Inside the Publishing House

UPDATE: Wow, our 2021 event sold out in record time!

There has always been a sense of awe surrounding Publishing Houses – and for emerging writers, they are often places of great mystery and intrigue. What exactly what goes on within the four walls of these hallowed literary halls? Who does what and how does it all work? And most importantly, how do you get your book there?

This unique virtual event takes you behind the scenes at one of Australia’s biggest and brightest publishing houses, Hachette Australia. Hachette Australia represents an array of A-list international and local authors and publishes around 100 new Australian titles every year.

Throughout this day-long program, you will have the chance to learn about the intricacies of the book publishing journey from pitch to publication and to hear from publishers, editors, publicists and salespeople who will demystify the ins and outs of all parts of the publishing house.

Places are limited so book your tickets today!

Find out more about how Hachette is making a positive impact here.

Find out more about getting published with Hachette Australia here.

INSIDE THE PUBLISHING HOUSE PROGRAM: Friday 12 March 2021

11.00am AEDT: Welcome!

Kick the day off by meeting Fiona Hazard, Hachette’s Group Publishing Director, followed by a virtual tour of the Hachette offices in Sydney’s CBD. Meet some of the Hachette team as they tell you about their roles, how they got to where they are today and what they enjoy most about the publishing industry.

11.20am-12.00pm AEDT: Unpacking the Publication Process

So you’ve got yourself a book deal, but what come next? This session unpacks the multi-faceted publication journey that follows signing a contract.

From the publisher’s vision for your book, to the editorial process all the way through to marketing plans, publicity, and getting the book into bookstores through the sales team, this session will tell you everything you didn’t know you needed to know about getting published.

With: Fiona Hazard (Group Publishing Director), Sophie Mayfield (Senior Editor), Isabel Staas (Production and Audio Manager), Anjelica Rush (Junior Rights and Contracts Executive), Jemma Ferreira Rowe (Senior Publicist) and  Chris Sims (Senior National and Field Sales Manager).

12.05-12.35pm AEDT: What Publishers Want

This session is your chance to hear it straight from the people who make the decisions, the publishers. What are they looking for when they decide which manuscripts to acquire? How can you make them sit up and listen during a pitch? What are the insider tips and tricks that will not only guarantee that they’ll read your manuscript, but that might also help you secure a book deal? This session will provide a blueprint for how to pitch, who to pitch to and how to get that deal.

With: Rebecca Saunders (Head of Fiction), Jeanmarie Morosin (Head of Children’s) and Vanessa Radnidge (Head of Non-Fiction and Literary). Hosted by Emma Rafferty (Managing Editor)

12.35pm-1.05pm AEDT: Lunch

1.05-2.05pm AEDT: Masterclass: Pitch Perfect

Ahead of the afternoon’s pitching session, whip your pitch into shape with a pitching masterclass with Hachette Non-Fiction Publisher Sophie Hamley. What is unique about your book? Why should publishers read it? What do you need to say and what do you need to not say? Find out the must-haves for a successful pitch and the pitching pitfalls to avoid.

In a specially designed workshop, Sophie will run through the mechanics of pitching and pitch documents, giving participants time to work on elements of their own draft pitches as they are discussed and dissected, with all your questions answered along the way. This hands-on masterclass will give you an incredible opportunity to work on your pitch under the guidance of an industry leader, including bespoke advice, instruction and insights.

With: Sophie Hamley (Non-Fiction Publisher)

2.05pm – 2.20pm AEDT: Afternoon tea break

2.20-3.05pm AEDT: In Conversation: Hilde Hinton and Vanessa Radnidge

Join Hilde Hinton and Vanessa Radnidge as they discuss the journey from draft to bookshelf.

Hilde Hinton has been a dedicated big sister to Connie and Samuel Johnson her whole life. She is currently a Prison Officer who has avoided being a writer for many years but has finally succumbed. The Loudness of Unsaid Things was her debut novel and was recently voted #2 in Booktopia’s nationwide poll for Best Book of 2020.

With: Vanessa Radnidge (Head of Narrative Non-Fiction and Literary) and Hilde Hinton (author).

3.10-4.10pm AEDT: Pitch Time!

Opened by Hachette Australia’s CEO Louise Sherwin-Stark, this session is your chance to put what you’ve learned into practice and pitch your manuscript to the Hachette team! Publishers are always on the lookout for new and exciting voices, so here’s your chance to show them yours.

The Hachette team who will be hearing your 5-minute lives pitches include Fiona Hazard (Group Publishing Director), Vanessa Radnidge (Head of Non-Fiction and Literary), Louise Adler (Publisher) and Emma Rafferty (Managing Editor).

Notes for pitching your manuscript:

Please keep in mind that these pitching sessions are intended as a professional development opportunity. We encourage you to have a go at pitching your manuscript and to ask questions. By registering for a Pitch It! session, you agree to be randomly assigned a time-slot and a Hachette publisher or editor to pitch to. We will send some more information about the pitching sessions before the event. If you have any questions, please check our FAQs or email info@emergingwritersfestival.org.au.

HOW TO ATTEND

Inside the Publishing House is a live event, hosted via Zoom.

To ensure the event stays private, ticket holders will be emailed Zoom links on the morning of the event. Please check your email (including that pesky junk email folder).

Ticket bookings will cease 1 hour before the event starts.

You can download Zoom for free here.

If you have any difficulty connecting to the event, please email us at info@emergingwritersfestival.org.au