The AALA People of Publishing Conference - A Hit - Co-produced by President Regina Brooks and Lynn Johnston

Franklin Leonard (The Black List) moderated the Book-to-Screen Adaptations
 panel. (Photo LMS)

At the Forefront: The AALA People of Publishing Conference Sets a New Agenda for the Industry

Yesterday, in New York, the inaugural People of Publishing Conference, organized by the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA) and co-produced by President Regina Brooks and Lynn Johnston, brought together hundreds of agents, editors, and publishing professionals at the New York Academy of Medicine.

The one-day event captured the industry’s urgency and creativity, showcasing how publishing is balancing disruption with resilience.

Opening Plenary: CEOs on an Industry Writing Its Future

The day started with a powerhouse panel of CEOs from Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette Book Group, who addressed how rapid shifts in consumer behavior and technology demand agility and vision from today’s leaders. The discussion—moderated by Brunswick Group’s CEO of the Americas—dug into how leaders are balancing innovation and tradition, disruption and resilience.

The Creator Economy

This panel dissected the blur between platforms and publishing as creators with massive digital followings transform into author-entrepreneurs. Scott Dickey (Podium Entertainment), Oriana Leckert (Kickstarter), Christina Loff (Substack), and Colleen Prendergast (Spotify) examined the rise of creator-authors and debated how TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack audiences map to actual book sales. Jacob Bronstein of Qcode Media moderated the talk, challenging agents and editors to rethink acquisition strategies for a platform-powered market.

The Global Marketplace

Catherine Clarke (Felicity Bryan Associates, UK), Michelle Herrera Mulligan (Primero Sueño Press), Jean McGinley (HarperCollins), and Doug Wallace (Andrew Nurnberg Associates) discussed genre demand in various territories and Spanish-language publishing in the U.S. Moderator Kelly Farber pressed panelists on how international publishers are adapting amid geopolitical shifts and social trends.

Building Your List: Strategy, Taste, and Marketability

Cara Bedick (Little, Brown Spark), Sarah Fisk (Tobias Literary Agency), Rakesh Satyal (HarperOne), and Marietta B. Zacker (Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency) explored how agents and editors build lists that drive careers and revenue—balancing personal conviction, market forces, and mentorship. Mary Ann Naples (Publishers Marketplace) steered a frank discussion on decision-making and advocacy.

The Year in Publishing

Jane Friedman, Mary Rasenberger (Author’s Guild), David Walter (Circana Books), and Jaime Wolf (AALA) tackled the biggest headlines in book publishing: AI’s legal impact, evolving copyright protections, censorship, and the rise of book bans. Hachette's Gabrielle Gambrell moderated with incisive analysis and industry context.

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

Georgia Bodnar (Noyan Literary), Michelle Brower (Trellis Literary), Chris Jackson (One World, PRH), and Christy Ottaviano (Little, Brown Books) discussed the emotional, strategic, and advisory roles agents and editors now play—often stretching beyond publishing into platform-building and crisis management. Sean deLone (Atria Books) moderated a conversation about sustainability and support.

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

Brian Carlesimo (Dow Jones), Katie Ziga (Penguin Publishing Group), and Christina Sullivan (Pushkin Industries), moderated by Tara Parker-Pope (Thrive Global), explored how editorial vision intersects with financial leadership. The panel gave a candid assessment of inflation, supply chains, consumer behavior, and data-driven strategy.

Auction Confidential: The Battle for the Book

Helen Atsma (Ecco), Brandi Bowles (UTA), Amar Deol (Grand Central), Marc Gerald (Europa Content), Dan Mandel (Sanford J. Greenburger Associates), and Jamia Wilson (Random House) revealed the choreography and human drama behind splashy deals. Andrew Miller (Henry Holt & Co.) moderated as agents and editors examined how manuscripts are positioned for auction and how internal advocacy shapes success.

Book-to-Screen Adaptations

 Alana Mayo, President of Orion Pictures (Photo LMS)

The afternoon’s highly anticipated panel brought together a powerhouse of Hollywood talent and dealmakers. Simon Kinberg, acclaimed as the writer and producer of "The Martian," "X-Men," "Logan," and founder of Genre Films, has shaped some of the most successful book adaptations and franchise films of the last two decades. Joining him was Sofia Alvarez, the celebrated screenwriter behind the beloved adaptation "To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before." 

The panel also featured Alana Mayo, President of Orion Pictures, widely respected for her career-long advocacy for radical inclusion—her impact spans production roles on "Selma," "A Quiet Place," and leadership at Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society. Their conversation was expertly moderated by Franklin Leonard, founder of The Black List, whose annual list of best unproduced scripts has helped launch over 300 feature films and garnered hundreds of Oscar nominations.

Each panelist drew from deep industry experience shepherding complex book material to the screen. Kinberg referenced his work adapting literary blockbusters and building global franchises, Alvarez spoke to the nuances of turning young adult novels into streaming successes, and Mayo shared practical guidance for rights agents seeking to leverage Hollywood’s appetite for new and diverse voices. Leonard challenged the group—and the audience—to consider how the publishing world can better advocate for truly bold, boundary-pushing storytelling and ensure books with genuine cultural power make it to the screen.

Throughout the session, Mayo, Kinberg, Alvarez, and Leonard offered candid insights into Hollywood’s ongoing thirst for original stories, breaking down what makes a literary property "adaptation-ready," how to attract studio attention, and the collaborative process that moves projects from submission to greenlight. 

The panel’s expertise electrified the room, cementing their shared commitment to lifting up fresh voices and narratives that redefine the limits of film and publishing.

Closing Plenary: The Freedom to Read

The closing session screened the documentary "The Librarians," spotlighting the front lines of the fight against book banning, followed by a Q&A with director Kim Snyder, producer Janique Robillard, and Martha Hickson, a celebrated New Jersey school librarian and film participant. Skip Dye (PRH) added perspective on intellectual freedom, with Macmillan’s Mary Van Akin moderating.

To learn more - https://peopleofpublishing.org/sessions/ -