The London Book Fair has announced that Anthony Horowitz, one of the most prolific and accomplished multi-disciplinary writers working today, will deliver the Author Keynote at the Publishing for Digital Minds Conference, in association with The Publishers Association and sponsored by Copyright Clearance Center, on April 7.
Horowitz is unique among contemporary writers in his ability to create enduring brands across the full spectrum of modern media – achievements recently recognised in the New Year Honours list when he was awarded an OBE for services to literature. Horowitz's successes range from the treasured TV series such as Foyle's War and Midsomer Murders to the 19 million selling Alex Rider book series and the critical and commercial triumph that was the 'reboot' of Sherlock Holmes in The House of Silk. As one of very few writers whose work boasts equal success in book, TV and film form, he is ideally placed to address the opportunities for publishers and authors in creating IP with the power to connect with audiences across multiple platforms.
His appearance continues the Conference's tradition of fielding keynotes from authors for whom the post-digital world has opened up new and exciting possibilities. Last year's speech from Neil Gaiman appealing for the publishing world to experiment more by being "dandelions" got The London Book Fair off to a flying start. This year, Horowitz's polymathic view of the content industries, which includes everything from books and TV series to films, stage plays and journalism, promises to do the same.
Publishing for Digital Minds - New Paradigms, Partners and Platforms is set to explore how publishers are benefiting from more diverse business models and new strategies for creating, producing and distributing IP. The Conference will kick off the first LONDON BOOK AND SCREEN WEEK, welcoming delegates drawn from across the world for a day of keynote speeches, networking panel discussions and debates on the digital future of publishing.
Horowitz joins an already impressive line-up of speakers that includes 'hybrid' author sensation Hugh Howey, Sourcebooks CEO Dominique Raccah and Bill Thompson, veteran technology journalist and head of the BBC Archive.
