London Book Fair announces Dr. Julie Smith, Steven Bartlett, and Michael Sheen as headline speakers

Dr. Julie Smith, known as both an author and a TikTok "sensation," will be among the headline speakers at this year’s London Book Fair (LBF). Smith, whose book "Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?" has garnered attention, will kick off the event with an “in conversation” session on Wednesday, March 13th. During this event, she will discuss mental health issues for authors and those in the creative industry, as well as her rapid ascent on TikTok, where she shares content related to mental health. Smith expressed her excitement about sharing her journey as an author with LBF audiences, while also emphasizing the crucial importance of mental health for everyone.

The main-stage program on the second day of the fair will feature entrepreneur, investor, podcaster, and author Steven Bartlett. He will delve into his book "The Diary of a CEO" (published by Ebury Edge), discussing his transition from podcaster to published author and sharing insights into leadership, business, and marketing. Bartlett will also explore the thirdweb development platform and its potential applications in the book industry. Reflecting on his experience interviewing numerous authors on his podcast, Bartlett emphasized the influential role of books in shaping culture, sparking conversations, and fostering connections.

Michael Sheen, co-founder of A Writing Chance—an initiative dedicated to enhancing access to the writing industries for individuals from lower-income backgrounds—will participate in a panel discussion on the main stage on Thursday, March 14th. Joining him will be Tracey Markham, head of UK at Audible; Farrah Storr, head of writer partnerships at Substack; and novelist Sunjeev Sahota. The panel will focus on the delivery of diversity and inclusion within publishing and the broader creative industries, highlighting best practices in this area.

Gareth Rapley, director of LBF, expressed excitement about the diverse lineup of speakers, which includes keynotes from Jonathan Karp, CEO of Simon & Schuster, and the "SheEOs in Publishing" panel led by Bodour Al Qasimi, featuring Judith Curr and Ameena Sayid. Rapley emphasized the importance of these speakers in addressing pressing topics such as mental health for authors, marketing strategies for selling more books, and increasing accessibility to the industry. The presence of such renowned speakers underscores the significance of LBF in addressing key issues across the publishing and creative content industries.

The London Book Fair is scheduled to return to Olympia London from March 12th to 14th.