The BookTrust Represents Community: Isaac Hamilton-McKenzie and Siren Knight

Isaac Hamilton-McKenzie

Along my time writing, I have always tried to make sure I go out and socialise with others in the publishing industry. I attend events, book launches, maybe the odd creative social, and try to network as best I can, because you never know what can come of it. Those chance meetings might later bring on opportunities that enrich your life, career, writing, or simply experiences. 

The opportunity to go to Cheltenham Literature Festival with BookTrust Represents came about after meeting Emma Zipfel at one of those social events a few years back. I could tell at that moment she was really interested in helping young authors and writers further themselves within the industry. Especially those who continued to go underrepresented. 

I’d been to a few book festivals already, but none as big as Cheltenham. Not only was this an opportunity to perhaps rub shoulders and learn from some of the biggest writers in the industry, but with the weekend being fully funded, it made it accessible, as I hadn’t had much disposable income at the time. I couldn’t say no, and immediately shot Emma back an email to say, ​“I’m in!”. 

Before I knew it, the big weekend had arrived. We were added to a group chat, and those of us that would be taking the train, were to meet at Paddington Station on the afternoon of Friday 17th October. 

After a few train delays and a bit of a rocky journey, we landed in the town that had been taken over by Literature for a fortnight. You could feel the atmosphere in the air as we made our way to the park to attend our first event: Raymond Antrobus, talking about his new memoir ​‘The Quiet Ear’. It was a personal and genuine exploration of his experience with deafness throughout his life, and the emotion really resonated and echoed around the room. 

After the event, the whole group (myself, Dominic, Lucy, Debbie & Shauntelle, along with BookTrust representatives Emma & Emily) went to the festival’s Waterstones. This was the first time we all got the opportunity to really connect and chat to each other about our writing and aspirations. This was followed by dinner at a local restaurant, where we met with Dapo Adeola, a bestselling author/​illustrator, who gave us lots of gems of advice and words of encouragement for the future. 

Saturday started off with a big breakfast at the hotel, then we hit the road and based ourselves in the festival artists’ green room. Getting the opportunity to share a resting space with a bunch of successful creatives was awesome, and we even managed to get some professional author portraits taken that looked amazing. I look forward to the images arriving in my inbox soon! 

The day’s itinerary was jam-packed. We were all gifted a Book trust tote bag filled with tickets and book-goodies for the day ahead, starting off with a fantastic picture book event. Then middle grade and YA and back to middle grade. It was so great to see the differences between each author, and how each translated their book into an engaging performance that not only entertained but also informed the audience about their process. 

I’d done a few writers’ workshops and events myself, but I always take the opportunity to learn from others about how I can improve my own events. I was impressed not only by how excited each author or illustrator was when talking about their art, but also how they used the USP of their books to cultivate a routine that may become a substantial part of their earnings as an author. 

Between every couple of events, we sat down with more industry veterans; Tọlá Okogwu, Athena Kugblenu and Jennifer Killick, who were so generous with their time, and willingness to impart their wisdom and experiences. Of course, being a writer is a creative endeavour, but it’s important to familiarise yourself with the business side of the industry and never overlook the realities of what being an author entails. 

Overall, I’m so glad I said yes to this opportunity, and really grateful to Emma and Emily for hosting such a fun and meaningful experience for five budding authors. It’s a trip I will never forget!