Bookseller Children’s Conference full line-up revealed

The full programme for this year’s Bookseller Children’s Conference has been revealed with a packed line-up including Catherine Bell, Cressida Cowell, Alice Burden and Jamila Metran.

This year’s event will take place on 23rd September at County Hall in London, with guest appearances from authors and publishers, discussion panels and a drinks reception.

It kicks off with Bell, co-managing director of Scholastic UK, who will deliver a keynote speech called “Raise the Roof: Putting on a Show to Wow all Children”.

Bell will be followed by children’s media consultants Alice Burden and Jamila Metran, discussing how to take a children’s story beyond the book. Cowell, the newly-appointed Children’s Laureate, will also make an address entitled “Reading is Magic and Magic Should be for Everyone”.

The event is also crammed full of panels discussing everything from how publishing deals with mental health to sustaining authors’ careers.

Elsewhere, Pete Selby, head of books at WHSmith and Booka Bookshop owner Carrie Morris will discuss the role of the high street in children’s entertainment.

Ellis Moore, rights and content manager at Bolinda, Yoto c.e.o. Ben Drury and Samantha Halstead, editorial director for PRH Audio, will share knowledge on building a viable business model for children’s audiobooks.

There will also be a debate on the challenges of publishing YA, featuring Daphne Lao Tonge, founder of Illumicrate, Denise Johnstone-Burt, executive editorial director at Walker Books, and Hodder editor Sam Bradbury.

For the full line-up and to book tickets, visit the event website.