Conference for Authors & Publishing Professionals
An Author’s Guide to the General Track at the 2025 Women in Publishing Summit 

We know there are many options when it comes to choosing a virtual conference for authors, so we’re breaking down the workshops in the Women in Publishing Summit by tracks and areas of focus. Today we are talking about the general track, which has sessions that are likely beneficial for most authors.

The Women in Publishing Summit, a four-day virtual conference for authors and publishing professionals, offers sessions for authors of all levels. We’re bringing together authors, writing experts, and publishing professionals to discuss a range of topics—from creative resiliency to AI tools to connected marketing.

We focus on building community, educating our community, and creating an environment for support, encouragement, and sharing of resources. While the conference is virtual and runs “live” in zoom over the course of the event, all sessions are recorded, and you can rewatch them as many times as you’d like through the end of the year. We also have networking, community-building events, and special bonus sessions. 

Don’t forget to grab your ticket today, so you can participate in these author workshops at the conference and revisit the recorded sessions throughout the year!

Pre-Conference Bonus Session! (Replay for attendees)
From Goals to Gains: Creating a Personal Roadmap for Conference Success with Michelle Oucharek-Deo, Live and Grow Press

This is a practical and engaging seminar designed to help you get the most out of your conference experience. From pre-conference preparation and creating a structured four-day plan to effective post-event follow-ups, this seminar provides all the time management strategies you need for a productive and rewarding experience. Including a 50 page printable workbook, this session will have everyone prepped for attending any conference for authors and publishing professionals. Michelle Oucharek-Deo is a professional speaker and business strategist specializing in time recovery and the development of value-driven businesses. With over thirty years of experience as a business owner, educator, mentor, and community advocate, she has mastered the art of leveraging time effectively and efficiently—a cornerstone of her success.

***This session will air BEFORE the event and requires a ticket purchase prior to Feb. 4th, 2025. However, the recording will be available to ticket holders if you miss the live workshop.

Day 1 – General Track Sessions on Writing/Mindset

How to Get Over Self-Sabotage and Back to Writing with Ania Ray

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. Ania is the CEO and cofounder of Quill & Cup, an author, a wife and mama. Ania has published her women’s fiction novels The Cromwell Rules and Breaking the Rules, and is currently editing the third book of The Rules series!

The (Hidden) Costs & Challenges of Publishing with Karen Strauss, Hybrid Global 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. Karen Strauss is the publisher of Hybrid Global Publishing. Designed to publish books by speakers and entrepreneurs and other indie authors, Hybrid Global is an independent publisher offering author services such as editorial, custom cover and interior design, distribution and marketing. Karen has worked in publishing for more than 30 years with broad experience in all aspects of publishing, sales, marketing, strategic planning, and distribution.

Fail Smarter: The Secret to Creative Resilience with Gabriela Pereira

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.” Gabriela Pereira is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur who wants to challenge the status quo of higher education. As the founder and instigator of DIYMFA.com, her mission is to empower writers, artists, and other creatives to take an entrepreneurial approach to their education and professional growth.

How to Quadruple Your Writing Productivity and Get Into Flow Faster with Stacy Ennis​

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. Stacy Ennis is a best-selling author, book coach, and speaker on a mission to help leaders clarify their ideas and harness their unique story to make an impact.

Day 2 – General Track Sessions on Routes to Publication

Copyright and Fair Use with Kelley Way

In this session, you’ll learn what rights authors have under copyright law, and when they can safely use third party content. Kelley Way graduated from UC Davis with a B.A. in English, followed by a Juris Doctorate. Kelley is a member of the California Bar and is an aspiring writer of young adult fantasy novels. She practices copyright, trademark and estate planning law at The Law Office of Kelley A. Way.

The Creative Writer’s Tech Toolkit: Editing, Brainstorming, and Beyond with Hayley Milliman, ProWritingAid

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.

As Director of Community at ProWritingAid, Hayley Milliman focuses on building engaging, helpful learning content for the millions of users who rely on ProWritingAid to make their writing clear and effective. Hayley has a robust writing portfolio and has written for dozens of publications on topics related to education, marketing strategy, history, entrepreneurship, and more.

Beyond Distribution: Maximizing Book Sales with Danica Favorite, PublishDrive

Are you ready to take your book sales to the next level? In this workshop, we’ll explore how PublishDrive empowers authors to go beyond simple distribution and create a strategy for sustained success. Whether you’re a first-time author or an experienced publisher, this session will provide actionable insights to help you reach a global audience, boost your sales, and achieve your publishing goals.

Danica Favorite is the Community Manager at PublishDrive and is a digital communications expert with extensive experience connecting both internal and external stakeholders with major consumer brands. PublishDrive helps authors easily self-publish ebooks online, audiobooks, and print books to thousands of stores worldwide.

Panel: What Matters Most: 3 Essentials for Navigating the Vast and Confusing Publishing Landscape with Pam Sheppard & Teri Rider

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.

Teri Rider, the award-winning independent publisher and a master of the inner workings of book design and production is the publisher and acquisitions editor for Torchflame Books, an imprint of Top Reads Publishing. Pam Sheppard is a seasoned publishing consultant with over 30 years in Sales and Marketing for Big 5 publishers, Simon & Schuster, Random House, Crown Publishers and others.

Day 3 – General Track Sessions on Marketing & Book Launch

Pinterest for Authors with Melissa Bourbon

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. Melissa Bourbon is the national bestselling author of more than thirty-five novels. A former secondary English/Language Arts teacher and Creative Writing teacher with Southern Methodist University’s CAPE program and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institution with North Carolina State University, she has applied her love of teaching to the creation of WriterSpark Academy, an online school for aspiring and new writers seeking to hone their craft. 

AI Tools for Marketing with Fauzia Burke, Pub Site

Join Fauzia Burke of Pub Site 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. Fauzia Burke is a dedicated book publicist with a deep love for the written word and a fascination with the future of AI-driven publicity. Throughout her career she has worked with countless bestselling authors. She and her husband co-founded Pub Site—a user-friendly platform that has empowered authors like Tom Clancy, Robin Cook, and many others to build their online presence.

How to Hit the Amazon Bestseller List with Aimee Ravichandran, Abundantly Social

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. Aimee Ravichandran is the owner of Abundantly Social. Over her 10 years in the industry, she has helped create over 100 Amazon Best-Selling authors and was named one of the Top 10 Innovative Women Changing the Face of Business in 2022. 

Put the Spotlight on Your Book with Reviews and Awards with Hannah Jacobson, Book Award Pro

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. Hannah Jacobson is the founder of Book Award Pro, the company that created technology enabling authors to become award-winning authors. Book Award Pro began as a humble passion project and developed into the fast-growing technology startup it is today.

Connected Marketing: How the Principle of Engagement Can Change Your Whole Marketing Approach with Kate Stead, Old Mate Media

Join Kate Stead to learn how the principle of engagement can change your whole marketing approach as an author. Kate Stead is an indie author and publisher with a wide-ranging communications, marketing and events portfolio built on 20 years in the corporate sector. She founded Old Mate Media, a boutique self-publishing company in 2013, with her husband, award-winning author and editor Chris Stead. Focusing on creating beautiful and professional children’s and non-fiction books, she guides authors through the confusing landscape of the self-publishing industry working beside them at every step to bring their vision to life.

Day 4 – General Track Sessions for Business Growth

Building an Author Business Plan: Strategies for Success with Joyana Peters

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. Joyana Peters is the Indie author of the best-selling novels, The Girl in the Triangle and The Girl From Saint Petersburg. Joyana has taught literature and composition on both the secondary and university levels. She also writes non-fiction and has been published in digital and print publications nationwide.

Mastering the Art of Creative Presentations – aka: How to Relax and Have Fun with Author Talks with Pat Black-Gould

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. Pat Black-Gould, PhD, is an author and psychologist with a background as an actress, director, and playwright. Her book The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey received three gold medal awards.

BookBub Basics for Authors: Boost your Platform with LitRing with Samantha Williams

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. 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. Samantha Williams is a passionate marketer with almost a decade of experience in publishing. With degrees in advertising, marketing, and PR, she often refers to herself as “The Matchmaker” for authors and assistants. As the owner of LitRing, a book promotions company, and the founder and marketing director of Aurora Publicity, a full-service marketing and author assistant company, her expert teams have helped thousands of debut, midlist, and NYT Bestselling authors reach their goals.

Join us at this year’s conference for authors and publishing professionals and take the next steps to advancing your career as an author or publishing professional!