Inspiring encounters at LittWorld 2012

Author and blogger Joan Campbell of South Africa shares her reflections on LittWorld:

Last week I had a little taste of what a UN meeting must feel like. I was attending the LittWorld 2012 Conference in Kenya, with the theme “Publishing for Global Impact.” There were 194 delegates from 50 countries, and today I would like to introduce you to a few of them.

But first, let me set the scene. The Brackenhurst conference facility is set in lovely garden-like grounds, surrounded by lush green coffee and tea plantations, and small tracts of indigenous forest. The conference organisers, MAI, had put together a fascinating and varied programme of talks and panel discussions: – a publisher from the Philippines, urging the development of local writers; an Egyptian author speaking about his use of social media in addressing some of the pressing needs in his country; and an African publisher from the Ivory Coast, succeeding at building his publishing business despite the unrest and political turmoil in his country.

In addition, there were elective sessions by well-known authors such as Robin Jones Gunn, Harry Kraus, and publishing gurus from around the globe. However, some of the most valuable lessons I learnt came from the—often brief—encounters I had with people over meals, on walks or on the bus. Time, space (and my reader’s short attention span) doesn’t allow me to introduce each one, but here are just a few of the people who had an impact on me…

>>Read more on Joan Campbell’s blog

Photo above courtesy of Joan Campbell