Demystifying publishing

Event information

The publishing industry can seem mysterious and opaque to the outside world, laden with confusing terminology and a bewildering array of job titles. This panel discussion brings together expert publishers from fiction and non-fiction backgrounds who will shed light on a book’s journey from submission to publication, the importance of understanding how projects fit into the wider market and the hallmarks of a strong proposal. We will also look at current trends and whether or not they influence acquisition decisions. The session will round off with an audience Q&A, giving you the chance to ask about things that have mystified you about the book business.

Panellists

Chair: Abbie Headon is an editor and writer who has previously worked as Publisher for Calon Books at the University of Wales Press and Editorial Director for Farrago Books, the humorous fiction imprint of Duckworth Books. Her books include Be More Cowboy (HarperCollins), The Power of Yes (Octopus) and LEGO Build Yourself Happy (DK Books).

Tom Asker joined HarperNonFiction in 2025 as the Publishing Director for the Gift and Brand Partnerships list. Prior to this, he spent eight years at Hachette, publishing trend-driven lifestyle and gift titles across a wide range of categories, including food and drink, gardening, pets, personal development, puzzles, games and activities.

Keshini Naidoo, Executive Publisher at Hera Books, has extensive experience of breaking books into bestseller status, with her biggest authors selling millions of copies in digital sales alone. Having started her editorial career at Avon (HarperCollins UK), she then moved to being Associate Publisher at Bookouture, where she published global bestsellers including Angela Marsons and Kathryn Croft.
Emma Waring spent almost a decade as a bookseller, followed by twelve years in a variety of communications roles, and returned to the world of books in 2022 when she joined IPG award-winning independent publisher Moonflower. As Editorial Director, she oversees a title at every stage – from acquisition to production, and beyond – giving her a unique insight into the full publishing journey.