2025 Schedule

2026 details are to be announced

8:00am

REGISTRATION OPENS

POP LOUNGE OPENS

Recharge your batteries in the POP Lounge where you’ll have access to coffee, soft drinks and light refreshments all day, along with charging stations and seating to hold informal meetings. 

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8:00am – 9:00am

ORIENTATION BREAKFAST

Come early to enjoy coffee, tea and pastries with other attendees and get pointers for how to get the most out of the day. 

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9:00am – 9:50am

OPENING PLENARY

Welcome and Introduction

Speakers:

Publishing CEOs on an Industry Writing Its Future in Real Time 

In an industry shaped by shifting consumer behaviors, rapid technological evolution, and cultural transformation, today’s publishing leaders must move faster and think deeper than ever before. Join a powerhouse panel of CEOs as they share how they’re navigating the breakneck pace of change—balancing innovation with tradition, strategy with instinct, and disruption with resilience. This timely conversation explores what it takes to lead in today’s publishing landscape with clarity, agility, and vision. 

Panelists:

Moderator:

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10:00am – 10:30pm

REFRESHMENT BREAK

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10:30am – 11:20am

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

The Creator Economy 

As creators with massive followings turn into author-entrepreneurs, the lines between platform and publishing continue to blur. This panel will examine the rise of creator-authors through the lens of opportunity: what agents and editors should look for when assessing creator-driven proposals, how followings on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and Substack translate into book sales, and which categories are ripe for growth. We’ll explore what makes a creator truly “book ready,” the tools fueling their reach, and how publishing professionals can adapt their acquisition and development strategies to stay ahead in a platform-powered market 

Panelists:

Moderator:

The Global Marketplace

Expand your horizons with this panel of professionals who will discuss the global marketplace for book publishing. Understand what genres are selling in various territories and which ones are most interested in American properties. Learn about Spanish language publishing within the United States and how international publishers are helping further that goal. The panel will provide insider perspectives into the effect of geopolitical events and social trends on the demand for books and what “global publishing” means and how agents and editors can strategically position books for international success.  

Panelists:

Moderator: 

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11:30am – 12:20pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Building Your List: Strategy, Taste, and Marketability

At the heart of every agent or editor’s career is their list—a curated body of work that reflects taste, conviction, strategy, and sometimes, serendipity. A good list reflects your taste; a great list builds your career—and drives revenue. In this candid, strategy-focused session, a mix of experienced and newer agents and editors share how they balance personal conviction, market forces, and internal advocacy to build a list that sells. They will also discuss the role of mentorship in creating decision-making frameworks and the habits that help build a successful list, and how collaboration and feedback factor into shaping a list that wins support—internally and in the marketplace.

Panelists:

Moderator:

The Year in Publishing

Catch up on the biggest stories in book publishing. Learn what you need to know from an esteemed panel of experts who will highlight recent headlines, court decisions and legislation, providing analysis and nuance about developments in the use (and misuse) of AI, copyright protection for creative work, the surge in censorship, book bans and more.

Panelists:

Moderator:

Agent/Editor Roundtables 1

Shaped for meaningful dialogue among publishing professionals, the roundtables bring together small groups for focused, genre-specific discussions.

Space is very limited; an additional sign up process is required and will be emailed to attendees after registration closes.

See topics, hosts, and more information.

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12:30pm – 2:00pm

LUNCH BREAK

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2:00pm – 2:50pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

The Invisible Weight: Agents, Editors, and the Unseen Labor Behind Author Success

The roles of agents and editors have evolved far beyond contract negotiations and manuscript edits. Today’s publishing professionals are career advisors,  idea generators, platform development coaches, social media consultants, crisis managers, and emotional anchors. Author expectations have grown, but internal resources, compensation models, and business structures haven’t kept pace—placing immense pressure on those who work behind the scenes. How do we maintain healthy boundaries, advocate for support, and collaborate across the aisle to create a sustainable path forward? And how can we care for ourselves and each other while still offering authors the thoughtful, career-spanning attention they deserve?

Panelists:

Moderator: 

Margins, Missions and Markets: How Financial Leaders Are Steering the Next Chapter

This rare conversation showcases how editorial ambition requires financial leadership. As macroeconomic forces, from inflation and global supply chain pressures to evolving market channels and consumer behavior, reshape the media business, organizations must navigate uncertainty while laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and innovation. Panelists examine the critical relationship between finance and content in a data-driven, digitally dynamic world.

Panelists:

Moderator:

Agent/Editor Roundtables 2

Shaped for meaningful dialogue among publishing professionals, the roundtables bring together small groups for focused, genre-specific discussions.

Space is very limited; an additional sign up process is required and will be emailed to attendees after registration closes.

See topics, hosts, and more information.

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3:00pm – 3:50pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Auction Confidential: The Battle for the Book

Behind every splashy deal announcement is a carefully choreographed exchange—one where agents and editors move in step, guided by instinct, timing, and a shared belief in the book. The auction process may appear fast-paced from the outside, but beneath the surface lies a nuanced dance of strategy and collaboration. Join top agents and acquiring editors as they reveal how coordination, craft, and conviction drive auction outcomes—and why the most pivotal moves are rarely public. Learn how agents position manuscripts for maximum impact, how editors advocate internally, and how both sides navigate the critical decisions that shape a book’s path from submission to sale. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the relationships, rhythms, and real-time choices that define the auction process.

Panelists:

Moderator: 

Book-to-Screen Adaptations

As the appetite for book adaptations continues to surge across film, television, and streaming, understanding how Hollywood sources, evaluates, and transforms IP has never been more critical. This panel brings together top-tier producers, screenwriters, and studio executives behind big hits to offer a behind-the-scenes look at what drives acquisition decisions, how book properties get greenlit, and what makes a project truly “adaptation-ready.” Agents and editors will gain insight into how to better position their titles for screen potential, the evolving role of packaging, and how to build long-term relationships in an increasingly rights-savvy marketplace.

Panelists:

Moderator:

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4:00PM – 6:00PM

CLOSING PLENARY

The Freedom to Read 

The closing session features the exclusive New York City screening of the powerful documentary The Librarians in advance of its theatrical run in 30+ U.S cities. Called “a different kind of superhero movie” (The Hollywood Reporter) and “a gripping story of what is at stake when curiosity and thinking are endangered” (Variety), the film focuses on the unprecedented wave of book banning in Texas, Florida, and beyond and librarians who have emerged as first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment rights as they face harassment, threats, and laws aimed at criminalizing their work. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the film makers and publishing professionals about how we as an industry can and should meet this challenge.

Panelists:

Special Guest:

Moderator:

Sponsored by:

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6:00pm – 8:00pm

RECEPTION

Celebrating the People of Publishing

We’ll close out the day with a celebratory reception featuring signature cocktails, curated bites, and the kind of conversation that only happens when the industry comes together. Reconnect with longtime colleagues, make new connections, and raise a glass as AALA honors this year’s special award recipients and expresses gratitude to our generous sponsors. The date of the 2026 People of Publishing Conference will be announced.

Presentation of Awards:

• Gailey Award
• Impact Award

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Please check out the program in 2024 and 2023. 

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