London Book Fair 2023
18 April @ 09:00 - 20 April @ 18:30 BST
Come and meet the team, chat to our advisors and management committee, and find out what we’re campaigning for this year.
You’ll find us on stand 1E50, as ‘Society of Authors’ in your programme, at the following times:
- Tue 18 April 2023: 09:00 – 18:30
- Wed 19 April 2023: 09:00 – 18:30
- Thu 20 April 2023: 09:00 – 17:00
Be sure to check out Author HQ for talks, networking and more.
Exclusive 50% offer code for SoA members
We have a very limited supply of half-price visitor tickets available to SoA members – £31.80 instead of £63.60 (including VAT) for all three days of the fair. CLICK HERE to book your ticket now and use the offer code SOA50. The code is only valid until Wednesday 5 April 2023.
Meet the SoA advisors
We’d love to meet you, whether you’re an SoA member, you’re just starting out as a writer or you’ve been in the industry for years. Our advisors will be on hand each day so you can talk to them in person.
Meet the SoA team
Members of the SoA team will be on the stand each day. Come and say hello, grab a snack and pick up one of our lovely pencils. You can meet staff from our different departments – from Prizes and Communications to Events and Membership.
Author HQ talk: How to Get a Badass Deal?
Tuesday 18 April | 15.45-16.30
Chaired by SoA’s Publishing Contracts Advisor, Johanna Clarke with Author Vaseem Khan and Senior Contracts Advisor, Theo Jones
This session will cover traditional, hybrid and self-publishing contracts as well as appearance fees. We will discuss how to assess what kind of deal you are being offered and the merits of each. What are the negotiating tactics you can use to get a better deal? How can you protect your rights? Including tips for looking at the small print and getting added value.
The Writers’ Summit: How Writers Can Avoid the Bear Traps – Copyright, Privacy and Communication
Wednesday 19 April | 09.30-10.00 | Chelsea Old Town Hall (Get directions)
A free-ranging discussion between Nicola Solomon, Chief Executive of the SoA, and Harriet Evans, bestselling author of 13 novels, former publisher and member of the SoA Management Committee. This session will cover the pitfalls to avoid when writing and submitting your work to publishers, common copyright, privacy and defamation issues in a modern world, how to manage a smooth relationship with editors and publishers and what to do if things go wrong.
Author HQ talk: Writing and Resilience: Navigating the Confidence and Mindset Challenges of Being a Writer
Thursday 20 April | 11.00-11.45
Chaired by SoA’s CEO, Nicola Solomon, Katie Khan from Penguin Random House, Mindset and Confidence Coach and Marketing Mentor for Authors, Kelly Weekes and Luan Goldie from HQ HarperCollins.
Whether you are a full-time or part-time writer, there are many different challenges you might face on your writing journey – from tackling procrastination, dealing with rejection, or needing a boost for low confidence and productivity. This panel of experts will share their best tricks and tips to help you be the best writer you can be.
Join our Translators Association in the Literary Translation Centre
The SoA Translators Association are once again co-programming events at the Literary Translation Centre. Visit the TA at the Literary Translation Centre, stand 3E100, which provides a hub for learning, debate and networking for all those passionate about the art and business of literary translation.
Access and Accessibility in Translation: Who Gets to Translate and Who Doesn’t?
Tuesday 18 April | 14.20-15.05
Chaired by Translator, Nichola Smalley with French Translator Jeffrey Zuckermann, Jen Calleja and Jai White.
Beside mastering at least two languages and being a keen reader, working as a literary translator also involves making contacts in the (London-based) publishing world, understanding its networks and codes, engaging in the freelance hustle over contracts and opportunities, and having a thick skin through the ensuing various setbacks While this is difficult enough for most translators, there are additional barriers for translators with mental or physical disabilities, for thosefrom working-class backgrounds and those without contacts. On this panel, we discuss some of the hurdles for translators from underrepresented backgrounds at different stages in their careers; find out what ways they have found to succeed in their chosen careers, what communities exist, and how other players in the publishing ecosystem can do their bit to improve access for a more diverse group of literary translators.
Money, Money, Money
Wednesday 19 April | 13.15-14.00
Chaired by Translator, Daniel Hahn with publisher, Katharina Bielenberg, Sam McDowell and editor, Ellie Steel.
This is the first part of a double-bill event about money. But you’ll have to wait till the second part before we’ll look at translator remuneration because we first need to examine the context in which translators are working. Most people in the sector would agree in the abstract that translators should be better paid, but where does/should the money come from? What is it presently being spent on? Does the winner take it all? Is there enough, generally, in the system overall? For this part of the event, a translator will ask publishers about their business models for publishing translations and try to get a sense of the bigger picture. Oh, and we will be discussing actual numbers.
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme
Wednesday 19 April | 14.20-15.05
Chaired by Literary Translator, Vineet Lal with Translators Jamie Lee Searle, Ruth Ahmedzai and Frank Wynne.
Having considered the context in which translators work and the constraints at play, it’s now time to ask about translators’ own remuneration within that context. What constitutes fair pay? And who – and what factors – should determine it? How much work, and of what kind, is it reasonable to expect translators to do for free (or as good as)? How realistic is earning a living as a full-time translator? (And is that the right thing to aspire to, anyway?) For a range of reasons, not everyone feels comfortable discussing their own circumstances or challenging what feel like some established norms; but this panel of translators – chaired, this time, by a publisher – will discuss frankly.
Since March 2020, the Authors’ Contingency Fund has distributed over £1 million in small grants to authors facing financial hardship due to COVID-19. With at least 57% of authors facing financial losses during the pandemic, we have helped people struggling financially due to contractual, employment and event cancellations, others who have lost income due to illness, and others prevented from working because of caring responsibilities. As the health crisis continues, applications for grants continue to come in, and our emergency funds are running low. So, if you are in a position to help, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing financial hardship, please click here to see if we can help.Financial support for authors in need through the health crisis and beyond
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