On June 25th at beautiful Harbourfront Centre in downtown Toronto, professionals from across the publishing industry gathered for Book Summit 2015—throughout the day, we shared a round of engaging conversations about contemporary trends in book publishing. Our conference hashtag, #bksummit15, started trending early on, garnering some nice shout-outs (thanks Quill and Quire!).
Full house at booksummit.ca #bksummit15 @harbourfront @BPCcanada @ifoa @humbercreative ^DC pic.twitter.com/xvtdi1Jriv
— Publisher Production (@publisher_ps) June 25, 2015
Presented by Humber College and the Book and Periodical Council, in association with the International Festival of Authors, Book Summit 2015 explored “The Story at the Centre: Making, Marketing and Managing Our Content.” The idea of story—how it’s generated, marketed, experienced, analyzed—has been challenging the distinctions between writers, readers and publishers. In her introductory remarks to start the day, Humber College Creative Book Publishing Director Emeritus Cynthia Good noted how these distinctions have been blurring—a theme that would resurface in many of the day’s presentations. No matter how often platforms and media change, people continue to respond to authenticity and both seek out and pay for information they value. So argued our popular keynote speaker, former CBC executive and Wikimedia Foundation President, now Special Advisor, Sue Gardner.
@SuePGardner opened #bksummit15 with an engaging look at the technological tsunami of the last decade. I could listen to her speak all day — Jen Geurts (@jengeurts) June 25, 2015
Gardner gave a brief history of her own career and argued that Wikipedians’ passionate engagement with technology and information resources offers a hopeful model for publishing. Algorithms, review sites, self-publishing and fan fiction marketplaces—all have made market research more readily available and nuanced, but Gardner emphasized this key takeaway:
The thoughtful, articulate @SuePGardner! “People are willing to pay for things they love.” #bksummit15 pic.twitter.com/ILSC9L5NT3
— Carly Watters (@carlywatters) June 25, 2015
Next up, participants enjoyed a vibrant multimedia panel discussion. Their core topic: how does the idea of story play out in video games, animation, immersive journalism and other new media? Being immersed in a narrative’s flow is central to gaming. As the panel’s first speaker, gaming designer Athomas Goldberg reminded us, “It’s not the story you tell; it’s the story people remember.” More and more, he said, game writers are “narrative designers.” Along the way he noted of a slew of changes in the industry and how it is engaging with the idea of story:
If you’re not immersed in the narrative of a game, then you’re experiencing “ludonarrative dissonance” – you’re out of the story #bksummit15 — Margaret DeRosia (@cinepixie) June 25, 2015
When is a game not a game? Interesting question about emerging video games that don’t have a win/lose outcome. #bksummit15 ^ P.Z.
— Publisher Production (@publisher_ps) June 25, 2015
Innovate by Day’s Deborah Day outlined for us how new modes of market research on the platforms where fans live can offer publishers insight into finding, and keeping, “superfans”:
Epic fails are much less likely if you do your market research and design for your audience. @innovatebyday #bksummit15 — BookNet Canada (@BookNet_Canada) June 25, 2015
Teen readers are primarily on #YouTube, #Twitter and #Tumblr @innovatebyday #bksummit15
— Karen McMullin (@KarenMcMullin1) June 25, 2015
Hearing at #bksummit15 now about -me-, I mean, superfans. And about how we are not just bigger consumers.
— Stephanie Fysh (@stephaniefysh) June 25, 2015
Derrick Schultz of Atavist, encouraged writers to invert the model of making their websites echo the book design; instead, make your book (look like) a website!
Impressive eBook projects and ideas @dvsch from @atavist is sharing on the OMDC panel! #bksummit15 — Nataša Blair (@natashablair) June 25, 2015
This year, Book Summit expanded from two to three breakout sessions. Our first breakout session saw a rich cross-section of topics, including Consumer insight, The Experimental Story, Marketing Adventures and Social Media as Market Research.
Reluctant writer in me particularly enjoyed The Experimental Story. Gives me hope for my own weird art. #bksummit15
— Katie King (@kingofkaties) June 26, 2015
Stellar marketing campaign! Loving the Marketing Adventures session at #bksummit15 @LorettaMary @LauraNMeyer pic.twitter.com/UVhMKfn7KJ — Cthrn Barandiaran (@cthrn_b) June 25, 2015
We fueled up with a phenomenal lunch before heading into the first afternoon breakout—Alternative Publishing, The Reading Story, The Story the Numbers Tell and a repeat of Marketing Adventures.
The alt publishing panel at #bksummit15: @AshleighGardner @dan_kieran and @dvsch. pic.twitter.com/NvBBvbGHxV
— Laura Brady (@LauraB7) June 25, 2015
Learning about publishing design platforms from @dvsch @atavist #bksummit15 pic.twitter.com/sDXUOiQo01 — Imaginary Friends (@IFbooks) June 25, 2015
In the adventures in marketing session, a common thread: create campaigns that audience can take ownership of; not just for you #bksummit15
— Nataša Blair (@natashablair) June 25, 2015
Marketing adventures good and bad – fascinating shares #bksummit15 Loving it. pic.twitter.com/21ItBebpCj — DK Canada (@DKCanada) June 25, 2015
The third breakout session was preceded by a refreshing summer treat—ice cream! This kept us going in the last round of sessions on Children’s Publishing, Presses Small and Mighty, and repeats of Consumer Insight and Social Media as Market Research.
Some familiar faces at #bksummit15 at the Presses Small & Mighty panel! @biblioasis @bookthug @pedlarpress pic.twitter.com/H4ao1SeOxD
— Literary Press Group (@LPGCanada) June 25, 2015
Trust is the bookseller’s currency, second is building an insightful collection; so it is with small publishers @biblioasis #bksummit15 — Margaret DeRosia (@cinepixie) June 25, 2015
Discoverability no longer as important as conversion in marketing #bksummit15 @stitchmedia
— Laura Meyer (@LauraNMeyer) June 25, 2015
YA is ‘out’, Middlegrade is ‘in’. Great conversation about realities & trends in Children’s Publishing. #bksummit15 pic.twitter.com/QYoEduDJwI — Roxanne Reads (@RoxanneReads) June 25, 2015
Between 55-79% of YA books are bought by adults for themselves #bksummit15
— Carly Watters (@carlywatters) June 25, 2015
Our final panel, Now Trending, reconvened everyone in Harbourfront Centre Theatre. Moderator Jackie Kaiser led a great conversation between Dan Kieran of Unbound, Iris Tupholme of HarperCollins Canada and Daniel Wells of Biblioasis, who made us all want to move to Windsor with this hopeful rallying cry:
Provocative answer from @unbounders‘ @dan_kieran: position yourself where you can sell books not to bookstores, but to READERS! #bksummit15 — Humber Publishing (@HumberCBPP) June 25, 2015
“We are living in the golden age of indie publishing.” @biblioasis #bksummit15
— Roxanne Reads (@RoxanneReads) June 25, 2015
Focus on quality of writing when you’re publishing. Remember: talking about publishing is talking about authors @IrisMT #bksummit15 — Margaret DeRosia (@cinepixie) June 25, 2015
Overall, the presenters at Book Summit 2015 revealed that any story exists within a wider web of players. It becomes the “story at the centre” because that’s what connects us all—writers, readers, agents, publicists, designers, publishers, booksellers, data analysts, marketers and librarians.
Together, we’re all reworking who tells, sells and reads stories. As people stay and play on ever-shifting social networks, platforms and devices, the act of writing and reading become far more collaborative.
Given how connected we are in publishing, it makes sense that Book Summit 2016 will kick off a four-day writers’ “superconference.” The Writers’ Union of Canada Executive Director John Degen gave us a tantalizing sneak peek to whet our appetites. Book Summit will join forces with several national and international writing organizations for a four-day extravaganza at Harbourfront Centre.
You can already mark your calendars for Book Summit 2016: Thursday, June 16! Stay tuned for updates by following us on Twitter, @BPCCanada, and subscribing to our newsletter. And many thanks to everyone who participated in Book Summit 2015!
A fabulous end to a fabulous day. Thank you @HumberCBPP for bringing us to #bksummit15 it was wonderful! ^-^ pic.twitter.com/RAsDUYK2OQ
— Elham A. (@superelham92) June 25, 2015