Speakers:
– Danny Bird, Content Producer, BBC History magazine
– Charlotte Casella, Programme Director – Talks, Schools Hub Manager Chalke History Festival
– Dr Laura Bailey, Programme Director – Living History and Events, Chalke History Festival
– Oliver Webb Carter, Editor, Aspects of History
Danny Bird – BBC History magazine:
– Danny is BBC History’s content producer and he also looks after book reviews and books
coverage for BBC History
– Each issue of the magazine features a books interview – this is usually with an academic
author. Danny will interview them and get a sense of the book. That’s then followed by a
book review. They have up to five other book reviews in that issue.
– They also have a classic books column
– There is also the History Extra podcast – could be relating to a book featured in that issue so
there is overlap with the podcast and magazine. Podcast editor is Ellie Cawthorne and Danny
will sit down and plot who they want on the podcast – they like to tie the content with the
magazine.
– There is a slight opening for historical fiction, but they will predominantly cover non-fiction
and prioritise non-fiction.
– For commissioning process – Danny will approach an academic to review for the magazine –
someone who knows the topic in and out
– They source the reviewers themselves
– There are standalone features outside of the books features – they do historical news, topics
and themes.
– How they like to receive books – they like catalogues and proofs – do send both always
handy for planning. There’s an uptake in PDF versions so do send those over if you have
them.
– They work two issues ahead – so working on February issue now.
– Second half of the calendar month is always their busiest time so we may hear less from the
team then.
– The podcast really grew in popularity during the pandemic and books are central to their
podcast strategy.
– They welcome meetings and love a face-to-face so do reach out
– Rob Attar is the editor, Ellie Cawthorne is podcast editor and Matt Elton is now dep ed of the
magazine – used to do books before Danny
Chalke Valley: Charlotte Casella, Programme Director – Talks
– Charlotte is the director of talks programme
– Chalke is a week-long history festival, taking place from 23rd – 29th June, just south of Salisbury.
– Big celebration of all things history and this covers both living history and books.
– The programme used to be very literary but now they’re being a lot more experimental.
– Focusing on the connections between history and what’s happening in the world now
– Chalke have two big tents and lots of smaller stages that are less history-related.
– They like to have living historians and crafts-people at the festival to bring practitioners and
historians together – blends the academic approach alongside practical approach
– They’re very keen for young historians – young being anyone under 35. Young authors or
people working on social media, young people engaged in history.
– There’s a two-day schools festival so they programme talks and events for children.
– They’ve recently started online membership club
– They mostly programme non-fiction talks
– They start looking for new speakers every year in September – they mainly programme the
two main tents first and the smaller ones will be programmed after Christmas – still time to
send in pitches now.
Laura: Programme Director – Living History and Events
– Laura works alongside Charlotte on the living history side of the programme – Laura’s side is
the hands-on tangible side of history. Interested in any authors or historians who bring
together the practical side of history with the academic side.
– Interested in new diverse voices
– If your author wants to get involved in a practical element or are passionate about history
more broadly, they’re really keen to hear on this – do let them know.
– Chalke will be finalising the programme in February so worth getting your pitches in by
January – there will be some movement in the programme from here but get pitches in for
Jan
– For 2025, they won’t do speaker’s corner again but they will do a similar format event –
they’re looking at an informal young historians chat, looking at informal formats
– The festival bookseller is Waterstones
Oliver Webb Carter – Aspects of History:
– Aspects is a magazine, website, podcast and social platform dedicated to history and
historical fiction.
– Magazine is all about the book – the magazine is every other month which goes out to
subscribers and is sold on Amazon in print and Kindle.
– Each issue consists of interviews, features and short stories (fiction)
– The books chosen will be in a two-month window of the magazine.
– Each piece will be associated with a book review, so they will always try and get the readers
to buy the book.
– Every format of coverage will have a link to the book – print, online, podcast etc.
– Working on the February magazine at the moment
– An author platform is a place on the website that an author can have and they can post their
reviews and article and interviews – this is a platform that is paid for – get in touch with
Oliver to discuss rate card.
– Catalogues and proofs are useful
– The magazine have lots of reviewers who are experts in various fields and Oliver will work to
source appropriate reviewers for Aspects.
– Keen for in-person meetings
– Podcast is a bit shorter-lead than the magazine
Questions:
– Catalogues: Either digital or hard copy catalogues are great. Charlotte: prefers digital
catalogues.
Questions
– Children’s coverage: BBC history and children’s books – there is a window for fiction and this
would include children’s fiction so do send children’s/fiction pitches.
– Aspects of History will consider children’s
– Chalke welcomes children’s authors and particularly if they’re curriculum-linked and
children’s authors will most likely be programmed at the weekends for families to come
along. Chalke are keen to look for links for younger audiences.
– Paperback coverage – BBC History only consider hardback, only send hardbacks don’t send
your paperbacks. Aspects do consider paperbacks but hardbacks will be the main driver for
the content in the magazine. If your author has a paid platform with Aspects then they’ll
consider both.
– Lots of authors will come to Chalke with their paperbacks for the festival in June – they don’t
mind.
– Art History: Aspects would be interested to have a look. Chalke would also consider and BBC
History too – Danny loves art himself so do pitch in.
– BBC History podcast is still predominantly non-fiction but there are some exceptions so do
pitch in.
– Chalke smaller tents – audience sizes – big tent is 300 and smaller tent is 200. With the
smaller audiences, they’re usually really engaged and they have seen better book sales in
the smaller tents in the past due to the smaller engaged audience.
– Anniversary coverage – that’s the core part of BBC History magazine and they’ll look at
anniversaries coming up and plan content around them. Aspects too and they’ll always look
to capitalise on an event on the podcast as well.
– Aspects of History will cover ANY aspect of history, past, present and future. Danny –
anything of historical is of interest.