Industry Events 2024
More participants for Global Ink and full details for Industry Day One and Industry Day Two still to be announced. Watch this space!
Global Ink: Edinburgh International Book Festival’s International Industry Day
Where: Edinburgh Futures Institute, Venue B
When: 14 August 2024
Tickets: Full event listing here
Global Ink: Edinburgh International Book Festival's International Industry Day brings together professionals from across the book trade from Scotland, the UK, and beyond. Join literary festivals, publishers, translators, authors, and more, all dedicated to the spirit of internationalism and cross-border business.
Panel 1: International Literary Summit 2024.
Trends in Global Literature: What’s Next?
11:45 –13:00
Participants
Zoe Xie, Independent Literary Arts Curator and Agent, China
Zoe Xie 谢文琴 has coordinated a dozen international literary festivals between China and Europe in the past decade, managing 500+ events and collaborating with 200+ international authors. She bridges cultures through literature, promoting inclusivity and diversity. She is also a literary agent.
Douglas Resende, Institutional Relations Coordinator, City Hall of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Douglas Resende is the Institutional Relations Coordinator at the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro / Municipal Secretariat of Culture. He is currently responsible for fostering strategic partnerships between the Secretariat of Culture and international institutions, promoting Rio de Janeiro globally. Key liaison for UNESCO's Creative Cities Network and World Book Capital 2025.
Rosemarie Milsom, Director, Newcastle Writers Festival, Australia
Rosemarie Milsom founded Newcastle Writers Festival in 2012 while working full-time as a journalist. It has grown to become one of Australia’s largest regional literary festivals and features 150 artists across 90 events.
Anja Bengelstorff, Director, Macondo Literary Festival, Kenya
Anja Bengelstorff is the director, co-curator and co-founder - with Kenyan novelist Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor - of the Macondo Literary Festival in Nairobi, Kenya. A German-born award-winning journalist who made a home in Kenya, she is dedicated to promoting literature of and from Africa through a festival on Africa’s histories and futures and their links beyond the continent.
Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Author
Yassmin Abdel-Magied is a Sudanese-born author, screenwriter, and social advocate. She has published five books, including the acclaimed "Stand Up and Speak Out Against Racism" (2023), and is the lead writer for the LAYLA series. Yassmin is a Trustee of the London Library and the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Panel 2: From Page to Global Stage: Literature in Translation
14:00 – 15:15
Korean writer and Booker International shortlisted translator Anton Hur will be joined by Andrea Joyce, Rights Director for Jenny Brown Associates, and Sam McDowell, an Edinburgh-based publisher specialising in translating contemporary Latin American fiction into English with Charco Press. Together, they will uncover the journey of translated works and share their insights on enhancing this sector, addressing current challenges, and exploring barriers to the wider proliferation of translated literature. Chaired by Daniel Hahn.
Participants:
Anton Hur, Translator, and Author
Anton Hur is a translator and author working in Seoul. Born in Stockholm, Sweden, and raised in British Hong Kong, Ethiopia, and Thailand, but mostly in Korea. Author of Toward Eternity (HarperVia) and No One Told Me Not To (Across Books).
Andrea Joyce, Rights Agent, Joyce Literary Rights Agency
Andrea Joyce founded Joyce Literary Rights Agency in Edinburgh in 2020, after 20+ years in international publishing with roles at Farrar, Straus & Giroux, HarperCollins, Canongate, and Curtis Brown. Named Rights Professional of the Year at the British Book Awards, she handles translation and North American rights for a number of independent publishers and is Rights Director at Jenny Brown Associates, working closely with scouts, sub-agents, and editors.
Sam McDowell, Publisher, Charco Press
Sam McDowell co-founded Charco Press in 2017, an award-winning Edinburgh-based publisher that brings exceptional contemporary Latin American literature to English readers, with titles shortlisted for the International Booker Prize and multiple awards for excellence, including being named Scotland Small Press of the Year 2019 and 2021 at the British Book Awards.
Daniel Hahn, Author, Editor and Translator
Daniel Hahn is a British writer, editor, and translator, known for his award-winning translations and non-fiction works. He is currently translating a Colombian novel, co-editing an anthology of Brazilian short stories and writing a book about Shakespeare and translation.
Panel 3: Connecting Cultures: The Power of International Literary Partnerships
17:15 – 18:30
Discover the significance and impact of international collaborations in the literary world. This panel will spotlight organisations and authors in both Scotland and the rest of the UK involved in international partnerships, emphasising strategies for fostering cross-cultural literary projects.
Hear more about the opportunities and rationale for literary organisations and writers to work internationally, hear inspiring stories of successful collaborations and perspectives on how we balance global engagement with environmental responsibility. Chaired by Jenny Niven.
Participants:
Rachel Humphries, Centre Director, Moniack Mhor
Rachel Humphries has led Moniack Mhor, Scotland’s Creative Writing Centre, since July 2010. Under her direction, the centre has become independent, expanded its equalities work and initiated an international programme connecting with writers in Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Canada, Spain, Ukraine, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, and India.
Sharmilla Beezmohun, Co-founder, Speaking Volumes Live Literature Productions
Sharmilla Beezmohun co-founded Speaking Volumes Live Literature Productions in 2010, a London-based organisation known for working with underrepresented voices in the UK and abroad. She edited the anthology ‘Not Quite Right for Us’ and is a trustee of the George Padmore Institute. In 2019, she became an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Kirsty Logan, Author
Kirsty Logan is a Scottish writer. Her most recent books are the novel Now She is Witch and the memoir The Unfamiliar. She is the author of two previous novels, three story collections, two chapbooks, and many collaborative projects with musicians and illustrators. She lives in Glasgow, where she is working on film and TV projects.
Matt Beavers, Literature Relationship Manager, British Council
Matt Beavers is the Literature Relationship Manager at the British Council, overseeing literature programmes in the Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa and the EU. He specialises in poetry, spoken word, and storytelling, and has extensive experience managing international literary partnerships and skills development programmes for emerging writers.
Jenny Niven, CEO and Festival Director, Edinburgh International Book Festival
Jenny Niven joined the Book Festival in September 2023. She founded the Push the Boat Out festival, produced Dandelion in Scotland, and chaired Literature Alliance Scotland. Named in The List’s 'Hot 100' in 2023, she also led Creative Scotland’s literature team, produced the Edinburgh International Culture Summit, and co-founded Beijing’s first book festival.
Global Ink Social – International Networking Reception
18:30 - 20:00
Conclude the day with our Global Ink Social, a relaxed gathering to reflect on the day’s insights and network with fellow attendees over drinks.
The Translation Pavilion - in partnership with Publishing Scotland and Waterstones
Book Talk: Industry Insights for Writers
Where: Edinburgh Futures Institute, Venue B
When: 19 August 2024
Tickets: Full event listing here
Edinburgh International Book Festival presents an afternoon of panels and networking for writers, bringing together perspectives from across the publishing industry – from agents and editors to crowdfunding experts.
Today’s sessions offer practical advice for writers on getting published, finding community, and accessing development opportunities to give you the tools to build your best writing life. Hosted by Emma Collins.
A one-day Industry Pass is £40 [Concessions £25]. Passes provide access to all three panels and a networking drinks.
12:30: Registration and Welcome Coffee
Kick off the day with registration and a welcome coffee, providing a chance to meet fellow attendees and start networking early.
13:00-14:00 Panel 1: Anatomy of an Industry: An Introduction to Publishing
This panel will break down some of the key roles in publishing, offering a window into the workings of the book world.
Hear a day-in-the-life of some of the UK’s top publishing professionals – including an agent, editor and publicist – and learn how each views their role in an author’s journey from submission to publication day and beyond. Come with your burning questions!
Participants:
Anna Frame, Communications Director, Canongate Books
Emma Paterson, Literary Agent at Aitken Alexander Associates
Chaired by Jenny Brown
14:30-15:30 Panel 2: Literary Lifelines: Funding for Writers
We need to talk about money. This panel spotlights organisations who are helping writers to build sustainable, stable, and versatile creative careers – from Ireland’s pioneering Basic Income for the Arts pilot to the rise of literary crowdfunding.
Hear about the important work being done to advocate for the value of the arts, and discover some of the avenues for funding and professional development available to you as a writer.
Participants:
Sharon Barry, Director, Culture Ireland
Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing, Creative Scotland
Oriana Leckert, Director of Publishing & Comics Outreach, Kickstarter
Chaired by Laura Waddell
16:00-17:00 Panel 3: You Heard It Here First: Writing for Anthologies
There is a thriving scene for indie literary magazines and anthologies in the UK, each with its own strong sense of identity and community.
This panel brings together the creative minds behind some of the country’s most exciting indie publications to explore their vital role in the publishing landscape and talent pipeline, as well as sharing how you can get involved.
Participants:
Malachy Tallack, Gutter Magazine
Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, Black Joy
Andrew Wilson, Nova Scotia: New Speculative Fiction from Scotland
Chaired by Heather Parry, Extra Teeth
17:00-18:00 Book Talk Social
Round off the day with our Book Talk social, a relaxed gathering to reflect on the day’s insights and get to know fellow attendees over drinks.
Book Talk: Perspectives in Publishing
Where: Edinburgh Futures Institute, Venue B
When: 21 August 2024
Tickets: Full event listing here
Edinburgh International Book Festival presents an afternoon of panels and networking for publishing professionals, delving into some of the big talking points in the industry this year, from rethinking accessibility to the continued rise of AI.
Today’s event is open to anyone with an interest in what goes on ‘behind the book’ – come along and join the conversation. Hosted by Lilidh Kendrick.
A one-day Industry Pass is £40 [Concessions £25]. Passes provide access to all three panels and networking drinks.
The Creativity in an Inflexible World panel (13:00-14:00) is available to livestream and on demand with a ‘Pay What You Can’ ticket.
12:30: Registration and Welcome Coffee
Kick off the day with registration and a welcome coffee, providing a chance to meet fellow attendees and start networking early.
13:00-14:00 Panel 1: Creativity in an Inflexible World
This panel will tackle the topic of accessibility and flexibility in publishing and how they can impact creativity and the quality of books published. Today's panelists invite us to think creatively about how we can all be more flexible in the way we engage with new audiences, treat our staff, and do our daily business of selling books.
This panel will be livestreamed and available to watch remotely. Please reserve your space here.
Participants:
Vidisha Biswas, Managing Director, Footnote Press
Chaired by Caro Clarke, Portobello Literary
More to be announced.
14:30-15:30: Panel 2: Plot Twist: How is AI Transforming Publishing?
How can we champion the agency of the human author in the age of AI and work with emerging technologies ‘responsibly’ as publishers?
This panel explores how publishing is responding to the rise and rise of generative AI technologies – from those embracing its commercial and creative potential to those dreaming up radical interventions.
Participants:
Catriona Stevenson, Deputy CEO of Publishers Association
Dr Pip Thornton, Chancellor’s Fellow in Edinburgh University’s School of GeoSciences and leader of the Writing the Wrongs of AI project.
Chaired by Gordon Johnstone, Scottish AI Alliance
More to be announced.
16:00-17:00 Panel 3: Shifting the Dial: Prizes with Purpose
Far from a cog in the publicity machine, literary prizes make a vital contribution to a more representative publishing landscape, bringing sidelined voices into the mainstream and transforming reading habits over time.This panel explores the role and value of prizes in the wider publishing ecosystem.
Today’s speakers invite us to rethink the ways publishers can engage with Prizes – and their charitable arms – to deepen their impact and secure their future.
Participants:
Claire Shanahan, Executive Director, Women’s Prize Trust
Hana Sandhu, Programme Manager, New Writing North
More to be announced.
17:00-18:00 Book Talk Social
Round off the day with our Book Talk social, a relaxed gathering to reflect on the day’s insights and get to know fellow attendees over drinks.
Industry
- 2025 Festival:
- 9-24 August
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