Thinking Forward: 2022 Children's Book Summer Conference

Thinking Forward, our 2022 children's book summer conference will include insightful talks by publishing professionals and book creators that explore how we move positively into the future as illustrators and as a foreward-thinking industry. We'll also have exciting break-outs to exercise your brains while getting your hands dirty or to help you think deeply about the topics effecting children's book making. Attendees can also opt for a portfolio surgery (additional fee) with one of our experts as a break-out session. The day will also include lunch, tea and coffee breaks, pop-up bookshop, socialising and a networking drinks hour.

Esteemed industry experts for the conference include illustrator-authors Felicita Sala, Alex T. Smith, Dave Shelton and Jeff Crosby; Editorial Director Helen McKenzie-Smith and Art Director Jane Buckley (Simon & Schuster Children's UK), Art Director Nghiem Ta (Walker Books), Managing Director Valeriia Ivanova (Nebo BookLab Publishing), Publisher Sarah Pakenham (Scallywag Press) and Literary Agent Neil Dunnicliffe (Spring Literary Agency). A special series of thematic panels will be led by MA Children's Book Illustration students and graduates.

*You must book a ticket for the conference and the 3 break-out sessions.

**Break-outs/Portfolio Surgeries: Please choose one option for each of the three break-out sessions. Some of the break-outs will be small group sizes and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis through registration. There are a limited number of portfolio surgeries available so please only purchase one. Portfolio surgery attendees must arrive at the start of the session and will be able to leave for the panel discussion after their individual tutorial. Timings will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis through registration.

***Please note: You will register here on eventbrite, and then you must go to our payment portal to pay. Your registration is not complete until you pay! Please pay within 1 hour of registering to keep your spot.

Conference Timetable

08.45 – 09.20 Registration and Tea

09.30 – 09.45 Welcome and Introduction

09.45 – 10.30 Editorial Director Helen McKenzie-Smith and Art Director Jane Buckley from Simon & Schuster Children's UK

10.40 – 11.25 Managing Director Valeriia Ivanova from Nebo BookLab Publishing

11.35 – 12.20 Illustrator-Author Alex T. Smith

12.30 – 13.15 LUNCH

13.25 – 14.15 Breakout Sessions 01

• Writing for Older Readers with Illustrator-Author Dave Shelton

• The Essence of Communication: A Design Play Group with Art Director Nghiem Ta

• Panel Discussion: Representation in Kidlit with Becki Harper (Disability in Picturebooks), Baljinder Kaur (Children's Books Empowering and Celebrating Diaspora Communities) & Andy Malpica (Avoiding the 'Single-Story' Narrative in Migration Picturebooks)

• 10-minute portfolio surgeries with Illustrator-Author and MA Senior Lecturer Pam Smy, Editorial Director Helen McKenzie-Smith and Art Director Jane Buckley (Simon & Schuster Children's UK), illustrator-author Alex T. Smith, or Literary Agent Neil Dunnicliffe (Spring Literary Agency).

14.25 – 15.15 Breakout Sessions 02

• Maquettes for Illustration with Illustrator-Author Jeff Crosby

• MA Children's Book Illustration Talk with Course Leader Shelley Jackson

• Panel Discussion: The Book Form with Rachel Bostick (The Illustrated Novel), Em Cosh (Design Considerations in Picturebooks) & Hannah Sawtell (Visual Storytelling: An Analysis of Cinema Techniques Applied to Children's Books)

• 10-minute portfolio surgeries with Art Director Nghiem Ta (Walker Books), Publisher Sarah Pakenham (Scallywag Press), illustrator-author Alex T. Smith, or Literary Agent Neil Dunnicliffe (Spring Literary Agency).

15.15 – 15.45 Tea & Coffee

16.00 – 16.50 Breakout Sessions 03

• Writing for Older Readers with Illustrator-Author Dave Shelton

• The Essence of Communication: A Design Play Group with Art Director Nghiem Ta

• Panel Discussion: Themes in Children's Books with Carol Law (Death in Children's Books: Avoid or Face?), Sarah Mathew (The Role of Urban Settings in Picturebooks: Making Space for the Reader) & Rosalie Smith (Through the Woods: The Forest as a Stage for Children's Stories and Artistic Exploration)

• 10-minute portfolio surgeries with Illustrator-Author and MA Course Leader Shelley Jackson, Publisher Sarah Pakenham (Scallywag Press), illustrator-author Alex T. Smith, or Literary Agent Neil Dunnicliffe (Spring Literary Agency).

17.00 – 18.00 Illustrator-Author Felicita Sala

18.10 – 19.00 Networking Drinks