Joy Rancatore, Author at Women in Publishing Summit

Day 3 at the Women in Publishing Summit: Build a Sustainable Writing Life—Without Burnout or Guesswork

by Joy Rancatore | Feb 9, 2026

What if your writing life could be creative, sustainable, and financially supportive?

The Women in Publishing Virtual Summit brings together authors who are done rushing, done burning out, and ready to build careers that actually fit their lives. Our sessions are designed to help you slow down, think strategically, and turn your passion into progress—without losing the joy that made you write in the first place.

Day 3 is intended to help you build a sustainable writing life—no burnout, guessing, or loneliness required.

So many authors feel pressure to publish faster, do more, and figure everything out alone. These sessions flip that script so you can create with intention and confidence.

You’ll explore how to:

Take your time and create work that truly resonates
Build collaborative projects that strengthen both your writing and your community
Design a writing life that supports your creativity and your bank account

This is about honoring your pace while still moving forward with purpose.

Slow Your Roll: Take Time to Create Magic with Logan Kingston

Logan Kingston will provide the tools to help authors slow down and take their time when publishing their books.

Logan Kingston

How to Anthologize: A Masterclass in Collaborative Publishing with Kasey Fallon

Kasey Fallon helps you turn your stories (and your community) into a published anthology with clarity, structure, and collaboration.

Kasey Fallon

Building a Writing Life That Pays the Bills (and Feeds the Soul) with Hannah Howard

Authors and freelance writers seeking a sustainable career will gain strategies for juggling paid work and passion projects while keeping creativity at the center.

Hannah Howard

Beyond the Book: Building Recession-Proof Income Streams AI Can’t Replace with Alesha Brown

Alesha Brown will show authors/experts how to transform their expertise into three or more recession-proof income streams that go beyond book sales and can’t be replaced by AI.

Alesha Brown

Burnout is not the cost of success. I’ll say it again for those of you in the back: burnout is not a requirement for being a “serious” author.

These sessions openly address the realities authors face—fatigue, overwhelm, shame, and creative exhaustion—and offer practical, compassionate ways to keep going without burning out. You’ll hear real conversations about sustaining creativity, renewing energy, and building habits that support long-term growth.

Making Waves: Turning Your Passion into a Publishing Career with Tasha Haight

Authors at any stage will learn how to turn what they love most into the foundation of a sustainable publishing career, guided by Tasha Haight’s journey from ocean advocate to published author.

Tasha Haight

PANEL: Keeping the Fire Alive Without Burnout with Montrez Smith, Tracy Jones, Ashley Riehle, Kyira Wackett

Four publishing industry professionals and authors will address the issue of burnout, focusing on overcoming shame and continuing to grow in business, maintaining creativity and sustaining a career, renewing energy and reconnecting with creativity, and developing a healthy and creative flow.

Montrez Smith

Tracy Jones

Ashley Riehle

Kyira Wackett

AI as Your Silent Partner: More Time for Purpose, Meaning, and Storytelling with Kati Torim

In this session, Kati Torim shows beginner and intermediate authors how to use AI to handle invisible tasks so they can spend more time creating, writing, and sharing their stories with purpose.

Kati Torim

Our Sponsor Sessions will help you sell smarter and are designed to help authors get results, not just information.

You’ll gain insight into:

How to secure reviews and turn them into powerful marketing assets
What new authors need to know before publishing to avoid costly mistakes
How to uncover hidden revenue, expand global reach, and simplify sales systems

These sessions connect the dots between writing the book and building visibility—so your work doesn’t disappear after launch.

The State of Publishing 2026: Trends, Shifts & Opportunities That Will Shape Your Next Big Move

Platinum Sponsor Your Book is Your Hook

As the platinum sponsor of the Women in Publishing Summit, Jennifer S. Wilkov of Your Book Is Your Hook, LLC, will share a future-focused, insight-rich keynote that unpacks the real state of publishing in 2026. From pivotal shifts in traditional, hybrid, and independent publishing to the accelerating role of AI-supported creativity, changing reader behavior, multi-format distribution, and evolving book marketing strategies, Jennifer reveals the trends that matter most—and what they mean for every woman working in publishing today.

Jennifer S. Wilkov

How to Get Reviews and Turn Them Into Marketing Gold with Hannah Jacobson of Book Award Pro

Hannah Jacobson will show authors how to get reviews and use them to create marketing gold that drives book sales and visibility.

Hannah Jacobson of Book Award Pro

What You Need to Know Before Publishing Your Book with Mindy Kuhn of Warren Publishing

Mindy Kuhn will provide new authors with insights on how to best plan their publishing journey.

Mindy Kuhn

Are You Leaving Money on the Table? Maximize Your Book Sales with Danica Favorite of PublishDrive

Learn how PublishDrive helps authors unlock hidden revenue, expand global reach, optimize metadata for maximum sales, and simplify royalty management—all in one powerful platform.

Danica Favorite of PublishDrive

Don't Compete, Collaborate! For Publishing Professionals with Patricia Marshall of Luminare Press

Patricia Marshall will explain best practices for finding and working with collaborators and contractors so you can expand your offerings without expanding your staff.

Patricia Marshall of Luminare Press

Authors thrive in community, and the Women in Publishing Summit reflects that truth. If you allow Community, Collaboration, and Momentum to drive you forward, you will succeed.

You’ll learn why writing in community leads to higher completion rates, stronger motivation, and more opportunities. You’ll also see how collaboration (from anthologies to shared audiences) can amplify your reach without adding more work.

And you’ll walk away knowing: you are not doing this alone.

Why Authors Who Write In Community Are More Likely To Finish and Flourish with MeiMei Fox

MeiMei Fox will illuminate a simple secret to success as an author—and it doesn’t have to cost you a penny.

MeiMei Fox

Why Authors Are Saying Yes

This Summit is for authors who want to:

Build careers that last
Stay creative without burning out
Learn from experts and trusted sponsors
Grow with clarity, confidence, and community

If you’re ready to write, publish, and grow on your own terms, this is for you.
Grab your ticket and join our community.

The 2026 Women In Publishing Summit virtual conference will open on International Women’s Day and run March 8–11. Tickets are on sale and available at https://womeninpublishingsummit.com.

Get your ticket now!

Women in Publishing Summit Conference for Authors and Publishing Professionals

PublishHER Podcast Episode 120: What Should I Do Before I Research an Editor? with Jenny Hubert

In this episode of the PublishHer Podcast, Alexa and Jenny Hubert navigate different types of editing.
They discuss ways the editing process isn’t one-dimensional; it expands through various stages from developmental to copy editing. It’s crucial for authors to understand these stages and their specific needs in each.

The Truth About Hiring a Publishing Company — What Joel Pitney of Launch My Book Wants Every Author to Know

2023 Platinum Sponsor: Pub Site

Day 2 at the Women in Publishing Summit: Where Authors Grow Together

by Joy Rancatore | Feb 2, 2026

If you’ve ever wished there was a roadmap for selling more books without losing your mind, the Women in Publishing Summit is for you.

Day 2 is all about visibility, collaboration, and momentum—the kind that lasts long after the conference ends. It’s practical, encouraging, and packed with sessions that help you move from writing the book to building a career around it.

We will challenge authors to think bigger than the bookstore and expand their definition of success.

Instead of asking “How do I sell more copies?” these sessions ask:

How do I reach new readers in unexpected places?
How do I partner with others to grow faster and smarter?
How do I create buzz that feels authentic—not exhausting?

You’ll explore creative ways to connect your book to brands, communities, and opportunities that align with your message—helping your work travel further than traditional paths alone.

We’ll feature dedicated sponsor sessions designed specifically for authors who want results that you won’t want to miss.

You’ll learn directly from industry leaders about:

What successful authors and publishers are doing differently
How to build a sustainable author business—not just a one-book launch
Proven ways to get your book into readers’ hands using modern marketing strategies

These sessions go beyond theory. They’re focused on clarity, systems, and growth, making them especially valuable for authors who want to take confident next steps.

What Lulu’s Top Authors and Publishers have in Common with Chelsea Bennett

Discover what Lulu’s top creators have in common, and how you can use Lulu to create a successful, sustainable business.

Chelsea Bennett

How to Get Your Book into the Hands of Readers! with Aimee Ravichandran

Authors looking to expand marketing of their book through social media, PR, and paid advertising will learn how to get their books into readers’ hands.

Aimee Ravichandran

Collaboration Is the Not-So-Secret-Secret and it is an amazing feeling to realize you don’t have to do this alone.

Sessions throughout the day focus on:

Author swaps and giveaways that attract the right readers
Building community as a visibility strategy
Replacing competition with collaboration in self-publishing
Finding fellow authors to build you up and realizing they are peers, not competitors

You’ll see how generous, community-centered approaches don’t just feel better—they actually lead to more sales, more exposure, and more opportunities.

Beyond the Bookstore: Partnering with Unexpected Brands to Grow Your Author Career with Ania Ray

Ania Ray will show women authors how to expand their visibility beyond bookstores by leveraging their book’s themes to build creative brand partnerships with practical strategies for pitching, planning, and hosting collaborative events that attract new readers.

Ania Ray

The Partnership Path: How Collaboration Fuels Sustainable Publishing Success with Michelle Gines

Collaboration is the fastest way to expand your reach and impact, and attendees will learn practical strategies to spot collaboration opportunities, design win-win projects, and walk away with a personalized “collaboration map” to double their own reach.

Michelle Gines

Author Swaps & Giveaways with Paula Judith Johnson

This session teaches practical strategies for organizing author swaps and giveaways that attract the right audience, strengthen community ties, and spark excitement around their books.

Paula Judith Johnson

The Generous Author: Building Visibility Through Connection and Community with Kelsey Shipman

Kelsey Shipman will teach beginner and intermediate authors how to use literary citizenship as a growth strategy to build authentic connections, increase visibility, and sustain a long-term writing career.

Kelsey Shipman

Collaboration vs. Competition: Making Sales in the Self-Publishing Marketspace with Monique Danielle

A practical exploration of how collaboration, rather than competition, can support direct sales and long-term visibility in the self-publishing market.

Monique Danielle

Author Collaboration: Finding Friends, Not Foes with Kimberly Christianson Kennedy, Stephanie Jayne, Sara Fujimura, Rachelle Paige Campbell

The “Author Collaboration—Finding Friends, Not Foes” panel discussion will show authors the power of finding similar authors and collaborating with them to create opportunities for exposure and sales.

Kimberly Christianson Kennedy

Publishing success isn’t just about marketing—it’s about staying connected to your creativity.

Come enjoy sessions that help authors:

Strengthen focus and creative flow
Build sustainable writing habits
Stay energized and inspired while growing visibility

Because the most powerful author careers are built when creativity and strategy work together.

How to Create and Sustain Focus in Your Writing Life with Rhonda Douglas

Rhonda Douglas will share the brain science behind FOCUS and offer new authors tips and techniques to ensure you can access a state of creative flow.

Rhonda Douglas

Pen to People: Creative Ways to Share, Sell, and Inspire with Gayle Wilson

Gayle Wilson’s “Pen to People” ideology empowers creatives to transform their words into connection, influence, and sales that matter.

Gayle Wilson

Publishing in Stereo: How to Grow Your List with Audio with Mary Catherine Jones

Strengthen your author partnerships by expanding into audiobooks—giving stories new life and voices new reach.

Mary Catherine Jones

Day 2 of the Women in Publishing Summit is perfect for authors who want to:

Grow visibility without burning out
Learn collaboration strategies that actually work
Get practical marketing insight from trusted sponsors
Build a career rooted in community, not comparison

✨ Tickets are on sale now

If you’re ready to stop guessing, start connecting, and grow your author career with confidence—we can’t wait to see you there.