Features

Report: What’s Your Story? How Do You Market Authors and their Books?

Words by Chris Russell, photos by Craig Simmonds In an increasingly crowded marketplace, authors are constantly searching for the most effective ways to market their books. For its April event, Byte t…

Byte Experts: Make Content King, by Simon Appleby

Simon Appleby runs Bookswarm, a digital agency dedicated to the world of books. Bookswarm specialises in creating wonderful websites for book publishers, authors, agents, bookshops and others in the w…

“Plaza de Armas” by Rachel Mann (Winner of February Byte Shorts Showcase)

You don’t know what it’s like to be alone until the day when your boyfriend, angry as a wasp, leaves you in the crowded plaza in the middle of Cuzco. You sit there, hugging your backpack and kicking y…

Report: Confluence 19 in Partnership with Academy London

Words by Chris Russell, photos by Justin Spray “This isn’t a conference,” said Justine Solomons, Byte founder, in her welcome speech, “it’s a confluence”. And the difference was important — in the sp…

Confluence News – A New Kind of Author, a New Kind of Publisher: Emma Barnes Interview

Ahead of Confluence later this week Alastair Horne interviewed, Emma Barnes, founder of Snowbooks and Consonance, who offers some insights into her newest venture, Make Our Book. ‘Consonance is really…

Byte Experts: Being Canny About Contracts by Janey Burton

Janey Burton did her degree in Law and then spent a few years writing for Sweet & Maxwell’s journal Current Law, and teaching Criminal Law, before moving into the publishing industry. She worked i…

Report: Making Your Way: How Can Authors Navigate Events and Festivals?

Words by Chris Russell, photos by Justin Spray Byte The Book’s opening event of 2019 tackled the topic of events and festivals, and how authors can best navigate the live scene in order to boost sale…

Confluence News – A Crash Course in Narrative Design: Chris Bateman Interview

Ahead of Confluence next month Chris Bateman talked to Alastair Horne about his session on Narrative Design. Chris Bateman’s experience of narrative design is second to none. His consultancy Internati…

“Emily Meets a Man Who Looks Like Hitler” by Kate Ansell (Winner of January Byte Shorts Showcase)

Emily Meets A Man Who Looks Like Hitler by Kate Ansell At the bus stop, in the gloaming, a man approaches Emily. He is dressed as Hitler, at first glance, though in the longer run he turns out just t…

Byte Experts: Self Aware Publishing by Caroline Goldsmith

One of our founding members, Caroline Goldsmith worked in-house for various publishers (from independents to one of the big five). Her official roles have taken her through sales, marketing, publicity…

“The Consumer” by Sarah Tinsley (Winner of November Byte Shorts Showcase)

The Consumer by Sarah Tinsley The bus lurched, full of leaning bodies. Each of them clutched handbags, trollies, rucksacks, canvas totes with meaningful slogans folded into careful squares. All were w…

Report: How Can We Access Finance to Enable Innovative Creative Projects?

Words by Chris Russell, photos by Craig Simmonds Marylebone’s Home House played host to Byte The Book’s November pitching event, which brought together five industry professionals to muse, Dragon’s De…

Is Publishing Up To The Job, In An Age of Trump, Brexit and Populism? 22nd October 2018

We were very lucky to be invited to The Stationers’ Hall last month to listen to a discussion on the future of publishing. Here’s Stationer Ian Grant’s report. Photo credit Oliver Gadsby. A lively and…

Craig Simmonds up for a British Photography Award

Our photographer at Byte The Book, Craig Simmonds, has been nominated for a British Photography Award. Please support Craig by voting for his picture before the15th November. You can vote for the imag…

Byte Experts: Write Advice by Philippa Donovan

One of our founding members, Philippa Donovan, worked in-house as an editor at various publishing houses for many years and then left to set up Smart Quill Editorial. At Smart Quill she helps authors…

The Spare Room Project – Opening a Door to Publishing

The London-centric reality of publishing is a major barrier to aspirant publishers from outside of the capital. The Spare Room Project aims to help, by matching interns from outside London with people…

“The Curious Child” by Nadia Attia (Winner of October Byte Shorts Showcase)

The Curious Child by Nadia Attia The girl’s back again. Curious little thing! Always stands a way off down the road, staring, her chubby hands clutching at her shawl. My own hand twitches at an itch,…

Agent Masterclass from Ink Academy: 23/10/18

How to get a literary agent: a masterclass with literary agents Caroline Wood and Carrie Plitt Are you looking to get published? This invaluable masterclass will give you the best possible chance of g…

Report: Valued Voices – How Much is Your Writing Worth? Sponsored by ALCS

Words by Chris Russell, photos by Craig Simmonds The illustrious surroundings of Portman Square’s Home House played host to Byte The Book’s September event, which asked the timely question “How Much I…

“Reclamation” by Dudley Cruse (Winner of Short Bytes September Showcase)

Nathan stood at the top of the long driveway watching as the last car bumped its way through the gate and onto the dirt road that led down the avenue of tall pines, out across the farm towards the mai…