Daily Schedule
Note: All times are ET/NY (East Coast)
Download a printable PDF here.
In addition to our four daily workshop blocks, we’ll also have special events, lots of networking and coffee chat sessions (an attendee favorite), and the opportunity to hear from our sponsors and learn about the greatest tools and services on the marketplace to help authors.
Day 0 (March 4th) Special Event
1:00 pm ET/NY Time
Virtual Sponsor Booths
An opportunity for attendees to learn more about the companies supporting the conference and the deals they have for our attendees.
3:00 pm ET/NY Time
Keynote Speaker – Deraeé Henderson
Your Words Matter: Inspiring Hope, Igniting Purpose and Building Your Legacy
Five Strategies to achieve P.O.W.E.R. with your Words
The POWER framework is a dynamic and transformative approach designed to help publishers, authors, writers, and business owners harness the impact of their words to inspire, empower, and create lasting change. Through five key principles—Purposefully Craft Your Message, Own Your Unique Voice, Work Toward Impact, Empower Others Through Connection, and Reflect and Refine for Growth—this framework encourages individuals to write with clarity, embrace authenticity, and use their platforms to uplift and influence others. Your words are not just words, they are seeds of hope, sparks of change, and the foundation of your legacy! When you step into your POWER, you not only ignite purpose and hope but also build a meaningful legacy that reaches beyond the page and into the hearts of those who need your message the most. Today, we invite you to lean into this journey, rise up, embrace your words, and take action to make an impact that lasts—because the world is waiting for your POWER.
Day 1 Workshops (in ET/NY Time zone)
11:30 am
Welcome and Intro with Alexa Bigwarfe
12:00 pm
Kathy Meis – Writing and Editing with Your Audience in Mind
New writers often struggle with moving beyond writing the story THEY want to tell versus one readers will want to buy. In writing and editing mode, the end-goal of publishing a successful book can sometimes get lost. To publish a successful book, it’s important to consider how your book will be positioned and marketed WHILE you’re still writing and editing. Kathy Meis, a veteran ghostwriter and editor with more than 30 years of experience, is expert at helping authors align their creative and commercial dreams so that they write unique stories that sell. She’s ghostwritten or been the lead editor on a long list of books that have won awards, been optioned for tv and film, and hit The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon bestseller lists.
In this session for beginner writers, Kathy will touch on positioning with a heavy focus on writing and editing your manuscript. You’ll leave the workshop understanding:
1 – What it means to write and edit with an audience in mind—no book is “for everyone”
2 – How the seeds of a powerful author brand can be baked into a manuscript
3 – How to use this knowledge to prepare how to write, what to write, and what type of editor to hire
4 – How writing with an audience in mind can positively impact outcomes for your book
5 – How to avoid poor positioning and other missteps during the writing and editing process
Audience: General
Stacy Ennis – How to Quadruple Your Writing Productivity and Get Into Flow Faster
During this session, you’ll learn the neuroscience behind flow, and the habits that allow you to consistently access creative genius and deep strategic thinking. Part-scientific, part-practical, this is an audience favorite because of its transformational impact. After attending this session, attendees will be able to implement practical elements like discretionary time and time blocking to increase their productivity while maintaining a balanced life.
Audience:General
Maile Starr – The Pantser’s Guide to Outlining
In this session, beginner level authors will learn how to outline after the story is written. Maile Starr will discuss tracking story elements, making believable character arcs, and forming one’s own unique writing process. She will provide varied options for outlining from least detailed to most detailed. Most importantly, she will emphasize the importance of loving and having fun with the writing process.
At the end of this presentation, you will know:
1 – Tools to use to build your own unique writing process
2 – How to outline, including Recording, Reusing, and Rearranging what you already have
3 – How to focus on what you need to get the project done rather than what you should be doing
Maile Starr will provide a guide for pantsers to outline their story after it is written, focusing on intuitive storytelling, writing with joy, and forming your own process.
Audience: Beginner Authors
Alida Winternheimer – Writing to Your Throughline: Crafting plot in the character- and theme-driven novel
In ‘Writing to Your Throughline,’ Alida Winternheimer will teach the third driver of story arcs, theme, and the critical skill of aligning your story’s elements with its core from page one to the end.
Writers will learn:
1 – How the three drivers (plot, character, and theme) make for different story outcomes
2 – How to stay the course while plotting (and avoid dead-ends, goose-chases, and rabbit holes)
3 – How to craft tighter immersive stories as a result of focusing on their throughline and the right arc
Alida Winternheimer will teach you how to identify your throughline and why it matters to not only your drafting process, but your readers.
Audience: Intermediate/Advanced
1:00 pm
Ania Ray – How to Get Over Self-Sabotage and Back to Writing
Is it “writer’s block” or self-sabotage? Writers think about their stories all the time, yet they fail to make progress for some reason, over and over again. In ‘How to Get Over Self-Sabotage and Back to Writing,’ Ania Ray will lead writers of every level in a workshop-style class where they will identify self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviors as they manifest in their writing lives. She will teach the psychology behind why writers get stuck and how writers can get back into flow, making sustainable and consistent progress that creates momentum. It’s time for writers to stop feeling disappointed in their lack of action and proud of their productivity instead.
At the end of this presentation, you will know:
1 – How to identify whether a thought or behavior is self-sabotaging
2 – How to break your self-sabotage cycle
3 – How to create momentum for your writing
Audience: General
Sally Ekus – Where to Begin: How To Start a Nonfiction Book Proposal
At the end of the presentation you will know:
1 – What goes into a comprehensive non-fiction book proposal that can be used to pitch agents
2 – Which section to start with and why
3 – What to do with your proposal when it is done
Senior Literary Agent Sally Ekus will walk first time authors through what section of a non-fiction book proposal to begin with and why.
Audience: Beginner
Brooke Black- Write it Ugly: Dismantling Perfectionism to Finish the Darn Book
Brooke Black will guide writers to shift their focus from perfection to progress by dismantling notions of perfectionism and imposter syndrome, embracing their craft, and thriving in their editor-author partnership to finish their manuscripts—with confidence.
Audience: Intermediate/Advanced
Jennifer Hilt – Tropes: Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Jennifer Hilt will discuss the 3 tropes that are key to hooking your reader, how to use them and most importantly, why they are crucial.
Audience: Intermediate/Advanced
2:00 pm
Lunch and Networking
3:00 pm
Platinum Sponsor – Hybrid Global Publishing
Karen Strauss – The (Hidden) Costs & Challenges of Publishing
Publishing a book is an exciting endeavor, but it often comes with unexpected challenges and hidden costs. This workshop dives into the realities of publishing, whether you’re self-publishing or pursuing traditional routes. From understanding financial investments to navigating industry-specific obstacles, attendees will leave with a clearer picture of what it takes to bring their book to life successfully.
Key takeaways:
1 – A comprehensive checklist of real costs in publishing and how to prepare for them
2 – Practical tips for budgeting time and money effectively
3 – Insights into overcoming the emotional and logistical challenges of publishing
4 – Actionable strategies for marketing and promotion without overspending
Audience: General
4:00 pm
Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane – Hiding Real People in Real Stories (Nonfiction)
With professional guidance from award-winning ghostwriter Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane, find out what steps you can take to avoid identifying real people in your nonfiction book. Discover how to create pseudonyms, avoid compromising safety, and write about people who would rather fade into the background of your story.
Audience: General
Savannah Gilbo – Genre: The Key to Writing A Story that Works
By the end this presentation, you will know:
1 – The difference between commercial and content genres
2 – How your content genre can provide a framework for your book (and help you meet readers’ expectations)
3 – Examples of popular books and their genres AND examples of genre frameworks
Savannah will teach the importance of determine your story’s genre for both the sales/marketing category AND the content genre (aka what KIND of story you’re actually writing). She’ll also share how identifying your genre can help you write better books.
Audience: Beginner Author
Gabriela Pereira – Fail Smarter: The Secret to Creative Resilience
In our perfectionist culture, we’re often taught to avoid errors at all costs. The problem with this attitude is that criticism and failure are inevitable, especially in creative fields. The secret to bouncing back from harsh feedback is learning how to transform incremental “failures” into stepping stones toward a larger goal. Experts say the secret to creative success is to fail better or fail faster, but after this session you will know how to “fail smarter.”
In this fast-paced session, Gabriela:
1- Combines a systematic iterative process with mindfulness techniques
2- Explains why iteration is VITAL for creativity so you can optimize your creative process
3- Shares the five pillars of her Mindfulness Manifesto so you can build your resilience
Audience: General
Antoinette Truglio Martin – KidLit 101: How to Write Readable and Appealing Stories for Children to Read and Love and Adults to Buy.
Children’s literature encompasses a wide age range that follows a developmental path for language development and emergent and sustained independent reading skills into a lifetime of reading joy. Understanding how children process readable language in the different stages of development is key to a successful children’s book. Children’s book writers juggle their wordsmithing to meet the developmental levels of their target audiences. They must also mind the readability levels for publishers and marketers purposes and the entertainment value for adults (teachers and parents, grandparents) while appealing to children’s imagination and maintaining creative integrity. It’s a lot.
At the end of the session, participants will:
1- Understand the types children’s books and how they are defined beyond page number and word count
2- Unearth the mysteries of readability and leveling
3- Come away with idea and tips in developing parent/teacher guides and extras that supplement children’s books
Learn the mysteries of children’s lit readability connections to language development and how grown ups (publishers, marketers, teachers, parents) are influenced by these connections when purchasing books.
Audience: Beginner Author
5:00 pm
Pam Sheppard & Teri Rider – Panel: What Matters Most: 3 Essentials for Navigating the Vast and Confusing Publishing Landscape
How can you sort through all the choices and decisions you have to make to publish and be assured you’re doing what’s best for your unique project? In the presentation, Teri and Pam will lead you to the 3 components that matter most, the components worth your effort and focus. Setting realistic goals is key for each component to intersect with the others, and contributes to your overall success.
The 3 Essentials we will be discussing today are Craft, Production, and Data:
1 – Craft: The writing, the editing, and fine-tuning that are the building blocks that energize the message in your book.
2- Production : The cover, layout, formatting, and physical elements of a tangible book, which create the presentation that readers expect in a professionally designed book.
3 – Data: Data is the muscle behind all marketing and often a mystery. Positioning your data includes your bio, categories, descriptions, keywords, BISACs…and how it all fits together. Without it, you can end up in a black hole never to be found.
Once you know these essentials you will be empowered to move into the marketplace with confidence.
4 – BONUS!: Knowing your Strengths: What skills do you bring to the process of publishing your book successfully? Of the THREE ESSENTIALS, which do you feel you know best? Where do you think you need expert help?
Audience: General
Rhonda Douglas – How to Create a Compelling Protagonist
Rhonda will provide a new framework to create a compelling Protagonist for your novel or short story. This framework is ideal for writers just starting a new project.
Audience: Beginner Author
Peggy Joque Williams & Christine DeSmet – Panel: Strategies For Writing Dialogue that Drives Plot and Deepens Character
The team of Peggy Joque Williams and Christine DeSmet will provide actionable strategies for writing dialogue that drives plot, deepens character, and delights the reader, while also avoiding common mistakes and clichés. In “Strategies For Writing Dialogue that Drives Plot and Deepens Character,” beginner and intermediate level authors will learn actionable strategies for writing and revising dynamic dialogue with examples illustrating the recommended strategies.
At the end of this presentation you will know:
1- How to differentiate between dialogue that sounds real and dialogue that is pedantic or overly wrought.
2- How to write dialogue that pushes plot forward effectively, provides information without “telling,” delineates characters, and deepens character arcs.
3- How to revise dialogue to increases tension and drama, eliminate unnecessary verbiage, create subtext, and enhance the reader’s enjoyment.
Audience: Beginner Author
Victoria Hetherington & Patricia Westerhof – Panel: The Art of the Literary Sex Scene (Fiction and Memoir)
Victoria Hetherington and Patricia Westerhof will provide writers of fiction and memoir techniques for writing character-driven, tasteful, and powerful sex scenes that work in today’s marketplace.
Some say CanLit’s a snooze, and erotic writing can’t be literary — and we say, time to wake up and get steamy! What better time to explore the art of the literary sex scene than a workshop designed by women for women writers in a women-identified space? Join Canadian authors Patricia Westerhof and Victoria Hetherington for this seminar exploring this crucial yet under-taught component of literary fiction.
Examining published literary sex scenes both wonderful and terrible, participants will:
1 – Learn how to write character-driven sex scenes and how to manipulate the language of body parts and sexual acts to create the desired reaction in their readers, whether that’s satisfaction, worry, arousal, revulsion, or something else.
2 – Explore how to write scenes that include sensitive or disturbing content such as power imbalances or non-consensual sex
3 – Examine do’s and don’ts for erotic or risqué scenes for authors seeking traditional publication
Audience: Intermediate/Advanced
6:00 pm
No Happy Hour – Get Your Rest!
Day 2 Workshops
9:00 am
Coffee Chat/Networking
10:00 am
Sara LeTourneau – Choosing the Right Fit: How to Research, Communicate with, and Hire the Right Editor for Your Work
During this session, you’ll learn strategic, value-centered tips that will help you find not just any editor, but the right editor for you and your project.
You’ll walk away with these and other takeaways:
1 – Which steps to take before contacting prospective editors about your project
2 – Important questions to ask as you send out inquiries and talk to editors
3 – Red flags to watch out for when interacting with editors
Audience: General
Tara R. Alemany – From First Contact to Contract: Essential Steps in Submitting Your Manuscript
In From First Contact to Contract: Essential Steps in Submitting Your Manuscript, authors will learn how to navigate the process of submitting their manuscript to publishers, whether traditional or hybrid. Tara R. Alemany will guide attendees through researching the right publishers, preparing a professional query, and submitting their manuscript effectively. She will also cover how to understand and negotiate publishing contracts, ensuring authors protect their rights and get a fair deal. By the end of this session, attendees will have the knowledge and tools to confidently move their manuscript from submission to contract.
At the end of this presentation, you will know:
1 – How to create a professional and compelling submission that aligns with publisher expectations
2 – The key elements to look for in a publishing contract and how to negotiate favorable terms
3 – How to research and identify the right publisher for your manuscript to increase your chances of success
Audience: Beginner Author
Tamara Dever – The Selling Power of Book Design
Design goes well beyond aesthetics, having a different function for each part of your book: the front cover, back cover, and interior. Learn how those parts of a book are akin to the process of you landing a new job.
Whether DIY designing or hiring a professional, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of:
1 – The five ways to get attention with design
2 – Why good cover AND interior design matters and how to use it to maximize your book’s attention-getting potential
3 – How to find a quality designer and why you need one
Includes tips and techniques, dramatic before-and-after samples, and a Q&A.
Audience: Intermediate/Advanced
Zoe Norvell – Cover Designers: Where to Look, How to Choose, and How to Communicate with a Pro
In this course, beginner level authors will understand the importance of disregarding pre-made book covers and will instead feel empowered to reach out to the talented book cover designers behind their favorite bestsellers. Zoe will educate authors how the freelance cover design world works, how to tap into that pool of freelancers, how to accurately budget for this level of quality, how to speak their language when you approach them, and how to write a creative brief.
Top 3 takeaways include:
1 – Where to look for top-tier talent
2 – How to solidify your vision for your front cover design
3 – How to prepare a creative brief to help you secure the designer of your choice
Zoe Norvell will show you how to find a professional cover designer, what to look for in their portfolios, how to communicate with them, and how to arrive at an accurate budget.
Audience: Beginner Author
11:00 am
Mary Catherine Jones – Audiobooks: From Microphone to Marketplace
Mary Catherine will give an insider’s perspective on the burgeoning audiobook industry and discuss multiple ways to create an audiobook—from bootstrapping to pro-production and everything in-between!
Audience: Intermediate/Advanced
Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins – Do It By the Book: How to Avoid Some of the Biggest Publishing Mistakes
Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins will provide some of the biggest publishing mistakes new authors make with their books’ metadata, editing their manuscripts, and fully leveraging their title of “published author.” By the end of this session, you’ll know how to avoid some of the biggest publishing mistakes and how to do it “by the book.”
Audience: General
Alexa Nazzaro – Beta Readers for Better Books: Your Guide to Leveraging These Essential Author Allies
Unlock the full potential of your manuscript with beta readers! Sure, you might have your editor, but it is always valuable to get feedback from readers. This session will feature expert insights from Alexa Nazzaro, founder of the Aaxel Author Group, on how to optimize the value of beta readers. Authors will learn how to craft their beta reader avatar, select beta readers, create feedback questionnaires, and interpret critiques to refine their manuscripts! Join Alexa and discover the best practices for leveraging this invaluable tool.
At the end of this presentation, you will know:
1 – How to create a detailed beta reader avatar to target the right readers
2 – Effective strategies for selecting and managing beta readers
3 – How to design and leverage feedback questionnaires to get actionable critiques and improve your manuscript
Alexa Nazzaro offers expert insights on how to optimize the value of beta readers, including crafting a beta reader avatar, selecting the right readers, creating effective feedback questionnaires, and interpreting critiques to refine your manuscript.
Audience: Beginner
Fern Brady – Tips for Setting Up Your Publishing House
In this session, participants will learn the steps to setting up a publishing house. Common mistakes that end up being critical will be discussed and how to avoid these. We will also discuss the pros and cons of seeking a nonprofit designation as a teaching press. In this session, participants will learn the steps to setting up as a publisher and critical mistakes to avoid.
Audience: Professional
12:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm
Hannah Jacobson, Book Award Pro – Put the Spotlight on Your Book with Reviews and Awards
Awards and reviews are powerful tools for authors. Readers around the world intuitively recognize the importance of these accolades.
But how do these accolades put the spotlight on your book? How can you craft a winning strategy to stand out?
Learn the secrets to garnering the best accolades for your book with the founder of Book Award Pro, the world’s largest source of legitimate reviews and awards.
You’ll learn how to:
1 – Use awards, Amazon reviews, and editorial reviews in your marketing
2 – Capture the benefits of high-value opportunities
3 – Leverage Book Award Pro to get awards and reviews
Gold Sponsor
2:00 pm
Hayley Milliman, ProWritingAid – The Creative Writer’s Tech Toolkit: Editing, Brainstorming, and Beyond
Are you ready to take your fiction writing to the next level? In this webinar, we’ll explore the essential tools every creative writer needs to edit smarter, brainstorm better, and bring their stories to life. From breaking through writer’s block to polishing your final draft, you’ll learn how to use technology to streamline your writing process and elevate your craft. Whether you’re drafting your first novel or fine-tuning a polished manuscript, this session will guide you forward.
Audience: General
Leanne Janzen – Working with a Service Provider to Self-Publish Your Book
Join Leanne of FriesenPress as she delves into the world of self-publishing. She’ll discuss exactly what self-publishing is, the differences between ‘do it yourself’ and using a service provider, and go into a detailed look at the stages of a book’s typical production life cycle. You can expect to leave this presentation with a clear understanding of the self publishing process, tips for preparing for publication and what options are available to you.
Audience: Beginner Author
Karen Ferreira – Picture Perfect: From Words to Illustrations for Your Picture Book
A picture book should be the perfect harmony of words and illustrations. In this session, you’ll discover how to write a captivating story that inspires enchanting illustrations and how to find and collaborate with the ideal illustrator to bring it to life. Learn how to create a picture-perfect book! Join Karen Ferreira of Children’s Book Mastery for this excellent session.
Audience: General/Children’s Book Authors
Elizabeth Ducie & Judy Mohr – Panel: Understanding ISBNs: Dispelling the Myths and Avoiding the Mistakes for US, UK, AUS, and other major global markets (for publishing professionals)
Judy L Mohr and Elizabeth Ducie will present an overview of the rules and regulations for sourcing and use of ISBNs and bar codes in the US, UK, Australasia, and other major markets across the world. They will address issues such as costs; formal versus informal sources; and when changes to a book require a new ISBN. And for those who are seeking to get their books in libraries, they will also discuss CIPs (cataloguing-in-publication records) and how you might obtain such a record and what you might do with one.
Audience: Professional
3:00 pm
Danica Favorite, PublishDrive – Beyond Distribution: Maximizing Book Sales
Details coming soon!
Audience: General
Chelsea Bennett, Lulu – Why People Buy: Using Psychology to Sell More Books
Why do people buy things? And, more importantly, how can you use that knowledge to sell more books? This session looks at the psychology of selling and actionable ways to use buyer behavior to drive book sales. No matter what kinds of books you sell, this is your go-to guide for understanding the “why” behind every purchase decision.
Audience: General
Monique Danielle – Atticus
Audience: General
4:00 pm
Coffee Chat Room: Inkworthy Books, Danielle Anderson
5:00 pm
Cristy Robinson & Kayleigh Merritt – Panel: Finding And Collaborating With Your Perfect Editor (A discussion with an author and her editor)
Finding and working with a freelance editor can be like walking through a minefield for many new authors. Learn the do’s and don’ts of finding your editor and ensuring a healthy editorial collaboration in this presentation from indie author CC Robinson and developmental editor Kayleigh Merritt.
Audience: General
Kelley Way – Copyright and Fair Use
Kelley Way will explain what rights authors have under copyright law, and when they can safely use third party content.
Audience: General
Tisha Morris – Catching Legal Red Flags in Memoir Before They Catch You
Publishing Attorney Tisha Morris walks you through a legal checklist of defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright, and other legal red flags to help you minimize the risk of legal exposure, not to mention unnecessary legal fees.
At the end of this presentation, you will know:
1 – When you need an attorney and when you don’t
2 – How to edit your manuscript for good legal writing and craft
3 – How to avoid defamation and privacy concerns when writing about others
4 – Easy ways to avoid conflict when writing about others
Learn to spot potential legal risks and what to do about them in order to minimize risks, while maintaining the literary quality of your memoir.
Audience: Intermediate/Advanced
JuLee Brand – For Publishers: The Business of Book Cover Design
Design a book cover that catches the eye of your reader. Whether you’re an author or publisher, you need a book cover that has the potential to go viral. This aspiration proves that you have a business mind … one that understands the passion, time, and commitment that goes not only into writing a best-selling book but also marketing it.
Research shows that a well-designed book cover generates 51% more clicks and picks. Well-designed covers capture not only the story within but also the depths of the author’s heart and soul. They display a profound understanding of layout, color, type, and imagery and actively engage the consumer.
At the end of the session you will learn:
1 – A Cliff’s Notes history of book cover design
2 – Ethical and legal considerations to keep in mind when designing a book cover—from AI and copyright issues to mitigating biases in the design process
3 – The entire book cover design process—all the steps you need to complete, from formatting to comp title research to typography, color, and imagery—for front and back covers and book spines and all formats (audiobook, eBook, paperback and hardcover: jackets and print over board)
4 – Designing a viral cover—what #Bookstagrammers and #BookTokkers LOVE and share
5 – How to talk to creatives—including an actual Creative Brief that will be the starting point for all your covers
Audience: General
6:00 pm
Coffee Chat/Networking Sponsored by Resilient Writers
Day 3 Workshops
9:00 am
Special Session
10:00 am
Shelby Leigh – Social Media Branding for Book Sales
Shelby Leigh will share the steps to creating a strong author brand on social media that lasts long-term and attracts new readers.
By the end of this session, beginner level authors will have learned:
1 – The elements of a strong author brand
2 – Written their mission statement and applied it to their social media bio (so many get this wrong!)
3 – Learned how to develop strong hooks for their book
Attendees will walk away feeling more confident in their marketing presence as an author.
Audience: General
Jennifer Navarre- Marketing Your Children’s Book to Teachers and Librarians
In this presentation, kidlit authors will learn about ways to extend their books into the classroom beyond read-alouds. Jennifer Navarre will introduce three resources kidlit authors can create for teachers and librarians to build awareness of their books and their brand, leading to more book sales and superfans. She will walk participants through how to create these resources and how to distribute them to teachers and librarians.
At the end of this presentation, participants will know:
1- What is reader’s theatre and how to adapt your book
2- How to create a curriculum guide
3- How to expand on your book with school presentations
Jennifer Navarre will provide information on three resources kidlit authors can create that will appeal to teachers and librarians and show how these resources can be used to market their books and make more sales.
Audience: Beginner
Melissa Bourbon – Pinterest for Authors
Pinterest may be one of an author’s greatest—and most underutilized—tools. As a search engine (not a social media platform!) with more than 465 million monthly active users worldwide, 98 million of whom are in the US, it is a prime place to build a presence. Wouldn’t you love to be seen by even a tiny fraction of those users? In this workshop, Melissa Bourbon will show authors ways to reach potential readers using Pinterest. She will share tips for creating pins, and show how to use SEO in pins, titles, and descriptions.
Participants will come away excited and ready to dive into the Pinterest world! They will learn:
1- How to utilize Pinterest for their marketing
2- How to batch create Pins to save time
3- How to implement SEO tactics to make their Pins discoverable
Audience: General
Brooke Adams Law – Using Profit First to Keep More Money in Your Business
Attendees will learn:
1 – What Profit First is
2 – What it can help you do and how to use it as a tool for growth
3 – How to implement Profit First in their business
This session will cover how to implement the Profit First method in your publishing or coaching business with the aim of keeping more money in your business.
Audience: Professional
11:00 am
Markeyla Henton – Be Contagious Instead of Going Viral: The Power of Conversation In Book Marketing
This training will teach you how to leverage automation, messaging and tagging to make your content grow legs regardless of whether the algorithm picks it up. If you knew you had a magic touch that would make the world better, you would touch everything. Your book is your magic touch!
Audience: Intermediate/Advanced
Sayde Walker – Book Launch Budgeting
In this presentation, Sayde Walker of Launch My Book will provide a book launch budgeting primer: how much to budget for each stage of the campaign, where to cut corners (or not), and what kind of profits to expect. Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to book budgeting, so we’ll review “options” so each author can create their own plan.
We will cover the following:
1 – Framing principles to keep in mind while developing a budget
2 – The most common elements of a book launch campaign, how much authors should expect to pay, and ways to save
3 – Four sample book launch campaign budgets
4 – The math—I will break down the potential profitability of a book campaign
Audience: Intermediate/Advanced
Jennifer Wilkov – Marketing Your Memoir So It Sells
Memoir writers know that marketing their inspiring life stories in their books is 100% their responsibility but most don’t have the skillset or knowledge to create a winning marketing plan for it. Sadly, most memoirs barely sell more than 100 -200 copies, if that, ever. The truth is: most memoir writers don’t know where to start or how to execute a proper marketing plan for a memoir to attract attention and grow your sales, which can seem like it will take years. It’s time to build a plan to successfully market your memoir – before, during and after you publish it – so it sells. In this presentation, Jennifer S. Wilkov, the founder of Your Book Is Your Hook, LLC, will show you how to master the art of determining what belongs in your memoir marketing platform – and what doesn’t – before, during, and after it has been published.
Expect to learn:
1 – Set goals for marketing your memoir by taking the time to plan your efforts before you start executing them
2 – How to use digital marketing to leverage the internet, build awareness online, and generate more sales before, during, and after your memoir is published
3 – Proven techniques for marketing strategies specifically for memoirs
4 – Measure, correct and keep your memoir marketing momentum going, no matter what (don’t stop!)
5 – Fool-proof ways to master your memoir marketing efforts to take control of your project’s success
Audience: Beginner
Diane Windsor – Selling Your Books Directly to Your Customer from Your Website (for Publishers)
There are many reasons to sell books directly to the reader from your website, including: keeping more profit, getting to know your readers, building your email list, not solely depending on retailers (like Amazon). Selling direct to readers can mean different things – attending books fairs, bookstore/library signings, and from your own website. I’ll explain what the options are for selling direct from your website, including selling digital and print copies. There are ways to sell your print book from your website using POD technology, so you don’t have to have hundreds of books stored in your house.
Three takeaways :
1 – How to sell ebooks and audiobooks, including box sets
2 – How to sell print books using IngramSpark’s ECommerce Links
3 – How to sell print books using WooCommerce and Lulu
Learn how to set up your website to sell your books (print, ebook, audiobook) directly to your customer and collect their contact information.
Audience: Professional
12:00 pm
Implementation Networking Session sponsored by Written Word Media
1:00 pm
Aimee Ravichandran, Abundantly Social – How to Hit the Amazon Bestseller List
Are you ready to take your book to the next level and achieve Amazon Best Seller status? In this actionable and insightful session, we’ll walk you through the strategies and tools successful authors use to make their books stand out in a crowded marketplace. Whether you’re launching your first book or looking to elevate your next release, this presentation will equip you with the knowledge to dominate Amazon’s charts.
Key Takeaways:
1 – Pick the Right Categories: Learn how to strategically choose the most effective categories to position your book for success.
2 – Leverage Social Media: Discover powerful techniques to use social media platforms to amplify your book’s visibility and build an engaged audience.
3 – Harness the Power of Reviews: Understand the critical role of reader reviews and how to encourage authentic feedback that boosts your credibility.
4 – Promo Stack Your Book: Explore the art of stacking promotions to maximize momentum and maintain consistent sales.
This presentation is your roadmap to mastering the Amazon ecosystem and hitting the coveted Best Seller list!
Gold Sponsor
2:00 pm
Hannah Jacobson, Book Award Pro – Book Reviews: Getting More Stars Than You Know What to Do With
Hannah Jacobson shows you proven strategies to get genuine, impactful reviews for your book and how to use accolades to make your book soar.
Gold Sponsor
Audience: General
Yvonne DiVita – How to Market Your Book Like a Rock Star (Taylor Swift)
As a seasoned book coach, Yvonne DiVita will share the latest and most effective marketing strategies learned from marketers and social media experts. In 2024, you must be your own best marketer for your book to reach its fullest potential. Learn how to market like a rock star using the Taylor Swift Model of Book Marketing. Swift is a genius at developing relationships and building community and that is your goal, also. Be the Taylor Swift of your genre!
In this session you will learn:
1 – What it means to market a book—it’s not what you think
2 – How to think and act like a marketer, as well as an author
3 – Tips and tricks to create your own Swifties!
Yvonne DiVita will teach you how to market your book like a rock star (Taylor Swift)—which means building community ahead of publication.
Audience: Beginner Author
Monica Miller- How to Write Six Months of Branded Content from Your Book for Increased Book Sales
Monica Miller will guide published authors on leveraging their nonfiction books into a wealth of marketing content to expand their reach and boost sales. Marketing is often one of the most daunting challenges authors face after publishing, but this session will teach you how to repurpose your written content into a dynamic marketing plan that saves time, energy, and frustration. Discover how to elevate your marketing game by transforming your book into a continuous stream of engaging content that attracts new readers, clients, and opportunities.
At the end of this presentation, you will know:
1 – Identifying Golden Nuggets: How to find the key insights in your book that can be transformed into multiple pieces of engaging content
2 – Versatile Content Creation: How to repurpose your book content into various forms such as blog posts, newsletters, and social media updates to capture attention and generate leads
3 – Effective Hooks and Calls to Action: How to craft compelling hooks and calls to action that drive new sales and lead potential clients into your marketing funnel
Audience: Beginner Author
Fauzia Burke – AI Tools for Marketing
Join Fauzia Burke of PubSite as she explores how AI tools can transform marketing strategies in book publishing. Discover how to work smarter, not harder, and gain a competitive edge in an ever-evolving industry.
Audience: General
3:00 pm
Sponsor Booths Featuring Marketing, Business Growth, Writing Coaches, Writing Tools
4:00 pm
Coffee Chat Room sponsored by Launch My Book
5:00 pm
Kate Stead – Connected Marketing, How the Principle of Engagement Can Change Your Whole Marketing Approach
Join Kate Stead of Old Mate Media to learn how the principle of engagement can change your whole marketing approach as an author.
Audience: General
Claire Tak – Substack 101 for Newbies: What You Need to Know if You Want to Gain an Audience
From this session, participants will takeaway:
1 – Whether Substack is right for you (I will help you think about your goals and whether it makes sense to get on “one more platform”)
2 – How to get started (creating a Substack profile)
3 – What to topics to consider writing about
Claire will use her Substack as an example. This workshop will cover basics and what people should know before they start a Substack.
Audience: Beginner
Manon Wogahn – Book Influencers: How to Find, Contact, and Work with Readers on Social Media
Book influencers have changed the book marketing game. As the online authorities on reading, influencers are known for passionate reviews, book recommendations, and building authentic book buzz. These influencers are most active on social platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where their posts can skyrocket previously lesser-known authors to bestseller status.
This session will use case studies and the presenter’s own experience to take attendees through the key components of liaising with book influencers, focusing on how to find and vet them, proper outreach etiquette, strategies for high engagement, and budget-friendly ways to spark social media buzz. Authors seeking to engage with book influencers will find value in vetting and outreach methods, low-cost incentives for posts, and Manon’s own expertise as a book influencer on Instagram and TikTok. Session handouts include an Excel spreadsheet to keep organized during influencer outreach, plus a 10-page PDF excerpt on book influencers from Countdown to Book Launch, a comprehensive publishing guide and workbook for indie authors.
Attendees will learn why it’s important to:
1 – Customize your approach to each influencer
2 – Focus on micro influencers within your genre
3 – Be respectful of the influencers time and platform
Indie publishing professional and book influencer Manon Wogahn will share the best ways to find and work with book influencers, focusing on budget-friendly outreach and best practices.
Audience: Intermediate/Advanced
Lilian Sue – The Secrets to Unlocking Your PR Superpowers for Indie Publishers:
Attendees will learn:
2 – Master the story brainstorming to extract powerful narratives from personal and professional lived experiences through guided story mining
3 -Transform raw experiences into compelling stories that captivate media and audiences
4 – Polish a story into a memorable and irresistible interview that builds credibility and a positive impact
5 – Get the PR power tools they can use ASAP to find the right audiences!
Audience: Intermediate/Advanced
6:00 pm
Happy Hour!
Day 4 Workshops
9:00 am
Coffee Chat
10:00 am
Joyana Peters – Building an Author Business Plan: Strategies for Success
In today’s competitive publishing landscape, having a well-crafted business plan is crucial for authors who aim to turn their passion for writing into a successful career. Joyana Peters will guide authors through the essential components of creating an effective business plan tailored to their unique goals and aspirations. Participants will learn how to define their author brand, set realistic goals, develop marketing strategies, and explore various revenue streams.
By the end of the session, authors will know:
1 – Effective Author Branding: How to identify their niche, craft a unique author brand, and establish a strong online presence
2 – Strategic Goal Setting and Financial Planning: Authors will learn to set achievable short-term and long-term goals, budget effectively, and manage their finances
3 – Comprehensive Marketing and Revenue Strategies: Authors will develop a robust marketing plan and explore diverse revenue streams to grow their author business
Audience: General
Jana S. Brown – Book Series Brilliance: Strategies for Writing and Selling Multiple Titles
From this session you will take away:
1 – The top reasons to write a series
2 – Types of series and how to brainstorm ideas for them
3 – How to use marketing to drive traffic to your series for financial benefit and to build your audience
Come and join Jana S. Brown to learn about the appeal of writing in series, how they benefit your author career, and how to boost your marketing efforts.
Audience: Beginner Author
Carol Abrahamson – Executive Author Success: Decide The Right Nonfiction Book To Create For Your Business-, Brand- And Legacy-Building Goals
If you are an aspiring author seeking game-changing results from your eventual nonfiction book, this session will show you how to create a book that will lead to bigger and broader results than selling lots of books (i.e., business-building, brand-building and legacy-building ones).
Laced with real-world examples, in this info-packed session by longtime business-building publishing expert, multi-award-winning author of 42 nonfiction books and creator of The Right Book Course about creating a book that will actually produce your desired growth results, Carol Abrahamson, you will learn:
1 – What you must master that’s not in the publishing industry’s wheelhouse
2 – How to decide the right type of book to create for your specific goals
3 – How to embed your goals into the very DNA of your book
4 – The foundational strategic decisions you need to make if you’re seeking business-, brand- or legacy-building results from your book
5 – 50 book types to consider and where to find hundreds more
Carol Abrahamson will reveal her groundbreaking system for how to decide the right nonfiction book to create when authors seek bigger and broader results than selling lots of copies.
Audience: Beginner Author
Miranda Darrow – Launching Your Freelance Editing Business
RevPit online writing community freelance editor (and corporate attorney) Miranda Darrow shares her insights on launching your freelance editing business. Learn to:
1 – Identify your ideal clients and select editing services to offer
2 – Manage client relationships plus back office tasks and your booking calendar (even when you don’t feel like you can say “no” to anything)
3 – Cultivate a freelancer’s mindset, network with other editors, and know how and when to expand your business
Freelance editor and corporate attorney Miranda Darrow will provide a toolkit of soup to nuts.
Audience: Professional
11:00 am
Alesha Brown – Beyond the Bestseller: Creating Multiple Revenue Streams for Authorpreneurs
At the conclusion of this session, you will know:
1 – How to diversify income streams beyond book sales
2 – Steps to leverage expertise through speaking engagements, digital products, and consulting
3 – Practical strategies to transform your book into a thriving business
Alesha Brown will share step-by-step guidance and examples, ensuring attendees can transform their books into thriving businesses.
Audience: Beginner
Toby Dorr – Creating Workbooks and Programs to Expand the Reach of Your Book
Workbooks and programs give readers a personal connection to the work an author presents in their non-fiction books, allowing readers to put the lessons learned into action.
Three key takeaways:
1 – Tools to create workbooks and programs
2 – Important considerations for content
3 – What it takes to create a movement.
Non-fiction authors learn how workbooks and programs can expand the reach of their message.
Audience: Professional
Pat Black-Gould – Mastering the Art of Creative Presentations – aka: How to Relax and Have Fun with Author Talks
So you’ve written your book, and now it’s time for author talks and presentations. Easy, right? Well, not for everyone. But relax. In this workshop, you’ll learn techniques and strategies to help you design innovative presentations that entertain and inspire audiences. You’ll learn skills to help you tap into your storytelling and creative nature, allowing you to feel more comfortable with your audiences. In addition, I’ll show you how to include information and resources to your book’s back matter that can become valuable material for presentations.
By the end of the presentation, you will:
1 – Learn skills to make presentations less stressful and more fun
2 – Develop techniques to engage your audiences better
3 – Identity resources and information that can strengthen your book and presentation
Audience: General
Boni Wagner-Stafford – Royalties for Publishing Houses
This workshop, presented by Boni Wagner-Stafford of Ingenium, equips publishers with essential tools for effective royalty management, focusing on the interplay between legal agreements, financial transparency, and efficient reporting. Attendees will learn to streamline royalty processes by aligning agreements with standardized terms, understanding the royalty ecosystem, and managing distributor and retailer reports. Key takeaways include: the importance of clear author communication and accurate reporting, strategies for managing reserves and reconciling payments, and tips for choosing systems that simplify royalty calculations and ensure transparency.
Audience: Professional
12:00 pm
Coffee Chat Room sponsored by Read Furiously
1:00 pm
Publisher Speed Dating
2:00 pm
Parchelle Tashi – Beyond Courses: Crafting Immersive Learning Experiences with Digital Workbooks
In this session, you’ll discover how to move beyond traditional online courses and create captivating, interactive learning experiences for your audience using innovative digital workbooks and other cutting-edge learning assets. Parchelle Tashi, a leading learning producer and expert in creating meaningful digital learning experiences, will share her proven strategies for designing learning that truly engages and empowers your audience. You’ll learn how to leverage the power of digital workbooks to foster deeper learning, increase retention, and drive real results for your students.
By the end of this session, you will:
1 – Understand the key benefits of digital workbooks and how they differ from traditional online courses
2 – Discover how to create immersive, participatory learning experiences that keep your audience engaged and motivated
3 – Identify the 5 stages of the customer lifetime journey and match the appropriate learning assets to each stage
Whether you’re an author, coach, or subject matter expert, this session will equip you with the tools and strategies you need to transform your learning programs and deliver a truly remarkable experience for your audience.
Audience: General
Sharissa Bradley – Funding Your Goals
Audience: Beginner Author
Isabella Nanni – How to Expand Your Author Business Internationally With Translations
Based on her direct experience, Isabella Nanni will illustrate the new trends in the consumption of books on the international markets and how indie authors and publishers can benefit from the new post-pandemic scenario when considering investing in translations.
Audience: Intermediate/Advanced
Linda Ruggeri, Tara Whitaker, Neva Talladen, and Brittany Dowdle – Panel: Creating Business from Gaps in Publishing
The publishing industry employs a vast number of professional freelancers. There are many non-traditional business opportunities for editors that are not specifically about editing. How can you identify those? Which ones make sense for you? What if it doesn’t work out? In this panel you’ll meet five different editors who have built their editing business on more than copyediting and proofreading. Come join us with an open and curious mind to discover what opportunities might be out there for you.
After the panel discussion, participants should be able to:
1 – Identify potential areas/clients where they can expand or grow their services
2 – Gain a basic understanding about how to start planning for those opportunities
3 – Feel motivated and inspired to pursue new income revenues
4 – Look at the publishing industry through the eyes of an entrepreneur that can help writers, publishers, and clients solve problems
Audience: Professional
3:00 pm
Patricia Marshall – How to Create a Reliable Income Stream by Offering Author-Assist Services
Patricia Marshall will provide a step-by-step plan for editors, designers, and authors who want to set up a small publishing business of any scale.
Audience: Professional
Lanette Pottle – Mastering Collaborative Books for Business Success (Nonfiction)
Collaborative books are gaining popularity for a reason. They provide an easy entry point for coaches, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to gain authority and credibility to become bestselling authors. Likewise, it provides lucrative opportunities and financial rewards for those who lead these projects.
As a result, the market is flooded with poorly executed compilation books, and excellence is neither common nor the standard in this genre. The good news? This is exactly what gives a unique opportunity to differentiate yourself in a crowded field! In this workshop, book coach Lanette Pottle will take a deep dive into a case study of a 6-figure collaborative book series as well as sharing the questions and support you should consider before adding collaborative books to your business model.
At the end of this workshop, you’ll know the:
1 – Five essential questions to consider before diving into a collaborative book offering
2 – Three key elements to have in place when you are ready to start
3 – Two foundational questions to ensure your project is profitable
Audience: Professional
Samantha Williams – BookBub Basics for Authors: Boost your Platform with LitRing
Learn how to make BookBub work for you! From account creation to BookBub ads and everything in between, join the promo masters of LitRing and Aurora Publicity for this platform training to bring in new readers for your books.In this educational workshop, you will learn:
1 – How to set up your author account
2 – How and when to use recommendations
3 – How and when to use the marketing/sales features
4 – How and when to use BookBub ads
5 – Best practices for strong, successful ads
6 – Best practices for growing your followers
7 – Best practices for book and platform promotions
BONUS: Attendees will receive a coupon for $5 off LitRing’s next BookBub builder promo!
By the end of this workshop, you’ll be able to confidently use BookBub to find new readers, build a community who adores you, and sell more books.
Audience: General
Michelle Vandepas – Ready to Uplevel Your Publishing House?
In this session, Michelle Vandepas will cover the essentials when it comes to marketing, distribution, and coaching for publishers, including how to distinguish between the publisher’s responsibilities and the author’s.
Audience: Professional
4:00 pm
International Women’s Day Closing Panel
5:00 pm
Happy Hour
