Publishing Pathways with Chicken House Books and Bookbag

If you’re a student interested in the publishing sector, or a career changer looking to learn about the possibilities, join Kesia and Charlie for an evening of conversation as they explore the different ways you can work with books – from bookselling to editorial, sales and marketing, or production and design.

Part of BIPC ART of Business Programme, in association with Exeter UNESCO City of Literature.

About the speakers:

Kesia Lupo, Senior Editor at Chicken House

Kesia Lupo studied History at Oxford University before completing an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa. She lives in Bristol with her husband and has written two fantasy YA novels – We Are Blood and Thunder and We Are Bound by Stars. She had her first editorial role at Pan Macmillan where she handled copy-edits and proofreads for adult fiction imprints such as Tor and Picador. In 2015, she joined Chicken House as Junior Editor and fell in love with children’s books. Now, she acquires and edits YA and middle-grade fiction across an eclectic range of genres, working with authors including Costa-winning Jasbinder Bilan, as well heading up the organisation of the Times/Chicken House Competition.

Charlie Richards, owner of Bookbag Bookshop

Arts and music marketer turned independent bookshop owner. Bookbag is a social and cultural space with a select range of books and writing. Guardian article The Bookseller article (featuring Charlie’s husband and Bookbag co-owner, Malcolm)

Exeter UNESCO City of Literature

Exeter was designated a UNESCO City of Literature in 2019 based on its literary heritage and commitment to promoting literature and literary culture, as well as a commitment to UNESCO’s

Sustainable Development Goals. Our vision is for everyone to love stories and storytelling. We work with our local and global communities to celebrate the diverse stories within.