By Kelly Hatley
Creative Hats Press

Every March for the past three years, I’ve visited The London Book Fair (LBF) at Olympia London. Each year I leave it to the last minute to share details and I really think it is an interesting event for anyone interested in writing. I leave feeling much better informed to write more, teach better and grow Creative Hats Press for our authors.

Over the three days, there are over 100 seminars, keynote talks, and panel discussions across stages such as the Main Stage, Author HQ, Tech Theatre and the International Stage. These cover everything from rights selling and contracts to digital accessibility, artificial intelligence and future publishing models.

For a small press publisher like us, these sessions have been amazing. One year I sat in a packed seminar on sustainability and the future of publishing, another year I found myself in a deep conversation around diversity and inclusion in storytelling. There’s always something fresh to learn and then share with students.

I find the layout at Olympia challenging because I want to visit seminars all day but by the time you walk from one side of the large venue to the other for a different talk – there are so many people in the space – it is virtually impossible to hear or gain anything of value. Therefore, while it is tempting to look at the programme and totally fill your day, I would suggest either sticking to one space so you can grab a seat early and stay for several talks or leave bigger gaps in between and hope to get to the next early enough to get a space.

 Across the years I’ve:

• Taken part in sessions on editorial strategy and narrative development — which helped me nurture new voices at Creative Hats Press.
• Heard from experienced writers, publishers and agents about the evolving landscape of traditional and indie publishing.
• Attended tech-focused workshops that explored digital storytelling tools and future tech trends — from digital rights management to innovative audiobook approaches.

LBF is an incredible place to sense the direction the publishing world is moving. Some trends I’ve noticed over the years include:

AI’s Increasing Role in Publishing

Conversations around AI tools, as supportive aids for editing, rights management, and marketing have been growing year after year. Panels explored how publishers balance efficiency with integrity.

New Genre’s

One standout trend (especially at the 2025 Fair) was the rise of “romantasy”, a hybrid of romance and fantasy that’s rapidly gaining traction in rights deals and acquisitions.

Technology and Storytelling

Discussions about interactive digital formats and audiobook strategies and accessibility innovations have been super interesting to learn about. I’ve seen how other publishers are experimenting with storytelling to help shape some of our ideas.

Sustainability and Inclusion

It’s nice how themes like sustainable publishing, diversity of voices, and equitable access to books continue to dominate the agendas. Brilliant!

Three years in, I know this: The London Book Fair is definitely my personal go to event to learn what’s hot and not in writing and publishing. It is a trade show and a great place to connect with printing companies and other suppliers but I also love the chance to network with strangers and make new industry contacts.

If you’re a publisher, author, or creative professional looking to learn, connect, and evolve, grab yourself a ticket, pop it in the calendar and I might see you there…