Keep an eye on this page for all upcoming events across the UK and Ireland (& beyond!)
Scroll down to find the next one happening online or near you…
Killing for a Living: with Sam Blake and Brian McGilloway
Waterside Theatre And Arts Centre
Glendermott Road. Derry/Londonderry. BT47 6BG
Dates: 10th February 2024
Cost: £15 (ticket + booking fee)
Time: 7:00pm
Booking: https://www.watersidetheatreni.com/event/view/killing-for-a-living-with-sam-blake-and-brian-mcgilloway/2024-02-10
Join best selling authors Sam Blake and Brian McGilloway in conversation as they discuss their latest novels, revealing what it’s really like “killing for a living” and what makes a great read!
Sam Blake is the No 1 bestselling author of ten novels, including Three Little Birds, described by Liz Nugent as ‘Griptastic!’, which is out now. Sam has been shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year three times for her adult crime novels, and her 2023 YA debut Something Terrible Happened Last Night was shortlisted for Irish YA Book of the Year and the Great Reads Awards.
Brian McGilloway is the New York Times bestselling author of twelve crime novels, including the Ben Devlin and the Lucy Black mystery series. His latest standalone novel, The Empty Room, was a Sunday Times bestseller while his previous, The Last Crossing, won Highly Commended in Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2021.
Surviving as an Author Conference
The Cube, The Crescent Arts Centre, 2-4 University Road, Belfast
Date: Sat 2 Mar
Time: 10am-4.15pm
Tickets: Attend online or in person. In person tickets £10 (inc. refreshments). Online tickets free.
Booking: https://www2.societyofauthors.org/event/surviving-as-an-author-conference/
A full days events and at 2pm – In conversation event chaired by Hilary McCollum with Anna Ganley & Sam Blake – New Management Committee Chair, SoA, in conversation on topics such as AI, author incomes, sustainability, connecting authors etc + Q&A from audience.
This hybrid conference will bring together writers, illustrators and literary translators to find inspiration, support and community. Hosted in person at the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast and livestreamed to online participants, this will be a day of panel discussions, talks and networking opportunities to help you to build your career as an author. Hear how other authors have established themselves and their tips for success. From AI to sustainability, find out how the publishing industry is changing and what this means for you.
This event is supported by the Hawthornden Foundation.
The London Book Fair – Define the future of creative content
Industry Insider #SoAatHome event: Making the most of London Book Fair
Wednesday 5th March
10:00 – 11:00 GMT Online Event
Not sure if London Book Fair is for you? Been before and felt overwhelmed? Ahead of London Book Fair, register for our #SoAatHome industry insider, Making the most of London Book Fair for insights on how authors can make the most of their time during the three-day event. This online event will be chaired by our Head of Events, Sophia A Jackson, who will be joined by SoA Chair and writer Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, also known as Sam Blake, writer Margaret Skea and LBF director Gareth Rapley. Sign up here. It’s free for all.
The SoA are supporting London Book Fair with their new Author’s Lounge – an exclusive space for authors to network or take some time away from the show floor during their visit to LBF. We will be speaking at, and chairing, several of LBF’s Writers’ Summit, Main Stage, and Author HQ sessions – see below. Themes include making the most of your publishing experience, finding your writing village, neurodiverse stories, and sustainable publishing. View the full programme via this link.
Author HQ – You’ve got this! Mental Health Resilience for writers
Olympia London, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX, United Kingdom
Date: Thursday 14 Mar
Time: 11am
Registration: https://t.co/8opogI02np
Beyond the Tape: Blurring the Lines of Fact and Fiction
Waterstones, London – Piccadilly
Date: Friday 22nd March
Time: 6.30pm
Booking: https://www.waterstones.com/events/beyond-the-tape-blurring-the-lines-of-fact-and-fiction/london-piccadilly
Crime author and barrister Imran Mahmood chats to Irish bestseller Sam Blake and ex chief superintendent, bestselling crime writer Graham Bartlett, about getting inside a crime scene and how they bring it to the page with heart stopping accuracy.
Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival
The 2024 festival will be online, and held from 17th-19th April and 22nd-24th April.
EMERALD CRIME With Sam Blake, Brian McGilloway, John Banville
Venue: Online
Date: Friday 19th April 2024
Time: 8:00PM
Registration: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/select/RdiEJKhzXNnT
Cork World Book Festival
Something Terrible Happened Last Night – Meet YA author Sam Blake
Date: Friday 26th April
Time: 11am
Venue: The City Library, Grand Parade, Cork
Tickets: FREE
https://corkworldbookfest.com/events/
The acclaimed author Sam Blake has ventured into the realm of Young Adult fiction. Her latest work in this genre, Something Terrible Happened Last Night, has garnered attention for its intriguing plot and well-crafted characters. Young adult readers are invited to discover how suspense, mystery, and compelling characters are developed in this session with Sam.
Meet the Agents
Date: Saturday 27th April
Time: 10am
Venue: The City Library, Grand Parade
Tickets: Free
https://corkworldbookfest.com/events/
Agents Polly Nolan and Simon Trewin in conversation with Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin.
Find out in this in-depth conversation what is required in a submission package and how you can increase your chances of success. Find out the most commonly made mistakes and why following guidelines is imperative.
First Page Pitch – the readings
Date: Saturday 27th April
Time: 11.30am
Venue: The City Library, Grand Parade
Tickets: Free
https://corkworldbookfest.com/events/
The ten selected writers read their first page to the agents and the room to receive feedback from the agents. If you’re shy, Sam Blake will read your pitch.
It is incredibly useful to hear pitches and the openings of books and what the agents think of them. Even if your work isn’t selected to be read, it’s also a great opportunity to tune in to perfect your own approach, find out what works and what doesn’t! You also never know what will happen as a result – Olivia Hope pitched at our festival a few years ago and she’s now a published author.
Lynda Marron debut author from CWBF Get Published sessions
in conversation with Sam Blake
Date: Saturday 27th April
Time: 2pm
Venue: The City Library, Grand Parade
Tickets: Free
https://corkworldbookfest.com/events/
Lynda’s debut novel, Last Chance In Paris, was published by Eriu on 7 February 2024. It was inspired by visits to Paris, the city of love. In 2022, Lynda attended a ‘meet-the-agent’ event at Cork World Book Fest. There, she met an agent, Polly Nolan. Polly liked the book and Lynda got a two-book deal; the second novel will be published this time next year. Polly Nolan will be giving advice again at this year’s Cork World Book Fest.
Online: Society of Authors Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea with Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin aka Sam Blake
Thursday 2 May 2024, 14.30-15.15
Grab a cuppa and get to know best-selling crime writer and the new chair of the Society of Author’s Management Committee, Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin (Sam Blake). Vanessa will be in conversation with Nadine Matheson. This event is free but a donation to the Authors Contingency Fund is much appreciated.
International Literature Festival Dublin
The Insider’s Guide to Publishing
Full Day Seminar
Date: Saturday 18th May
Time: 9.30am
Venue: Merrion Square Park – Speranza
Tickets: €80 | €70 Early Bird
Full details – https://ilfdublin.com/whats-on/festival/the-insiders-guide-to-publishing/
Don’t miss this day-long seminar covering all the ins and outs of publishing including what’s hot, what’s not, and how to get your big break. Whether you are ready to submit, in the middle of your book, or only starting, The Insider’s Guide to Publishing will give you invaluable tips and advice to improve your chances of success.
At this 10th edition of The Insider’s Guide to Publishing, we’ll be joined by six top literary agents, two leading Irish editors, two debut authors, and Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, the mastermind behind Writing.ie – Europe’s biggest writing resource website – for a crash course in everything you need to know to get your door in the door of the literary world.
This seminar will run from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM; our four panel discussions will be:
Session 1 – The Agent Game
Session 2 – The Perfect Pitch
Session 3 – Inside Editing
Session 4 – Making Your Big Break
All attendees will be provided with refreshments throughout the day as well as a catered lunch on the grounds of the beautiful Merrion Square Park, included in the ticket price. Upon booking a ticket, you will be emailed a copy of the day’s schedule along with your ticket for entry.
Successful applicants to Date With An Agent will have their agent dates during Session 2; you will be notified in advance of your time slot
A Deadly Good Time at
the International Literature Festival Dublin
with Sam Blake & Ravena Guron
There’s a murder on the dancefloor…and one in the dining room, too. Killer gossip, shocking confessions and sinister plots abound in two crime thrillers sure to send a shiver down your spine.
Date: Sunday 19th May
Time: 1pm
Venue: Merrion Square Park – Byzantium
Tickets: €10 / €8
Booking: https://ilfdublin.com/whats-on/festival/a-deadly-good-time-sam-blake-ravena-guron/
Fans of shocking twists, jump scares, and malicious intentions will devour these two sinister and psychological murder mysteries from crime writer Sam Blake and YA noir rising star Ravena Guron. The classic whodunit gets a contemporary makeover in Sam’s Something Terrible Happened Last Night and Ravena’s Catch Your Death with vibrant young characters and salacious secrets lurking around every shadowy corner.
Join us for a heart-pounding discussion covering crime, craft, and how to plot and solve the perfect murder, perfect for both Young Adult and New Adult readers.
Listowel Writers’ Week Festival
Sam Blake reading from her new YA novel Something’s About to Blow Up
Date: Sunday 2nd June
Time: 1pm
Venue: TBC
Tickets: TBC
Check out – https://writersweek.ie/programme/
The Really Popular Book Club: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Date: Tuesday 18th JUNE 2024,
Time: 7pm to 8pm
Open to all. Hosted online using Zoom Meetings.
Tickets: Free, but booking required
Booking: https://lib-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwuc-qqpjkiHNWLmKrJ97FoEc7adm1nYhbE#/registration
The Really Popular Book Club is Cambridge University Libraries’ book group. Everyone is welcome to come and discuss a really popular book with the group, library staff, and an expert on the novel. Hosted on Zoom, the book club is completely free and open to everyone, people attend from all over the world.
The Really Popular Book Club celebrates the huge range of books at Cambridge University Library. We have more than 8 million books and as a legal deposit library we keep a copy of every book published in the UK, and have done since 1710.
Gone Girl reignited the psychological thriller genre, spawning hundreds of ‘domestic noir’ novels in its wake. The chilling story of a missing wife, Gone Girl’s husband and wife protagonists remain the touchstone for unreliable narrators. Discussed by bestselling Irish suspense thriller writer Sam Blake.
If you haven’t attended one of our book club events before, you can find more information at www.lib.cam.ac.uk/bookclub.
West Cork Literary Festival
Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin: Everything You Need To Know About Publishing
Date: Wednesday 17th July 2024,
Time: 1pm
Venue: Online using Zoom Meetings.
Tickets: TBC
Vanessa will discuss exactly what the industry is looking for – what’s hot and what’s not – and how best to submit your work. She will show you what you need to do to attract a publisher and build your author platform – and explain exactly what that is. This webinar will give you concrete ways to improve your pitch, ideas on where to submit and give you a thorough understanding of how the business works in a relaxed and informal atmosphere where you can ask all those tricky questions.