Comma Press and Manchester Metropolitan University Publishing Conference 2021

Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature Editor

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The Publishing Conference 2021

24-25 April 2021

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Comma Press
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Comma Press and Manchester Metropolitan University present a two-day online Publishing Conference for aspiring and early-career publishers.

Designed to make publishing more transparent and to increase accessibility to the sector, particularly for those in the North of England where the conference would usually take place, nine sessions will be delivered by professionals from across the industry, along with two free live-streamed events: An Introduction To Publishing talk with James Spackman on 24 April and the panel How To Break Into The Industry on 25 April.

The paid part of the conference is £25 and includes the following presentations and workshops:

Saturday 24 April

Editorial with Marianne Tatepo (Ebury Publishing), 13.00-13.30

Production with Farzana Khan (Hachette Children’s), 13.40-14.10

Sales with Matt Casbourne (Duckworth Books), 14.20-14.50

Publicity with Poppy Stimpson (Pushkin Press), 15.00-15.30

Sunday 25 April

Rights with Sarah Cleave (Comma Press), 13.00-13.30

Marketing with Alesha Bonser (Penguin Random House), 13.40-14.10

Audio with Marina Stavropoulou (Bonnier Books UK), 14.20-14.50

Starting your own press with Kit Caless (Influx), 15.00-15.30

Workshop: CV and interview skills with Debbie Williams (Publishing @ MMU), 16.00-17.30

A limited number of free sponsored tickets are available for aspiring publishers who are underrepresented by the industry, including people of colour, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people and those in a low-income household. There are also limited free tickets available for residents of Greater Manchester. Please email zoe.turner@commapress.co.uk to apply.

Where to go near Comma Press and Manchester Metropolitan University Publishing Conference 2021

Manchester
Food hall
Kargo MKT

Mighty food hall in Salford Quays, with around twenty street food vendors, serving a huge range of cuisines.

Asap Coffee Interior/ Counter
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
ASAP Coffee

If you’re looking for quality coffee and a decadent brunch in a setting that nails the Northern Quarter brief, you’d struggle to do better than ASAP Coffee.

Interior of George St Chapel
Manchester
Event venue
George Street Chapel

This beautifully restored former Independent Methodist Chapel in the heart of Oldham is as much a creative hub as a heritage landmark.

Chinatown
Restaurant
Pho Cue

Family-run Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown. Prepare to queue for Pho Cue.

Come to Swithens Farm for a great family day out in Leeds. Our farm has plenty to offer whatever age you are!Swithens Farm is a working farm. For many years now Ian and his wife Angela have built a following that they welcome in all year around. We now have a farm shop, café, playbarn and petting farm. When we first opened we only had the usual farm animals – cows, pigs, sheep, chickens and it was free entry. We now have llamas, alpacas, meerkats, rabbits, guinea pigs, donkeys and a pony.On the working farm, we breed our own cows, pigs and sheep and we sell the meat through the farm shop and the café. If you buy a sausage sandwich from the café the sausage will be from the butcher who has made the sausage by hand using our own pork. We also produce our own free-range eggs.
Leeds
Swithens Farm

Swithens Farm is a working farm. For many years now Ian and his wife Angela have built a following that they welcome in all year around.

Peak District
Restaurant
The Chequers Inn

The Chequers Inn is a 16th century, family-run, traditional country inn with an impressive dining space. The Peak District at its best.

Testbed Main Space
Leeds
Event venue
TESTBED

TESTBED is a newly renovated 10,000 sq foot event venue in Leeds that offers endless possibilities for creating unique and inspiring experiences.

Manchester
Restaurant
Salt & Pepper

Chinese inspired British food in the centre of Manchester, backed up by plenty of well-deserved local hype.

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Deryn Rees-Jones. Credit Alison Dodd Photography
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