New Writing South
Meet the Industry
New Writing South, East Kent Live Lit and Waterstones present speakers from the world of publishing in conversation.
Get an overview of the publishing industry today, what authors should know about the business of publishing, discover what the experts do and how they can help your career, as well as gain tips and insights into the book and publishing world.
The evening also offers an informal opportunity to network and ask questions. Pay bar available.
Our panel guests will be:
Carole Blake - Blake Friedmann Literary, TV & Film Agency
Clare Christian - Publishing professional
David Hewson - Author
Martin Latham - Waterstones
Chaired by Chris Taylor, Director, New Writing South.
In a seperate event billed after MEET THE INDUSTRY, author, Sarah Waters will be in conversation as part of the Canterbury Festival.
About the panel:
Carole Blake has been a literary agent since 1977, past President of the Association of Authors' Agents, past Chairman of the Society of Bookmen, past Chairman of the book trade charity, BTBS. Carole's clients include Jane Asher, Elizabeth Chadwick, Barbara Erskine, Ann Granger, David Hewson, Ken Hom, Peter James, Lawrence Norfolk, Joseph O'Connor, Sheila O'Flanagan, Craig Russell, Tess Stimson, Julian Stockwin and Michael White.
Clare Christian has worked in publishing for many years and after developing and managing successful lists for a range of companies including Pearson, Hodder and Orion she set up her own independent publishing company, The Friday Project. TFP specialised in scouting new talent from the Internet and published both fiction and non-fiction titles. She is currently developing a non-fiction list for a large trade publisher.
David Hewson is the author of sixteen novels and is the author of the best-selling Nic Costa mystery series. David has been a staff reporter on The Times, worked on the launch of the Independent and was a weekly columnist for the Sunday Times before giving up journalism entirely in 2005 to focus on writing fiction. He has taught at writing schools around the world and is a regular faculty member for the Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference in Corte Madera, California, where he has worked alongside writers such as Martin Cruz Smith and Michael Connelly.
Martin Latham is the manager of Waterstones in Canterbury and is the longest serving Waterstones Manager, appointed by Tim Waterstone in 1990. Previously he ran an independent bookshop in Chelsea, whose regulars were Francis Bacon, Manolo Blahnik and Anthony Hopkins. He has written a regular column in the Bookseller for the last 3 years and is the author of 260 entries in the Oxford Guide to English Lit. He is also a keen dowser.
Chris Taylor is Director of New Writing South and is passionate about new writing. A former arts publicist and theatre consultant she has worked with numerous companies including Paines Plough, the Bush, National Theatre, Birmingham Film Festival, Greenwich Theatre, the Young Vic, the Royal Opera House, the Roundhouse and the London Symphony Orchestra. She has produced Ken Campbell's 24 hour play - The Warp, seasons of plays and a short film.