Properbook: Creating Brilliant Books Together: The Past, Present and Future of Irish Children’s Books Melissa Campana, Sarah Webb, Ivan O’Brien, Matthew Parkinson-Bennett, Venetia Gosling and Caitríona Nic Sheáin

In Partnership with Children's Books Ireland

Chairs: Melissa Campana (Children’s Books Ireland) and Sarah Webb (Children’s Author).

Speakers:  Ivan O’Brien (MD, The O’Brien Press), Matthew Parkinson-Bennett (Publisher, Little Island Books), Venetia Gosling, (Children’s Publisher, Gill Books) and Caitríona Nic Sheáin (Publisher, An tSnáthaid Mhór).       

The world of Irish and international children’s books has seen a lot of changes over the last twenty years. What will it look like in another twenty years’ time? Join our experienced panel for a look at the past, present and future of children’s publishing in Ireland and further afield. 

From children’s changing reading habits, to what publishers are currently looking for and how best to submit a manuscript, and AI and its impact on creative industries, the panel will discuss a wide range of topics and take questions from the floor. 

Come with questions, leave with answers!

This is a professional development event for children’s writers and illustrators at all stages of their careers.  

Venetia Gosling has worked in children’s publishing for more than 25 years. She joined Gill Books in 2022, where she is Publisher of the Children’s list. She has edited and published many award-winning and bestselling titles for children and young adults, and commissions across all children’s categories.

Melissa Campana grew up in the U.S. and holds BA in Spanish and Portuguese from the University of Arizona. She has a background in journalism and communications, and is currently pursuing an MA in Creative Writing from Dublin City University. Melissa joined the team in January 2026.

Ivan O’Brien was five years old when The O’Brien Press founded in 1974. He joined the family company full-time in 1997, by which time it was already a leading force in Irish children’s books. Ivan has been President of Publishing Ireland and of the Dublin Book Festival. He has represented the country at Federation of European Publishers events and lobbied on behalf of books and their creators in Dublin and Brussels. As Managing Director of OBP since 2006, he is proud to lead a team of book lovers, dedicated to creating beautiful and important books for readers of all ages, in Ireland and abroad.

Is déantóir leabhar agus oideachasóir í Caitríona Nic Sheáin. Is comhstiúrthóir í fosta ar an teach foilistheoireachta neamhspleách, An tSnáthaid Mhór. Is iomaí ról a bhíonn aici mar stiúrthóir an chomhlachta – eagarthóireacht, scríbhneoireacht agus eagrú ócáidí ina measc. Creideann Caitríona i gcumhacht na scéalaíochta. Caitríona Nic Sheáin is a book maker and educator. She is a co-director of the publishing house An tSnáthaid Mhór – an independent Irish language publisher in Belfast. She has many roles as the director of the company, including editing, writing and organising events. Caitríona believes in the power of storytelling.

Matthew Parkinson-Bennett is Publisher with Little Island Books, a Dublin-based independent publisher of books for young readers. He has spent most of his career working in editorial roles, across trade, academic, educational and legal publishing. 

Sarah Webb is an award-winning Irish children’s author. She teaches creative writing and programmes children’s book events for various festivals and organisations, including the Properbook events for Children’s Books Ireland.  She is Events Manager at children’s bookshop Halfway up the Stairs in Greystones, Co. Wicklow. In 2023 she set up the Discover Irish Children’s Books campaign to help highlight and promote Irish children’s books. 

Children’s Books Ireland is the national charity and arts organisation that champions every child’s right to develop a love of reading. Our mission is to inspire a love of reading in children and young people in Ireland, to share our expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence them, to champion every child’s right to excellent books and live literature events and to support the artists who make that goal possible across the island of Ireland.