Industry Talks: Small Press Publishing with Homeward Books
Join us at Hugo House’s Lapis Theater for Industry Talks: Careers in the Literary Arts, an engaging evening that explores the many professional paths within the world of writing, publishing, and literary production.
This event brings together authors, editors, publishers, literary agents, and other industry professionals for insightful conversations about their work and the evolving landscape of the literary arts. Attendees will gain exposure to the diverse opportunities available across the field—whether in creative writing, editing, marketing, or event programming and learn how different roles contribute to the broader literary ecosystem.
The evening will feature a moderated discussion, followed by an open Q&A session and networking opportunities, offering a welcoming space for writers, readers, and anyone passionate about storytelling to connect and exchange ideas.
Who Should Attend:
Members of the public interested in literature, writing, publishing, and creative careers.
Event Schedule:
·     6:30 PM: Hugo House Intro
·     6:35 PM: Industry Professional Intro
·     6:40-7:40 PM: Lecture
·     7:45 PM: Q&A from the audience
·     8:00 PM-8:30 PM: Signing/Merch booth/Meet and Greet/Networking
Author J.M. Sidorova and founding editor Rachel Sobel discuss the logistics, challenges, and delights of running a small press, publishing your work with big and small publishers, and connecting with the greater books world. We’ll have a special sneak preview of the first Homeward Books title, The Witch of Prague, with copies available for purchase in an exclusive pre-release opportunity!
Click here to preorder The Witch of Prague!
J.M. Sidorova
J.M. Sidorova was raised in the USSR, Singapore, and Germany, and spent most of her adult life in the United States, where she has been working as a biomedical research scientist and writing speculative fiction. Her novel The Age of Ice, two parts history, one part magic realism, received an honorable mention in Tor.com’s best fiction of 2013 list. She lives in Seattle, Washington.
Rachel Sobel
Rachel Sobel is a writer of speculative and literary fiction about dykes and other queer people. She is the founding editor of boutique small press Homeward Books, and has an MFA in Fiction from Hunter College.
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Describe your teaching style.
My classes are expansive and specific, aimed at giving concrete tools to address the writing pitfalls students face. I'm big on asking questions, interrogating your own process, and recognizing that what works for someone else might not work for you. I endorse reading absolutely everything, from silly fluff to pretentious works of enormous philosophical seriousness, and from poetry to nonfiction.
