Diversity in Stories

AI Has Entered the Chat

Join us for an engaging and forward-looking conversation on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the publishing industry, featuring industry expert Keith Riegert.We’re excited to discuss with Kieth how AI is reshaping the way content is created, edited, produced, and distributed—from automated workflows, optimization of marketing, to data analytics and audience insights. We hope to uncover and share practical perspectives on how publishers can thoughtfully integrate AI into their processes while maintaining editorial integrity, creativity, and ethical standards.Keith Riegert is the President of The Stable Book Group, which includes Ulysses Press, She Writes Press, VeloPress Books, Trafalgar Square Books, and Skybox Press, as well as Stable Distribution (in partnership with Hachette Book Group). Keith is also CEO of Perfect Bound Technologies Corporation and a co-founder of the book publicity and digital marketing firm, Pacific & Court. Keith is a member of the board of advisors at NYU’s School of Professional Studies in the Center for Publishing where he also teaches Analytics and Consumer Insights. Keith also serves on the board of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA).#publishing #books #artificialintelligence

Greener Pages: Alternate Materials and Measuring Emissions

The publishing industry is under growing pressure to reduce emissions, rethink materials, and build more sustainable supply chains. In this New York Book Forum virtual program, industry leaders explore practical approaches to sustainability in print and publishing — from measuring carbon emissions to evaluating alternative materials and life-cycle impacts.Featuring Susan Lee, Vice President of Environmental Health & Safety at Lakeside Book Company, and Claudia Pilcher, Sustainability Manager at Scholastic Inc., this conversation covers:• Scope 3 and product emissions• Life-cycle assessments in publishing• Eco-friendly materials and design practices• Working with vendors to reduce environmental impact• The future of sustainability in print manufacturingModerated by Irene Chan, head of Pre-Press & Book Production at Scholastic, Inc.The New York Book Forum brings together professionals across publishing, printing, and media to discuss the ideas shaping the future of the industry.#publishing #sustainability #printing #bookpublishing #environmentalimpact #supplychain #manufacturing #publishingindustry

Diversity in Stories

Twenty-five percent of children’s books feature a protagonist who is a minority. The numbers are lower in adult publishing, with research suggesting that less than 10% of published authors are people of color. Diverse storytelling provides a window into other worlds and is a panacea to cultural myopia. In our virtual program we discuss how the demographic makeup of authors affects diverse stories and how more diversity in authors and storytelling could shape our progress as an industry and as a society. Join us to hear about efforts that are helping the industry move the needle.Our featured speakers on this program are:Kyle Zimmer, President, CEO and Co-founder, First BookElissa Petruzzi, Program Director, We Need Diverse BooksThis program is moderated by Irene Chan, Program Chair, New York Book Forum

President's Night 2026 with Madeline McIntosh

New York Book Forum is pleased to present Presidents Night featuring Madeline McIntosh, CEO and Publisher! Madeline McIntosh has a well-deserved reputation for thinking outside the traditional industry box, and that felt most true in 2023 when she left her job as CEO of the largest publisher (PRH US) to start up a tiny one, Authors Equity. Now, nearly two years into this venture she will share her vision for how publishers and authors can work together differently, and how it’s going so far at her new company. Join us on January 21st to hear what she has to say. Madeline lives in New York with her husband, novelist Chris Pavone. Co-sponsored by Westchester Publishing Services

From Competition to Career

What role do competitions play in launching and sustaining a writer’s and artist’s career? Join us for From Competition to Career, a panel discussion exploring how art and writing contests serve as powerful platforms for discovery, recognition, and professional growth. Competitions cultivate our creative communities and support emerging voices. They are cornerstones in sustaining a vibrant culture and creating opportunities for stories that might go unheard. Learn how competition organizers and participants navigate the world of competitions, from first submissions to transformative wins, and how those moments opened doors to publication, mentorship, and lasting creative communities. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or writer considering your first submission, an educator fostering literary talent, or a reader invested in the future of storytelling, this panel offers insight, inspiration, and practical takeaways on why these contests matter, how they can shape the creators or tomorrow, and what we can do to continue to support them. Featured Speakers: * Christopher Wisniewski, Executive Director, Alliance for Young Artists & Writers * Laurin Becker Macios, author of Calling Me Home, Somewhere to Go, and I Almost Was Animal Moderated by Irene Chan, Program Chair, New York Book Forum