Publishing Next

Registration / Opening Remarks

Point of Sale || PANEL DISCUSSION on Distribution and Bookselling
The last mile of a book’s journey, before it reaches its reader, is a long one. Listen to distributors and booksellers as they discuss their respective roles and the concerns they must navigate in the supply chain.
Moderator: Meethil Momaya
Panelists: Allwyn Pais | Guruprasad D N | Manas Saikia

Tea

Doing it Yourself || PANEL DISCUSSION on the Impact of Self-Publishing
Technology-enabled self-publishing, which emerged as a viable option for authors over a decade ago, has transformed the industry in many ways. This discussion will look at self-publishing’s influence on conventional publishing practices and how it has altered authors’ expectations of publishers.
Moderator: Manish Purohit
Panelists: Leonard Fernandes | Naveen Valsakumar | Radhika Nathan

Lunch

The Fine Print || WORKSHOP on Reading the Author–Publisher Contract
Learn about the elements of author–publisher contracts in this session led by a renowned publisher who has directed hundreds of agreements. Analyse and review the parts of a publishing contract at the workshop, which will include a conversation on author-friendly contracts.
Panelists: Karthika VK | Vinutha Mallya

Bound Proof || MASTERCLASS on Book Production
The masterclass will outline the processes involved in producing a printed book. This crash course will cover the stages of pre-production and post-production in small-sized publishing houses, and will address the specific concerns of independent publishers.
Panelists: Amit Chavan | Sudhanva Deshpande

Networking Dinner

Value Added || PANEL DISCUSSION on Partnerships and Collaborations
Can two or more publishers collaborate to capitalise on their respective strengths in the marketplace? Quite a few examples exist in the Indian publishing industry. The panelists in this session will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such partnerships among publishers.
Moderator: Arpita Das
Panelists: Ananth Padmanabhan | CP Vishwanath | Mandira Sen | Rakesh Khanna

Tea

Staying Alive || PANEL DISCUSSION on the Economics of (Independent) Publishing
Even as big business is fostering consolidation in the global publishing industry, publishing houses, especially the independents, are finding ways to sustain and continue their business. The speakers on this panel will talk about the challenges that they must overcome and the factors that aid them in their endeavour.
Moderator: Vinutha Mallya
Panelists: Radhika Menon | Ravi Singh | Sudhanva Deshpande | Yogesh Maitreya

Lunch

Go-to-market || MASTERCLASS on Promoting and Marketing Books
With social media, SEO, and online stores effectively driving book marketing in trade publishing today, this masterclass will get you acquainted with the tools you need to develop a 21st-century strategy for promoting your books.
Panelists: Kirti Jangra | Niti Kumar

Tea

From the Books Desk || OPEN MIC on Book Reviews
Two curators of book reviews, who are also reviewers themselves, will anchor an open exchange on the changing concept of reviews in a social media-led environment, and how more spaces could be opened up for book reviews.
Panelists: Rihan Nijab | Shireen Quadri

Presentation of the Publishing Next Industry Awards 2019

Working Capital || PANEL DISCUSSION on the Viability of Publishing Translations
With more publishers launching imprints for literary translations from and into Indian languages, this discussion will focus on the economics and feasibility of publishing translations. The panel will also cast an eye over the academic texts coming into Indian languages.
Moderator: Manisha Choudhry
Panelists: Arshia Sattar | Kabani C | Karthika VK | Sugata Ghosh

Tea

Translating Europe
Panelists: Anya Malhotra | Prashasti Rastogi

Bibliodiversity || PANEL DISCUSSION on Resisting Monocultures of the Mind
The bedrock of the publishing vocation is a set of values that supports and propagates the diversity of ideas. However, current industry practices and the attitudes they engender are diminishing these values. The speakers on this panel will address the importance of diverse publishing and the responsibilities it entails on the part of everyone, including authors.
Moderator: Ritu Menon
Panelists: Arpita Das | Indu Chandrasekhar | Mandira Sen | Rakesh Khanna | Yogesh Maitreya

Lunch / Conclusion