The SYP Oxford Podcast

In this episode, Gemma interviews Sofia Saghir - Campaigns Manager at Riot Communications, a PR agency specialising in arts, culture and entertainment. Sofia discusses the difference between delivering campaigns while working in-house vs at an agency. Also she talks about the range of coverage needed for a successful PR campaign and how the growing importance of BookTok is changing the media landscape. She shares how her career began on her book blog, along with some invaluable advice for aspiring PR and publishing professionals.  Sofia's links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-saghir-5505b5230/ Riot Communications: https://www.riotcommunications.com/ Episode Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/HwOya2CCO8GJoznkxbKUSOQrsaY?utm_source=copy_url Hosted and edited by Gemma Jackson (SYP London Podcast Officer) Instagram @syp_london X @SYP_UK Website https://thesyp.org.uk If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

In this episode, Tamara speaks to Meaghan Cahill –– Production Assistant at Bloomsbury, and alumnus of the Columbia Publishing Course (CPC) –– about her experience of CPC. Meaghan talks candidly about the course, highlighting its benefits, the application process, the day to day activities it involved, and how it has helped launch her career into publishing. Mentioned in this episode Columbia Publishing Course: https://journalism.columbia.edu/cpc-uk  Episode transcript  https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/7692148163608044315/pod-3-edited Hosted and edited by Tamara Letts (SYP South West Podcast Officer) Twitter/X: @SYP_UK Website: https://thesyp.org.uk If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

In this episode of Inside Publishing, Gemma interviews Lauri Kubuitsile, author of The Scattering. We talk about her experiences as an author who has worked with many publishers, her views on genres as a marketing tool and why she doesn’t have a literary agent. Her historical novel, The Scattering explores the lives of two women and their experiences of two historical atrocities in Southern Africa at the beginning of the twentieth century: the Herero and Nama genocide, and the Anglo-Boer war. Now published in the UK by DAS Editions, Lauri shares why she was compelled to write this story and how she conducted her research when the historical record is so fragmentary.  Lauri's book: The Scattering https://www.daseditions.com/books/the-scattering DAS Editions Website: www.daseditions.com Instagram: @daseditions Books mentioned The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak Episode transcript:  https://otter.ai/u/6npnuhI7u8cUsnr7mqVLc7y9oSk?utm_source=copy_url Instagram: @syp_london Website: https://thesyp.org.uk  If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

In this episode, Nuala speaks to Pàdraig MacAoidh - Scotland's Makar, academic, and broadcaster - to discuss the growing movement behind the revival of the Gaelic language. As part of a three-part series, Pàdraig opens the conversation by discussing his relationship to Gaelic, the creative process of adapting such an old language to his contemporary environment, and the opportunities for Gaelic speakers in the industry today. We also uncovered some of the challenges facing its resurgence, including the disconnect between the highlands, islands and cities, and a concern that isolated regions may be left behind in this process of national revival. Pàdraig remains hopeful and excited by the prospects of the newly passed Scottish Languages Bill and the increasing opportunities available to young Gaelic speakers across many industries in Scotland.  Pàdraig MacAoidh X: @PàdraigMacaoidh Website: https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/scotlands-makar/   Mentioned in this episode: Len Pennie and her Scots word of the day: @misspunnypennie on instagram Scottish Language Bill: https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/bills/s6/scottish-languages-bill  Hosted and edited by Nuala Tranter (SYP Scotland Podcast Officer) Instagram: @sypscotland Website: https://thesyp.org.uk  If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the conversation, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com 

In this episode, Tamara speaks to Lottie May - Project Manager and Bookseller at Mr B's Emporium in Bath - about her experiences in bookselling. Lottie discusses her career path from a book lover (beginning in historical fiction), to a BA in History, to a now bookseller, project manager, and sometimes publisher at Mr B's. We also discuss the typical work day at Mr B's, from in house reading spas (essentially, literary therapy), to curating subscriptions for customers, to celebrity sightings and author events.  Mentioned in this episode Mr B's Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/  Episode Transcript https://turboscribe.ai/transcript/share/7241788200865439987/7vqboIDEYLMub-BpPPdcodmT6-TKkV9Zdl3rl_I7jz4/interview-with-lottie-may-all-things-bookselling Hosted and edited by Tamara Letts (SYP South West Podcast Officer) Instagram: @syp_southwest  Website: https://thesyp.org.uk/ If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com 

In this episode of Inside Publishing, Sara Young and Tom Barker interview Isabella Barber from Comma Press and James Keane from Northodox Press about the Northern Fiction Alliance (NFA). Founded in 2016, the NFA now includes nearly 30 independent publishers promoting Northern literature and providing development opportunities. Isabella highlights Comma's focus on insider perspectives and international voices, while James emphasizes the importance of authenticity and community in Northodox's publications. Both discuss the impact of the NFA on Northern publishing and the significance of place in their work. Upcoming releases include Comma's "Book of Bradford" and Northodox's "Ravenglass" and "Green Laughing." Northern Fiction Alliance Instagram: @northernfictionalliance  Comma Press  Website: https://commapress.co.uk/  X: @commapress   Instagram: @commapress Northodox Press  Website: https://www.northodox.co.uk X: @northodoxpress  Instagram: @northodoxpressoffcial Mentioned in this episode WoWfest: https://writingonthewall.org.uk/wowfest/  Hosted and edited by Sara Young (SYP UK North Podcast Officer) Twitter: @SYP_UK Website: https://thesyp.org.uk If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

In this episode Gemma sits down with Elizabeth Kellingley, winner of the Trailblazer Award 2025 and Bloomsbury's Accessibility Manager. They discuss winning the Trailblazer Awards at the London Book Fair, how Elizabeth is working to make the industry more accessible and the incredible dyslexic friendly novels Bloomsbury have released!  Links:  Elizabeth Kellingley:  www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-kellingley-7569b0133/ Dyslexic Friendly Books: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/discover/superpages/fiction/bloomsbury-dyslexia-friendly-editions/ Host Credits and SYP Links: Hosted and edited by Gemma Mathers (SYP UK Podcast Officer) Instagram: @SYP_UK Twitter: @SYP_UK Website: thesyp.org.uk If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

Description of Episode  In this episode, Molly speaks to Polly Silk -- longtime international rights professional, and current lecturer and head of the MA Publishing Media at Oxford Brookes University. We dive into the current state of international rights in publishing, the details of what a day-to-day job in rights might look like, perks and challenge points of rights careers, and even answer the question: what exactly is international rights management?  Interviewee Information and Links  Polly Silk  Oxford Brookes MA Publishing Media website: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/publishing-media  Oxford International Centre for Publishing Instagram: @oxfordpublishing Helpful Links: Mentioned in this Episode  LinkedIn: linkedin.com The Bookseller: thebookseller.com  Episode Transcript https://otter.ai/u/75RZZ4MMzsaHwX2Si18SBT6_zqI?utm_source=copy_url Host Credits and SYP Links  Hosted and edited by Molly Frisch (SYP Oxford Podcast Officer)  Instagram: @oxford_syp  Twitter/X: @SYP_Oxford  Website: https://thesyp.org.uk/branch/oxford/ Outreach  If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

In this episode, Gemma interviews Ama Badu, commissioning editor of children’s and YA fiction at Faber and Faber. We talk about the collaboration between authors, illustrators and publishers, and the journey of a book to acquisition. We discuss the FAB Prize and what makes for a prize-winning entry. Ama gives advice on working in children’s publishing, and for those seeking a career change into the industry.  Ama Badu: LinkedIn https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ama-badu Instagram @noir.renaissance Faber:  Instagram @faberchildrens The FAB Prize: https://www.faber.co.uk/about-faber/the-fab-prize/?srsltid=AfmBOooWaNxvC_Gg8yPfuu7o_icLkwirgoboEBvyMGMa4ga8Bb8Mdx3o Books mentioned: My Hair - Hannah Lee (author), Allen Fatimaharan (illustrator) The Rapping Princess - Hannah Lee (author), Allen Fatimaharan (illustrator) Bad Queer - Gayathiri Kamalakanthan Faber Illustrated Classics Lost Love Songs - Ingrid Persaud Glasgow Boys - Margaret McDonald Nikki Giovanni, Poems: 1968-2020 Episode transcript: https://otter.ai/u/DXwhe3lTCH8FA4rmb37zp0Cv5aE?utm_source=copy_url Hosted and edited by Gemma Jackson (SYP London Podcast Officer) Instagram @syp_london X @SYP_UK Website https://thesyp.org.uk If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

In this episode Gemma sat down with Katie Isbester, Founder of Claret Press. Katie breaks down her publishing journey, from her first job to creating her own Micro-publishing business Claret Press, issues of accessibility within the industry and her recent book: Secrets of Micropublishing. Links: Claret Press:  https://www.claretpress.com/ Secrets of Micropublishing by Katie Isbester:  https://www.claretpress.com/book/secrets-of-micropublishing Episode Transcript Host Credits and SYP Links Hosted and edited by Gemma Mathers (SYP UK Podcast Officer) Instagram: @SYP_UK Twitter: @SYP_UK Website: thesyp.org.uk If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

This this episode, Sara interviews Yan Zhuchen-Mander and Cassie Rocks from The Flip, a non-profit promoting transparency and equality in publishing. The Flip, founded in 2019, highlights diverse voices on challenging topics like menopause and mental health. Yan and Cassie discuss their roles in publishing and the importance of visibility, mentorship, and advocacy in publishing. The Flip's recent workforce survey focuses on neurodiversity, AI, and caring responsibilities. Both share their current reads, highlighting diverse narratives and impactful nonfiction. Interviewees The FLIP  The FLIP - Female Leadership in Publishing Twitter @_TheFLIP Instagram @femaleleadershipinpublishing LinkedIn : the-flip  Mentioned in this episode: Harper Collins Elevate: Twitter: @ElevateHC_     Instagram: @elevatehc_ People of Publishing: https://www.publishers.org.uk/people-of-publishing/ Bookseller Rising Star: https://www.thebookseller.com/rising-stars-2025 The FLIP interview with Dr Zaahida Nabagereka: https://www.the-flip.co.uk/interviews/dr-zaahida-nabagereka Penguin Lit In Colour Campaign: https://www.penguin.co.uk/about/social-impact/lit-in-colour/about The Runnymede Trust: https://www.runnymedetrust.org/ The London Book Fair: https://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/en-gb.html Bradford Literature Festival: https://www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk/ Hosted and edited by Sara Young  (SYP North Podcast Officer) Twitter: @SYP_UK Website: https://thesyp.org.uk  If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

In this episode, Gemma speaks to debut author Georgia Leighton ahead of the release of her novel Spellbound. Georgia talks about her writing process, the influences behind Spellbound, her experience publishing a novel and her journey into the industry as a marketing manager.  Mentioned in this episode: Georgia Leighton: https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/302827/georgia-leighton Spellbound: https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/spellbound/georgia-leighton/9780857505910 Recorded and edited by Gemma Mathers (SYP UK Podcast Officer)

In this episode, Izzi speaks to Brendan Barrington, the editorial director of Penguin Sandycove and the founder of the Dublin Review. We cover his extensive career in editing, and what it means to be an imprint of a larger publishing house and how it compares to small, independent publishing, and what the pros and cons of each are. We also discuss how Ireland fits into the international publishing landscape. Hope you enjoy! Mentioned in this episode: The Dublin Review https://thedublinreview.com/ Penguin Sandycove https://www.penguin.co.uk/about/publishing-houses/penguin-general/sandycove Lilliput Press https://www.lilliputpress.ie/collections/all Transcript available here: https://thesyp.org.uk/podcast-transcripts-2022/ Hosted and edited by Isabelle "Izzi" Cooper (SYP Ireland Podcast officer) Follow SYP Ireland on Instagram: @sypireland If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

Overview: Sara Young interviews Rozie Kelly about her debut novel "Kingfisher," published by Saraband Press on April 3. Rozie discusses her journey as a writer, and highlights the importance of prizes like the Northbound Book Award and the PFD Queer Fiction Prize for emerging writers. She also touches on the supportive Northern writing community and her ongoing research for a new novel project. Interviewees social media and links Rozie Kelly: Instagram: @rozeamee6 https://linktr.ee/rozeamee  https://saraband.net/contributor/rozie-kelly/ Mentioned in this episode: Saraband Publishers: https://saraband.net/ @saraband-books.bsky.social. Northbound Book Award: https://saraband.net/northbound-award/ PFD Queer Fiction Prize: https://petersfraserdunlop.com/about-us/pfd-queer-fiction-prize/  Hosted and edited by Sara Young  (SYP North Podcast Officer) Twitter: @SYP_UK Website: https://thesyp.org.uk  If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

In this episode, Gemma speaks to Shannon Hewitt, senior marketing manager at Head of Zeus, a London-based publisher with six imprints that cover a range of fiction and non-fiction books. We talk about the process of creating, planning and delivering effective book campaigns. Shannon shares the different elements of a marketing campaign, as well as how departments across the publishing house interact to launch a book. Later, we discuss how to make your cover letter stand out amongst a busy job market and the skills that you need to embark on your marketing career. This episode is very kindly sponsored by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.   Shannon Hewitt: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-hewitt-546697108/?originalSubdomain=uk Head of Zeus: Instagram @headofzeus X @HoZ_books   Bloomsbury: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/   Episode transcript: https://otter.ai/u/Dlk4Jx5aRuA6gXxfPJROBUXU6-A?utm_source=copy_url   Hosted and edited by Gemma Jackson (SYP London Podcast Officer) Instagram @syp_london X @SYP_UK Website https://thesyp.org.uk   If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

In this episode, Izzi speaks to Ingrid Emerick and Leslie Miller, the co-founders of Girl Friday Productions: a hybrid publishing house based in America. We deep-dive into what hybrid publishing is and how the industry has shifted in the last few decades. We also talk about the services Girl Friday offers, such as book coaching, and the intersection between editing and writing. Hope you enjoy! Check out Girl Friday! https://www.girlfridayproductions.com/ Mentioned in this episode: University of Washington Editing Certificate https://www.pce.uw.edu/certificates/editing Find the transcript here: https://thesyp.org.uk/podcast-transcripts-2022/ Hosted and edited by Isabelle "Izzi" Cooper (SYP Ireland podcast officer) https://thesyp.org.uk If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

In this episode, Gemma speaks to Emma Steel - Head of the Every Cherry Imprint a Sweet Cherry Publishing. Emma talks candidly on representation for SEND disabilities within the publishing industry, how she transitioned from a long-standing teaching career into leading an imprint and how Every Cherry aims to bring reading to those who might struggle.  Emma Steel: linkedin.com/in/emma-steel-1a7bb6273 Mentioned in this episode: Every Cherry: https://www.everycherry.com/ Sweet Cherry Publishing: https://sweetcherrypublishing.com/ Stories For Your Senses: https://www.everycherry.com/category/stories-for-your-senses Symbolised Range:  https://www.everycherry.com/category/symbolised-classics Hosted and edited by Gemma Mathers (SYP UK Podcast Officer) Twitter: @SYP_UK Website: https://thesyp.org.uk If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at: podcast.syp@gmail.com

In this episode, Sarah speaks to Johanna Clarke – Outreach Lead, Senior Contracts Advisory and podcast host for the Society of Young Publishers (SoA). Johanna speaks about how the SoA works to support authors, along with their role in the broader publishing landscape. Johanna also provides advice about getting into the publishing industry, including an anecdote that proves true the advice we hear time and time again: networking does work! Mentioned in this episode: The Society of Authors: https://societyofauthors.org/ SoA Sounds: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aNsv9gOpqzebccR4ffG42?si=898a215e1348450f Hosted and edited by Sarah Allen-Sutter (SYP London Podcast Officer)  Twitter: @SYP_UK Website: https://thesyp.org.uk  If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

In this episode, Annika talks to Tee Hodges, the founder of Typewronger, which is an independent bookshop, typewriter repair shop, and small press in Edinburgh. They discuss the ins and outs of independent publishing, first steps into small press work, and the importance of relationship building and community in every aspect of the literary world. Typewronger Website: www.typewronger.com Instagram: @typewronger What's On at Typewronger: www.typewronger.com/home/events Mentioned in this episode Edinburgh Zine Fair: sites.google.com/a/typewronger.com/edinubrghzinefair Glasgow Zine Fest: www.glasgowzinelibrary.com/glasgow-zine-fest St. Margaret's House: www.stmargaretshouse.org.uk Episode transcript Transcript: thesyp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SYP-Typewronger-Interview.pdf Hosted and edited by Annika 'Niki' Cleland-Hura (SYP Scotland Podcast Officer) Twitter: @SYP_UK Website: https://thesyp.org.uk  If you have any questions about this episode or wish to partake in the show, drop us a line at podcast.syp@gmail.com

In this episode, Jess speaks to Sophie James about her Events Management Internship at The Hay Festival which took place earlier this year. Sophie speaks openly about her experience, providing insight into what the role involved, what she leart from this experience, and how it has helped her to secure her current job role. She also offers advice for those looking to gain similar experience and discusses her perspective on the publishing industry in Wales.  Mentioned in this episode: Visit Wales Website: https://www.visitwales.com/things-do/events/festivals/introducing-hay  Hay Festival Global Website: https://www.hayfestival.com/home  Hosted and edited by Jessica Davies (SYP Wales Digital Content Officer) Twitter: @SYP_Wales Intagram: syp_wales