What happens at the London Book Fair?
It’s very hectic,’ said a flushed-cheeked publisher to me. ‘It’s a bit like being inside a nest of ants who are all talking about something they love.’
I had to laugh and couldn’t help but agree. Stepping inside the vast arena of Kensington Olympia is overwhelming at any time, but with hundreds, if not thousands, of stands, and tens of thousands of book people, it’s a sight to behold.
This year was the first time The Ghostwriters Agency attended the London Book Fair. We set up our agency last year and already have a vast network of bestselling ghostwriters and are therefore keen to spread the word. And, what better place to do this than at the London Book Fair?
It’s an event that started in 1971, originally for librarians and each year has grown bigger and bigger. Today it’s viewed as being one of the biggest bookfairs in the world, second only to the Frankfurt Book Fair.
The buzz in the air is quite something to experience. A palpable hum of busy-ness as people from all walks of the industry meet to talk and listen. This is a place to see and been seen. To catch up with old friends and colleagues but also network and attend fascinating seminars where cutting edge industry insiders share their views. Publishing companies (from the big five to independents), rights teams, agents, book influencers, book groups, authors, sales people, were all engaging, negotiating rights, building brand awareness, or simply catching up over a coffee. Mix in 100 seminars across several stages, including celebrity authors adding a sprinkle of star dust to the main stage, and a festival-style atmosphere is created.
How does the London Book Fair work exactly? Well, firstly it’s increasingly becoming a place that is not for authors or writers. This sounds counterintuitive but these days almost all deals are done via email or outside the fair. Indeed, several agents spoke out against authors pitching their precious manuscripts.
‘The #LBF really REALLY need to make it clear that the fair is not the time for authors to approach agents..,’ complained one agent on Twitter.
Not only do agents and publishers not like unsolicited approaches in person, almost all their LBF schedules will have been booked up weeks in advance. The big five also had enormous and impressive stands with receptionists at the front, rather like gatekeepers. So, anyone shipping up and hoping to nab five minutes with an editor will be disappointed. But, that shouldn’t stop writers for dropping in. There’s so much more to this event than simply pitching and, who knows who you’ll bump into in the long queues for the loos and sandwiches!
We were lucky enough to have meetings with numerous publishers, to spread the word about The Ghostwriters Agency and what we were offering; professional experienced ghostswriters with bestsellers under their belts, available at short notice.
And that’s exactly what publishers are looking for. Very often projects get commissioned at the last minute, and the deadlines are almost always a tight turnaround. A good ghost can be hard to find, as one commissioning editor confided in me. Other comments included:
‘This is such a clever idea!’
‘We are always looking for ghosts with a proven track record who can start really quickly.’
‘It’s great to know an agency like this exists, it’s a genuine market gap!’
A gap we’re happy to fill in.
The three-day event is a whirlwind and, by Thursday, many publishers admitted they were quite exhausted from back-to-back meetings. However, this is the biggest fair since Covid, and all who we met said it’s wonderful to meet the faces behind the emails. The London Book Fair embodies an industry that’s absolutely brimming with ideas and energy. Perhaps next year more space can be made for authors, as without them the industry doesn’t exist at all.
See you next year!
Shannon Kyle