The key to being a commercially successful writer is learning how to get yourself and your book the exposure it deserves. Writers are often responsible for attracting their own audience and it is through the power of publicity that the media, and more importantly readers, will become attracted to your work. Join Mary Byrne (PR Director, Harper Collins Ireland), Patricia Hamilton (Director of the Aspects Festival), Michelle Mac Mullan (Senior News Anchor, Newstalk) and Bernie McGill (author of The Watch House and The Butterfly Cabinet), during this highly practical, one-day series where they will discuss their own experiences with publicity and offer advice on gaining recognition in the industry. All sessions will allow for Q&A.

Running Order

10.30 – 11.40 | Patricia Hamilton, Director of the Aspects Festival, offers insight into how to connect with relevant curators and organisers, and the etiquette of ‘getting out there’.

11.50 – 1.00 | Bernie McGill, author of The Watch House and The Butterfly Cabinet shares her experiences of working with publishers and publicists as well as navigating the highs and lows of self-promotion.

1.00 – 2.00 | Lunch

2.00 – 3.10 | Mary Byrne, PR Director at Harper Collins Ireland, will discuss book promotion from a publishers perspective including how publishers aim to achieve maximum impact with new titles.

3.20 – 4.30 | Michelle Mac Mullan, Senior News Anchor at Newstalk, looks at book promotion and best practice in approaching, and grabbing the interest of, the media while looking at ways to get a review, an interview or how to make your book news worthy.

About the speakers

Mary Byrne was appointed as PR Director at Haper Collins Ireland last year. She worked in the children’s publicity department of Puffin for many years and was also a PR consultant specialising in children’s books.

Patricia Hamilton has been the director of Aspects Irish Literature Festival since 2013. She is also a visual artist and is Arts Officer with Ards and North Down Borough Council, Northern Ireland.

Michelle Mac Mullan is the Senior News Anchor for Newstalk. She has spent more than a decade working as a broadcast journalist with household names like Todayfm, 98fm and RTE.

Bernie McGill is the author of two novels, The Watch House and The Butterfly Cabinet, both published by Tinder Press, and of a short story collection, Sleepwalkers, published by Whittrick Press.

Run in partnership with the Verbal Arts Centre