BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//The Society of Authors - ECPv6.18.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://societyofauthors.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The Society of Authors REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20250330T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20251026T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20260329T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20261025T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20270328T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20271031T010000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261105T110000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261105T123000 DTSTAMP:20261007T151503Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T151503Z UID:10001774-1793876400-1793881800@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:SoA Winter Coffee & Chat - hosted by Dorothy Koomson DESCRIPTION:Grab a cuppa and join us for our Winter SoA in person: Coffee and Chat event held at our London offices on Bedford Row. Meet and mingle with SoA staff and fellow members and hear from author and SoA Member\, Dorothy Koomson. \nHot drinks and cakes will be served. \nPlaces are limited and subject to availability. This is a seated event.  \n  \nIn Person: Coffee & Chat events – £9.50 for SoA Members \nNot a member? Sign up here. \n  \nProgramme\n\n11am – Event starts\n11.30am – Welcome and introductions from  SoA Chief Executive\, Anna Ganley and a welcome from Dorothy Koomson\n12.30pm – Event finishes\n\n  \nThe Line up \nDorothy Koomson\nDorothy Koomson is an award-winning\, global bestselling author of 22 novels\, commonly known as the ‘Queen of the Big Reveal’ for her powerful\, thought-provoking\, and compelling thrillers. Her books have connected with readers all over the world\, with sales of over 2.5 million copies in the UK alone. Dorothy featured on the 2021 Powerlist as one of the most influential Black people in Britain\, appeared in GQ Style as a Black British trailblazer\, and was a judge for the 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction. 2023 marked Dorothy’s 20th anniversary as a published author. The Quiet Girls is Dorothy’s 23rd book and is published on the 12th March 2026. \n \nSoA Fundraising Bookshop\nBrowse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. \n  \nAccessibility\nOur Events space is located on the ground floor of our office. We have a wheelchair ramp at the side entrance of the building. We also have an accessible toilet by the side entrance. \nIf you have any access requirements\, please email events@societyofauthors.org \n  \nFeeling unwell?\nWe recommend the following: \n\nStaying home if you’re feeling unwell or have flu-like symptoms\nWashing your hands when coming in from the outdoors and / or before touching your face\nApplying alcohol hand sanitiser (we will have these on site)\nWe advise attendees to wear a face mask if they feel comfortable doing so\n\n  \nTickets \n£9.50 for SoA Members \n  \nBooking\nBook your place using the booking from below. Places are limited. \nPlease read our event booking Terms and Conditions: https://societyofauthors.org/legal-privacy/event-terms/ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/soa-winter-coffee-chat-hosted-by-dorothy-koomson/ LOCATION:The Society of Authors\, 24 Bedford Row\, London\, WC1R 4EH\, London\, WC1R 4EH\, GB CATEGORIES:SoA in Person ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Winter-Coffee-Chat-5.jpg GEO:51.5206792;-0.1162502 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Society of Authors 24 Bedford Row London WC1R 4EH London WC1R 4EH GB;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=24 Bedford Row\, London\, WC1R 4EH:geo:-0.1162502,51.5206792 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261106T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261106T123000 DTSTAMP:20260803T144712Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260803T144712Z UID:10002196-1793959200-1793968200@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:SoA Community Hub | Shut Up & Write! ® DESCRIPTION:Join us this November for a writing focused Community Hub event at our London office on Bedford Row. \nAmaia Robertson Nogues from Shut Up & Write! ®\, will facilitate a morning of writing. Shut Up & Write! ® is a nonprofit that brings writers together to build consistency\, beat procrastination\, and finally make progress on their projects. \nWhether you’re writing a novel\, finishing a dissertation\, or tackling daily creative work\, our free in-person and online writing sessions connect you with a global network of writers who show up\, write\, and succeed. \nThis event is structured around a silent writing period\, so remember to bring headphones if you’d like to minimise background noise. \nPlaces are limited and subject to availability. \nThis event is free to SoA Members. Not a member? Sign up here. \n  \nProgramme\n\n10am – Event starts | Refreshments on arrival\n\n\n10.30am – Welcome and introductions from SoA\n\n\n10.35am –Welcome from Amaia Robertson Nogues. Writing workshop begins\n\n\n12.30pm – Close\n\n  \nThe Line up\nAmaia Robertson Nogues\nAmaia is a Community Manager at Shut Up & Write!\, a global community hosting writing groups in over 80 countries. Her work focuses on fostering creative communities through accessible writing sessions. With a research background at the University of Cambridge\, she also works with academic writing groups to support researcher wellbeing in higher education. \n  \nAbout Shut Up & Write\nShut Up & Write!® is a free\, global community of writing groups built around showing up to write. Come for the accountability\, stay for the community. No critique. No read-alouds. Just focused writing time\, alongside others. \n  \nAccessibility\n\nOur Events space is located on the ground floor of our office. We have a wheelchair ramp at the side entrance of the building. We also have an accessible toilet by the side entrance.\nIf you have any access requirements\, please email events@societyofauthors.org\n\n  \nFeeling unwell?\nWe recommend the following: \n\nStaying home if you’re feeling unwell or have flu-like symptoms\nWashing your hands when coming in from the outdoors and / or before touching your face\nApplying alcohol hand sanitiser (we will have these on site)\nWe advise attendees to wear a face mask if they feel comfortable doing so\n\n  \nBooking\nBook your place using the booking from below. Places are limited. \nPlease read our event booking Terms and Conditions: https://societyofauthors.org/legal-privacy/event-terms/ \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/soa-community-hub-shut-up-write/ LOCATION:The Society of Authors\, 24 Bedford Row\, London\, WC1R 4EH\, London\, WC1R 4EH\, GB CATEGORIES:SoA Community Hub,SoA in Person ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SoA-Community-Hub_Shut-Up-Write-3.jpg GEO:51.5206792;-0.1162502 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Society of Authors 24 Bedford Row London WC1R 4EH London WC1R 4EH GB;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=24 Bedford Row\, London\, WC1R 4EH:geo:-0.1162502,51.5206792 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261111T110000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261111T140000 DTSTAMP:20260720T084741Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260720T084741Z UID:10002209-1794394800-1794405600@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:Presentation skills for authors DESCRIPTION:Presenting your work in person is an increasingly important part of being an author; whether you’re speaking at festivals\, bookshops\, schools\, industry events or on panels. This practical workshop will help you build confidence and sharpen your delivery\, exploring how to communicate your ideas clearly\, connect with an audience and present yourself authentically. Together\, we’ll look at how to structure your message\, manage nerves\, use your voice and body language effectively and handle Q&As or challenging moments with greater ease. The seminar will include an interactive presentation practice session.This session is for authors and writers at any stage of their career who want to feel more confident and engaging when speaking in front of an audience. \nTickets for this event include lunch and additional light refreshments throughout the session. \n  \nWhat this session will cover\nAttendees will take away:  \n\nPractical techniques to manage nerves and build confidence before and during a presentation\nTools for structuring talks\, readings and panel contributions clearly and effectively\nGreater awareness of voice\, pace\, presence and body language\nStrategies for connecting with different audiences and holding attention\nTips for handling audience questions and unexpected moments with confidence\nA clearer sense of your own presentation style and strengths\n\n  \nProgramme\n\n10.45am – Refreshments\n11am – Welcome and introductions from Sophia A Jackson – Head of Events and EngagementSoA\n11.05am – Workshop hosted by Ronke Lawal\n12pm – Comfort break\n12.15pm Workshop resumes\n1.30 pm – Lunch\n2pm – Event closes\n\n  \nThe Line up\nRonke Lawal\nRonke Lawal is a passionate PR & comms consultant and founder of Ariatu PR. With a focus on diverse storytelling and authentic brand voices\, she empowers entrepreneurs and creatives to shine through her personal branding and media coaching work. Ronke is a vocal advocate for inclusion\, representation and confidence in communication across media\, business and public speaking platforms. \nWebsites: www.ronkelawal.com | www.ariatupublicrelations.com \n  \nAccessibility\n\nOur Events space is located on the ground floor of our office. We have a wheelchair ramp at the side entrance of the building. We also have an accessible toilet by the side entrance.\nIf you have any access requirements\, please email events@societyofauthors.org\n\n  \nFeeling unwell?\nWe recommend the following: \n\nStaying home if you’re feeling unwell or have flu-like symptoms\nWashing your hands when coming in from the outdoors and / or before touching your face\nApplying alcohol hand sanitiser (we will have these on site)\nWe advise attendees to wear a face mask if they feel comfortable doing so\n\n  \nTickets \n\nSoA Members – £25\nNon-Members – £35 \n\nTickets for this event include lunch and light refreshments throughout the session. \n  \nBooking\nBook your place using the booking from below. Places are limited. \nPlease read our event booking Terms and Conditions: https://societyofauthors.org/legal-privacy/event-terms/ \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/presentation-skills-for-authors/ LOCATION:The Society of Authors\, 24 Bedford Row\, London\, WC1R 4EH\, London\, WC1R 4EH\, GB CATEGORIES:SoA in Person ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Presentation-skills-for-authors.jpg GEO:51.5206792;-0.1162502 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Society of Authors 24 Bedford Row London WC1R 4EH London WC1R 4EH GB;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=24 Bedford Row\, London\, WC1R 4EH:geo:-0.1162502,51.5206792 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261114 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261116 DTSTAMP:20261008T081938Z CREATED:20250108T090059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261008T081938Z UID:10002296-1794614400-1794787199@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:Society of Authors at Thought Bubble Comic Convention 2026 DESCRIPTION:We’re excited to be returning to Thought Bubble Comic Convention this November. \nWe’ll be at the convention on Saturday and Sunday\, located in Bubbleboy Hall\, at Table B30. \nOur Events & Engagement Manager and co-ordinator of the SoA’s Comics Creators Network\, Lilly Brend-Fish will be at the stand throughout the weekend. Come along to meet the team\, and connect with members of the Comics Creators Network. \nJoin the Society of Authors’ Senior Contracts advisor\, Theo Jones\, and award-winning comics creator\, scriptwriter and campaigner\, Hannah Berry\, as they explore the professional side of being a comics creator in 2026\, and the challenges this brings in the face of AI. \n  \nUnion Support for Comics as a Profession\nSaturday 14 November\, 15.15-16.15 | Queen’s Suite\nJoin the Society of Authors’ Senior Contracts advisor\, Theo Jones\, and award-winning comics creator\, scriptwriter and campaigner\, Hannah Berry\, as they explore the professional side of being a comics creator in 2026\, and the challenges this brings in the face of AI. This session offers essential and practical advice on navigating copyright\, negotiating contracts\, and protecting your income and intellectual property. \nThey’ll also delve into how the SoA and the Comics Creators Network are campaigning for creators’ rights and fighting for changes in Parliament. Learn how to protect your work and your career\, and leave empowered to raise your voice alongside your fellow comics creators. \nTickets are available to purchase via Thought Bubble’s website here: https://www.thoughtbubblefestival.com/tickets  \n  \nThe Line-up\nHannah Berry\nHannah Berry is an occasionally award-winning comics creator\, scriptwriter and campaigner\, and is a founding committee member of the Comics Creators Network and co-director of the Comics Cultural Impact Collective. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was UK Comics Laureate 2019-21. \nWebsite: hannahberry.co.uk | Instagram: @streakofpith | Bluesky: streakofpith.bsky.social \n  \nTheo Jones\nTheo Jones advises members on contracts and issues. He is joint coordinator of the Scriptwriters Group and co-produces and co-presents the SoA Advisory Clinic podcast covering the key topics\, issues and challenges affecting writers today. \n  \nAbout the Comics Creators Network\nThe Comics Creators Network is a pressure group of working authors that advocates for the rights of traditionally and self-published creators of comics and graphic novels in the UK. \nThe comics industry has a history of treating people who work in it as disposable\, and this is something that needs to change. It can be hard to push back when bad conditions are often viewed as standard practice\, but if you publish comics you are an author just like every other poet\, essayist or novelist\, and you deserve to be treated the same way. No one should accept substandard treatment because they are grateful for being published. \nPlease get in touch with us at comics@societyofauthors.org if you have any questions about how to join. \n  \nBooking\nTickets are available to purchase via Thought Bubble’s website here: https://www.thoughtbubblefestival.com/tickets URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/society-of-authors-at-thought-bubble-comic-convention-2026/ LOCATION:Harrogate Convention Centre\, King's Road\, Harrogate\, HG1 5LA CATEGORIES:Comics Creators Network,SoA in Person ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SoA-x-Thought-Bubble-2026-1.jpg GEO:53.999302;-1.5401868 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Harrogate Convention Centre King's Road Harrogate HG1 5LA;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=King's Road:geo:-1.5401868,53.999302 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261116T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261116T160000 DTSTAMP:20261012T084324Z CREATED:20220121T162059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T084324Z UID:10001866-1794823200-1794844800@societyofauthors.org SUMMARY:SOLD OUT | SoA Author Photos DESCRIPTION:Ticket for this event are now sold out. If you would like to be added to the waiting list for this event\, please email events@societyofauthors.org. \n  \nSoA members are offered the chance to have a professional author photo taken by photographer Adrian Pope for a fraction of the usual cost. The usual price for professional headshots is around £200 or considerably more for a longer studio session. \nCome and update your headshot at the SoA offices on Bedford Row – this is offered at a discounted price of £40 for SoA members and £60 for non-members on a first come\, first served basis to members. \n  \nWhat do you get?\n\nYou’ll be given a 10 minute slot.\nBasic light retouching included (general lightening\, darkening\, crop and portrait softening as needed) to your chosen photo.\n\n  \nNeed to know\n\nLicence for usage. Your photo can be used across your social media channels\, websites\, press and PR\nThe licence does not include usage for above the line advertising or book jackets – please contact Adrian Pope for permission.\n*Above the line advertisement means paid for advertising\, for example\, a poster on the underground\, bus shelter\, above the M4 motorway\, multiple points of sale displays in book shops. Where a small fortune is being spent on a marketing – advertising campaign\, a fee is required to use the photo.\nPlease note that your photos will include the head-to-shoulder/chest area.\n\n  \nGetting to the Society of Authors\n\nOur address: 24 Bedford Row\, London WC1R 4EH\nNearest tube stations: Chancery Lane or Holborn\nClick for Map \n\n  \nAccessibility\n\nOur events space is located on the ground floor of our office\, we have a wheelchair ramp round the side entrance of the building. We also have an accessible toilet by the side entrance.\nIf you require BSL interpretation to take part in this event\, please email events@societyofauthors.org.\nIf you have any other accessibility needs\, please email events@societyofauthors.org\n\n  \nFeeling unwell?\nWe recommend the following: \n\nStaying home if you’re feeling unwell or have flu-like symptoms\nWashing your hands when coming in from the outdoors and / or before touching your face\nApplying alcohol hand sanitiser (we will have these on site)\nWe advise attendees to wear a face mask if they feel comfortable doing so\n\n  \nBook your author photo slot\n£40 for SoA Members \n£60 for Non-Members \nOnce we have received your booking\, a Calendly link will be manually sent for you to confirm your slot. Slots are between 10am and 4pm on Monday 16 November 2026 at the SoA. \n  \nBooking\nBook your place using the booking from below. Places are limited. \nPlease read our event booking Terms and Conditions: https://societyofauthors.org/legal-privacy/event-terms/ \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Accordion Title\n \n Accordion Content \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The Society of Authors’ Access Fund - donate now\n \n Giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreatsEvery contribution helps us ensure that these needs and costs aren’t barriers to authors wishing to access events. If you are in a position to help\, please donate via the link below. If you are an author facing access issues\, please click here to see if we can help. DONATE NOW\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n SoA Fundraising Bookshop\n \n Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in our events programme. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links\, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund\, giving authors support for travel\, subsistence\, childcare or access needs for events\, residencies\, and retreats. URL:https://societyofauthors.org/event/soa-author-photos-2/ LOCATION:The Society Of Authors\, 24 Bedford Row\, London\, WC1R 4EH\, London\, WC1R 4EH\, GB CATEGORIES:AGM week,SoA in Person ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://societyofauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Author-Photos-Day-3.jpg GEO:51.5206792;-0.1162502 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Society Of Authors 24 Bedford Row London WC1R 4EH London WC1R 4EH GB;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=24 Bedford Row\, London\, WC1R 4EH:geo:-0.1162502,51.5206792 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR