Monday March 7
- 9:30 – 10:15 Eastern: “Publishing Opportunities at Our Daily Bread Ministries” presentation – learn more about Joyce Dinkins here
- 10:15 – 11:00 Eastern: Our Daily Bread Ministries Q&A
- 11:15 – 12:00 Eastern: Barb Roose (literary agent) presentation: “The Inside Scoop on Getting Published: Four Must-Do’s that Will Land You A Traditional Publishing Contract” – learn more about Barb here
- Getting traditionally published is hard, but it can be done with hard work in the right areas. Join Books & Such literary agent Barb Roose to learn the four areas for you to prioritize in your quest to get published. As a traditionally-published author herself, Barb will also share proven, practical tools to help you succeed.
- 12:00 – 12:45 Eastern: Barb Roose (literary agent) Q&A
- 1:00 – 1:45 Eastern: Networking Lunch Break – an unmoderated, informal time for you to chat with other conference attendees
- 2:00 – 2:45 Eastern: Sharon Elliott (literary agent) presentation: “The 10 P’s to Step Up Your Writing Success” – learn more about Sharon here
- Do you plan to set yourself apart from other writers? How do you move, not just to the next level, but to the excellent level? Attend this workshop and learn how to elevate your mindset to that of a professional author. Step into your role with all the right people and processes in place.
- 2:45 – 3:30 Eastern: Sharon Elliott (literary agent) Q&A
- 3:45 – 4:45 Eastern: Panel 1: “How to break into getting published”
- 5:00 – 5:45 Eastern: Catherine DeVries (Kregel Publications) presentation “An overview of the Children’s Book process at a publishing house” – learn more about Catherine here
- 5:45 – 6:30 Eastern: Catherine DeVries (Kregel Publications) Q&A
Tuesday March 8
- 9:30 – 10:15 Eastern: Cheryl Price (Judson Press) presentation: “Self-Care for the Writer” – learn more about Cheryl here
- Cheryl will also include publishing opportunities at Judson Press
- 10:15 – 11:00 Eastern: Cheryl Price (Judson Press) Q&A
- 11:15 – 12:00 Eastern: Edwina Perkins (Harambee Press) presentation: “The Importance of Your Pitch” – learn more about Edwina here
- Pitching your book is one of the most important things you’ll do as an author. A memorable pitch can help a book go a long way in a crowded marketplace. It’s a concise, one or two sentences used to sell your book to an editor, agent, and eventually to readers. This workshop will give tips on how to create a killer pitch.
- 12:00 – 12:45 Eastern: Edwina Perkins (Harambee Press) Q&A
- 1:00 – 1:45 Eastern: Break
- 2:00 – 2:45 Eastern: Quantrilla Ard (literary agent) presentation: “Writing and Community: Why relationships matter to your craft” – learn more about Quantrilla here
- Writing can be a solitary and isolating career. Whether you are writing as an act of creativity, career, worship, or ministry, building relationships are necessary to the longevity and quality of your work. We’ll discuss why they are important and practical ways to build them.
- 2:45 – 3:30 Eastern: Quantrilla Ard (literary agent) Q&A
- 3:45 – 4:30 Eastern: Cindy Bunch (InterVarsity Press) presentation: “What Am I Called to Write?” – learn more about Cindy here
- This session explores how we discern what to write and how to know if you are ready to publish. We will also talk about the practical steps of creating a book proposal with a peek into the conversations that take place in the publisher’s decision-making process.
- 4:30 – 5:15 Eastern: Cindy Bunch (InterVarsity Press) Q&A
- 8:00 – 9:00 Eastern: Second Tuesdays Writer Discussion Group with Dorena Williamson
Wednesday March 9
- 9:30 – 10:15 Eastern: Deborah Sáenz Gonzalez (NavPress) presentation: “Rehumanizing Platform” – learn more about Deborah here
- Aspiring authors hear a lot about the importance of platform, and it’s true that platform holds a lot of weight in publishers’ minds. But platform is about more than just gaining social media followers and trying to become famous. In this presentation we’ll broach the topic of platform from a vocational angle, exploring how to grow your platform without feeling like you’re selling your soul in the process.
- 10:15 – 11:00 Eastern: Deborah Sáenz Gonzalez (NavPress) Q&A
- 11:15 – 12:00 Eastern: David Morris (Lake Drive Books) presentation: “How to Take Advantage of Today’s Publishing Environment” – learn more about David here
- The publishing environment has dramatically changed during the digital revolution of the last 15 years, and now there’s more opportunity than ever for intrepid authors. As a publishing executive, David Morris has had a birds-eye view on religious publishing, but as a PhD and life-long student of religion, he’s also developed a keen eye for how to advocate for authors. In this talk, David will discuss the key change events in publishing, the new dynamics its created for authors, and the new power authors have for finding community and readers for their writing. He’ll offer key dynamics that authors of color can pay attention to, and to be encouraged that their voices in the larger conversation about faith and spirituality are as necessary as ever.
- 12:00 – 12:45 Eastern: David Morris (Lake Drive Books) Q&A
- 1:00 – 1:45 Eastern: Networking Lunch Break – an unmoderated, informal time for you to chat with other conference attendees
- 2:00 – 2:45 Eastern: Amy Newmark (Chicken Soup for the Soul) presentation “Sharing Your Story – The Do’s and Don’ts of Getting into a Chicken Soup for the Soul Book” – learn more about Amy here
- Join Amy Newmark, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Chicken Soup for the Soul, as she presents: Sharing Your Story – The Do’s and Don’ts of Getting into a Chicken Soup for the Soul Book.
- 2:45 – 3:30 Eastern: Amy Newmark (Chicken Soup for the Soul) Q&A
- 3:45 – 4:30 Eastern: JoLanda Rogers (T.A.L.K. Publishing) presentation: “One Book: Multiple Streams of Revenue” – learn more about JoLanda here
- Both independent and traditionally published authors often write books that are “more” than just books. Learn what your literary art has the power to become and how one book can create multiple revenue streams.
- 4:30 – 5:15 Eastern: JoLanda Rogers (T.A.L.K. Publishing) Q&A
- 5:30 – 6:00 Eastern: Brittini Palmer Q&A about “Black Women Write for Freedom”
Thursday March 10
- 9:30 – 10:15 Eastern: Annette Leach (Uriel Press) presentation: “Traditional or Self Publishing: Which is the best option for you?” – learn more about Annette here
- 10:15 – 11:00 Eastern: Annette Leach (Uriel Press) Q&A
- 11:15 – 12:00 Eastern: Kelsey Bowen (Baker Publishing Group / Revell) and Patnacia Goodman (Baker Publishing Group / Bethany House) presentation: “Editing in Color” – learn more about Kelsey here and Patnacia here
- 12:00 – 12:45 Eastern: Kelsey Bowen (Baker Publishing Group / Revell) and Patnacia Goodman (Baker Publishing Group / Bethany House) Q&A
- 1:00 – 1:45 Eastern: Break
- 2:00 – 2:45 Eastern: Katie Long (David C. Cook Publishers) presentation: “How to Become a Content Marketer” – learn more about Katie here
- What is content marketing and why is it important to publisher; how to strategize a year of content; and how to fit content within your platform.
- 2:45 – 3:30 Eastern: Katie Long (David C. Cook Publishers) Q&A
- 3:45 – 4:45 Eastern: Open mic
- 5:00 – 6:30 Eastern: Celeste McCauley (Guideposts) presentation “The Power of the Inspirational Story: Writing for Guideposts’ magazines and books” and Q&A – learn more about Celeste here
- Here you’ll learn what this long-time publishing powerhouse looks for in content for its many magazines and devotional books, how to spot good stories and how to hone your pitches.
Friday March 11
- 9:30 – 10:15 Eastern: Taneki Dacres (Vine Publishing) presentation: “From Confusion to Clarity – Get Unstuck and Accelerate Towards Your Book’s Finish Line” – learn more about Taneki here
- The writing process can be overwhelming and confusing at times. There are so many ideas and thoughts, but how do you sift through those thoughts to ensure that you have a well-written, cohesive book that informs, inspires and impacts lives? In this workshop I’ll help you gain the clarity, get unstuck, and keep the momentum going throughout the entire writing process.
- 10:15 – 11:00 Eastern: Taneki Dacres (Vine Publishing) Q&A
- 11:15 – 12:00 Eastern: Elizabeth Jackson (Tyndale House fiction) presentation: “Fiction Acquisitions 101: An inside look at novel acquisitions and what editors look for when reviewing fiction proposals” – learn more about Elizabeth here
- In this session, learn about the ins and outs of the acquisitions process from the initial proposal review stage all the way through to when the book lands on bookstore shelves. We’ll also hear about what makes a proposal stand out when it lands in an editor’s inbox, common pitfalls to avoid in a manuscript, and what you can expect if an editor decides to pursue a contract with you for a novel.
- 12:00 – 12:45 Eastern: Elizabeth Jackson (Tyndale House fiction) Q&A
- 1:00 – 1:45 Eastern: Break
- 2:00 – 2:45 Eastern: Pam Perry (PR) presentation: “How to Accelerate Your Brand” – learn more about Pam here
- Learn the right sequence of activities to build your platform. Learn how to share your expertise with the media, create community to promote your books and become a sought-after speaker of hope, healing and light.
- 2:45 – 3:30 Eastern: Pam Perry (PR) Q&A
- 3:45 – 4:45 Eastern: Elevator pitch practice session
- 5:00 – 5:30 Eastern: Andrea Bridges (Intervarsity Press; Assistant Director, Women in the Academy & Professions) Q&A
All conference information subject to change
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