BookMachine Oxford – a word from this week’s sponsors [REVIEW]

BookMachine Oxford on Wednesday night was hosted by Sophie Goldsworthy of Oxford University Press and sponsored by HL Studios.

A group of brave and hardy publishing souls battled the elements last Wednesday, to get to the final Oxford BookMachine social event of the year at Frevd’s Cafe Bar. The temperature outside was -2°C (it wasn’t a whole lot warmer inside) but that didn’t put diehard BookMachine supporters off.

The event was hosted by Sophie Goldsworthy (click here to see her latest project for OUP) and Oxford University Press (who by coincidence receive a discount on all cocktails at Frevd’s). Sophie has 20 years experience in the publishing industry and is also an established writer and photographer and author of The Rough Guide to Digital Photography.

HLStudios, represented by Emily Hopper and Nicola Esson (my good self), handed out gifts on arrival. A small Christmas pressie and a beautiful HL santa hat. The surprise success of the night though, was the area set up behind us, known jointly as the ‘personalisation station’ or the ‘creation station’ (depending on which of us you spoke to); a pile of left over glitter glue pens to decorate said santa hat, and a big radiator to dry them on. We would like to apologise to anyone who finds themselves with a strange glittery aura over the next few days and would just like to say that HL Studios is in no way responsible or accountable for any misuse of the glitter pens!

We also set up a business card drop box, which was (a thinly disguised ruse to get your contact details but also) a bone fide competition and the draw to win ‘something’ will take place asap, with the winner being notified via email.

Some exciting ideas for next year’s BookMachine events were bandied around – the BookMachine Unplugged speaker-led event in London was a great success, and anyone Oxford based who thinks they have something to say that is worth listening to, should contact either Laura or Gavin or indeed send a message via the Bookmachine website. My personal request that a buffet meal should be provided seems to have been sadly overlooked…

It was great to see some new faces from outside the publishing industry and good to know that the BookMachine ‘word’ is spreading.

All in all, another successful BookMachine evening and we look forward to the next one!