Hilary Mantel and Fay Weldon: The Courage of Women Writers The Society of Authors 2015-03-03 | Writers in Conversation is a series of talks organised by the Society of Authors, which feature members of the SoA Council and other writers discussing the business of writing. This short video clip shows Hilary Mantel and Fay Weldon discussing the courage of women writers, and is from a talk that took place on Wednesday 3rd December 2014.
The Society of Authors Awards 2024 - with Vanessa Fox OLoughlin and Kate Mosse The Society of Authors 2024-06-21 | A live celebration from Southwark Cathedral of winners of the 2024 SoA Awards.Presented by the chair of the SoA board Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin with a keynote from author and founder of the Women's Prize for Fiction Kate Mosse.Read about the shortlistees: authr.uk/SoAwards24
The Society of Authors Translation Prizes - from the British Library The Society of Authors 2024-02-07 | A live celebration from the British Library of winners of the 2023 Translation Prizes.Read about the shortlistees: www2.societyofauthors.org/2023/12/01/announcing-the-translation-prizes-2023-shortlists
The Society of Authors Awards 2023 - with Joanne Harris and Val McDermid The Society of Authors 2023-06-29 | A live celebration from Southwark Cathedral of winners of the 2023 SoA Awards.Presented by Joanne Harris with a keynote from Val McDermid.Read about the shortlistees: authr.uk/SoAwards23
The Society of Authors Translation Prizes 2022 The Society of Authors 2023-02-09 | A live celebration from the British Library of the winners of the 2022 SoA Translation Prizes.Presented by Robyn Law.Buy the shortlisted books: uk.bookshop.org/lists/translation-prizes-2022-shortlisted
The Society of Authors Awards 2022 - with Joanne Harris and Lemn Sissay The Society of Authors 2022-06-02 | A live celebration from Southwark Cathedral of the 32 winners of the 2022 SoA Awards.Presented by Joanne Harris and Lemn Sissay.Read about the winners: authr.uk/2022-SoA-Winners
SoA Translation Prizes 2021 The Society of Authors 2022-02-10 | Join us at 6:00PM GMT on 10 February 2022 as we announce the winners of the 2021 Translation Prizes:- Bernard Shaw Prize (Swedish)- Goethe-Institut Award (German)- Premio Valle Inclán (Spanish)- Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize (Arabic)- Schlegel-Tieck Prize (German)- Scott Moncrieff Prize (French)- TA First Translation Prize (any language)- Vondel Prize (Dutch or Flemish)
SoA local groups - find your local author community The Society of Authors 2022-01-11 | More than a third of SoA members live in an area served by an existing local group. Find out what is happening near you, or let us help you start your own community.www.societyofauthors.org/local
New Directions in Bookselling The Society of Authors 2021-02-06 | Broadcast live on 6 February 2021 in conjunction with the SoA's Children’s Writers & Illustrators Group.From traditional bricks and mortar to online retailing and travelling carnivals, David Prescott (Blackwell’s), Jasper Sutcliffe (Bookshop.org) and Samantha Williams (Book Love) discussed the challenges currently facing booksellers, how retailers work with publishers and authors, what customers are buying, and exciting innovations in the trade.Chaired by Dawn Finch (CWIG Chair).###The line-up...Dawn Finch – Author and CWIG ChairDawn Finch has worked with children’s books and reading for over 30 years. Dawn has both written and contributed to dozens of non-fiction books for children, and her bestselling books about prehistoric Britain are used in most primary schools. Dawn also writes fiction for young readers and has written about historical fiction for children and young readers. She began her career in public libraries before moving on to children’s and school libraries where she specialised in the development and support of young readers. She is an active and outspoken campaigner for libraries and literacy and is a Trustee and former President of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). Dawn understands the challenges faced by booksellers as she is one of a small team running a community bookshop. Orb’s is an essential part of a farming community town in rural Aberdeenshire as it is a 60-mile round trip to the next nearest bookshop.www.dawnfinch.co.ukwww.witter.com/dawnafinchwww.instagram.com/neepydawn---David Prescott – Blackwell’sDavid is the Chief Executive of Blackwell’s – the UK’s largest independent bookseller. Founded in 1879 in Oxford, it now trades from 28 shops across the high street, universities and online. In a 25-year career with Blackwell’s, David has held a variety of roles across the company, starting in the goods-in department, as well as shop floor, management and regional roles – before being made Managing Director for Blackwell’s in January 2011, and Chief Executive for Blackwell’s Limited in May 2013. He has also taken an active role in the UK Booksellers Association as Chair of the Academic and Professional Bookselling Group and was Vice President of the Booksellers Association from 2011-17.www.blackwells.co.ukwww.twitter.com/BlackwellBookswww.instagram.com/blackwellbookswww.youtube.com/user/BlackwellOnline---Jasper Sutcliffe – UK Bookshop.org Jasper Sutcliffe is the Publishing and Affiliate Manager for Bookshop.org in the UK. Jasper was previously the Head of Buying at Foyles where he worked for 21 years, starting on the shop floor in the Fiction Dept progressing through the business to the position of Head of Buying.uk.bookshop.orgwww.twitter.com/bookshop_org_ukwww.instagram.com/bookshop_org_uk---Samantha Williams – Founder, Book LoveAfter 15 years of working in the media and with no publishing experience whatsoever, the frustrations Samantha encountered regarding the lack of diversity and cultural representation in TV and in books motivated her to create Book Love. The award-winning book carnival, now into its fourth year, sources global multicultural content for both children and adults. Book Love travels to schools, markets, festivals and places of work up and down the country helping teachers and people find the best culturally diverse books and toys available.www.thisisbooklove.comwww.twitter.com/thisisbooklovewww.instagram.com/thisisbooklove_www.gofundme.com/f/quotbooklove-in-a-boxquot-free-for-all-teachers
Afternoon Tea with... Jack Thorne The Society of Authors 2021-01-28 | In our first Afternoon Tea of 2021, we dropped in on screenwriter and playwright Jack Thorne. He spoke to Theo Jones, SoA contracts advisor and co-administrator of the Scriptwriters Group.Grab a cuppa and find out more about Jack’s prolific career, writing and producing His Dark Materials (2019), The Aeronauts (2019) and Enola Holmes (2020), as well as his work on stage plays and TV shows. Jack will offer insights into his work and creative routine, and the impact of the pandemic on life and writing.The event was hosted in conjunction with the Royal Society of Literature (RSL).The line-up...Jack Thorne – Screenwriter and playwrightJack Thorne is a writer of film, television and theatre. In film, his credits include Wonder, The Aeronauts, Radioactive and The Secret Garden. His television work includes National Treasure, Kiri, Don’t Take My Baby, The Virtues, His Dark Materials and The Eddy. For theatre, his plays include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, When You Cure Me, Hope, A Christmas Carol and The End of History… Jack is a patron of Graeae Theatre Company and an associate artist of the Old Vic Theatre. Theo Jones – Contracts AdvisorAdvises members on contracts and issues, particularly those working across film, TV, audio and for the stage. Co-administrator of the Scriptwriters Group. He continues to enjoy the growth in new writing for the audio space but can’t wait for the theatres to re-open. Theo is currently reading the cuddly books Fuzzy Bee and Cache-Cache (or ‘Hide and Seek’) with his six-month-old son, the latter in the original French.About the Royal Society of LiteratureFounded in 1820, the Royal Society of Literature (RSL) is the UK’s charity for the advancement of literature. We act as a voice for the value of literature, engage people in appreciating literature, and encourage and honour writers. www.rsliterature.org
Meet the Publisher: HarperNorth The Society of Authors 2021-01-26 | Meet the HarperNorth team and find out what they’re looking for in 2021.Hosted by our Authors North Group, we were joined by HarperNorth's Publishing Director Genevieve Pegg and Head of Marketing Alice Murphy-Pyle to talk to about what makes a good submission, how they work with authors, and what they’re most excited about for 2021.HarperNorth is the new Manchester-based outpost of HarperCollins www.harpernorth.co.uk.
Wellbeing for Authors The Society of Authors 2021-01-21 | Wellbeing: what does it mean to you and how can you can experience more of it?In this 45-minute session, Dr. Richard Pile focuses on how to get the best out of your sleep, nutrition, movement, relaxation and connection as an author – including the importance of sleep and routine for concentration, moving more throughout the day and connecting with others.About Dr. Richard PileDr Richard Pile was raised a proud, slightly damp, Mancunian. He then trained in Nottingham and Oxfordshire before becoming a GP partner in St Albans. He has a diploma in cardiology as well as lifestyle medicine and believes that everyone can benefit from practising it for themselves, whether young or old, doctor or patient.Richard has seen a lot of changes in over twenty years working for the NHS. He is fascinated by what it means to truly feel well and is passionate about helping people to achieve this as individuals and as a community. He believes too much medicine can be harmful for us and we all need the right dose of sleep, movement, food, relaxation, connections and purpose in life. His first book, Fit for Purpose, is about wellbeing, with particular emphasis on meaning and purpose in life. It is due for publication by Harper Inspire in April 2021.
The role of a literary agent The Society of Authors 2020-12-23 | What do literary agents do – and do I need one?In collaboration with the Association of Authors’ Agents (AAA), the SoA’s new network for Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses is holding this 45-minute event for anyone interested in learning about literary agents. This session comprises a 15-minute presentation from the AAA’s Charlotte Seymour, followed by a Q&A lead by Claire Wade.Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses is a new SoA member-led peer support network. It aims to break feelings of isolation by connecting authors facing common experiences, in an online community that offers continuing professional and personal support.The Association of Authors’ Agents (AAA) is a British voluntary trade association whose members are all UK-based literary agencies. The AAA exists to provide a forum for member agencies to discuss industry matters, to uphold a code of good practice amongst members, and to provide a collective voice for UK literary agencies in public affairs and the media.Who is this session for?This event is for anyone who wants to learn more about the role of a literary agent and to understand if seeking a literary agent is right for them. This is also for anyone who has questions about agents in relation to their disability or chronic illness.Programme5 minutes – Introduction from Claire Wade, co-founder of the Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illness Network15 minutes – Presentation on literary agents from Charlotte Seymour, secretary for The Association of Authors Agents20 minutes – Q&A session with questions submitted by members of the Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses Network3 minutes – Additional questions from the audience2 minutes – Claire Wade closes eventThe line-upCharlotte Seymour – Secretary, AAA; Literary Agent, Andrew Nurnberg AssociatesCharlotte Seymour is Secretary of the Association of Authors’ Agents and an agent at Andrew Nurnberg Associates, where she represents a variety of fiction and non-fiction, including crime and thriller, literary fiction, popular science and cookery. She also handles English-language rights for international authors from countries ranging from Italy to Korea. Claire Wade (Chair) – AuthorClaire Wade is one of the founding members of the Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses Network. She won the Good Housekeeping First Novel Competition with her debut The Choice. Claire has ME and was bed-bound for six years – her only escape being through her imagination. She now writes about women breaking free from the constraints of their lives, a subject she’s deeply familiar with.
2020 - the year we did not ask for The Society of Authors 2020-12-23 | A bitter-sweet short walk through 2020 - with Philip Pullman, Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman, Inua Ellams, Daljit Nagra, Tracy Chevalier, Dapo Adeola, Hannah Berry and more.The strangeness, the milestones and the moments that inspired us in this extraordinary year.THANK YOU...To all the individuals and organisations who have helped us make a difference in 2020Members of the SoA Management Committee, Council and charity trusteesCommittee members and local group organisersFounding members of the Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses Network and the Comics Creators Network Our many contributors, presenters, prize judges and grant assessorsOur partner organisations – ALCS, RLF, RSL, English PEN, the Booksellers Association, the Publishers Association, Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, and many othersThe journalists and media outlets who have helped us tell our storyAll the individuals and organisations who have donated so generously to the Authors’ Contingency FundOur 11,455 members for continuing to support us and challenge us to be betterAnd to the SoA staff team who have transformed what we do and how we do it this year.2021We’re ready.---Music byChristian RaabWritten & directed byMartin Reed
How to create a marketing strategy for online book promotion The Society of Authors 2020-12-16 | Whether you’re a debut author or a seasoned pro, this session from Anna Caig will help give your book promotion a real boost – by creating and delivering a marketing strategy.This session will equip you with an overview of good strategic marketing principles, from targeting audiences to finding the most effective communication channels and setting key messages. It will also include plenty of practical advice and tips for creating engaging digital content. We cover the dos and don'ts of a successful online book launch – and look at effective book promotion well beyond the initial launch.What will this workshop cover?What is a marketing strategy?How to set meaningful objectives and use them to focus your book promotionHow to target different audiences How to reach these audiences, including thinking about less crowded and competitive channels What social media platforms will work for you?Creating online content that will engage your audiencesThe dos and don’ts of a successful online book launch. The line-upAnna Caig – Communications specialistAnna Caig has worked in communications for 17 years, specialising in media relations, reputation management and strategic marketing campaigns. She began her training business to support writers to build their brand and reach more readers. She now works with traditionally, indie and self-published writers, as well as helping creatives in any discipline find a wider audience.Anna tutors on the MA Journalism course at the University of Sheffield and is the former Head of Communications at Sheffield City Council. She writes crime and historical fiction, and reviews books for the Sheffield Telegraph and on her blog Murder Underground Broke The Camel’s Back.
Afternoon Tea with Dean Atta The Society of Authors 2020-12-16 | Grab a cuppa and get to know writer and poet Dean Atta in conversation with SoA’s Membership Manager, Nadia Bonini. Our last Afternoon Tea of 2020 – Dean talks poetry, offers insights into his work and creative routine, and how he is adapting to life online.Programme2 minutes – Welcome from Nadia Bonini, SoA’s Membership Manager5-10 minutes – Introduction from Dean Atta for a glimpse into his creative routine10 minutes – Advice for authors on staying creative and connected5 minutes – Dean Atta will read an extract from The Black Flamingo10-15 minutes – Q&A from audience SoA @ Home Fundraising Bookshop The line-upDean Atta – Writer, PoetDean Atta was named as one of the most influential LGBT people in the UK by the Independent on Sunday. His debut poetry collection, I Am Nobody’s Nigger, was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize. He has a Philosophy and English BA from the University of Sussex and a Writer/Teacher MA from Goldsmiths, University of London. His debut novel, The Black Flamingo, was awarded the 2020 Stonewall Book Award and shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, YA Book Prize and Jhalak Prize. Dean is based in Glasgow and is Co-director of the Scottish BAME Writers Network. Nadia Bonini – SoA Membership ManagerNadia manages day-to-day administration of the membership department and deals with member queries. She is also secretary of the Poetry and Spoken Word Group (PSWG).
Industry Insider – The Brave New World of Digital Theatre The Society of Authors 2020-12-16 | What is the role of digital in the future of theatre?Join author and playwright Barney Norris, Daniel Evans (artistic director, Chichester Festival Theatre), Mojisola Elufowoju (founder/artistic director, Utopia Theatre) and Rupert Goold (artistic director, Almeida Theatre) as they explore the role and the potential of digital in the future of the theatre.We discussed digital production and streaming both as a way of sharing work and as a distinct artistic medium for the theatre. We looked at Chichester Festival Theatre’s recent experiences creating a live-streamed production of Sarah Kane’s Crave, the Sheffield Theatre/Utopia Theatre co-production of Here’s What She Said To Me by Oladipo Agboluaje and the Almeida’s broadcast of Mike Bartlett’s play Albion on the BBC. Programme2 minutes – Welcome and introductions by Sophia A Jackson, SoA Events Manager and Co-Administrator, Scriptwriters Group.30 minutes – Panel discussion with Barney Norris (chair), Daniel Evans, Mojisola Elufowoju and Rupert Goold15 minutes – Questions from the audience / sent in advance2 minutes – Summary and closing comments from Barney Norris The line-upDaniel Evans – Artistic Director, Chichester Festival TheatreDaniel Evans was born in South Wales and trained as an actor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 2016, Daniel was appointed Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) following some 7 years as the Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres. At CFT Daniel directed This is My Family, Flowers for Mrs Harris, Me and My Girl, Quiz, Fiddler on the Roof and Forty Years On. At Sheffield Theatres (2009-16) he directed An Enemy of the People, Racing Demon, Othello, My Fair Lady, Macbeth, The Full Monty and others. As an actor, he appeared in Company, The Pride, Cloud Nine and The Tempest. In the West End, he has directed Quiz, Show Boat, The Full Monty and American Buffalo. Daniel is a Fellow of the Guildhall School and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University in 2012. Daniel is also co-founder of Act For Change. Mojisola Elufowoju – Artistic Director, Utopia TheatreMojisola Elufowoju is the Founder and Artistic Director of Utopia Theatre, a leading African theatre company. She was Staff Director at The National Theatre, working on Three Sisters by Inua Ellams. She is a recipient of the 2017 Opera Awards Foundation bursary and a founding member of Mosaic Opera Collective. Rupert Goold – Artistic Director, Almeida TheatreRupert Goold CBE is Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre, prior to which he was Artistic Director of Headlong Theatre and Associate Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has twice been the recipient of the Olivier, Critics’ Circle and Evening Standard awards for Best Director.In 2014 Rupert directed the World Premiere of Mike Bartlett’s new play King Charles III at the Almeida. Following a sold-out run, King Charles III transferred to the Wyndham’s Theatre, embarked on a Broadway run in autumn 2015, and toured in the UK and Australia. Rupert later directed Mike Bartlett’s screen adaptation of the play which aired on BBC2 in May 2017 and was nominated for a BAFTA. Rupert’s first directorial as Artistic Director of the Almeida, American Psycho: A new musical thriller, transferred to Broadway in spring 2016. Most recently Rupert directed the critically acclaimed world premiere of Shipwreck written by Anne Washburn. Barney Norris (Chair) – Author, playwrightBorn in Sussex in 1987, Barney Norris, an award-winning playwright, poet and essayist, grew up in Salisbury. He achieved a BA from Keble College, Oxford and an MA from Royal Holloway, University of London. After university, he founded the touring theatre company Up in Arms with Alice Hamilton. His debut full-length play, Visitors (2014), won the Critics’ Circle Award and the Offwestend Award for Most Promising Playwright, and his short plays include At First Sight (Up In Arms, 2011) and Fear of Music (Up In Arms with Out of Joint, 2013). In addition to his plays, Norris’s writing has appeared in the Guardian and the Independent, and he has published poetry and fiction. His first novel, Five Rivers Met On A Wooded Plain, was a Times bestseller and his second novel, Turning for Home, has recently been published. His study To Bodies Gone: The Theatre of Peter Gill (2014) is the first book-length study of one of contemporary theatre’s leading artists. He is an Associate Artist at Oxford Playhouse and the Martin Esslin Playwright in Residence at Keble College. He has also been named as one of the 1000 Most Influential Londoners by the Evening Standard.
Afternoon Tea with Deborah Moggach The Society of Authors 2020-12-16 | Grab a cuppa and get to know writer, novelist and screen writer Deborah Moggach who was in conversation with the SoA’s Jo McCrum. Deborah offered insights into her work, gave a mini tour of her creative workspace and discussed how she has been adapting to work and life online.Programme:2 minutes – Welcome from Jo McCrum, SoA’s Head of Groups5-10 minutes – Introduction from Deborah Moggach for a glimpse into her creative routine5 minutes – Deborah Moggach read an extract from her novel The Carer10 minutes – Advice for authors on staying creative and connected10-15 minutes – Q&A from audienceThe line-upDeborah Moggach – AuthorDeborah Moggach OBE has written eighteen novels, many of which she has adapted for TV and film. Her novels include Tulip Fever, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (both made into movies), Heartbreak Hotel and The Carer. Her screenplay for Pride and Prejudice was nominated for a BAFTA. She has served as Chair of the Management Committee, the Executive Committee of PEN and the Council of the Royal Society of Literature. Jo McCrum – Head of Groups at the SoASecretary of the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group and the Wales National Group.
Staying in Character: How to Protect Your Comics Characters The Society of Authors 2020-12-16 | Ever wondered how to protect the characters you have created in your books, cartoons, comics or graphic novels? Or been worried as to whether you can use real people or existing characters that you don’t own in your work?Join us for an in-depth session on using characters and real people in your work, as well as how to avoid the pitfalls and protect your own creations. With years of legal and practical experience, SoA Chief Executive Nicola Solomon was in conversation with Joe Sullivan, Director of Cartoon Museum, offering an overview of using characters and real people, including copyright defamation, privacy, trademarks and more.The session will be aimed at comics creators but open to all types of writers and illustrators who are using characters in their work.This is the first of six sessions in the Brush Up! event series in association with the Cartoon Museum and the SoA Comics Creators Network. More details to come.Header image © Woodrow PhoenixWhat will this session cover?Protecting and using characters, including in fan fictionAn overview of copyright lawExceptions for parody and pastiche‘Passing off’How and when to use trademarksUsing real people – including defamation and privacyWho is this session for?This session is aimed at comics creators and graphic novelists of all types – whether your work is for adults, young adults or children – as well as other authors, artists and storytellers.Programme5 minutes: Welcome and general outline of character usage and copyright law35 minutes: Q&A with Joe Sullivan and Nicola Solomon on using and protecting characters, including questions sent in advance10 minutes: Questions from the audience5 minutes: Summary and closing commentsSoA @ Home Fundraising BookshopThe line up:Joe Sullivan – Director, The Cartoon MuseumJoe Sullivan is the Director of The Cartoon Museum, and Chair of the London Museums Group. He joined The Cartoon Museum in January 2020, after holding various roles at the Natural History Museum, Royal Air Force Museum, The Grant Museum of Zoology, and Brooklands Museum. Joe is passionate about building community partnerships and making museum collections and stories accessible and interesting to everyone.Nicola Solomon – Chief Executive, Society of AuthorsNicola is a solicitor with years of expertise in advising creators. Her role encompasses protecting authors’ interests in negotiations/disputes with publishers and agents, advising individual authors and campaigning for authors’ rights, as well as for the wider cultural environment. Nicola is an expert in the publishing industry and the associated law, from copyright and defamation, to privacy, data protection and contract.She is a Deputy District Judge and sits on the board of the International Authors’ Forum and the British Copyright Council and the Creators’ Rights Alliance.About The Cartoon MuseumThe Cartoon Museum champions cartoon and comic art, highlighting its importance to culture and society. Since 2006 it has received 420k visitors, and built a prominent national collection of 4,300 cartoons, comics and caricatures, and a library of 18k items. The Cartoon Museum runs a well-attended school programme and sell-out school holiday workshops, and over 50k children and adults have attended cartooning, comics and animation workshops at the museum.The Cartoon Museum closed on 18 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As an independent museum with no regular government funding, 75% of yearly income is through the door – admissions, shop purchases, schools and venue bookings. As a result, the museum closure has resulted in the loss of nearly 50% of the museum’s yearly income. The museum is currently fundraising for its survival, and during closure has been keeping cartoon and comic fans entertained with online exhibitions and activities.To support The Cartoon Museum, please visit cartoonmuseum.org
Margaret Atwood in conversation The Society of Authors 2020-12-16 | In our second fundraising event of the Autumn / Winter SoA @ Home Festival, grab a cuppa and get to know bestselling author Margaret Atwood, in conversation with Nicola Solomon, Chief Executive of the Society of Authors.Hear about Margaret’s incredible career, her new poetry collection, Dearly, and her work throughout lockdown. There is a short welcome from John Degen, Executive Director of the Writers’ Union of Canada.Programme:2 minutes – Welcome from Nicola Solomon, SoA’s Chief Executive3 minutes – A few words from John Degen, Writers’ Union of Canada, Executive Director5-10 minutes – Introduction from Margaret Atwood and a glimpse into her creative routine10 minutes – Advice for authors on staying creative and connected5 minutes – Margaret Atwood reading an extract from her new poetry collection, Dearly10-15 minutes – Q&A from audienceThe line-upMargaret Atwood – AuthorMargaret Atwood, whose work has been published in more than 45 countries, is the author of more than 50 books of fiction, poetry, critical essays, and graphic novels. Dearly, her first collection of poetry in over a decade, will be published in November 2020. Her latest novel, The Testaments, is a co-winner of the 2019 Booker Prize. It is the long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, now an award-winning TV series. Her other works of fiction include Cat’s Eye, finalist for the 1989 Booker Prize; Alias Grace, which won the Giller Prize in Canada and the Premio Mondello in Italy; The Blind Assassin, winner of the 2000 Booker Prize; The MaddAddam Trilogy; and Hag-Seed. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, the Franz Kafka International Literary Prize, the PEN Center USA Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Los Angeles Times Innovator’s Award. She lives in Toronto. Nicola Solomon – Chief Executive, Society of AuthorsNicola’s role encompasses protecting authors’ interests in negotiations/disputes with publishers and agents, advising individual authors and campaigning for authors’ rights, as well as for the wider cultural environment.Nicola is an expert in the publishing industry and the associated law, from copyright and defamation, to privacy, data protection and contract. She is a Deputy District Judge and sits on the board of the International Authors’ Forum and the British Copyright Council and the European Writers Council.At the SoA Nicola liaises with the Management Committee to set and implement strategy and policy and to manage finance. She liaises with external organisations and manages the SoA team of professional staff.John Degen – Executive Director, Writers’ Union of CanadaJohn Degen is a novelist and poet with three published books. He is Executive Director of the Writers Union of Canada, and Chair of the International Authors Forum, advocating for the rights and careers of over 700,000 authors around the globe. His work for authors has taken him to the Supreme Court of Canada, the Canadian and UK Parliaments, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, and the European Parliament.About the Writers’ Union of CanadaThe Writers’ Union of Canada is Canada’s national organization of professionally published writers, with members in every province and territory. The Union was founded in 1973 to work with governments, publishers, booksellers, and readers to improve the conditions of Canadian writers. Because a lively and diverse literary culture is essential in defining Canada and its people, the Union supports its members, and advocates on their behalf for the advancement of their common interests. In so doing we promote the rights, freedoms, and economic well-being of all writers.
Publishing Contracts and How to Improve Them The Society of Authors 2020-12-10 | Ever wanted to know how our advisors at The Society of Authors (SoA) look over your contract?Now you can! Join advisors Catherine Fuller and Theo Jones for a comprehensive insight into what they do when they look at your contracts – from the types of publishing agreements the team see on a daily basis, to tried and tested negotiating techniques, identifying clarifiers and matters left unsaid.Catherine and Theo provide clear, practical tips on how to understand the contract commentaries we provide; how to ensure you feel comfortable and empowered in taking these forward with your publisher or producer; and how to see maximum return from your negotiation.SoA members are entitled to receive unlimited one-to-one advice and contract vetting, as well as numerous exclusive discounts and benefits.This session covers publishing contracts, negotiation tips and tricks, insights into how the advisory team works and what we do here at the Society of Authors.Programme5 minutes – Introduction35 minutes – Presentation20 minutes – Q&A from audience comments and questions sent in advance The line-upCatherine Fuller – Projects Manager and Contracts AdviserCatherine is Projects Manager and Contracts Adviser at the Society of Authors. Administrator of the Translators Association and advises on translation contracts.Theo Jones – Contracts AdvisorAdvises members on publishing contracts and issues at the Society of Authors. Co-Administrator of the Scriptwriters Group.
Rethink and Reset your Creative Career The Society of Authors 2020-11-25 | Whether you’re an established writer, illustrator or literary translator, this workshop will give you the time, tools and space to review your career options. Since March, member incomes have been hit hard by lockdown. Book tours were cancelled, along with lectures, talks, performances and school visits. Contracts were postponed indefinitely as colleges and other commissioning organisations closed their offices.If you are currently rethinking your creative career and would appreciate some guidance about how to navigate your next steps, this workshop is for you – led by coach and facilitator Mary Fenwick.What will this workshop cover?As creative professionals, we are skilled with inventing new worlds, and accustomed to working on our own timetable. It might not be pretty, but somehow, we’ve been making it work.This workshop is an opportunity to pause and reflect on how far you’ve come, what matters now, and where you might like to go next.Where are you now? What are the resources you have, and what do you want to build up?Are you allergic to networking? The mindset shifts that help unlock the valueRe-examine your own story and find ways to not just bounce back, but bounce forwardIf you would like to send questions in advance, email Anna Ganley with ‘Career coaching question’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance as we cannot guarantee that a question posted in the chat will be answered but we will do our best.The session will run for 90 minutes without a break. Mary will use Mentimeter for attendee interaction.--- The line-upMary Fenwick – Coach and facilitatorMary Fenwick works as a coach and facilitator with teams and leaders in organisations; she also writes the main advice column for Psychologies magazine. Her interest in career reinvention comes from both personal and professional experience.“In 2008, my husband died and, on the day of his funeral, I found out that the magazine I’d been editing had collapsed. So I entered the last global recession in the madness of bereavement, as a single parent (to four children) with no job."Journalists love a triumph over tragedy story, but I prefer to say that my biggest achievement is raising my children and surviving as a freelance creative worker."I don’t believe there is any one answer that will fit everybody, so I’m interested in sharing the widest possible range of resources, based on validated, peer-reviewed research”maryfenwick.com
Making A Will The Society of Authors 2020-11-24 | How do you make a will? And what should you do with your papers and manuscripts?An essential session for any writer, illustrator or literary translator as SoA Chief Executive Nicola Solomon and solicitor Robert Craig share what authors need to consider when making a will.Who will manage your rights after your death?What about jointly owned works?Do you need literary executors?How best to reduce the tax bill?Should you make a gift to charity?What happens to PLR and ALCS money?Should you agree to be an executor for someone else? The line-upRobert Craig – Solicitor, Howard Kennedy LLPRobert Craig is a solicitor specialising in wills, trusts, estate planning, probate, charities, and partnership. He regularly advises private individuals, business people, and well-known authors, artists, and actors on estate planning. Outside of work Robert is a keen woodturner and the founder of the North London Woodturners’ Group. Nicola Solomon – (Chair), Chief Executive, Society of AuthorsNicola’s role encompasses protecting authors’ interests in negotiations/disputes with publishers and agents, advising individual authors and campaigning for authors’ rights, as well as for the wider cultural environment.Nicola is an expert in the publishing industry and the associated law, from copyright and defamation, to privacy, data protection and contract. She is a Deputy District Judge and sits on the board of the International Authors’ Forum and the British Copyright Council.At the SoA Nicola advises individual writers. She also liaises with the Management Committee to set and implement strategy and policy and to manage finance. She liaises with external organisations and manages the SoA team of professional staff.
Your Podcast: From Planning to Publishing The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | Have a great idea for a podcast, and you just need the confidence, the resources and the professional advice?Want to make a professional-sounding podcast, one that will create a loyal tribe of listeners, who will become hungry for your next episode?Hosted by Pete Morgan, established radio presenter and producer on UK radio, this workshop guides you through many aspects of podcasting – from planning and recording through to publishing and marketing, even monetisation.You will learn how to:• Record and publish your own podcast• Share your knowledge with a global audience• Grow your audience and your reach• Establish yourself as an expert in your field• Build a loyal tribe of listeners to help you spread your ideas and passions! What this workshop covers• The benefits of podcasting to your business• Planning your podcast, especially your first episode• Equipment you need to invest in (but nothing too expensive!)• Advice for interviewing and presenting your podcast• A guide to picking the right music and logo for your podcast• Choosing the best hosting site and directory for you and your audience• How to grow your audience by marketing correctly• The possibilities of monetising your podcastPete MorganPete Morgan spent 30 years working in local, regional and national radio as an award-winning presenter and producer before deciding, in 2017, to move into the world of podcasting. Through education, workshops and podcast production, MonkeyPants Productions is now one of the premier names in podcasting in the West Midlands, with clients that include Birmingham Children’s Hospital, West Midlands Combined Authority and Rolls Royce. Pete and his business helps companies and individuals enter the ever-growing world of podcasting with confidence, so that they can create a professional-sounding podcast for a waiting global audience.Website: www.monkeypantsproductions.co.uk | Twitter: @monkeypantsprod
Imagining 2021: The future for writers and creators The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | Following our AGM, join us for an industry insider discussion on the future for writers and creators in a global pandemic – including the likely effects of the pandemic on the future of books, the rise of self-publishing, the need for diversity and the impact of Brexit. Panellists include Philip Jones (The Bookseller); Sharmaine Lovegrove (Dialogue Books), literary agent Isobel Dixon and broadcaster Alan Dein. Chaired by children’s author Candy Gourlay. The line-upAlan Dein – Historian and broadcasterAlan Dein is an oral historian and award-winning radio documentary maker. He currently presents Don’t Log Off on the BBC World Service. His oral history recordings are held in numerous institutions and archives including The British Library, The Museum of London, The Royal Parks, The Guardian, and The Jewish Museum.Isobel Dixon – MD and Head of Books, Blake Friedmann Literary AgencyIsobel Dixon represents bestselling and prizewinning writers from around the world. Her clients’ work includes contemporary, historical and literary fiction, crime and thrillers, memoir, biography and narrative history. She is a Trustee of the National Centre for Writing in Norwich, on the Board of BTBS The Book Trade Charity and President of the Association of Authors’ Agents. As poet, her most recent collection, Bearings, is published by Nine Arches, who will also bring out The Landing in 2021.Candy Gourlay (Chair) – Children’s authorCandy Gourlay was born in the Philippines, grew up under a dictatorship and met her husband during a revolution. Her latest novel Bone Talk was shortlisted for the 2019 Costa Prize and the CILIP Carnegie Medal. Candy worked as a web designer at the dawning of the internet and is fascinated by the power and failings of social media.Philip Jones – Editor of The BooksellerPhilip Jones is editor of The Bookseller. He joined the magazine in 1996 and is now a regular commentator on publishing matters in newspapers and on broadcast media. He also co-programmes the popular FutureBook publishing conference, and chairs the British Book Awards.Sharmaine Lovegrove – Publisher, Dialogue Books, Little Brown BooksSharmaine Lovegrove is the Publisher of Dialogue Books, an inclusive imprint, part of Little, Brown Book Group and Hachette UK. Sharmaine was the recipient of the Future Book Publishing Person of the Year 2018/19 and is inspired by innovative storytelling, and has worked in public relations, bookselling, events management and TV scouting. Home is London, she lives in Berlin and her roots are Jamaican – Sharmaine is proud to be part of the African diaspora and books make her feel part of the world.
Afternoon Tea with Amrou Al-Kadhi The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | Grab a cuppa and get to know Amrou Al-Kadhi – author of Life as a Unicorn, drag queen and screen writer – as they share insights into their work, a mini tour of their creative workspace, and how they are adapting to work and life in a pandemic. Hosted by SoA’s Communications & Content Manager Carlotta Eden.
Afternoon Tea with Ian Rankin The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | Grab a cuppa and get to know crime writer Ian Rankin who was in conversation with Merryn Glover, author and former co-chair of The Society of Authors in Scotland. Ian gave a mini tour of his creative workspace, insights into what he’s working on, and how he is adapting to working online.This event is in conjunction with The Society of Authors in Scotland.Programme2 minutes: Welcome from Merryn Glover, Author and Poet5-10 minutes: Introduction from Ian Rankin for a glimpse into his creative routine5 minutes: Ian Rankin reading an extract from his latest book, A Song for the Dark Times10-15 minutes: Advice for authors on staying creative and connected10-15 minutes: Q&A from audience The line-upIan Rankin – AuthorIan Rankin, OBE, DL, FRSE is a crime writer whose Inspector Rebus novels have been adapted as a television series. Born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960, Ian Rankin graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1982, and then spent three years writing novels when he was supposed to be working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature.He has won many awards for his writing including the Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger Award, Specsavers National Book Award for Outstanding Achievement and Edgar Award for best novel. In 2015 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and was awarded an OBE for services to literature. Ian is a member of the SoA Council. Merryn Glover – Author, Poet, PlaywrightMerryn Glover writes fiction, drama and poetry, with work broadcast on Radio Scotland and Radio 4. Her first novel A House Called Askival is set in India, where she grew up, and her second, Of Stone and Sky – coming out in April with Polygon – is set in the Spey valley where she now lives. In 2019 she was the first ever Writer in Residence for the Cairngorms National Park and her current project is the non-fiction book Hidden Fires:A Cairngorms Journey with Nan Shepherd.
Industry Insider – After the Ink Dries The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | Peek into the life (and sketchbooks) of illustrators Dapo Adeola, Ken Wilson Max and Sarah McIntyre as they discuss industry challenges from signing a book deal all the way through to engaging those fearsome year sevens; the editorial decisions they face when working; relationships with writers, publishers and booksellers; and how to reach out to readers and new audiences. What does this session cover?Collaborating with editors and writers – custom and practiceEditorial decisions –common mistakes to avoid, redrafting to encompass production and formats, appealing to foreign markets, retailers and consumersWhat makes a great jacket and other thoughts about covers, formats and images for marketing materialMaking books beautiful objects, merchandising and illustrations as artworkConnecting with readers, getting gigs, promoting yourself, and what makes a great school or bookshop visitLooking to the future – new platforms and formatsHow to sustain your career as an illustrator – financially and in communities. Who is this session for?This session is for all children’s writers and illustrators who are interested in understanding the publishing process regarding illustration; and illustration in general. Programme2 minutes: Short intro by Jo McCrum, Secretary of the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group and the SoA Wales group.5 minutes: Welcome from Sarah McIntyre (Chair)25 minutes: General discussion with Sarah McIntyre, Ken Wilson Max and Dapo Adeola15 minutes: Audience participation and Q&A (including questions sent in advance)2 minutes: Summary and closing comments from Sarah McIntyreThis event is in conjunction with our Children’s Writers & Illustrators GroupSoA @ Home Fundraising BookshopBrowse our Blackwell’s virtual store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in the SoA @ Home Festival. When you make a purchase using our affiliate link a percentage will go to the Authors’ Contingency Fund, providing hardship grants to authors in financial difficulty. The line-upDapo Adeola – Writer / illustratorDapo Adeola is an award-winning illustrator and designer. He co-created and illustrated the Puffin picture book series Look Up! with Nathan Bryon – the number one picture book from a debut author illustrator in 2019 – and illustrated the Versify fiction series The Last Last-Day-of-Summer; as well as other upcoming titles with Macmillan and Bloomsbury. London born-and-bred but of Nigerian heritage, when he’s not busy cooking up new characters and adventures you can find him running illustration and character design workshops for children. He also organises events with various publishers to help highlight the possibilities of a career in illustration to underrepresented members of the Black diaspora.Dapo Adeola’s Website | Dapo Adeola’s Twitter | Dapo Adeola’s InstagramSarah McIntyre (Chair) – Writer / illustratorSarah McIntyre illustrates and writes picture books including the Grumpycorn books and The New Neighbours. She co-authors longer, highly illustrated books with Philip Reeve, including Oliver and the Seawigs and Pugs of the Frozen North. With James Mayhew she set up Pictures Mean Business in 2015, showing people how everyone benefits when illustrators are credited for their work.Sarah McIntyre’s Website | Sarah McIntyre’s Twitter | Sarah McIntyre’s Instagram PicturesMeanBusiness.com Ken Wilson Max – Writer / illustratorKen Wilson Max is the author of Astro Girl, the Lenny books, The Drum, and more than 70 other books for young children published all over the world. Ken is also publisher at Alanna Max, an award-winning independent publisher. He was born in Zimbabwe and spent his early childhood living near Victoria Falls. His fondest memories are of laughing, singing, dancing and eating with his large and truly diverse family. Because of this, Ken’s books are naturally inclusive, and his distinctive style always manages to capture special moments between children and grown-ups. Ken Wilson Max’s Website | Ken Wilson Max’s Twitter
Show Me the Money The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | Recap on our first industry insider panel discussion of the autumn/winter SoA @ Home Festival.Blow those storm clouds away for some blue sky thinking on diversifying your income stream in a Covid-19 landscape. In this instalment of the SoA @ Home Festival, Candy Gourlay (Chair), Steve Antony and Shoo Rayner led a wide-ranging discussion.
Afternoon tea with Antonia Fraser The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | Grab a cuppa and get to know Antonia Fraser – chair emeritus for the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography – in conversation with the SoA’s Chief Executive Nicola Solomon.---Antonia Fraser is the author of many widely acclaimed historical works, which have been international bestsellers. She was awarded the Medlicott Medal by the Historical Association in 2000 and was made a DBE in 2011 for services to literature. Her previous books include Mary Queen Of Scots, King Charles Ii, The Weaker Vessel: Woman’s Lot In Seventeenth-Century England which won the Wolfson History Prize, Marie Antoinette: The Journey, Perilous Question: The Drama Of The Great Reform Bill 1832 and The King And The Catholics: The Fight For Rights 1829. Must You Go?, A Memoir Of Her Life With Harold Pinter, was published in 2010, and MY HISTORY: A Memoir Of Growing Up, in 2015. She lives in London. The Case of The Married Woman: Caroline Norton, A 19th Century Heroine will be published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on 6 May 2021.www.antoniafraser.com
Afternoon Tea with Daljit Nagra The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | Grab a cuppa and enjoy this a recap of our 45-minute online video afternoon tea with Daljit Nagra, one of the SoA’s grants assessors, where he shares a mini tour of his creative workspace, insights into what he’s currently working on, and adapting to life and work in a pandemic. Hosted by SoA Chief Executive Nicola Solomon. In 2018 Daljit was a recipient of one of SoA’s Cholmondeley awards.Programme:2 minutes – Welcome from Nicola Solomon, SoA Chief Executive5-10 minutes – Introduction from Daljit Nagra and a glimpse into his creative routine10-15 minutes – Advice for authors on staying creative and connected5 minutes – A short reading by Daljit Nagra from his latest collection, British Museum: He Do the Foreign Voices.10-15 minutes – Q&A from audienceThe line-upDaljit Nagra – PoetDaljit’s four poetry collections, all with Faber & Faber, have won the Forward Prize for Best Individual Poem and Best First Book, the South Bank Show Decibel Award and the Cholmondeley Award, and been shortlisted for the Costa Prize and twice for the TS Eliot Prize. Daljit is a PBS New Generation Poet whose poems have appeared in The New Yorker, the LRB and the TLS, and his journalism in the FT and The Guardian. The inaugural Poet-in-Residence for Radio 4 & 4 Extra, he presents the weekly Poetry Extra, and serves on the Council of the Royal Society of Literature and teaches at Brunel University London.Daljit Nagra’s website | Daljit Nagra’s TwitterNicola Solomon – Chief Executive, Society of AuthorsNicola’s role encompasses protecting authors’ interests in negotiations/disputes with publishers and agents, advising individual authors and campaigning for authors’ rights, as well as for the wider cultural environment.Nicola is an expert in the publishing industry and the associated law, from copyright and defamation, to privacy, data protection and contract.She is a Deputy District Judge and sits on the board of the International Authors’ Forum and the British Copyright Council and the European Writers Council.At the SoA Nicola liaises with the Management Committee to set and implement strategy and policy and to manage finance. She liaises with external organisations and manages the SoA team of professional staff.
Afternoon tea with... Joanna Trollope The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | In our final SoA @ Home Festival event we dropped in on Joanna Trollope, one of the SoA’s Council members, as she shared insights into what she’s currently working on, and how she is adapting to working through lockdown.Broadcast live by the Society of Authors in Week Twelve of the SoA @ Home Festival on 9 July 2020.
Industry Insider – Comics creators and the global pandemic The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | What is the current state of the UK comics scene?UK Comics Laureate Hannah Berry, writer Alan Cowsill and comics creator / graphic designer Woodrow Phoenix discussed the comics scene in the UK, in a conversation chaired by SoA Chief Executive Nicola Solomon. The panel discussed findings from the recent UK Comics Creator Survey and the impact of the global pandemic on the future of comics. Plus, more about our new Comics Creators Network. What will this session cover?Findings from the UK Comics Creator Survey and the comics scene todayWhere comics creators fit in today’s publishing industryHow comics creators can professionalise their working environmentThe new SoA Comics Creators Network and what it can do for youHow comics creators can access support and help with the SoA Who is this session for?This session is aimed at comics creators of all types – whether your work is for adults, young adults or children – as well as other authors, artists and storytellers with an interest in comics.Not yet an SoA member? Join as a comics creator with 20% off membership using code COMICS20. Programme2 minutes: Welcome by Nicola Solomon and general outline of issues facing those in the comics industry5 minutes: Hannah Berry shares findings and highlights on her recent survey, UK Comic Creators15 minutes: Panel Discussion with Hannah Berry, Alan Cowsill and Woodrow Phoenix10 minutes: Tips for fellow comic creators15 minutes: Audience participation and questions2 minutes: Summary and closing comments by Nicola Solomon
Is It My Job? Negotiating professional boundaries with translators The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | How do expectations placed on translators vary from one publisher to the next? How do translators’ own views differ about what their job includes?Catch up with Daniel Hahn in discussion with Sawad Hussain, Federico Andornino and Shelley Frisch, as they talk about the importance of dialogue between publishers and translators.How do we make sure boundaries are agreed at every stage of a book’s journey from source language to publication and beyond? Should translators act as agents? Should they liaise between author and publisher? Should they help to promote the book? How do these expectations vary between cultures? And crucially, how much of this work is included in the translation fee?This event is in conjunction with the Translators Association. Who is this session for?This session is aimed at all literary translators, regardless of career stage, or if you are an author or industry professional interested in the experiences of professional translators. Programme2 minutes: Welcome by Daniel Hahn30 minutes: Panel Discussion with Sawad Hussain, Federico Andornino and Shelley Frisch10 minutes: Audience participation and questions2 minutes: Summary and closing comments by Daniel Hahn The line-upFederico Andornino – PublisherFederico Andornino is currently Editorial Director at Weidenfeld and Nicolson, the literary imprint of the Orion Publishing Group, acquiring literary fiction with an edge, sharp and original suspense and crossover, LGBTQ+ literature, graphic novels and fiction in translation. Recent acquisitions for the W&N fiction in translation list include: Heaven and Earth by Paolo Giordano (translated by Anne Milano Appel), Rolling Fields by David Trueba (translated by Rahul Bery), Olga by Bernhard Schlink (translated by Charlotte Collins), The Hummingbird by Sandro Veronesi (translated by Elena Pala) and The Secret Life of Writers by Guillaume Musso (translated by Vineet Lat). He graduated with Distinction from UCL’s MA in Publishing with a final dissertation on the role of translated fiction in the UK; He holds a degree in Dante Studies from the University of Siena, Italy, and from 2008 to 2010 was a fellow at Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, one of Europe’s oldest grandes écoles for university learning. Daniel Hahn (Chair)Daniel Hahn is a writer, editor and translator. His most recent translation is Juan Pablo Villalobos’s I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me.Sawad Hussain – Literary TranslatorSawad Hussain is an award-winning Arabic-English literary translator. She co-teaches a workshop on translating Arabic comics at UK secondary schools via the collective Shadow Heroes. Her most recent translation is the Palestinian resistance novella Passage to the Plaza by Sahar Khalifeh (shortlisted for the 2020 Palestine Book Awards). She holds an MA in Arabic literature from the School of Oriental and African Studies, and is passionate about bringing narratives written in Arabic from the African continent to wider audiences. Shelley FrischShelley Frisch, Ph.D. German literature, Princeton University, taught at Columbia University and Haverford College for many years before turning to translation full-time. Her translations, which include biographies of Nietzsche, Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Dietrich/Riefenstahl (dual biography), and Kafka, have been awarded numerous translation prizes. Her trio of translations slated for 2021 publication: a volume of Billy Wilder’s early essays, a study of Early German Romanticism, and an annotated edition of Kafka’s aphorisms.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | Imposter syndrome can feel overwhelming – even for the most established authors. Here, authors Joanne Harris (Chair), Joanna Cannon, Emma Mitchell and Nikesh Shukla lead a panel discussion on overcoming imposter syndrome, sharing tips and stories on their own experiences with battling inner critics. Programme2 minutes – Welcome and introductions by Joanne Harris30 minutes – Panel discussion with Joanne Harris, Joanna Cannon, Emma Mitchell and Nikesh Shukla15 minutes – Questions from the audience / sent in advance2 minutes – Summary and closing comments from Joanne HarrisSoA @ Home Fundraising BookshopBrowse our Blackwell’s virtual store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in the SoA @ Home Festival. When you make a purchase using our affiliate link a percentage will go to the Authors’ Contingency Fund, providing hardship grants to authors in financial difficulty. The line-upJoanna Cannon – AuthorJoanna Cannon is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling novels The Trouble with Goats and Sheep and Three Things About Elsie. Her most recent work Breaking and Mending, reflects on her time working as a junior doctor. She lives in the Peak District with her family and her dog. Joanne Harris (Chair) – Author and chair of SoA Management CommitteeJoanne Harris is an author of nineteen novels in varying genres, including Chocolat, two collections of short stories, a Dr. Who novelette, various stage musical projects and three cookbooks. Joanne’s books have been published in over 50 countries and have won a number of British and international awards. She succeeded David Donache as Chair of the SoA’s Management Committee in January 2020. Emma Mitchell – AuthorEmma Mitchell is a naturalist, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wild Remedy and contributor and writer for The Guardian. Nikesh Shukla – AuthorNikesh Shukla is a novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of Coconut Unlimited (shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award), Meatspace and the critically acclaimed The One Who Wrote Destiny. Nikesh is a contributing editor to the Observer magazine and was previously their columnist. Nikesh is the editor of the bestselling essay collection, The Good Immigrant, which won the reader’s choice at the Books Are My Bag Awards. He co-edited The Good Immigrant USA with Chimene Suleyman. He is the author of two YA novels, Run, Riot (shortlisted for a National Book Award) and The Boxer (longlisted for the Carnegie Medal). He is the co-founder of the literary journal, The Good Journal and The Good Literary Agency. Nikesh is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and a member of the Folio Academy. Nikesh’s new book, Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family And Home will be released on Bluebird in February 2021.
Neil Gaiman in conversation with Alison Flood The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | On 1 October 2020, In our first event of the Autumn / Winter SoA @ Home Festival, Neil Gaiman invited the Guardian's Alison Flood (and the rest of us) into his home on the Isle of Skye. He talked about his work during the health crisis, new projects, sequels, and being kind to ourselves.
Adapt & Evolve: how magazines & comics embrace change The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | Award-winning writer and editor Laura Brown takes an entertaining look at how magazines and comics have embraced change.Broadcast live by the Society of Authors in Scotland in September 2020.###Laura Brown is the Scottish half of Gadabout Publishing, a media company that specialises in creating brilliant newsletters, including the much-loved Domestic Sluttery. Before going freelance, Laura was the editor and agony aunt of teen magazine Shout. She then headed up DC Thomson’s portfolio of girls’ magazines and later became the first woman editor-in-chief of comic treasures Beano, Commando, The Broons and Oor Wullie. She is the co-author of The Feminist Quiz Book, out 1 October. You can find Laura on Twitter @EnchantedTrifle or at www.enchantedtrifle.com.
Afternoon Tea with Roger Robinson The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | Grab a cuppa and a revisit our 45-minute virtual conversation with poet Roger Robinson in conversation with host and 2020 Eric Gregory Award winner Amina Jama. We had a glimpse into Roger Robinson’s creative routine, insights into what he’s working on, and how he is adapting to life and work in a pandemic. Roger is a judge for the SoA’s Eric Gregory Awards (poetry/under 30).Programme2 minutes – Short intro and welcome from Robyn Law, SoA Prizes and Awards Manager5 minutes – Introduction from Roger Robinson, in conversation with Amina Jama, with a short tour of his workspace and glimpse into his creative routine5 minutes – Roger Robinson read the title poem from his collection A Portable Paradise10 minutes – Advice for authors on staying creative and connected10-15 minutes – Q&A from audience5 minutes – Amina Jama closed the event with a reading from her collection The line-upRoger Robinson – PoetRoger Robinson is a poet and his most recent collection, A Portable Paradise, won both the 2019 T. S. Eliot Prize and the Royal Society of Literature’s Ondaatje Prize 2020. Amina Jama – Writer, curator, producerRecipient of the 2020 Eric Gregory Awards, Amina Jama Is a writer, curator, producer, facilitator, and all-round empath, with a focus on creating and maintaining safe spaces for fellow Black beauties. Amina is based in London and claims she is more Somali than British.
Prizes and Awards Coffee Morning The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | A virtual coffee morning with the SoA’s Prizes team!The SoA Awards span poetry, non-fiction, fiction, and children’s books, and are currently open for submissions. The team will give a brief presentation outlining the SoA’s prizes, including the history of some of our most prominent prizes, including the Eric Gregory Awards and the Betty Trask Prize, and will then take questions from the audience about eligibility, how to enter and anything else.We will also discuss funding opportunities available from the SoA – from our grants for works in progress (Authors’ Foundation and K Blundell Trust) to the Authors’ Contingency Fund for authors in financial need.
Social Media for Poets The Society of Authors 2020-11-20 | How can social media be of benefit to poets? Should poets be on social media – and which channel is right for me?Poets Katrina Naomi, Miriam Nash and Jacob Sam-La Rose will discuss how poets use (or could use) social media in this session chaired by Rishi Dastidar, poet and editor. The panellists will share tips and reflect on the current challenges and issues of social media for poets. There will be a short intro from Nadia Bonini, Secretary of the Poetry and Spoken Word Group (PSWG).Broadcast live by the Society of Authors on 17 November 2020, the session covered:- Choosing your social media platforms- How to set up/improve your social media- How to manage your social media professionally- Challenges and issues of social media for poets- Protecting your mental health.This session is ideal for all poets looking to improve their use of social media to establish their online author presence.---The line-upRishi Dastidar (Chair)Rishi Dastidar is a fellow of The Complete Works, a consulting editor at The Rialto magazine, a member of Malika’s Poetry Kitchen, and chair of writer development organization Spread the Word. A poem from his debut collection Ticker-tape was included in The Forward Book of Poetry 2018. A pamphlet, the break of a wave, was published by Offord Road Books in 2019, and he is also editor of The Craft: A Guide to Making Poetry Happen in the 21st Century (Nine Arches Press). His second collection, Saffron Jack, is published in the UK by Nine Arches Press.Twitter: @Rishi Dastidar Katrina NaomiKatrina Naomi received an Authors’ Foundation award from the Society of Authors for her third full collection, Wild Persistence, (Seren, June 2020). Katrina has published four pamphlets of poetry, including the Japan-themed Typhoon Etiquette (Verve Poetry Press, 2019). Her poetry has appeared on Radio 4’s Front Row and Poetry Please, and on Poems on the Underground. Katrina was the first poet-in-residence at the Brontë Parsonage Museum and was highly commended in the 2017 Forward Prize for Poetry. She has a PhD in creative writing (Goldsmiths) and tutors for Arvon, Tŷ Newydd and the Poetry School. She lives in Cornwall.Website: www.katrinanaomi.co.uk | Twitter: @KatrinaNaomiMiriam NashMiriam Nash is a poet, performer and educator. Her collection of poems All the Prayers in the House(Bloodaxe Books, 2017) won a Somerset Maugham Award (2018) and an Eric Gregory Award (2015) from the Society of Authors and was runner-up for the Edwin Morgan Award (2016). Her latest book, The Nine Mothers of Heimdallr (Hercules Editions, 2020) is a giant, matriarchal re-telling of the Norse creation myth. She performs and teaches internationally, supporting children and adults to find confidence in their creativity. Website: www.miriamnash.com | Twitter: @miriamnashJacob Sam-La RoseJacob Sam-La Rose’s writing has been translated into Portuguese, Latvian, French and Dutch, and his poetry collection Breaking Silence is studied at A’ level. As an artistic director, editor and educator, he’s invested in supporting students, teachers, emerging professionals and more established writers with creative expression. For over 20 years, Sam-La Rose has devised and delivered creative development initiatives both independently and in partnership with cultural institutions and literature development agencies, nationally and internationally. For 2020, Sam-La Rose is a poetry professor at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, poet-in-residence for English Heritage, and directs the Barbican Young Poets programme.Website: www.jacobsamlarose.com | Twitter: @jsamlarose
Vicky Foster // author voices The Society of Authors 2020-10-01 | Vicky Foster won the 2020 Imison Award for her debut audio drama 'Bathwater'.Here she talks about the experience of writing it, the importance of sharing, what being shortlisted and winning the Imison meant, and offers a few tips for writers new to audio drama.For more on the Imison Award: authr.uk/imison
Ian Billings // author voices The Society of Authors 2020-10-01 | Playwright and author Ian Billings – and one of next year's judges for the Imison Award – on why all writers new to audio drama should consider entering the 2021 Imison Award, and what the judges are looking for. For more: authr.uk/imisonIan Billings is one of the Committee members for the SoA's Scriptwriters Group.
Paul Lyalls | author voices The Society of Authors 2020-08-14 | Performance poet Paul Lyalls received one of our Authors' Contingency Fund grants during lockdown.He sent us this poem to say thank you.To support authors facing financial hardship, visit www.societyofauthors.org/fundVisit Paul Lyalls at www.paul-lyalls.uk
Your Top Membership FAQs Answered The Society of Authors 2020-07-08 | One of the SoA's core functions is to advise authors. In the final week of the SoA @ Home Festival we brought our Contracts and Membership teams together for a whistle-stop tour of the top queries currently crossing our desks.From protecting your work and clearing permissions to understanding contracts and how to negotiate them, we receive hundreds of calls and emails a day from members seeking guidance on how to navigate their professional careers as authors.Broadcast live by the Society of Authors in Week Twelve of the SoA @ Home Festival on 8 July 2020.---THE LINE-UPNadia Bonini (Chair) – SoA Membership Services AdministratorNadia manages day-to-day administration of the membership department and answers queries directed to membership@societyofauthors.org. She is also secretary of the Poetry and Spoken Word Group (PSWG).Theo Jones – SoA Contracts AdvisorAdvises members on publishing contracts and issues. Co-Secretary of the Scriptwriters Group.Eddie Reeves – SoA Campaigns and Public Affairs ManagerEddie joined the SoA in February 2020 as our Campaigns and Public Affairs Manager, having previously worked as a Solicitor. He takes a keen interest in our contracts and member advice work alongside his day job leading on our policy and campaigns.
Activism in poetry The Society of Authors 2020-07-08 | How can we become activists within poetry in the world we live in today? Poets Khairani Barokka, Clare Pollard and Jacqueline Saphra discuss the role of activism in poetry in a panel chaired by Will Forrester of English PEN.Broadcast live by the Society of Authors in Week Five of the SoA @ Home Festival on 18 May 2020.---THE LINE-UPKhairani Barokka is an Indonesian writer, poet and artist in London whose work has been presented extensively in 15 countries. She is Modern Poetry in Translation’s Inaugural Poet in Residence. Her books are Rope (Nine Arches) and Indigenous Species (Titled Axis).www.khairanibarokka.comClare Pollard Clare Pollard was born in Bolton in 1978 and now lives in London. Her first collection of poetry, The Heavy-Petting Zoo (1998) was written whilst she was still at school, and received an Eric Gregory Award in 2000. It was followed by Bedtime (2002) and Look, Clare! Look! (2005), which was made a set text on the WJEC A-level syllabus. Her fourth collection Changeling (2011) was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation, and her latest is Incarnation (Bloodaxe, 2017). Her pamphlet The Lives of the Female Poets is published by Bad Betty Press (2019).www.clarepollard.wordpress.comJacqueline Saphra’s collection All My Mad Mothers from Nine Arches Press was shortlisted for the 2017 T.S. Eliot prize. In the same year A Bargain with the Light: Poems after Lee Miller was published by Hercules Editions. Dad, Remember You Are Dead was published by Nine Arches Press in September 2019 and Veritas: Poems after Artemisia Gentileschi will be out from Hercules Editions in May 2020. Jacqueline is a founder member of Poets for the Planet. She lives in London and teaches at The Poetry School.www.jacquelinesaphra.comWill Forrester runs the Writers in Translation programme at English PEN, managing PEN Translates, PEN Transmissions, International Translation Day and the World Bookshelf. Previously, he worked for Commonwealth Writers, the cultural initiative of the Commonwealth Foundation, and at Shalini Ganendra Fine Art in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He has a BA in English and an MSt in World Literatures from the University of Oxford. Elsewhere, he is Assistant Editor at Review 31, and nurses a fraught relationship with the writing of J. M. Coetzee.
Where are we now and what’s next for literature The Society of Authors 2020-07-08 | In the final week of the SoA @ Home Festival we were joined by SoA Chair Joanne Harris, Director of the Royal Society of Literature Molly Rosenberg, and editor of The Author James McConnachie, to look back over the last 12 weeks and discuss the changes to authors’ lives and the literature sector during lockdown.What can we do to stay resilient and connected after lockdown? What stays, what goes? What does the future look like for authors, publishers and the wider industry?Broadcast live by the Society of Authors in Week Twelve of the SoA @ Home Festival on 7 July 2020.---THE LINE-UPJoanne Harris – Author, Chair of the SoA’s Management Committee and non-executive Director of ALCSJoanne Harris is an author of nineteen novels in varying genres, including Chocolat, two collections of short stories, a Dr. Who novelette, various stage musical projects and three cookbooks. Joanne’s books have been published in over 50 countries and have won a number of British and international awards. She succeeded David Donachie as Chair of the SoA’s Management Committee in January 2020.Website: www.joanne-harris.co.uk | Twitter: @joannechocoatMolly Rosenberg, Director of Royal Society of LiteratureMolly Rosenberg has worked at the Royal Society of Literature for 10 years and, as Director, oversees the Society’s business and creative strategy. She is thrilled to be working towards the RSL’s 2020 bicentenary with RSL staff and trustees on a number of new programmes, showing how much Literature Matters. Molly has previously worked at the Royal Opera House and Southbank Centre, and as an independent researcher. She holds an MPhil in Irish Writing from Trinity College Dublin and is completing her PhD at King’s College London, where her doctoral thesis examines the relationship between contemporary Irish poetry, nation, and the poetics of the trace.James McConnachie – Editor of The Author and non-executive Director of ALCSJames McConnachie is editor of The Author, the quarterly magazine of the Society of Authors. He is also a non-executive director of ALCS, the Author’s Licensing and Collecting Society and has been a lead reviewer for the Sunday Times for the last ten years. His own work includes a history of the Kamasutra, The Book of Love, and numerous travel and reference books for Rough Guides, notably the Rough Guide to Conspiracy Theories. He has presented TV and radio programmes for the BBC and Channel 4, including a five-part BBC series on Italian culture. He is currently writing a biography of a Himalayan mountain, to be published by Bloomsbury.
How to make great audio drama The Society of Authors 2020-07-06 | Why write audio or podcast drama? How do you sell ideas to radio? In-conversation event with Scriptwriters Group chair David Morley alongside award-winning scriptwriter Rhiannon Tise and winners of this year’s Tinniswood and Imison Awards, Ian Martin (The Thick of It) and Vicky Foster.Broadcast live by the Society of Authors in Week Twelve of the SoA @ Home Festival on 6 July 2020.
Theatre in Crisis – where do we go from here? The Society of Authors 2020-07-06 | Broadcast live by the Society of Authors as part of the SoA @ Home Festival on 1 July 2020.Excerpt from a panel discussion in which the SoA's Theo Jones discussed the impact of the pandemic on theatre, with children’s author and playwright Piers Torday, and Unicorn Theatre's artistic director Justin Audibert.
Afternoon tea with... Inua Ellams The Society of Authors 2020-07-06 | In Week Eleven of the SoA @ Home Festival, author, playwright, poet and 2020 SoA Awards judge Inua Ellams shared a mini tour of his creative workspace, insights into what he’s currently working on, and how he has adapted to working in lockdown.Broadcast live by the Society of Authors on 2 July 2020.---The line-up Inua Ellams – Author, playwright, poet, Eric Gregory Awards judgeBorn in Nigeria, Inua Ellams is a cross art form practitioner, a poet, playwright & performer, graphic artist & designer and founder of the Midnight Run – an international, arts-filled, night-time, playful, urban, walking experience. He is a Complete Works poet alumni and a designer at White Space Creative Agency. Across his work, Identity, Displacement & Destiny are reoccurring themes in which he also tries to mix the old with the new: traditional African storytelling with contemporary poetry, pencil with pixel, texture with vector images. His poetry is published by Flipped Eye, Akashic, Nine Arches & several plays by Oberon.www.inuaellams.com | @inuaellams
The reluctant networker - online networking in the literary world The Society of Authors 2020-06-30 | Broadcast live by the Society of Authors in Week Eleven of the SoA @ Home Festival on 30 June 2020Ronke Lawal offers tips and tactics to improve your confidence and get the most out of networking in literary or publishing spaces in the online world in a way that makes it fun, authentic and intentional.Networking is a great way to raise your profile and build relationships in your professional career. Although we’d all like to think that talent alone will get you to where you want to be, you will also need to build key relationships within the industry to really grow your profile and open new doors of opportunity for yourself and others.In this workshop, you’ll learn:- Confidence building tricks – how to get over the fear of networking- Telling your story – practice pinpointing what makes you unique- Relationship building – what makes conversations and connections meaningful online- Personal branding – discover how having a strong personal brand can impact on your future relationships- Social media for networking – use social media effectively to find your tribe---The line-upRonke Lawal, PR specialistRonke Lawal, Founder of Ariatu PR, is dedicated to seeing people thrive and succeed. Using over a decade of business experience she gives individuals, creatives and business owners strategic ways to use PR in their own professional, personal or business lives.Website: www.ariatupublicrelations.com Twitter: @ronkelawal
