London Book Fair: Thousands Gather for Insights, Networking, and Deal-Making

By Ejiro Umukoro

By admin , in Books Ignite iThink! , at March 12, 2025 Tags: Books and literature, Books and reading trends, London book fair, Publishing

LONDON, March 11, 2025 – The London Book Fair (LBF) got off to a flying start today, with thousands of publishing professionals from around the world descending on Olympia London for a day of insights, networking, and deal-making.

Keynote Speakers Shine
The day’s programming was kicked off with a Welcome Address by journalist, editor, and critic Alex Peake-Tomkinson. This was followed by a keynote discussion between David Shelley, CEO of Hachette Book Group USA and Hachette UK, and James Daunt, Founder of Daunt Book and Managing Director of Waterstones. The two industry leaders shared their insights on the evolving publishing landscape, with a focus on book publishing and sales across the Atlantic.

Author Insights and Trends
Argentine author Claudia Piñeiro, International Author of the Day, captivated the audience with a discussion about her work and career, moderated by BBC journalist Andrea Kidd. Piñeiro’s crime and mystery novels have become bestsellers worldwide, with several adaptations on Prime Video and Netflix.

Data-Driven Insights
Steve Bohme, Research Director at NielsenIQ BookData, presented an informative overview of consumer buying trends in 2024. Drawing on data from 17 countries, Bohme’s talk provided a global perspective on the trends shaping the book market.

Networking and Deal-Making
Throughout the day, attendees had ample opportunities to network, make deals, and learn from industry experts. The Fair’s exhibition floor was abuzz with activity, as publishers, agents, and authors connected with potential partners and collaborators.

The Future of Publishing
A panel discussion on the evolution of licensing strategy in the digital age brought together Mark Searle, MD Licensing of DK, José Manuel Anta, Managing Director of the Federación de Gremios de Editores de España, and Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief of Publishing Perspectives. The discussion explored the challenges and opportunities presented by digital technologies and changing consumer behaviors.

Clockwise from Top Left to Bottom Right: International Author of the Day Claudia Pineiro at LBF25, Keynote Session wtih David Shelley and James Daunt, A Buzzy Grand Hall, Ambassador of Italy to the UK Inigo Lambertini at the opening of the Italian Pavillion, March 11 2025.

Celebrating Excellence in Children’s Literature
The Carnegie Medal for Writing Shortlist was announced during the day, recognizing outstanding contributions to children’s literature. This year’s shortlist includes Kelly McCaughrain, Clare Furniss, Matt Goodfellow, Blessing Musariri, Luke Palmer, Margaret McDonald, Nathanael Lessore, and Brian Conaghan.

What’s Next?
With a packed first day under its belt, The London Book Fair is set to continue on March 12-13, 2025, at Olympia London. Attendees can look forward to more insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and deal-making.