'Connect and Reflect' at Bookseller M&P Conference

The Bookseller’s Marketing & Publicity Conference has launched with a return to an in-person event themed around "Connect and Reflect". The show is to be held in London on Monday 27th June, and will also be live-streamed for delegates to attend remotely or on catch-up. Keynotes announced include Simon & Schuster marketing and publicity director Polly Osborn, author and journalist Oliver Burkeman, and Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon, author, presenter and creator of the award-winning social enterprise, Stemettes.

Miriam Robinson, conference director, said: "Publishing today feels like a tale of two industries: on one hand there’s enthusiasm, excitement and a sense of real opportunity; on the other hand there is stress, low morale and burnout, which we can’t ignore. This year’s programme addresses both those facets of our working lives in equal measure—our drive to be more creative and sell more books, alongside our very real need to slow down and set boundaries. Mostly though, it is thrilling to think of being back in the room together with everyone, and I hope it’s an opportunity for teams to get out of the office, reconnect with each other and find new inspiration for the months ahead."

The event will employ the best of the physical and the virtual space by filling the day with workshops, surgeries and breakouts that make the most of being back in the room, alongside digital benefits like beaming speakers in from abroad, livestream passes for those who can’t join us in person and virtual access to all the talks and panels for all delegates until the end of the summer. Sessions will range from the practical to the inspirational to the reflective, with talks on everything from crafting copy to navigating a challenging social media landscape to career ambition to TikTok. In addition, four panels have been guest-curated - by Dark Matter Agency founder Micallar Walker, freelance marketer Caroline Maddison, the PPC and The Flip to bring in fresh perspectives from both within and outside the industry.

Running alongside the conference programme there are a number of workshops for in-depth discussion, ranging from boosting a team’s motivation and morale to brainstorming how books might compete with other areas of the entertainment sector. A collaborative workshop between the Book Marketing Society and Bookshop.org will see marketeers and bookshops sharing best practice and paving new ways to work together.

The event, to be held at County Hall, Waterloo on 27th June, begins at 9.30am. In-person, virtual and hybrid tickets are on offer, and group bookings or freelance rates are available from emma.lowe@thebookseller.com, as well as sponsor packages.

The programme may be viewed here.