From Monday, 6th of March, we will, once again, be opening our virtual doors with a week dedicated to demystifying publishing and agenting, and supporting writers seeking representation. We will be running live #AskAgent sessions, sharing agent blogs on a variety of agenting and publishing topics, and running book giveaways across our social media accounts between the 6th and 10th of March.

Our aim is to offer helpful insights into what an agent does, how to navigate the submission process to find an agent, how an author and agent work together, understanding the publication process, earning income as an author through the sale of rights (translation, film & TV, audio and book), and how to get into the agenting or publishing industry. All of our book agents (Isobel Dixon, Juliet Pickering, Kate Burke and Sian Ellis-Martin) along with our Media and Translation Rights colleagues will be involved throughout the week, and the team hopes to answer as many questions as possible from writers (published or querying) or anyone wanting to get into the industry.

Alongside this, we will be offering three writers a 20-minute feedback meeting (online) on their submission packages in April. More information on how to submit for this opportunity will be revealed during the week on our social media accounts and on our website.

Kate Burke said: ‘Last year’s Open Week was fantastic in terms of hearing from writers, sharing information and chatting to people interested in getting into our industry. I hope we managed to help people on their publishing journey in some way and, as we mentioned last year, our plan is to run this Open Week annually as our industry is constantly changing and facing fresh challenges. At Blake Friedmann we are committed to supporting writers who feel that the publishing industry is inaccessible to them. It’s clear – from social media and what our agents hear when they give talks at schools, writers’ groups, conferences and festivals – that people have a lot of questions about what agents actually do and how it all works in terms of money, deals and rights, so, hopefully, this Open Week will help clarify much of that. Our goal is to be as transparent and accessible as possible, and we look forward to the first week of March!’

More details about the Open Week and new, daily content will be shared on our website and on our social media channels, using the hashtag #BFLAOpenWeek, throughout the week of 6th of March. This author-focused endeavour follows our ongoing Carole Blake Open Doors Project launched in 2017.

Laurence King will publish the first cookery book by Erin Bunting and Jo Facer, founders of Northern Ireland’s popular farm-to-fork supper club and organic small-holding, The Edible Flower. Laurence King acquired world rights from Juliet Pickering at Blake Friedmann. The title will publish in March 2023, and can be pre-ordered here.

In THE EDIBLE FLOWER, readers will learn how to grow, cook and eat edible flowers. From gardening tips to helpful how-to’s, THE EDIBLE FLOWER is all about making this largely untapped culinary delight more accessible. Illustrated with over 200 stunning photographs, it features more than 50 delicious recipes for small plates, mains, desserts, baking, snacks and drinks, proving that edible flowers are not only a garnish, but an incredibly versatile ingredient. THE EDIBLE FLOWER is not just a cookbook but a guide to connecting to the earth, the seasons, and to a more sustainable way of living.

Ballymaloe trained chef Erin Bunting and organic gardener Jo Facer founded The Edible Flower, a farm-to-fork supper club and organic small-holding based at their farm in Saintfield, County Down, in 2016. As well as supper clubs, they run a CSA (community supported agriculture) scheme, cooking, brewing and growing workshops, classes and demos. Their mission is to enrich their lives and the lives of their family and community through the joy of sharing delicious, inspiring, surprising and sustainable food.

Katherine Pitt, Senior Editor, Laurence King, says ‘Erin and Jo have been a joy to work with because they are both so passionate about edible flowers and care deeply about communicating their rich gardening and cooking knowledge to readers. THE EDIBLE FLOWER is more than a cookery book, it’s a snapshot of a way of life to which we’ll all aspire!’

Erin and Jo, say, 'For us, growing and cooking with edible flowers is about so much more than making beautiful food, though that is a delightful benefit. Edible flowers bring beauty and colour into your garden, provide habitat for pollinating insects, and add unique and surprising flavours to your plate. Through THE EDIBLE FLOWER you can join us on a journey to live within the rhythm of the seasons, to create a gorgeous, sustainable and edible garden, and to make floral dishes that are both delicious and beautiful.’

About Erin Bunting

Erin is a cook, teacher, recipe developer and edible flower enthusiast. She trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School and is now the head cook at The Edible Flower. Her food is fresh, unpretentious, beautiful, vegetable-focused and inspired by the seasonal produce that Jo grows in their kitchen garden.

About Jo Facer

Jo is an organic gardener and teacher who is passionate about encouraging others to grow their own food. She is a soil and compost fanatic and is interested in sustainable food production and regenerative agriculture. Alongside vegetable-growing and compost-making, she loves cooking with fire, brewing beer and spreadsheets.

Follow Erin on Instagram

Follow Jo on Instagram

Visit their website