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Surrey Group: Publishing Trends
8 April @ 12:00 - 14:00 BST
Free
Join the Surrey Group on Tuesday 8 April from 12pm for their next in-person lunchtime meet-up to discuss trends in publishing for young people with editor and publishing manager Samantha Stewart.
Samantha has worked in global publishing houses for the last thirty years, working most recently at Penguin Random House and HarperCollins Publishers. She has worked with some of the most acclaimed authors for children’s books – from Michael Morpurgo and Jacqueline Wilson, to David Walliams and Lauren Child, and still works with many of them today.
Sam is now a Senior Lecturer in Publishing at Bath Spa University, an editorial consultant for the big-five publishers in London and an author of books for young people. Her middle-grade fantasy book, Fireblood, was published by Firefly Press in 2023 and she’s working urgently on the sequel. She is passionate about sharing insight into all aspects of the creative industries and speaks on conference panels and at festivals about publishing and her creative-writing work.
At this meeting, Sam will discuss leading trends in publishing books for young people – the opportunities and the challenges that invite good writing from us all! – and what publishers and literary agents are looking for right now. We’ll flex our writing muscles by trying out a few interactive synopsis and story-building techniques that are relevant to all kinds of fiction writing. These are helpful to bear in mind when pitching ideas to publishers/agents, and when starting out on a new story idea, whether for adult or children’s-publishing markets. You’ll need a pen/pencil – worksheets and good cheer will be provided!
We’ll meet at The Seahorse, 52-54 The Street, Shalford, Guildford, GU4 8BU.
All writerly and bookish guests welcome!
To join us, click the Going button below and enter your details in the RSVP form so we know how many people to expect. Please email Howard Matthews with any questions.
If you would like to be added to the waiting list for this event, please email localgroups@societyofauthors.org.
