September 14, 2017: The Book Publishers Association of Alberta Annual General Meeting and Conference
Please join us for the annual Book Publishers Association of Alberta Annual General Meeting and Conference from September 14-16, 2017. This year the event is being held in Edmonton at the Delta South.
Conference registration is now open.
The 2017 Book Publishers Association of Alberta Conference and Annual General Meeting provides an opportunity for Alberta book publishers to meet, network, and develop their professional skills.
Conference registration includes:
- access to all conference sessions
- meals and snacks during the conference
- opening reception and ‘Beer, Books, and Trivia’ on Thursday September 14 (presented by Marquis)
- admission to the 2017 Alberta Book Publishing Awards on the evening of September 15
Additional tickets to the 2017 Alberta Book Publishing Awards Gala may be purchased through the event page on Eventbrite.
Highlights of the conference this year include:
Day one keynote: The Why of Publishing Crystal Gallery by Alan Twigg (B.C. Book-World)
Alan Twigg has written and published BC Bookworld, a cultural newspaper, since 1987. In addition to his sixteen books he has produced six films about authors. He has conceived and coordinated numerous literary prizes, and created and compiled a public service reference site, hosted by Simon Fraser University, to offer free information on more than 9,000 British Columbia authors. In 2000 he received the first annual Gray Campbell Award for outstanding contributions to the writing and publishing community of British Columbia. He was the Shadbolt Fellow at Simon Fraser University.
Day two keynote: The How of Publishing with Bruce Walsh (University of Regina Press)
A thirty-year veteran of the book industry, Bruce Walsh is a two-time winner of the Libris Award for his outstanding contribution to Canadian publishing. As the former vice president of Margaret Atwood’s LongPen and director of marketing at McClelland & Stewart, he has worked with many celebrated authors, both in Canada and internationally. In June 2013, he launched University of Regina Press as director and publisher. Bruce was recently appointed as a Trudeau mentor by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.
Editing (seminar) with Gail Anderson-Dargatz
Raised in rural BC, Gail Anderson-Dargatz began submitting fiction to little magazines and contests while working as a reporter, photographer, and cartoonist for the Salmon Arm Observer. She is the author of several best-selling Canadian books, winner of the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, and has been shortlisted for both the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Books in Canada First Novel Award.
‘Getting The Word Out’ Marketing Seminar on Publishing Fiction and Graphic Novels with Alexander Finbow (Renegade Arts Entertainment)
Alexander Finbow has worked as an actor, writer, director and producer. He directed the movie ’24 Hours In London’ which became a cult hit around the world, before going on to work with producers in the UK and the US. His freelance directing career has included handling commercials for the likes of Microsoft and Vodafone, films for the UK’s department of education, and corporate movies for firms on both sides of the Atlantic.
When not running Renegade Arts Entertainment, Alexander can be found behind a camera. Stand still long enough and you’ll end up in one of his photographic montages.
‘Getting The Word Out’ Marketing Seminar on Open Access Publishing with Brian Scrivener (University of Calgary Press)
Scrivener holds BA and MA degrees in English literature from the University of British Columbia and he has extensive experience in the publishing and communications industries. He has held the posts of acquisitions editor at the University of British Columbia Press and editorial director of Raincoast Books. As the recently appointed director of the University of Calgary Press Brian leads a high-profile academic publisher that’s an innovator in facilitating access to scholarly research.
“One of the factors that attracted me to the University of Calgary Press was its strong commitment to Open Access publishing, meaning that many of our books are available to download free of charge. This allows their contents to activate minds globally, without economic or other constraint,” explains Scrivener.
‘Getting The Word Out’ Marketing Seminar on Literary Publishing with Matt Bowes (NeWest Press)
Matt broke into publishing as the Sales and Marketing manager for NeWest Press. His success in marketing and promotion helped solidify his position aith NeWest as the new general manager of the press.
‘Beer, Books, and Trivia’ with Paul Matwychuk
Our favourite ice-breaker returns for 2017 with all new questions supplied by host Paul Matwychuk and great prizes donated by local Edmonton businesses including Alley Kat Brewing.
Hotel rooms for conference attendees are available at the group rate of $130.00 per night plus fees and include complimentary parking and wi-fi access while at the hotel.
Conference attendees travelling from outside of Edmonton may be eligible for a subsidy for accommodation and travel expenses. Please visit our website to apply. Conference fees are not eligible for subsidy.
Beverages (alcoholic and non-) are not included with conference registration.