Meet Our 2025 Speakers!
SPEAKERS STILL BEING ADDED
Join us for this incredible event!
- Live training workshops, special events, and Q&As with sponsors & speakers
- Sessions planned for beginner/intermediate authors, advanced authors, and industry professionals
- Special offers & discounts on tools & services from speakers & sponsors
- Community support (built in)
- Happening again this year: Publisher Speed Dating!
Alexa Bigwarfe - Conference host
Women in Publishing Summit Host, Author, Speaker, Podcast Host, Publisher, Champion of Women
Alexa Bigwarfe is an author, speaker, book marketing expert, and publishing consultant. She’s been organizing virtual conferences for writers and publishing industry experts since 2015, and recently added in-person conferences to the list. A published author herself, she is the CEO and founder of 2 Hybrid Presses, and is committed to being plugged into the publishing industry to best support her Women in Publishing Summit community. She launched the Women in Publishing Summit in 2017 to empower, encourage, and support the amazing women writers and professionals in the publishing industry.
Sponsors
Karen Strauss, Hybrid Global Publishing
The (Hidden) Costs & Challenges of Publishing
Aimee Ravichandran, Abundantly Social
How to Hit the Amazon Bestseller List
Hannah Jacobson, Book Award Pro
Put the Spotlight on Your Book with Reviews and Awards, Book Reviews: Getting More Stars Than You Know What to Do With
Featured Keynote
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.
Speakers – General Track
Chelsea Bennett, Lulu
TBD
Roshanda Pratt
Grow Your Audience & Dominate with Live Video
Jennifer S. Wilkov, Your Book Is Your Hook
Marketing Your Memoir
Hayley Milliman, ProWritingAid
Self-Editing Strategies
Fauzia Burke, Pub Site
AI Tools for Marketing
Danica Favorite, PublishDrive
TBD
Boni Wagner-Stafford, Ingenium Books
Royalties for Publishers
Kate Stead, Old Mate Media
Connected Marketing: How the Principle of Engagement Can Change Your Whole Marketing Approach
Mary Catherine Jones, The Audiobook Experience
Audiobooks: From Microphone to Marketplace
JuLee Brand
Make You Look: The Business of Book Cover Design
Monica Miller
How to Write Six Months of Branded Content from Your Book for Increased Book Sales
Michelle Oucharek-Deo
Unlock Clarity and Focus: Learn How the 42-Minute Hour Can Revolutionize Your Productivity and Reduce Stress
Tanya Taylor
Master Your Business Taxes: Strategies to Simplify, Save, and Succeed
Sayde Walker, Launch My Book
Book Launch Budgeting 101
Ania Ray
How to Get Over Self-Sabotage and Back to Writing
Melissa Bourbon
Pinterest for Authors
Kelley Way
Copyright and Fair Use
Pat Black-Gould
Mastering the Art of Creative Presentations – aka: How to Relax and Have Fun with Author Talks
Leanne Janzen, Friesen Press
Self-Publishing: Working with a Service Provider
Stacy Ennis
How to Quadruple Your Writing Productivity and Get Into Flow Faster
Gabriela Pereira
Fail Smarter: The Secret to Creative Resilience
Shelby Leigh
Social Media Branding for Book Sales
Joyana Peters
Building an Author Business Plan: Strategies for Success
Beginner Authors Workshops
Roxanne McCarty-O'Kane, Ignite & Write
Hiding Real People in Real Stories
Patricia Marshall, Luminare Press
From Finished Manuscript to Published Book In Six Months Without Losing Your Mind
Kathy Meis, Bublish
Writing with Your Audience in Mind
Bridgett McGowen-Hawkins
Do It By the Book: How to Avoid Some of the Biggest Publishing Mistakes
Tara R. Alemany
From Query to Contract: Essential Steps in Submitting Your Manuscript
Tamara Dever
The Selling Power of Book Design
Savannah Gilbo
Genre: The Key To Writing A Story That Works
Sharissa Bradley
Funding Your Goals
Paula Judith Johnson
Adding Romantic Elements to Genre Fiction
Carol Abrahamson
Executive Author Success: Decide The Right Nonfiction Book To Create For Your Business-, Brand- And Legacy-Building Goals
Antoinette Truglio Martin
Kidlit 101: How to Write Readable and Appealing Stories for Children to Read and Love and Adults to Buy
Sally Ekus
Where to Begin: How to Start a Non-fiction Book Proposal
Zoe Norvell
Cover Designers: Where to Look, How to Choose, and How to Communicate With a Pro
Maile Starr
The Pantser's Guide to Outlining
Yvonne DiVita
How to Market Your Book Like a Rock Star (Taylor Swift)
Brooke Black
Write it Ugly: Dismantling Perfectionism to Finish the Darn Book
Sara Letourneau, Heart of the Story Editorial & Coaching Services
Choosing the Right Fit: How to Research, Communicate with, and Hire the Right Editor for Your Work
Join us for this incredible event!
- Live training workshops, special events, and Q&As with sponsors & speakers
- Sessions planned for beginner/intermediate authors, advanced authors, and industry professionals
- Special offers & discounts on tools & services from speakers & sponsors
- Community support (built in)
- Happening again this year: Publisher Speed Dating!
Intermediate/Advanced Authors Track
Alesha R. Brown
Beyond the Bestseller: Creating Multiple Revenue Streams for Authorpreneurs
Alida Winternheimer
Writing to Your Throughline: Crafting Plot in the Character- And Theme-Driven Novel
Baya Salmon-Hawk
Special Speaker: “So, What Next?”
Markeyla Henton
Be Contagious Instead of Going Viral: The Power of Conversation In Book Marketing
Parchelle Tashi
Beyond Courses: Crafting Immersive Learning Experiences with Digital Workbooks
Alexa Nazzaro
Beta Readers for Better Books: Your Guide to Leveraging These Essential Author Allies
Isabella Nanni
How to Expand Your Business Internationally With Translations
Lanette Pottle
Mastering Collaborative Books for Business Success
Manon Wogahn
Book Influencers: How to Find, Contact, and Work With Readers on Social Media
Tisha Morris
Catching Legal Red Flags in Memoir Before They Catch You
Jennifer Navarre
Marketing Your Children’s Book to Teachers and Librarians
Samantha Williams
BookBub Basics for Authors: Boost your Platform with LitRing
Professional Track – Pros Teaching Pros
Miranda Darrow
Launching Your Freelance Editing Business
Linda Ruggeri
Creating Business from the Gaps in Publishing
Toby Dorr
Creating workbooks and programs to expand the reach of your book
Fern Brady
Tips for Setting Up Your Publishing House
Brooke Adams Law
Using Profit First to Keep More Money in Your Business
Michelle Vandepas, GracePoint Publishing
Ready to uplevel your publishing house?
Lilian Sue
The 3 Secrets to Unlocking Your PR Superpowers (for Publishers)
Join us for this incredible event!
- Live training workshops, special events, and Q&As with sponsors & speakers
- Sessions planned for beginner/intermediate authors, advanced authors, and industry professionals
- Special offers & discounts on tools & services from speakers & sponsors
- Community support (built in)
- Happening again this year: Publisher Speed Dating!
Panels: Publishing
Pam Sheppard
WHAT MATTERS MOST. 3 Essentials for Navigating the Vast and Confusing Publishing Landscape
Teri Rider
WHAT MATTERS MOST. 3 Essentials for Navigating the Vast and Confusing Publishing Landscape
Elizabeth Ducie
Understanding ISBNs on an International Stage: Dispelling the Myths and Avoiding the Mistakes
Judy Mohr
Understanding ISBNs on an International Stage: Dispelling the Myths and Avoiding the Mistakes
Neva Talladen
Creating Business from Gaps in Publishing
Tara Whitaker
Creating Business from Gaps in Publishing
Linda Ruggeri
Creating Business from Gaps in Publishing
Brittany Dowdle
Creating Business from Gaps in Publishing
Panels: Writing
Peggy Joque Williams
Strategies For Writing Dialogue that Drives Plot and Deepens Character
Christine DeSmet
Strategies For Writing Dialogue that Drives Plot and Deepens Character
Patricia Westerhof
Art of the Literary Sex Scene: A Workshop
Victoria Heatherington
Art of the Literary Sex Scene: A Workshop
Panel: Editing
Christy Robinson
Finding and Collaborating with Your Perfect Editor
Kayleigh Merritt
Finding and Collaborating with Your Perfect Editor
