New York Book Forum Events – Details, episodes & analysis

As the world embraces sustainability, publishers, suppliers, and print vendors meet at the crossroads. Join us for an insightful virtual program on Sustainability in the Paper, Print, and Publishing industry on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

At this event, we’ll explore the impact of the Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR), discuss post-life cycle regulations, and talk about innovative ideas for carbon-conscious book manufacturing. We’ll also dive into the importance of responsible forestry and how print and publishing contribute to sustainable practices.

Whether you’re a publisher, printer, supplier, or sustainability advocate, this session is a must-attend for anyone looking to make a positive impact on the planet while advancing their organizational practices.

Featured speakers:

• Michael DeFazio, Vice President Production Planning and Sustainability at Penguin Random House
• Elizabeth Bartheld, Vice President of Government Relations at Sylvamo

Moderated by Claudia Pilcher, Sustainability Planner at Scholastic Inc.

Women make up 78% of the publishing industry and hold 59% of executive positions. Women publish more than half of the books in the market and women buy more books than men, accounting for approximately 69% of book sales. It is clear that women drive publishing. They are decision makers and forward thinking leaders. Join us on March 19 to listen to our panel of women who are leaders and creators in the industry speak about their experiences, and hear their perspectives and what it took for them to pave their way in publishing and what they think it takes for publishing to support women who are driving the industry forward.

Panelists:

• Jody Mosley, Executive Publishing Director, Chronicle Books
• Traci N. Todd, acclaimed award-winning author of Nina: A Story of Nina Simone, Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes, and Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins
• Lauren Wein, Vice President and Editorial Director of Avid Reader Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster

Mary McAveney is a publishing veteran with decades of experience and expertise in marketing, strategy, and branding. She is known throughout the industry as a forward-thinking innovator who delivers success based on data-driven tactics, direct-to-consumer relationships, and digital discovery. As President and CEO of Abrams, McAveney oversees the company’s three divisions—Abrams, Abrams Children’s Books, and Abrams ComicArts—as well as the Abrams Distribution Client business. In addition, she sits on the board of Abrams & Chronicle Books, the London-based European arm of the two companies.

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Promoting literacy among various communities is a critical part of the NYBF mission. We are thrilled to discuss the organizations and initiatives fighting to enhance literacy education, particularly among underserved communities. We tackle the ongoing conversation: What is already being done? And what can we do better? Featuring ANDRE EATON, New York State Director, ParentChild+; JILL HARDY HEATH, President and CEO, Heart of America; TAMI MOUNT, Senior Director, WETA / Reading Universe; and DEIMOSA WEBBER-BEY, Director, Information Services & Cultural Insight, Scholastic Inc.

Everyone has their own idea about what makes a romance novel . . . but how has the genre changed over the years? As previously untold love stories have entered the market, how have writers, publishers, and readers responded? From old tropes to new trends, we’ll discuss the secret to success in the ever-evolving genre of romance.

Authors TJ ALEXANDER and ELF AHEARN are featured. LAUREN WHITE-JACKSON, freelance editor and New York Book Forum program committee chair also joins the conversation, which is moderated by JENNIFER PROFFITT, digital marketing manager for Brooklyn Public Library and co-host of Ship Tease, a romance recommendation podcast.

Watch the recording of this virtual program on YouTube ⁠here⁠.

JANE FRIEDMAN (HarperCollins Publishers) and VICTORIA WILSON (Penguin Random House) present “A Story of Evolution: On Writing, Editing, Publishing, and Breaking the Glass of Expectations”

JANE FRIEDMAN transformed a major company, and started a new venture that revolutionized digital publishing. VICTORIA WILSON is an acclaimed editor and publisher, and has written a major cultural biography, with the concluding volume now in progress. In "A Story of Evolution," these leading voices in American publishing discuss their experience, expertise, adventures, and vision of what lies ahead in books, business, and life.

Watch the recording of this in-person program on YouTube ⁠here⁠.

From pitch letters and review outlets, to BookTok and Bookstagram, this panel takes on the complex world of modern book marketing. Join industry professionals to discuss the challenges facing today’s first-time authors, and the creative strategies opening up new channels for reaching readers. Audience outreach is ever-changing, so whatever your level of experience, you might learn something new!

Panelists include LAURA KEEFE (a senior director of marketing at Penguin Random House) and NICK FULLER GOOGINS (author of The Great Transition); moderated by NICHOLAS LATIMER (VP & director of publicity, Penguin Random House).

Watch the recording of this virtual program on YouTube ⁠here⁠.

What do literary agents do, and why do you need one? The Importance of Agents discusses the critical role agents play in the publishing ecosystem. Whether developing editorial relationships and marketing strategy or providing expert insight about a particular genre, discover how an agent’s work builds bridges between authors, publishers, and readers. Panelists include BRITT SIESS (Britt Siess Creative Management), STACY TESTA (Writers House), and ELIZABETH COPPS (Copps Literary Services); moderated by SHELLY ROMERO. Watch the recording of this virtual program on YouTube here.

On MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, New York Book Forum presented “Opening a Bookstore”—The How-To Guide for Design, Market Outreach, and Success—an exclusive peek into the incredible debut of P&T Knitwear, a revolutionary new bookstore located in lower Manhattan.

LAUREN WHITE-JACKSON (our program director) was joined in conversation by JOSEPH DEMES, events and outreach manager; SERGE RODRIGUEZ, floor supervisor and podcast studio coordinator; and JULIE WERNERSBACH, general manager and book buyer.

Learn what it takes to create a space tailored to the reader, to establish a community that values the discovery of new books, and to grow the skills of staff with a fresh sense of opportunity. What are the do’s and don’ts of opening a bookstore, and how do you ensure a successful, long-term plan? With interest in bookshops seemingly at its peak, P&T Knitwear has cracked the code, establishing a wonderful space that allows readers, authors, and book lovers to inhabit an exciting, new literary home.

Chasing a New Horizon—recorded October 19, 2022—highlights the continued effort to create a broader representation of diversity and acceptance within the publishing industry. Panelists include JOHN JENNINGS and TRUNG LE NGUYEN; moderated by PUJA TELIKICHERLA (American Psychiatric Association Publishing).

As our community strives to amplify inclusivity, we have seen the shelves shift to allow space for fresh voices, new talent, and modern classics. Major publishers are making way for stories that center vast worlds of global mythology, intimate memoirs, and children’s tales for both fiction and nonfiction in what proves to be a dazzling future for narrative. Join as we discuss the minds and magic behind this crucial shift, from curation to creation and beyond.

Watch the recording of this virtual program on YouTube here.