just two years. Her publishing career started after various internships in publishing houses, with a Communications and Marketing role at the Publishers Association before she moved to the books department at Curtis Brown. In 2021, Silé was named a Trailblazer for her innovation, flair and ambition in the book industry and she regularly writes comment pieces on the industry for The Bookseller.
Anna Ganley is Chief Executive of the Society of Authors – the UK trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators. Anna is responsible for overseeing the running of the organisation and driving the SoA’s mission of empowering and supporting authors. Anna is also Chair of the Creators’ Rights Alliance, board member of the International Authors’ Forum and she sits on the London Book Fair Advisory Board.
Kadija George Sesay is a Sierra Leonean/British scholar and literary activist. She is the founder/publisher of SABLE LitMag. She works with a broad range of publishers – independent and international brands as an author and editor. She is the co-director of Inscribe Writers Development Programme for Peepal Tree Press where she commissions anthologies, such as Glimpse, a Black British speculative fiction anthology. She is the editor of several other anthologies including Encounters with Baldwin (Aurora Metro). She has published her own poetry, short stories and essays, the latest in New
Daughters of Africa. Her poetry collection is Irki; her forthcoming collection, The Modern Pan-Africanist’s Journey. She is co-founder of Mboka Festival of Arts Culture and Sport and founder of the AfriPoeTree app and founder of the International Black Speculative Writers Festival. She is on the board of African Studies Association (UK) and co-chair of Yaram Arts. She has judged several writing competitions and is the resident judge for the SI Leeds Literary Prize. She has received awards and fellowships for her work in the creative arts.
Ruth Harrison is the Director of Spread the Word, London’s literature development agency. She has been Director of Apples and Snakes, a literature development officer and programme manager at The Reading Agency. She is passionate about widening people’s engagement with writers and writing and supporting writing talent. Focused on opening up opportunities alongside developing and building awareness of new voices, her work has equity and access at its heart.
Barbara Hayes started her career in direct marketing. Having spent seven years in the US designing and marketing properties, she returned to the UK to work within the International Department of a major multinational HR consultancy. Barbara joined ALCS in January 2004 where she focussed initially on HR. She then took over responsibility for Communications and Membership, looking at ways in which ALCS raises its profile amongst the membership, potential members and the public in general and devising successful marketing and membership recruitment strategies. She has also been involved with the work of the All-Party Writers Group, seeking opportunities to bring issues regarding writers to the attention of the appropriate parliamentarians. Barbara represented ALCS for a number of years on the Board of The Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) or Société des Auteurs Audiovisuels. In November 2015 Barbara became Chair of the SAA.
Tom Killingbeck specialises in non-fiction, seeking fresh, expert perspectives on history, science, nature, politics, big ideas, smart thinking, economics, health, and the arts. He is particularly interested in writers who can open readers’ minds, improve their lives and help them see the world differently, whether that be through untold histories, ground-breaking science, or revelatory journalism.
He joined AM Heath as a literary agent in 2022, and was listed as a Bookseller Rising Star the following year. His first deal was for Zeinab Badawi’s An African History of Africa, which sold for six figures and went on to become an instant Sunday Times bestseller.
He has worked with authors who have won or been shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize, the Nero Book Awards, the Royal Society Science Book Prize, the Telegraph Sports Book Award, the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, the Wainwright Prize, the PEN Ackerley Prize and the Penderyn Music Book Prize.
Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow is a writer and freelance editor. She holds first-class undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in English and American Literature and a PhD on the Contemporary Novel. She has presented her doctoral research on autism and literature internationally and continues to present and speak on these subjects. Her debut novel All the Little Bird-Hearts is published by Tinder press and was longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize. The panel of judges described the book as a ‘lyrical and poignant debut novel which offers a deft exploration of motherhood, vulnerability and the complexity of human relationships.’ The following year All the Little Bird-Hearts received the Author’s Club Best First Novel award. Viktoria is currently writing her second novel.
Keshini Naidoo is the Co-Founder and Publishing Director of Hera. Having started her career at Waterstones and Book Club Associates, she was one of the founder members of staff at Avon/HarperCollins before moving to Darley Anderson Literary Agency and then Bookouture.
She co-founded Hera with Lindsey Mooney in 2018, working under the mission statement and guiding principle of being ‘unashamedly commercial, always inclusive’. Hera was acquired by the Canelo Publishing Group in 2021, now a division of Dorling Kindersley. Since Hera’s inception, Keshini has published authors covering a wide range of genres, from psychological thrillers, detective novels and wartime sagas, to commercial series romance and contemporary romcoms.
Gyamfia Osei began her career as a Bookseller at Waterstones, before moving to Amsterdam to work as a Sales Director at an international publishing company. Returning to London, she began building a dynamic list of authors at The Good Literary Agency, before joining Andrew Nurnberg Associates as a Literary Agent in 2023. At ANA, Gyamfia is focusing on developing the agency’s list of children’s authors, from middle grade up to New Adult, while also representing a bespoke list of commercial adult fiction and narrative non-fiction. In the children’s space, Gyamfia would love to find contemporary stories that are full of heart and joy-driven books that celebrate kids from underrepresented backgrounds (think B.B. Alston, Kimberly Whittam and Ann Liang). Funny middle-grade books, YA/NA across all genres, boy-led stories in the Stormbreaker space, and teen projects (for fans of Steady For This and Glow Up Lara Bloom) are at the top of her wish list this year. Among other accolades, her authors have been selected for the BookBuzz and Empathy Lab lists, as well as shortlisted for The British Book Awards, The Sports Book Awards and UKLA Book Awards. Gyamfia was named as a Bookseller Rising Star in 2024.
John Sailing has worked for the WGGB for nearly 8 years and is responsible for leading the casework team, advising members on contractual and copyright issues. John also plays a key role in WGGB and joint union campaigns, leading on the equality, diversity and inclusion work of the union and organising members across the country.
Aki Schilz (Hon. FRSL) is the Director of The Literary Consultancy, the UK’s longest-running consultancy for writers. She is a judge for various literary prizes including the Bridport First Novel Award and the Creative Future Writing Awards. Aki has featured in the Bookseller 150, a list of the most influential figures in UK publishing, twice: in 2020 and 2021. She is the Founder of the #BookJobTransparency campaign and has been recognised by the Kim Scott Walwyn and h100 awards for her work to improve representation and accessibility in the literature sector. Aki is also the founder of the Rebecca Swift Foundation, a charity for women poets, and co-Director of the Being A Writer programme for writers that focuses on creativity, resilience and wellbeing. Through TLC Aki works with corporate publishers to run training sessions focussed on how to establish more ethical editorial frameworks. She is the current Vice Chair of the international human rights charity English PEN.
Joe Sedgwick has supported writers professionally for ten years. He began work as a Literary Agent at Seventh Agency in 2024 and is actively looking for non-fiction and literary fiction from global voices and writers who are under-represented in the UK publishing industry. He has a Publishing MA from Kingston University, is on the Board of Trustees at Spread the Word, and also works as Head of Writing Services at The Literary Consultancy. Joe is now actively building a list at Seventh Agency, and wants to see expert-led writing that presents a vibrant, thoughtful, and unique perspective of the world.
Sunny Singh is a writer, academic, public intellectual, and a champion for decolonisation and inclusion across all aspects of society, and is the founder of the Jhalak Prize for Book of the Year by a Writer of Colour.
She is the author of three critically acclaimed novels, Hotel Arcadia, With Krishna’s Eyes, and Nani’s Book of Suicides, a study of Amitabh Bachchan for the BFI’s film star series, and the recent, A Bollywood State of Mind: A Journey into the World’s Biggest Cinema. Her next book is a collection of stories linked by the theme of war. She is currently working on a new novel, and a non-fiction book about writing ethically.
Sunny lives in London where she is Professor of Creative Writing and Inclusion in the Arts at the London Metropolitan University.
Umi Sinha’s first novel Belonging (Myriad 2015), set in India and Sussex in the colonial period, was published in the UK, Poland, Portugal and India, and shortlisted for the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award and the Waverton Good Read Award, among others. Her second novel, The Fallen, set in WWII Italy, is with agent Candida Lacey at Pearlman & Lacey.
Umi has taught creative writing at Sussex and Brighton Universities, and on the Creative Writing Programme at New Writing South and ran an oral storytelling club, The GuestHouse Storytellers, for 16 years. She also runs Writing Clinic, a mentoring service for writers. She is a profiled writer on Writers Mosaic, a showcase of literary voices and cultures set up by the Royal Literary Fund, and is currently a volunteer mentor for writers in Gaza through wearenotnumbers.org
