The London Book Fair (LBF) has revealed the Authors of the Day line-up for the 2025 Fair, which will feature: best-selling novelist and chair of judges for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2024 Monica Ali as Adult Author of the Day; Argentine novelist and screenwriter Claudia Piñeiro, who was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, as International Author of the Day; the current Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2024-2026) Frank Cottrell-Boyce as Children’s Author of the Day; and comics artist and British Book Awards winner Jamie Smart, as the first ever Creative of the Fair.
The London Book Fair (LBF) is the world’s largest spring book trade and publishing event and will return to its home at Olympia London from 11th – 13th March 2025.
“We are delighted to reveal our first author line-up for LBF25,” commented Adam Ridgway, Director of The London Book Fair, “which is set to be an incredible showcase of UK and global publishing, as well as the first major international book industry event of 2025.
“From an International Booker shortlistee to the Waterstones Children’s Laureate, and from Sunday Times best-selling authors to the first ever Creative of the Fair, we couldn’t be prouder to bring such an array of talent to our 2025 Fair. We are really looking forward to welcoming Claudia, Monica, Frank and Jamie to Olympia next year, and we can’t wait to hear their insights at their in-conversation events.”
“I’m thrilled to be the first ever Creative of the Fair at LBF25, what an honour!” ” enthused Jamie Smart, creator of Bunny vs Monkey, and a key contributor to The Phoenix comic and more. “It’s my first ever London Book Fair so I’m really excited to throw myself into it, meet everyone, and share everything I can about comics and comic-making with anyone who’d like to listen!”
“I’m delighted to be the Children’s Author of the Day at The London Book Fair 2025,” said Waterstones Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, “which is gearing up to be another vibrant celebration of international publishing. Writing and reading has transformed my life, and I have written children’s books for more than twenty years because I think they help build the apparatus of happiness inside us.
“In my role as the current Waterstones Children’s Laureate, I’ve launched the ‘Reading Rights’ campaign in partnership with BookTrust, calling for national provision so that every child – from their earliest years – has access to books, reading and the transformative ways in which they improve long-term life chances.
“I’m looking forward to joining the LBF audience in London next year to cherish what reading together means, and what – as an industry – we can bring to families.”
“I am very honoured and excited to be able to take part in the 2025 London Book Fair,” said Claudia Piñeiro, “and especially to have been invited as an International Author of the Day. I am very aware of the significance of The London Book Fair and of the magnitude of the events that take place. The London Book Fair’s international focus is extremely important. For me, receiving feedback from readers globally teaches me a great deal, as it shows how my stories are read and interpreted in different societies. This, for me, is extremely enriching.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be appointed Adult Author of the Day and can’t wait to return to LBF after a very long absence,” said Monica Ali. “I think the last time I was there was back in 2006, so I’m curious to find out how it’s changed since then. What I do know is that there’s no better place to connect with publishers from around the globe, and to meet writers and readers. I’m excited to be part of an event that celebrates talent and creativity and highlights the importance of books in our cultural landscape.”
Jamie Smart was named Illustrator of the Year at the British Book Awards 2024, and won Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year for Bunny vs Monkey: Multiverse Mix-up. His comic Fish-Head Steve, collected in 2013, was the first comic to be shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. Jamie has illustrated comics for The Sunday Times, reinvented The Dandy and drawn for The Beano. His well-loved Bunny vs Monkey and Looshkin stories are regularly published in The Phoenix comic, and as bestselling graphic novels.
Monica Ali is a bestselling author, whose work has been translated into 26 languages. Her debut novel, Brick Lane, was Booker-shortlisted and subsequently turned into a movie. Her subsequent novels include In the Kitchen, Untold Story, and most recently, Love Marriage, which was a Sunday Times bestseller. As a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature she has judged numerous literary prizes, and chaired the 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction. Since 2020, she has been Patron of Hopscotch Women’s Centre, a charity dedicated to empowering women from minority backgrounds to achieve their full potential.
Claudia Piñeiro is best known for her crime novels, which are bestsellers in Argentina, Latin America and around the world. As an author and scriptwriter for television, she has won numerous national and international prizes, including the Pepe Carvalho Prize, the LiBeraturpreis for Elena Knows and the prestigious Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Prize for Las grietas de Jara (“A Crack in the Wall“). Many of her novels have been adapted for the big screen, including Elena Knows (Netflix), which was also shortlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize.
Frank Cottrell-Boyce is an award-winning children’s author, screenwriter and current Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2024-2026). Millions, his debut children’s novel, won the CILIP Carnegie Medal. Frank’s other books include Cosmic, Framed, The Astounding Broccoli Boy, Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth, Runaway Robot, Noah’s Gold and The Wonder Brothers, and have also been shortlisted for a multitude of prizes. In 2023 he launched The Island of Brilliant! podcast with Nadia Shireen, celebrating children’s writing and illustration.
Frank’s new novel, The Blockbusters!, illustrated by Steven Lenton, will be published on 15 May 2025 by Macmillan Children’s Books.
The Authors of the Day and Creative of the Fair will take part in “In Conversation” events on different days throughout The London Book Fair. Claudia Piñeiro will be attending the fair on Tuesday 11th March, Monica Ali and Jamie Smart will appear at events on Wednesday 12th March, and Frank Cottrell-Boyce will be speaking on Thursday 13th March. Full details of these sessions will be announced shortly.
The London Book Fair Comic Space announced
Next year’s event will include The London Book Fair Comic Space, curated by VIP Brands’ Ivanka Hahnenberger, who was instrumental in establishing the Sophie Castille Awards for Comics in Translation and the Lakes International Comic Art Festival‘s Comic Rights Market (which wil return to Bowness next September). Tables for publishers will cost £2000 and can sign up for a space now by contacting Ivanka direct via i.hahnenbergerATvip-licensing.net
“A super price for presence at London Book Fair,” she says.
“What is very exciting is that it will be located next to the Pathways Charity for emerging children’s book creators from backgrounds that are under-represented in children’s publishing.”
VIP Brands represents some of the best European comics publishers giving you a choice of thousands of the best comics available worldwide from top authors and artists.
• The London Book Fair (LBF) is the world’s largest spring book trade and publishing event and will return to its home at Olympia London from 11th – 13th March 2025
• Further details about The London Book Fair registration and line-up will be revealed in due course and will be available from londonbookfair.co.uk The full programme for The London Book Fair 2025 will be announced early next year
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events
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