SESSIONS:
The Real World Consequences of A.I. on the Book Publishing Industry
Book publishing is now immersed in AI, at least conceptually. We know the vague, broad outlines of the beast, if not all the details. Much of the hesitancy around AI, both for authors and publishers, is only natural, given AI’s reckless assault on the (copy)rights of both.
And what are publishers, both small and large, currently doing with AI? Writing a few press releases and manuscript rejection letters. Not much of a revolution. Thad McIlroy will review the fast assault of AI on the book publishing industry, and make some projections about where it might be heading.
Thad McIlroy is a digital publishing analyst and author based in San Francisco. His site,The Future of Publishing , provides in-depth coverage of book publishing industry trends, currently focusing on the intersection of AI with book authoring and publishing. A well-established expert in the technology and marketing issues surrounding digital publishing, he has authored a dozen books and over 400 articles. McIlroy is also a partner
in Publishing Technology Partners , and a contributing editor to Publishers Weekly covering publishing innovation, startups and A.I. Born in Toronto, he lived in Vancouver for a dozen years.
Trauma-Informed Practices in Publishing Workshop
Join distinguished trauma researcher Tamara Cherry for an enlightening workshop focused on trauma-informed practices in publishing. Explore effective communication strategies tailored for authors navigating trauma narratives and learn how to promote their work with respect and empathy. Publicists and marketers will gain valuable tools to promote books sensitively and ethically, without re-traumatizing authors or readers, and learn how to navigate potentially triggering content while effectively communicating with media outlets to ensure respectful coverage of authors’ trauma narratives. Designed for publishing professionals committed to making a positive impact, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to learn from a leading expert in the field and revolutionize your approach to publishing.
Tamara Cherry is a trauma researcher, author, podcast host, and award-winning journalist who spent the bulk of her career as a crime reporter in some of Canada’s largest newsrooms, including the Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, and CTV News Toronto. She is the founder of Pickup Communications, a public relations firm that supports trauma survivors and relevant stakeholders. Her latest book, The Trauma Beat: A Case for Re-Thinking the Business of Bad News, was described in a Quill & Quire starred review as “a stunning work that should be required reading for journalism students, news reporters, true crime junkies, and anyone who wants to write narratives that heal, instead of harm.” Part-memoir, part-journalism, The Trauma Beat draws on the experiences of more than 100 trauma survivors — from homicides to traffic fatalities, sexual violence to mass violence. Tamara is also the author of All the Bumpy Pebbles, a novel about domestic sex trafficking that was inspired by the stories shared with her by survivors. Tamara is a regular voice on Newstalk 1010 radio in Toronto and across the iHeart Radio Talk Network. She lives in Regina, Saskatchewan with her partner and three kids.
New to Publishing Roundtable
Did you join the publishing industry right before, during, or after the pandemic? Would you like to meet and socialize with your peers from other publishers? Do you have perspectives, questions, challenges, successes, and ideas to share about the industry? Join Greystone’s Kathy Nguyen (production and rights, joined the industry in 2020) and Orca’s Amy Dechka (marketing design, joined the industry in 2022) for a roundtable discussion about topics relevant to staff who are relatively new to the publishing industry. This session is open to publishing professionals who have been in the industry for less than 5 years; in order to create a welcoming environment where participants can speak candidly about their experiences, senior publishing professionals are discouraged from attending this session.
Co-moderator Kathy Nguyen (she/her) began her publishing journey at Greystone Books, where she started as a Publishing Assistant and is now a Production and Rights Associate. She lives on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples (Vancouver). She welcomes and appreciates the friendly hello!
Co-moderator Amy Dechka works as the Sales and Marketing Designer at Orca Book Publishers. She is a writer and avid reader with previous work experience in communications, marketing and design. She holds a MPub from Simon Fraser University and a BA in creative writing from the University of Victoria.
Re: Re: Re: Mote with Lauren Stewart
Join BookNet Canada’s Lauren Stewart for an in-depth discussion of the latest in best practices for remote and hybrid teams. Discover strategies for remote recruitment and onboarding, tips for collaboration between departments, and finally leave those endless email threads behind.
Lauren Stewart‘s professional focus to-date has been the business of writing and publishing in Canada. Her career has seen her at a literary agency, bookstores, a not-for-profit literary event series, and a professional writers’ association. She is currently the Director, Customer Relations, Conferences & Operations at BookNet Canada.
Maintaining and Building Healthy Author/Illustrator Relationships Panel
“Managing author expectations”–we’ve said and heard this phrase so many times that it’s basically lost all meaning. But, as independent publishers with limited resources, it can be essential to clearly communicate with our authors and illustrators about what they should expect during their publishing experience (and sometimes what they shouldn’t). How do we have this conversation with them in an empowering and mutually beneficial way? Please join this informative panel discussion as we broach key points for maintaining healthy relationships between publishers and authors/illustrators. Across various different departments, from marketing to editorial, we dig deep into why ‘making time’ plays an invaluable role in creating strong, meaningful, and long-lasting connections that amplify the unique work of each of the authors and illustrators we represent.
Kaitlyn Stampflee is currently serving as the Associate Publisher for Medicine Wheel Publishing, where, for the past five years, as a third-generation settler, she has been working to amplify Indigenous voices and decolonize publishing processes through a relationship-based approach to publishing. Before entering the publishing industry in 2019, her background was in human resources in both private and government agencies.
Jennifer Crollis Editorial Director at Greystone Books, where she acquires and edits books as well as manages the editorial department. She is also the author of seven nonfiction books published by Prestel Publishing, Chronicle Books, and Annick Press.
Marisa Alps has dedicated her entire working life to promoting Canadian books and authors. She spent twenty-eight years at Harbour Publishing (and eight years with sister company Douglas & McIntyre), where she held the position of Director of Marketing. She is currently the Artistic and Executive Director of the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts.
Moderator Kirstie Hudson is the nonfiction editor at Orca Book Publishers and an award-winning writer and journalist. She was a reporter and producer with the CBC in Toronto, Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Victoria. Kirstie co-authored two books about the making of the Witness Blanket with Indigenous artist Carey Newman. Picking Up the Pieces was a finalist for the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. The Witness Blanket was the winner of the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Nonfiction winner and finalist for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. Kirstie was also an instructor at the University of Victoria and Royal Roads University, where she shared her love of storytelling with students in writing, communications and journalism.
Roundtable: What Can We Stop Doing in Marketing?
Sales and marketing is a black hole of to-dos and should-dos and want-to-dos and oh-my-gosh-I-forgot-to-dos. And while the pandemic inspired some new, more effective processes, it also created new expectations on top of the old. And so, it’s time to look into our marketing toolboxes and toss some of those rusty old wrenches. In this roundtable, we will talk about what is working now, and what we could do without. This will be a space for us all to reinvigorate, reenergize, and maybe just make our lives a little easier. What tools can’t you live without? Which new things are just a lot of bluster? And which formerly indispensable elements of you job might be best let go? And come ready to share your sucesses! We have been through quite a time, and deserve to do some good ol’ bragging!
Moderator Laraine Coates is the Assistant Director, Marketing and Business Development, at UBC Press. She has spent time in various roles at Pacific Educational Press, Greystone Books, Oxford University Press, and the University of Alberta Press. She lives in Vancouver with her two cats and prefers to read fiction.
