A Skillsco Publishers' Day Event will take place in Inverness on the 24th March, 2005. This event follows on from other successful initiatives by Hi Arts, Aimhi, Ideasfactory and is being supported by Highlands & Islands Enterprise.

A panel of publishers will provide information and advice on what they are looking for from writers, how approaches should be made and what writers should avoid. There will be many insights into the world of writing and publishing including career building, the use of agents and much more.

The event will be of interest to writers, photographers and graphic designers in the Highlands and Islands, whether published or not.

Places at the event are limited so early registration is advised.

Delegates are invited to submit a single page synopsis of any work they may wish to have published. These will be judged by the panel and prizes awarded for those that are deemed to have the best chance of being published.

THE PUBLISHERS

The publishers are from a variety of backgrounds, covering both books and magazines.

DATE                                                             TIMES       

Thursday, 24th March 2005.                            10am until 1pm

VENUE                                                          PRICE

Maple Court Hotel                                          A charge of £10 applies and should

12 Ness Walk, Inverness IV3 5SQ                  be paid at time of registration.

 REGISTRATION

You may register your interest in the event by calling Margaret on 01499 302891 or emailing skillsco2@aol.com and a registration form will be sent to you.  Completed forms must be returned by Thursday, 17th March. We shall confirm your place by email.

BIOGRAPHIES: BIOGRAPHIES: BIOGRAPHIES: BIOGRAPHIES

Rachael Cox                                        Executive Magazine  

Rachael Cox is editor of Executive Magazine, the leading business magazine for the North of Scotland. She recently launched a new lifestyle publication called Highland Life & Style Magazine, and last month was highly commended at the Highlands & Islands Media Awards as feature writer of the year.

Rachael moved to Scotland in 2003 from London, where she was a supplements editor and features writer with the Financial Times. Her print media experience covers both magazines and newspapers but she has also worked as a broadcast journalist and news presenter with the Capital Radio Group. Her variety of experiences means that Rachael can write informatively on a wide range of subjects, from business and finance, through to employment, technology, health and lifestyle issues. She is also a regular contributor to women’s magazines and travel publications, with travel being her second passion after writing!

Rachael graduated from the University of Bristol in 1998 with a BA Hons in English Literature then won a place at Occidental College in Los Angeles to study English and Comparative Literary Studies and Journalism. Her experience in journalism was gained at Bristol, when she was a reporter for Epigram, the University’s award winning weekly newspaper and in Los Angeles, where she worked as a staff writer on The Occidental and contributed features to The Los Angeles Times.

Gavin MacDougall                             Luath Press

Gavin MacDougall is Director of Luath Press. Luath was founded by Tom Atkinson in Ayrshire in 1981 and is now based in Edinburgh with around 150 books in print, including fiction, poetry, history, politics, travel and lots more. Most books published by Luath have a Scottish connection – writer based here or book set here – and in the last year has probably published more fiction and poetry originating from Scotland than any other publisher.

Luath also publishes books in the Scots language, including Matthew Fitt’s acclaimed future-set novel But n Ben A-Go-Go. A forthcoming novel, The Burying Beetle by Ann Kelley, set in Cornwall and favourably compared with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, has been selected as Publishing News Book of the Month for May 2005.

Gavin is a Director of Scottish Book Trust, a member of the Scottish Publishers Association council and its trade committee, the Saltire Society publications committee and the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on the Scots Language. With Tessa Ransford and Antonia Swinson, he founded Edinburgh Book Fringe in 2004. Born in Glasgow, raised in Aberfoyle, university in Manchester, on to London, back to Scotland in mid ‘90s. In London, managed publishing portfolio of Kidsons Impey including Publishers Association, Book Trust, Book Industry Communication, Publishers Licensing Society, A&C Black, Constable, Plexus, Pinder and Freeland Press.

Marie Lewis Stevenson                    Lipstick Publishing
Mrs. Marie Lewis Stevenson (1957) is a publisher, media-advisor and writer. In 1998 she specialized in electronic book media and is considered a pioneer in this field. Over the past 15 years she has been the Director of two very successful businesses and written her own book. ‘Ordinary Shares for Ordinary People’, endorsed by some of the major corporations in buying and selling shares on the London Stock Exchange. She has also written numerous articles on media and books.

Having started Lipstick Publishing in 2003, the company is rapidly becoming well known for its young, aggressive, fresh approach to publishing. A superb negotiator, she acquired the publishing rights for the UK of the giant title ‘Raising The Kursk’ with over 35,000 copies sold. This was won against many of the larger International publishers. Apart from publishing and writing she gives talks on publishing and getting published. She is also on the Board of ‘The Gordon’s School’ Huntly, Aberdeenshire for ‘Young People in Industry’ promoted by The Scottish Executive.

At present Lipstick Publishing have 3 new titles being launched at the London Book Fair in March 2005.

Robert Davidson (Bob)                        Sandstone Press

Robert Davidson is founder and Managing Editor of Sandstone Press Ltd.  This rapidly growing company specialises in the Sandstone Vista Series of books for adults with low literacy skills.  The books are written and skillfully edited in such a way that they can be enjoyed not only by their main target readership but by anyone who enjoys a quick read. They are increasingly being recognised, with their accompanying Teaching Packs, as a valuable resource for students at intermediate level.

More recently the company has begun its innovative programme of online publishing of Sandstone Fiction, Bridges (poetry in translation), and Pearls (Gaelic language fiction).

Published quarterly the Sandstone Review is a free arts magazine download recognised as the leader in its field.  The Vistas and downloads can be purchased directly through the company's web site at www.sandstonepress.com

David Fletcher                        David Fletcher Associates

David Fletcher, an Aberdeen graduate, began his life in publishing in the 1960s, first with D.C. Thomson of Dundee and then with Oxford University Press. He returned to Scotland to work for William Blackwood and Sons Ltd, Publishers and Printers. He was latterly a director of the company and editor of "Blackwood's Magazine".

In 1979 he set up David Fletcher Associates, Publishers' Consultants and Authors' Agents. The consultancy side provides advice and services mainly to academic and professional bodies lacking publishing facilities of their own. The agency specialises in books on the environment, military history, natural history, photography, social history, sport and topography.

All too often with fiction, David Fletcher's enthusiasm is not shared by publishers.

Mark Stanton                                       Jenny Brown Associates

Mark Stanton followed an English degreee at Bristol University with a misguided post-graduate in teaching. After many months temping he finally got a break in publishing - volunteering at Canongate Books. Several years later he was Publicity, Marketing and Sales Manager when the company won the Booker Prize and Publisher of the Year.

He is now a literary agent with Jenny Brown Associates representing over 30 writers of literary and crime fiction, and popular non-fiction (sport and music).