Category: News

BMS Autumn Primer Day – November 2026

Posted on October 11, 2026 by - News

BMS Primer Workshop

We’re excited to announce our autumn BMS Primer workshop for book marketers will take place next month (November 2026).

This event is targeted at those in the early years of their career, as well as those hoping to join the industry or wanting an update on latest developments. The workshop will take place online over the course of two mornings, offering an in-depth overview of book marketing, with new insights and the latest thinking around campaigns, available tools and resources.

You will learn how marketing professionals handle their campaigns, overcome challenges, and drive results. The aim of this event is to learn from marketing industry experts, and stay on top of marketing trends and best practice. The event will culminate in a session where participants will get the chance to create and present their own marketing campaign working with other colleagues across the industry.

*This will be a virtual workshop, taking place over two mornings.*

WHEN: Thursday 12th and Friday 13th November 2026 (09:30 – 13:00 each day)

WHERE: via Zoom

COST: BMS members £50 / Non-members £100

BUY TICKETS NOW

 

Thursday 12th November 2026

09:30 – 10:00 Introduction, Overview and How to Plan a Marketing Campaign (Laura Di Giuseppe, Marketing and Publishing Consultant) 

10:00 – 11.30 Media Landscape and Briefing an Agency (Rebecca Keegan, Mediaplus Client Service and Operations Director, and Mediaplus team)

11.30 – 11.45 Break 

11.45 – 12:45: BookTok Trends: Maximising Opportunities (Alice King, Content Creator and Community Manager, The Tandem Collective)  

12.45 – 13.00: Q&A and key takeaways: Day 1

Friday 13th November 2026

09.30 – 10.15: In-Depth Case Studies in Fiction and Non-Fiction: John of John, by Douglas Stuart and London Falling, by Patrick Radden Keefe (Elle Gibbons, Head of Marketing, Picador – PanMacmillan)

10.15 – 10.30: Break 

10:30 – 11.00:  How to Plan a Non-Fiction Campaign: The Walking Cure by Annabel Streets. (Darcie O’Meara, Marketing Assistant. Bloomsbury)  

11:00 – 11:30:  Brand Author Marketing: The Midnight Train by Matt Haig (Alice Shortland and Emily Cox, Marketing, Canongate)    

11.30 – 11.45     Q&A ahead of the Group Work Challenge 

11.45 – 12.45    Group work Challenge: Plan a campaign and present back

12.45 – 13.00    Close and key takeaways: Day 2 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BMS Awards: Apr to Jun (Q2) 2026

Posted on September 10, 2026 by - News

Thanks to everyone who submitted campaigns for the Q2 2026 Awards and congratulations to our winners!

Click here for the presentation with judges’ comments

Or a full list can be found below…

Download story-sized graphics here

 

Q2 – Apr to Jun 2026

MULTI-TITLE

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Ultimate Football Heroes

Marketer: Nassima Bouchenak / Bonnier

WINNER: Terry Pratchett’s Hat Parade

Marketers: Julia Gaynor, Helena Sheffield / Transworld

GUERRILLA

HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Magical Matcha Teashop

Marketers: Chloe Cummings, Katie Sadler, Grace Edwards / One More Chapter

WINNER: Groovy, Laidback and Nasty

Marketers: Javerya Iqbal and Tom Noble / White Rabbit

CHILDREN’S

HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Ice Cream Crocodile

Marketers: Emma Golay, Sarah Connell / Faber Children’s

WINNER:Is This A Plum?

Marketer: Hannah Sidorjak / PRH Children’s

YOUNG ADULT

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Release Me

Marketers: Olivia Carson, Sophie Porteous, Lorrie Rose / Electric Monkey (Farshore)

WINNER: Survival Show

Marketers: Alesha Bonser, Simi Toor / Gallery YA (S&S Children’s)

DEBUT

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dissection of a Murder

Marketer: Claire Bush / Pan Macmillan

WINNER: Yesteryear

Marketers: Liv Marsden, Ellen Woodley / 4th Estate

ADULT NON-FICTION: NARRATIVE

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Talking Classics

Marketers: Rosie Parnham. Dahmicca Wright / Profile

WINNER: London Falling

Marketers: El Gibbons, Alice Smith / Pan Macmillan

ADULT NON-FICTION: LIFESTYLE

HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Book of Birds

Marketers: Yazmeen Akhtar, Sahina Bibi, Emily Cox / Penguin General

WINNER: The Walking Cure

Marketer: Darcie O’Meara / Bloomsbury

ADULT FICTION

HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Midnight Train

Marketers: Alice Shortland, Emily Cox / Canongate

WINNER: Land

Marketers: Lucy Howkins, Phoebe Khalid / Headline

 

Q2 2026 SPOTLIGHT AWARD WINNERS

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT: Brave New Summer

Marketer: Sophie Rosewell / HQ

INNOVATION: Literally x Unapologetic Love Story

Marketers: Alexandra Watkins, Meg Donnelly / Pan Macmillan

CREATIVITY: Transcription

Marketer: Simon Heafield / Granta

GRAFT: Daggermouth

Marketers: Meg Donnelly, Becky Lushey / Pan Macmillan

FORMAT: Five

Marketers: Vicki Watson, Caroline Oestergaard, Adam Humphrey / Juniper (HQ)

 

 

 

BMS Awards: Jan to Mar (Q1) 2026

Posted on May 21, 2026 by - News

Thanks to everyone who submitted campaigns for the Q1 2026 Awards and congratulations to our winners!

Click here for the presentation with judges’ comments

Or a full list can be found below…

Download story-sized graphics here

 

Q1 – Jan to Mar 2026

MULTI-TITLE

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Bloomsbury Cooks IWD event

Marketer: Mia Oakley / Bloomsbury

WINNER: Life Changes When You Listen

Marketers: Jo Kite MacCalla, Carmen Byers / PRH Audio

GUERRILLA

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Between Two Fires

Marketer: Holly Wilson / Gollancz (Orion)

WINNER: And Now, Back to You

Marketers: Charlotte Dixon, Carol-Anne Royer / Pan Macmillan

CHILDREN’S

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Gozzle

Marketer: Jade Potter / Macmillan Children’s

WINNER: Finn’s Epic Fails

Marketer: Emma Hardy-Quick / Simon & Schuster Children’s

YOUNG ADULT

HIGHLY COMMENDED: A Stage Set for Villains

Marketer: Yasmin Anshoor / Mayhem (Penguin Michael Joseph)

WINNER: Queen of Faces

Marketer: Aisling O’Mahony / HarperFire (HC Children’s)

DEBUT

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Esther is Now Following You

Marketer: Jen Porter / Transworld

WINNER: Motherfaker

Marketers: Claire Bush, Zoe Coxon / Pan Macmillan

ADULT NON-FICTION: NARRATIVE

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Bimbo

Marketer: Sophie Shaw / Cornerstone

WINNER: A Hymn to Life

Marketers: Annie Rose, Chloe Healy, Olivia Pither / Vintage

ADULT NON-FICTION: LIFESTYLE

HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Ramadan Kitchen

Marketers: Vicki Watson, Caroline Oestergaard / Pavilion (HC)

WINNER: I Still Believe in Miracles

Marketer: Margarida Mendes Ribeiro / Ebury

ADULT FICTION

HIGHLY COMMENDED: My Friends

Marketers: Amy Fulwood, Kate Kaur / Simon & Schuster

WINNER: Hooked

Marketers: Liv Marsden & Ellen Woodley / 4th Estate

 

Q1 2026 SPOTLIGHT AWARD WINNERS

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT: Friday Book Club

Marketers: Rebecca Morrison, Sarah Sleath / Collins

INNOVATION: Onyx Storm PB

Marketers: Laura Vile, Katy Brigden / Piatkus (Little Brown)

CREATIVITY: It’s Not What You Think

Marketers: Adam Humphrey, Vicky Joss, Alexandra Sequeira / HarperFiction

GRAFT: The Last Starborn Seer

Marketers: Shannon Hewitt, Jo Liddiard / Head of Zeus

FORMAT: Careless People PB

Marketer: Claire Bush / Pan Macmillan

 

 

 

BMS Primer Day – June 2026

Posted on May 4, 2026 by - News

BMS Primer Workshop

We’re thrilled to be running our summer in-person BMS Primer workshop for book marketers on Friday 12th June 2026.

Targeted at those in the early years of their career, as well as those hoping to join the industry or wanting an update on latest developments, this workshop will take place in central London and will offer an in-depth overview of book marketing, with new insights and the latest thinking around campaigns, available tools and resources.

Attendees will learn how marketers brief media agencies, handle their campaigns, overcome challenges, and drive results – the aim is to learn from industry experts, and stay on top of marketing trends and best practice. The event will culminate in a session where participants will get the chance to create and present their own marketing campaign working with other colleagues across the industry.

WHEN: Friday 12th June (09:30 – 17:00)

WHERE: Total Media Offices, First Floor, Waverley House, 7-12 Noel St, London W1F 8GQ

COST: BMS members £100 / Non-members £150

Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

 

AGENDA

09:30-10:00 Introduction and Overview

10:00-11:00 How to Plan a Marketing Campaign – Laura Di Giuseppe, Publishing and Marketing Consultant 

11.00-12.30 Media Landscape and Briefing an Agency – Total Media team

12.30-13:30 LUNCH

13.30-14.15 Non-Fiction Focus: Margarida Mendes Ribeiro, Campaign Officer (Ebury Publishing)

14:15-15.00 In-depth Case Studies – Fiction Focus: From Shoestring to Big Budgets – Ellie Nightingale, Senior Marketing Manager (Orion)

15.00-16.00 BookTok Trends: Maximising Opportunities – Lex Brookman, Tandem Collective

16.00-16.15 BREAK

16:15-17:00 Group work: From Theory to Practice. Plan a campaign and present back.

 

Tickets are limited and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. BMS members will have priority.

 

 

 

 

 

BMS Awards: Oct to Dec (Q4) 2025

Posted on January 20, 2026 by - News

Thanks to everyone who submitted campaigns for the Q4 Awards and congratulations to our winners!

Click here for the presentation with judges’ comments

Or a full list can be found below…

Download Story-sized winner graphics here

 

Q4 – Oct to Dec 2025

MULTI-TITLE

HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Year of Reacher

Marketers: Jen Porter & Lucy Upton / Transworld

WINNER: Mr. Men Little Miss: Little Miss Marple and Mr. Poirot

Marketers: Chris Wells & Lila Nicholson / Farshore

GUERRILLA

HIGHLY COMMENDED: 12 Ways to Kill Your Family At Christmas

Marketers: Chloe Cummings, Grace Edwards & Katie Sadler / One More Chapter

WINNER: Eleanor

Marketer: Charlotte Dixon / Pan Macmillan

CHILDREN’S

HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Diary of Wiska Wildflower: The New School

Marketer: Aleena Waseem / OUP

WINNER: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper

Marketer: Lottie Halstead / PRH Children’s

YOUNG ADULT

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Seven Deadly Thorns

Marketer: Tim Hardy / Bloomsbury

WINNER: The Book of Dust Vol 3: The Rose Field

Marketer: Michael Bedo / PRH Children’s

DEBUT

Not judged this quarter

ADULT NON-FICTION: NARRATIVE

HIGHLY COMMENDED: When Gavin Met Stacey

Marketers: Rosie Ainsworth, Sarah Ridley & Helena Sheffield / Transworld

WINNER: A Mind of My Own

Marketers: Hayley McMullan & Richard Vlietstra / S&S

ADULT NON-FICTION: LIFESTYLE

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Warhammer 40,000 Character Encyclopedia

Marketers: James Atkinson, Tilly Mummery & Savannah Macgowan / DK

WINNER: Always Remember: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm

Marketers: Abby Watson & Lara McLeod / Ebury

ADULT FICTION

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Boleyn Traitor

Marketers: Sarah Shea, Lipfon Tang, Alexandra Sequeira & Vicki Watson / HarperFiction

WINNER: The Killing Stones

Marketer: Natasha Tulett / Pan Macmillan

 

Q4 2025 SPOTLIGHT AWARD WINNERS

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT: Jean Paul Gaultier Catwalk

Marketer: Curtis Garner / Thames & Hudson

INNOVATION: BBC Audiobooks x UK Literary Festivals

Marketer: Olivia Pither / PRH Audio

CREATIVITY: The School of Night

Marketer: Katrina Northern / Vintage

GRAFT: The Hawk is Dead

Marketer: Claire Bush / Pan Macmillan

FORMAT: The Wrath of the Fallen

Marketer: Hannah Whittaker / Headline

 

 

 

 

 

 

BMS Awards: Jul to Sep (Q3) 2025

Posted on December 2, 2025 by - News

Thanks to everyone who submitted campaigns for the Q3 Awards and congratulations to our winners!

Click here for the presentation with judges’ comments

Or a full list can be found below…

Download Story-sized winner graphics here

 

Q3 – Jul to Sep 2025

MULTI-TITLE

HIGHLY COMMENDED: MeetCute Fest

Marketer: Hannah Whittaker / Headline

WINNER: Summer of Skandar

Marketers: Alesha Bonser, Daniel Fricker, Miya Elkerton & Simi Toor / S&S Children’s

GUERRILLA

HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop

Marketers: Chloe Cummings, Grace Edwards, Katie Sadler / One More Chapter

WINNER: Poyums Annaw

Marketer: Jamie Norman / Canongate 

CHILDREN’S

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Unfairies

Marketer: Chris Robson / PRH Children’s

WINNER: Pablo & Splash: Roman Holiday

Marketer: Evelyn Opoku-Agyeman / Bloomsbury Children’s

YOUNG ADULT

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Twilight 20th Anniversary

Marketer: Katy Brigden / Little Brown

WINNER: Immortal Consequences

Marketers: Sophie Porteous, Lorrie Rose / Farshore

DEBUT

HIGHLY COMMENDED: How I Cook

Marketer: Daniela Mestriner / Harper Non-Fiction

WINNER: Dire Bound

Marketers: Julia Gaynor, Sara Roberts & Lucy Upton/ Transworld

ADULT NON-FICTION: NARRATIVE

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Craftland

Marketer: Annie Rose / Vintage

WINNER: The Quiet Ear

Marketers: Lindsay Terrell & Ellie Nightingale / Orion

ADULT NON-FICTION: LIFESTYLE

HIGHLY COMMENDED: MENOlicious

Marketers: Vickie Boff & Ellie Hewlett / DK

WINNER: Good Things

Marketer: Margarida Mendes Ribeiro / Ebury

ADULT FICTION

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Don’t Let Him In

Marketers: Ania Gordon, Olivia Pither & Jess Millott / Cornerstone

WINNER: Alchemised

Marketers: Jessie Beswick & Yasmin Anshoor / Penguin Michael Joseph

 

Q3 2025 SPOTLIGHT AWARD WINNERS

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT: The Secret Painter

Marketer: Jamie Norman / Canongate

INNOVATION: Tart

Marketers: Mia Oakley & Shunayna Vaghela / Bloomsbury

CREATIVITY: All the Best for the Future

Marketer: Shelise Robertson / Ebury

GRAFT: The Secret of Secrets

Marketers: Lucy Upton & Sarah Ridley / Transworld

FORMAT: Hekate

Marketers: Sarah Jeffcoate & Kate Kaur / Simon & Schuster