What’s New for 2026: The Women in Publishing Summit Kicks Off a Powerful Year Ahead

What’s New for 2026: The Women in Publishing Summit Kicks Off a Powerful Year Ahead

by | Oct 21, 2025

A New Season, a Bigger Mission

The Women in Publishing (WIP) community just kicked off the 2026 conference season, and let’s just say: we’re leveling up.

Our season runs October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, and it’s filled with opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. From brand-new events and bootcamps to an in-person conference in Columbia, South Carolina, this year marks the next evolution of our mission:

To empower, support, and elevate women in the publishing industry through education, community, and collaboration.

The Heart of WIP: Community and Connection

WIP Founder, Alexa Bigwarfe, reminded attendees that this movement began in 2017 to amplify women’s voices in the publishing world—and has grown into a thriving ecosystem of authors, editors, publishers, and industry experts.

Behind every event is a powerhouse team making it all happen:
Joy (Programs & Engagement Director), Annie (Project Management & Systems), Jess (Automations), Catherine (Speaker & Sponsor Relations), Raewyn (Design & Marketing), and the extended crew of Lauren, Maddie, Cayce, Amy, and Kiki.

Together, they help create a space where women can learn, collaborate, and do business better.

Celebrating Women Who Lead: The 2026 WIP Awards

Last year’s WIP Awards were such a success that they’re back—and bigger than ever.

This year, nominations are open to the entire community. You can nominate anyone who’s made a significant impact in publishing—from authors and editors to educators and industry innovators.

🗓 Nominations close February 1, 2026.
📩 Submit a nomination here »

What’s Coming in 2026

Women in Publishing Summit

📅 March 8–11, 2026 | Virtual + Recorded
The cornerstone of the WIP calendar is back! Expect four days of live presentations, workshops, and community sessions—all focused on helping authors and professionals grow and thrive.

Early Bird tickets are available now for $100 off.
👉 Get your ticket here »

Three Hands-On Bootcamps

We’re taking “learning by doing” to a whole new level. Each WIP Bootcamp focuses on practical implementation—no more information overload without action.

1️⃣ Content Strategy Bootcamp – December 4, 2025 + January 9, 2026
Create your 2026 content plan and get live feedback, with separate tracks for authors and publishing pros. Get your ticket now!

2️⃣ Marketing Bootcamp – June 2026
All things book and business marketing, with separate tracks for authors and publishing pros.

3️⃣ Business Bootcamp – August 2026
Learn the foundations of running a sustainable, legal, and profitable author or publishing business.

Introducing WIP Society: Your All-Access Membership

WIP School has officially evolved into something better—WIP Society, your one-stop shop for growth, accountability, and connection.

Annual Membership includes:

  • A ticket to the virtual Women in Publishing Summit in March

  • Access to every Bootcamp + monthly workshops

  • Weekly writing sprints and monthly networking events

  • Monthly Q&As with experts in editing, marketing, publishing, and more

  • A new, user-friendly private community (no Facebook required)

💰 Payment plan available.
👉 Join WIP Society »

Level Up with WIP Society Pro

For industry professionals—publishers, editors, book coaches, freelancers, and advanced authors—the Pro tier offers exclusive tools for scaling your business:

  • Monthly Systems & Automations Q&A with Annie

  • Advanced Marketing & Growth Workshops

  • Monthly Revenue Workshop with Porsché Mysticque Steele

  • Quarterly Masterminds for deeper business strategy

👉 Explore WIP Society Pro »

WINCON 2026: The Women in Publishing Influencers Conference

For those ready to meet in person—we’re going to Columbia, South Carolina!

📆 March 26–28, 2026
🎤 Emceed by Roshanda Pratt
💡 Featuring Ricci from Written Word Media and more

This hands-on conference is designed for creators who want to grow their visibility and content strategy in real time. Attendees will leave with videos, templates, and action plans ready to deploy—no more “someday” learning.

Hotel blocks and VIP day options are available now.
👉 Get your WINCON ticket »

Stay Connected

All event links and resources can be found on our new central hub:
➡️ womeninpublishingsummit.com/hub

And don’t forget to check out our sponsors—each one offers tools and services to help you write, publish, and promote your book.
➡️ Visit our Sponsors Page »

The 2026 season is shaping up to be our most interactive, impactful year yet. Whether you’re an aspiring author, a publishing professional, or an entrepreneur building your literary brand—there’s a place for you here.

Together, we’re proving that when women in publishing come together, we don’t just write books—we change the industry. 💜

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The Women in Publishing Summit Will Take Place March 5–8, 2025

The Women in Publishing Summit Will Take Place March 5–8, 2025

by | Feb 20, 2025

The eighth annual Women in Publishing Summit will take place March 5–8, 2025. This online conference for women features workshops, panels, networking events, and more to help aspiring and published authors grow their craft, and to give publishing professionals opportunities to expand their network and skills. This event attracts writers, poets, publishers, editors, designers, marketers, publishing assistants, and other professionals who contribute to the creation and promotion of books. This year’s event is sponsored by Hybrid Global Publishing.

The summit is hosted by Alexa Bigwarfe, a USA Today best-selling author, speaker, publisher, and author coach. Bigwarfe’s publishing journey began with her first book, Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother, written after the loss of her infant daughter to offer hope to other mothers in their darkest times. The process of writing, publishing, and seeing how her book impacted others gave her a sense of purpose—and ignited her love for the publishing world. Now, Bigwarfe runs Write | Publish | Sell, focusing on empowering authors to build their platforms, grow their businesses, and reach new readers. She leads the Women in Publishing Summit to help strengthen a community of writers and publishing professionals. The publishing world can be challenging and isolating, but Bigwarfe finds that “in community, we can truly empower, encourage, and support each other. We’re better together.” 

The Women in Publishing Summit is more important this year than ever. This event aims to highlight the power of stories and books, uplift women’s voices in the publishing industry, and foster an inclusive community.

The summit will kick off with a keynote address from Deraeé Henderson on March 4. Henderson is an author and speaker passionate about inspiring others to embrace their purpose. Some of the 40+ sessions offered this year include Writing and Editing with Your Audience in Mind from Kathy Meis, Why People Buy: Using Psychology to Sell More Books with Chelsea Bennett, Be Contagious Instead of Going Viral with Markeyla Henton, Book Reviews: Getting More Stars Than You Know What to Do With from Hannah Jacobson, and Beyond Courses: Crafting Immersive Learning Experiences with Digital Workbooks presented by Parchelle Tashi. Sessions are divided along four tracks: Beginner, General, Intermediate/Advanced, and Professional. Each day also has a theme: Writing & Mindset on day one, Routes to Publication on day two, Marketing & Book Launch on day three, and Business Growth on day four. There will be multiple networking opportunities each day, panels, live sponsor booths, and a publisher speed dating event.

Ticket holders gain access to the Women in Publishing community all year long with pre- and post-conference webinars, recordings of the live sessions from the conference, special offers from event sponsors, an active Facebook group, and monthly networking sessions.

The Women in Publishing Summit is the largest online conference for women, and those who identify as women, in publishing. The four-day event is a combination of live workshops, panel discussions, networking events, and special events, run completely online. Contact the team at support@womeninpublishingsummit.com. For more information, visit womeninpublishingsummit.com. 

Hybrid Global Publishing was founded to provide innovative options for talented authors to publish on a level playing field with traditional publishers. The team has a combined 80 years of experience in the publishing industry, having published more than 1,400 authors since 2008. They make publishing easier and more profitable by managing all the details and complexities of production, distribution, marketing, and sales. It starts with an idea for your book and then the delivery of your manuscript to providing support and other promotional capabilities for worldwide distribution. Hybrid Global Publishing is a one-stop-shop for entrepreneurs, coaches, speakers and authors to provide a complete publishing experience.

Get your ticket now!
beginner author, women in publishing summit, 2025, ticket, publishing, sponsor
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Join the Authors Against Book Bans Movement

Join the Authors Against Book Bans Movement

by | Feb 16, 2025

Authors Against Book Bans

Written by Amy Ayres 

Authors Against Book Bans is a coalition of writers, illustrators, anthology editors and contributors, and other book creators who work hard to ensure the consistent availability of diverse voices on library shelves, in bookstores, in schools, and in our culture overall.

“We pledge to band together against the oppression of literature, to speak when our voices are silenced, to go where our bodies are needed, and to fight as one to ensure this freedom.” AABB members are fighting for the “children, families, educators, librarians, and communities who suffer when the freedom to read is challenged and taken away.” 

The ongoing issue of book bans is a troubling one, something that most people might not even be aware of unless they are in the trenches as an author, agent, or publisher. 

Your voice is needed – Join the Authors Against Book Bans Movement

This past January marked the one-year anniversary of AABB’s (Authors Against Book Bans) first nation-wide outreach. Since then they have gained over 3,500 members! I was so excited and quite frankly relieved when I learned about their mission. 

Sadly, book bans are a reality, but this army of authors and publishing professionals is fighting back. According to the AABB website, they “stand united against the deeply unconstitutional movement to limit the freedom to read.”

AABB partners with movements like Freedom to Read and #ReadFreely to strengthen our collective impact. Authors Against Book Bans is working hard to ensure the consistent availability of diverse voices on library shelves, in bookstores, in schools, and in our culture overall. 

I recently learned more about AABB’s ongoing efforts in a members-only town hall meeting. Currently, there are mobilization efforts underway in many states, but unfortunately not all. However, AABB uses their Discord to continue mobilizing more communities.

This is a critical time to use our voices as authors and protect creative license!

Organizations like Authors Against Book Bans are a critical need. Recent attempts to censor books in schools and libraries often target BIPOC and LGBTQ+ stories, the erasing of history, and silencing of voices that speak truthfully about essential human experiences.

As an author and a part of the Women in Publishing Summit community, I believe in the power of literature and its ability to create empathy, foster self-empowerment, impart knowledge, and enhance diversity of thought. 

I hope you will join us in supporting them.

How to Get Involved


Join Authors Against Book Bans: If you’re interested, use this form to sign up for AABB. You can also follow AABB on Instagram!

Publishers, You’re Needed Too!

Join Publishing Professionals Against Book Bans: The fight against book bans needs both authors and publishing professionals working in tandem. That’s why AABB just launched a Publishing Professionals Against Book Bans group. The inaugural PPABB Town Hall held in January saw an incredible turnout from agents, publishers, editors, artists, and more. If you are a publishing professional, you can sign up to join PPABB through this form.

Once you are a member, you will be able to attend frequent meetings specific to how you can help the organization and join the Discord. The Discord has space for everyone, with dedicated BIPOC and LGBTQ+, and Neurodivergent channels. I hope you take part as a member of this important community!

 

—

 

The Women in Publishing Summit is a four-day virtual event running from March 5 to 8. 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. The best part is that you get to be a part of the WIP community all year long with free bonus post-conference webinars, monthly networking sessions, and access to sponsor discounts.

 

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!

 

Unlocking AI for Authors – How PublishDrive’s Metadata Generator Can Supercharge Your Book Sales

Unlocking AI for Authors – How PublishDrive’s Metadata Generator Can Supercharge Your Book Sales

by | Feb 15, 2025

Unlocking AI for Authors: How PublishDrive’s Metadata Generator Can Supercharge Your Book Sales

The publishing world is evolving at lightning speed, and AI is becoming an essential tool for authors looking to streamline their workflow and boost book sales. In a recent podcast episode, Alexa Bigwarfe sat down with Danica Favorite, Community Manager at PublishDrive and a multi-published hybrid author, to discuss how AI tools are revolutionizing the publishing space. One of the standout tools in this discussion was PublishDrive’s AI-powered Metadata Generator, a game-changing feature that helps authors optimize their books for maximum visibility.

The Power of Metadata in Book Sales

Many authors struggle with book sales, often unaware that the issue might not be their book itself but rather how it is categorized and presented to potential readers. Metadata—which includes book descriptions, categories, keywords, and BISAC codes—plays a critical role in making a book discoverable online.

Danica shared a common issue authors face: incorrect book metadata. One author she spoke with had a fantastic book but couldn’t understand why it wasn’t selling. Upon review, they discovered the book was mistakenly categorized under LGBTQ+ when it wasn’t an LGBTQ+ title. Another case involved a vampire novel that never explicitly mentioned vampires in its description, making it nearly invisible to readers searching for that genre. These small but crucial metadata mistakes can severely impact sales and visibility.

Introducing PublishDrive’s AI Metadata Generator

Recognizing the struggles authors face with metadata, PublishDrive developed an AI-powered Metadata Generator that does the heavy lifting for authors. This innovative tool analyzes your manuscript and generates key metadata elements to help optimize book discoverability. Here’s what it can do:

  • Book Descriptions: AI analyzes the manuscript and crafts compelling, sales-optimized book descriptions.
  • Category & BISAC Code Recommendations: The tool suggests the best categories based on your book’s content.
  • Keyword Suggestions: AI identifies high-performing keywords that align with popular Amazon search trends.
  • Pricing Recommendations: AI compares your book’s length and genre with market data to suggest an ideal price range.

How the AI Metadata Generator Works

Using the Metadata Generator is simple:

  1. Upload Your Manuscript: The AI scans your book to extract key themes, topics, and relevant metadata elements.
  2. Receive Optimized Metadata: The tool suggests book descriptions, categories, keywords, and pricing.
  3. Fine-Tune & Publish: Authors can tweak the suggestions before finalizing their metadata and publishing their book.

The AI tool ensures your book is positioned for success, increasing its chances of being discovered by the right readers.

AI Beyond Metadata: Other Tools for Authors

Beyond PublishDrive’s metadata generator, AI is helping authors in numerous ways. Here are some other AI tools that can elevate your publishing journey:

  • ChatGPT for Market Research: Upload a set of book blurbs and ask AI to identify trends and commonalities.
  • AI-Assisted Developmental Editing: AI can provide feedback on missing elements in a manuscript, helping refine story structure.
  • ProWritingAid & Grammarly: AI-driven tools that enhance editing by improving grammar, readability, and sentence structure.
  • AI for Book Covers: PublishDrive also offers an AI-powered cover generator, which can help authors brainstorm and create concept covers aligned with current market trends.

Why AI is a Tool, Not a Replacement for Authors

One of the biggest concerns authors have about AI is whether it will replace them. Danica emphasized that AI is not here to replace authors but to assist them. Writing is an art that requires human creativity, emotion, and experience—things AI cannot replicate. However, AI can remove tedious tasks and free up time for authors to focus on storytelling and marketing.

For example, an author struggling with writer’s block can use AI to generate scene ideas or provide summaries of research. Likewise, AI can help repurpose content—turning an old blog post into a fresh article or summarizing a webinar into key takeaways. It’s all about using AI as a support tool, not a writing replacement.

Try PublishDrive’s AI Metadata Generator for Free

If you’re curious about PublishDrive’s AI tools, the good news is that you can try the metadata generator for free. Every new user gets one free book analysis to see the power of AI-driven metadata firsthand. After that, it operates on a pay-as-you-go system, with metadata analysis costing approximately $5 per book—an incredible value compared to hiring a professional book marketer.

Final Thoughts: The Future of AI in Publishing

AI is here to stay, and the smartest authors are those who learn to harness its power rather than fear it. Tools like PublishDrive’s Metadata Generator can help remove guesswork, optimize discoverability, and ultimately increase book sales.

If you’re an author looking to scale your publishing efforts, there’s never been a better time to explore AI-driven solutions. Whether you use AI to refine metadata, create marketing content, or analyze book trends, it can be an invaluable asset in your author toolkit.

🔗 Check out PublishDrive’s AI Metadata Generator today at womeninpublishingsummit.com/publishdrive and take your book sales to the next level!

 

Get your ticket now!
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Publisher Speed Dating – Meet Your Publisher at the Women in Publishing Summit!

Publisher Speed Dating – Meet Your Publisher at the Women in Publishing Summit!

by | Feb 4, 2025

Publisher Speed Dating

Many authors are familiar with the idea of going through an agent to get published, but at the Women in Publishing Summit, we aim to introduce you to a diverse range of publishers who can help bring your book to life—without the need for an agent. Our exclusive Publisher Speed Dating event, available only to ticket holders, gives you the unique opportunity to move between breakout rooms and engage directly with publishers from traditional publishing houses, hybrid publishers, and self-publishing assist companies in our community.

If you’re looking for the right publishing path, this is your chance to ask questions, learn about various publishing models, and connect with decision-makers who can help make your book a reality.

Publisher Speed Dating is an Exclusive Event to ticket holders. If you want to attend, be sure to grab your ticket to the conference today!

 

 

How Does it Work?

The Women in Publishing Summit is a virtual event, held LIVE in Zoom. Within Zoom, we can open up many breakout rooms. We’ll assign each company to a breakout room, and after everyone is briefly introduced, the attendees are free to move from room to room, spending as much or little time in each room as they’d like. Attendees can ask questions and learn about the companies they’re most interested in pursuing. We recommend attendees familiarize themselves with the Publishers ahead of time in order to make sure they spend the most time with the companies they’re most interested in.

 

Meet the Publishers Represented

Here’s a look at the publishing companies that will be available during 2025 Publisher Speed Dating. Most of them are also providing exclusive offers and discounts to our attendees!

 

 

Bublish

Publishing Model: Guided self-publishing with hybrid elements
Genres: Science fiction/fantasy, mystery/thriller/suspense, memoir, women’s fiction, children/YA/MG, general nonfiction, business
Services: Full suite of professional editorial, design, and marketing services, as well as global distribution to 40,000+ sales and wholesale channels. Offers hybrid elements such as foreign translation rights sales.

FriesenPress

Publishing Model: Self-publishing assist
Genres: All genres welcome
Services: Editing, design, production, audiobooks, and promotional support. Works with all genres and has published over 10,000 titles.

GracePoint Publishing

Publishing Model: Hybrid publishing
Genres: Inspirational/transformational nonfiction
Services: A dedicated team supporting authors from writing and publishing to distribution and marketing. Ideal for authors looking to amplify their message and make an impact.

Hybrid Global Publishing

Publishing Model: Hybrid publishing
Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Self-Help
Services: A full-service publishing company offering production, distribution, marketing, and sales support. Ideal for entrepreneurs, coaches, and speakers looking for a complete publishing experience.

Ingenium Books

Publishing Model: Hybrid and self-publishing assist
Genres: Focused on crime thrillers, women’s fiction, historical fiction, creative nonfiction, health and wellness, and other nonfiction.
Services: All publishing and production services and heavy coaching support for works in progress. ***Ingenium also provides royalties management services for publishers.

Luminare Press

Publishing Model: Hybrid and self-publishing assist
Genres: Anthologies, biographies, business (how-to), children’s, coffee table/art, fantasy, fiction, memoirs, nonfiction, novels, poetry, science fiction, short stories, YA
Services: Publishing packages for authors seeking a guided, professional experience. Also offers standalone book design services, including cover design and interior formatting.

Old Mate Media

Publishing Model: Self-publishing assist
Genres: Kidlit, YA, and non-fiction
Services: Great for first-time authors, providing a personalized, supportive process to help authors learn as they publish their books professionally.

Phoenix Rising

Publishing Model: Self-publishing assist
Genres: Fantasy/sci-fi, historical fiction, romance, mystery, paranormal/supernatural, thriller, contemporary. Also self-help, inspirational, other health and wellness.
Services: Offers full editorial services, formatting, book cover design, and marketing. Provides story coaching and editing from developmental to copyediting. Will only publish books that have been professionally edited.

Press 49

Publishing Model: Hybrid publishing
Genres: An award-winning publisher specializing in nonfiction trade books. 
Services: Offers full-service publishing, including design, marketing, and global distribution, with a faster turnaround time than most traditional publishers.

Read Furiously

Publishing Model: Traditional publishing
Genres: Fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels
Services: A family-owned press dedicated to pushing back against rejection in traditional publishing. Works with diverse voices and non-traditional books. Donates 5% of net proceeds to literacy programs and book-related charities.

Warren Publishing

Publishing Model: Hybrid publishing
Genres: Specializes in trade fiction (thrillers, women’s fiction, historical fiction, romance, sci-fi/fantasy), literary fiction, nonfiction, memoir, self-help, poetry, children’s books, and business books.
Services: Full personalized publishing package.

Wonderlady Books

Publishing Model: Self-publishing assist
Genres: Fiction, nonfiction, memoir, children’s books
Services: Helps author-publishers turn their finished manuscripts into professionally published books. Works best with first-time and already published authors who have completed their manuscripts and editing process.

Why Attend Publisher Speed Dating?

  • Exclusive access to publishers looking for new authors.
  • Personalized guidance on different publishing models and which one is right for you.
  • Networking opportunities to build connections with industry professionals.
  • Q&A sessions where you can get direct answers to your biggest publishing questions.

Whether you’re still writing your book, have a finished manuscript, or are looking to relaunch your title, this event will give you insider access to publishers ready to help you move forward in your publishing journey.

📅 Don’t miss out! Register now for the Women in Publishing Summit and secure your spot at Publisher Speed Dating.

 

Get your ticket now!
beginner author, women in publishing summit, 2025, ticket, publishing, sponsor

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