One of the real highlights of this year’s London Book Fair was the opportunity to take part in a lively and thought-provoking panel exploring the idea of people-powered publishing.

Exploring the opportunities for a genuinely democratic discovery process, Libraro brought together Ant Siminica, Digital Operations & AI Director at Hachette UK, author Dan Oakey and myself to discuss new pathways for literary voices and stories to be found, supported and shared.

Chaired by Libraro’s Head of Product & Marketing, Gila Moyal, the panel drew on perspectives from publishing, platforms and author experience, exploring how discovery is evolving and how authors, readers and publishers increasingly intersect. Together we shared insights into nurturing new voices, navigating today’s fragmented discovery landscape, and understanding the growing role readers play in championing books and influencing what gets published.

From the moment the session began, the energy in the room was unmistakable, the audience standing-room only. The atmosphere perfectly captured the buzz of the fair itself - Olympia was alive with conversation, ideas and the sense that the industry is in the middle of an important moment of change.

A Conversation About Discovery

At the heart of the panel was a simple but powerful question: who drives discovery in publishing today?

Historically, word of mouth has always been one of the most powerful forces in publishing - from librarians and booksellers to reading groups and passionate readers recommending a book to friends. What has changed is the scale and visibility of those reader signals.

Today, discovery is more fragmented than ever. Readers encounter books through social media, podcasts, newsletters, bookshops, libraries, recommendation platforms and online communities. But amid all that noise, one principle still holds true.

Trust matters.

As I said during the discussion:

“It’s not just about visibility, it’s about trust. It’s the editorial curation as well as the algorithm. And one of the most powerful things in publishing is still a reader saying: ‘you’ve got to read this book’ - pressing the book into someone’s hands. That people-powered publishing is what I’m so excited about with the Libraro platform.”

The Role of Readers

From the perspective of LoveReading, where thousands of readers discover books each month through curated recommendations and reviews, the role of readers has never been more important.

Readers today are not just consumers; they are advocates, champions and discoverers of new writing.

That is why initiatives like the Libraro Prize and the Reader Engagement Prize are so interesting. They recognise something the industry has always known but is now embracing more openly: readers themselves play a crucial role in surfacing new voices.

As I reflected during the panel:

“Libraro has created this bridge between creators and readers, giving authors a genuine route to discovery that perhaps didn’t exist before. It’s rooted in access and opportunity - and that’s exactly what the publishing ecosystem needs.”

Opening the Door to New Voices

Another important theme of the discussion was representation and the need to broaden the range of voices being discovered.

Publishing has always relied on discovery, but the challenge today is ensuring that fresh and diverse voices have a genuine route to visibility. Community-driven discovery models offer one way to open that door wider.

As the panel explored, reader insight - when combined with editorial expertise and publishing knowledge - can play a powerful role in helping new stories find their way into the world.

That sense of curiosity and collaboration was present across the entire London Book Fair. From packed panel sessions to impromptu conversations in the aisles, there was a real feeling that publishing is exploring new ways to connect writers and readers more directly.

Looking Ahead

If the discussion made one thing clear, it is that the future of publishing will not be reader-led or publisher-led alone.

It will be a partnership between the two.

When readers feel part of the conversation around books - not just the end point of it - discovery becomes richer, more inclusive and far more powerful.

For me, it was a genuine joy to be part of such a thoughtful and energetic discussion, and a reminder that at the heart of publishing, it has always been - and always will be - about people.