Programme for BolognaBookPlus spearheaded by Grossman

Sessions on how to be a successful literary agent, sell rights and understand licensing in children’s books, the role of scouts, and book jacket design are to feature at BolognaBookPlus—the general trade arm of Bologna Children’s Book Fair—this year.

It takes place alongside the fair from 6th-9th March. This year’s author ambassador has been unveiled as broadcaster and cultural campaigner Loyd Grossman, who spearheads the programme.

The An Elephant in Rome (Pallas Athene) author will be the keynote speaker for the "Call Your Agent" training programme on 7th March and will draw on his experiences of working with agents throughout his career. Also on the agenda is an in-conversation session with publisher and former Macmillan Publishers chief executive Richard Charkin and a session in which Grossman and guest director Jacks Thomas will discuss the significance of culture and books in an increasingly digital world.

Grossman will present an award at the Bologna Ragazzi Award ceremony and be in conversation with professor of history and international studies Mark Gilbert. Grossman said: "With my lifelong interest in Italian art and history, I am delighted to be invited as author ambassador for this year’s BolognaBookPlus. I look forward to meeting publishing experts from across the globe as well as the opportunity for insightful discussion both in and outside of the fair with the industry and academic world in Bologna."

Jamie Hodder-Williams of Bedford Square Publishers, Tracy Phillips, group rights director at Hachette Children’s Group, and agents Lora Fountain of Lora Fountain Literary Agency and Valentina Colombo of Phileas Fogg will also be in attendance, alongside Debbie Bibo from Debbie Bibo Agency and Luigi Bonomi from LBA.

The "How to Sell Rights and Understand Licensing in Children’s Books" session will take place on the day preceding the fair. It will be chaired by Phillips and is aimed at those starting out in rights, contracts and licensing in children’s publishing. "How to Self-Publish in Italy and Abroad" will include one day on the craft of writing and a second on self-publishing. Nielsen BookData’s head of professional services, Clive Herbert, will discuss the UK market in another session.

"Call Your Agent: How to Become a Successful Literary Agent", with new chair Hodder-Williams, will return for a second edition with what the organisers are calling a global first: a session on the role of scouts. Speakers will include Bonomi, Fountain, Colombo and Rosalind Ramsay from RR Scouting. "Book Jacket Design: Celebrating the Best of the Best" will dive into the inaugural Market of Honour, Greece, and "Jackets Off!" will examine the different interpretations of George Orwell’s classic 1984 across cultures and languages.

Jacks Thomas, guest director of BolognaBookPlus said: "BolognaBookPlus continues to establish itself and expand, which this year ’s programme aptly illustrates with the return of established perennials such as the rights and self-publishing events alongside the global growth area of agenting and scouting.

"Complemented by the first Market of Honour, Greece, the BolognaBookPlus 2023 edition continues to build a rich programme that tackles pertinent international book industry topics and stimulates essential debate on how to take the industry forward sustainably. Having author Loyd Grossman, whose career and influence is global, and whose work across the arts is internationally recognised, flying the flag for authors at BolognaBookPlus is a real gift."