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The Black British Book Festival partners with Pan Macmillan for mentoring initiative Writers on the Rise
The Black British Book Festival is partnering with Pan Macmillan for a new joint mentoring initiative Writers on the Rise.
The programme has been tailored for Black British authors looking to navigate the publishing world and hone their craft and will “equip 30 aspiring writers with the essential tools, knowledge and industry access to embark on their journey as authors” organisers said.
The course will culminate with an in-person gathering in London, complete with a tour of Pan Macmillan’s HQ The Smithson and a day-long masterclass.
Writers on the Rise will kick off with a workshop led by Georgina Morley, publishing director at Picador, and Andrea Henry, editorial director at Picador who will talk about how the publisher acquires books, the role of agents, what editors do and will feature a live edit to show how editors work with authors. Subsequent sessions will cover copy-editing, rights, cover design, production, audio and e-books, digital marketing, publicity and how books are sold.
"I am truly thrilled by the impactful nature of the Writers on the Rise programme. It goes beyond developing writers; it’s about empowering them with the tools to build a resilient career. Collaborating with Pan Macmillan amplifies our collective mission to uncover, nurture and champion the vibrant talents emerging from Black British communities,” said Selina Brown, founder and c.e.o. of the Black British Book Festival.
“I am delighted we have been able to organise this scheme with the Black British Book Festival. This series will lift the lid on various areas of publishing; from how a book is bought and edited through to how our teams market them and how the sales team work with shops and online retailers. We also want to showcase careers in the industry; how to apply for them and the range of roles available. We hope Writers on the Rise will truly encourage Black British writers to develop their talent and help them understand the publishing process” added Tunde Agbalaya, head of diversity, equity and inclusion at Pan Macmillan.
The first session will take place on Monday 12th February.
