A Review of The Self-Publishing Conference 2025

The Self-Publishing Conference 2025 has been, without a doubt, our best one yet. Authors and industry professionals told me how much they valued the practical advice and insight they took away from sessions on marketing and distribution to hearing first-hand experiences from best-selling indie authors. The networking between sessions was just as valuable, with so many conversations starting that I know will continue long after the event.

Inspiring Guest Speakers and Partners

This year, we were joined by an exceptional line-up of guest speakers. Suzy K Quinn shared her expertise on how to self-publish a bestseller, while Debbie Young guided delegates through getting a manuscript ready for self-publication. Chloe Hemsley from the British Library explained how authors can make the most of its resources, and James Mitchell introduced the exciting world of AI advertising, showing how authors can access new tools through Troubador. Hannah Bright offered practical advice on running a successful PR campaign, while Helen Lloyd and Tim Bruce explored what it means to publish an audiobook. Clive Herbert highlighted the importance of metadata in discoverability, and Rosemary Griggs inspired authors on how staying active and engaged can directly impact their sales. All of our guest speakers offered invaluable knowledge and insights that delegates were thrilled to absorb.

I also want to thank our conference partners - Jericho Writers, Shimmr AI, The British Library, Midas and Raconteurs Audio - whose support helped make the day possible.

A New Venue at De Montfort University

This year we moved to a new venue at De Montfort University in Leicester, and it proved to be the perfect setting for the conference. The campus offered modern, flexible spaces that allowed us to run multiple sessions simultaneously without feeling cramped. From the bright, airy lecture theatre to the breakout rooms designed for workshops, the venue created the right balance of connection between delegates and focused knowledge gathering. It also fostered a relaxed, collaborative atmosphere, making it easy for authors to network between sessions and feel inspired throughout the day. Moving to De Montfort University really helped elevate the conference and set a new benchmark for future events.

Celebrating the Team

I was especially proud of the Troubador Publishing and The Book Guild team. The Troubador Masterclasses were some of the most well-reviewed sessions of the day. Carolina and Hannah covered all things production and illustrations, Issy and Lauren took authors through a whistle-stop tour of editorial, Andrea and Steph focused on the benefits of digital publishing, and Jonathan and Sophie offered invaluable advice on how to get books into bookshops. For some, it was their first time speaking in front of an audience, while others approached presenting, networking and supporting authors like seasoned pros. They handled the day brilliantly, and Chloe May, our Operations Director, and I couldn’t have asked for more from them.

A Memorable End to the Day

One of my personal highlights was catching up with so many authors at the end of the day following my closing session. Sharing a beer and hearing how the sessions had sparked new ideas and inspiration for their publishing journeys was a perfect way to end an already fantastic day.