Celebrating Independent Authors
Sara Stark is the readers’ choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge.
The winning entry is rewarded with a special feature here today and a place in our collection of winners which will be published as an e-book at year end.
Without further ado, here’s the winning entry:
All these categories: Young Adult, New Adult, Adult… it can get confusing. Some may have graphic sex, some don’t, some shouldn’t. They all target different age groups. How can someone tell the difference?
Because of all the confusion, there have been many articles written about this and there’s even a Wiki page explaining what the New Adult genre actually is. Since I’ve written in both genres, I’m going to give you my own take on what I think YA vs. NA really means. Continue reading “Young Adult vs. New Adult – What’s the real difference?”
The conversation in the minion canteen sometimes takes interesting twists. The other day the authors in the group started discussing the process they use to produce a book. They also discussed which things they pay for, what they do themselves, and those they trade or barter to accomplish. (When we complain about how empty our stomachs are after eating, we’re told how ungrateful we are to have the opportunity to slave for one of the best websites around, so we’ve learned to talk about other things, like writing.) Having nothing to contribute to this discussion and knowing how these things always turn out (the Evil Mastermind or his Enforcer asking “who wants to do a post on this?”) I started taking notes.
When the authors compared their approaches, we ended up with nine different processes used by ten authors. Continue reading “What’s Your Book Production Process and How Is It Working?”
This year’s PubSense Summit is coming up March 22-24, 2015 at the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, SC. In its second year, the conference will feature over 50 publishing industry insiders ready to help authors make sense of today’s publishing and marketing options.
Shari Stauch is one of the founding members of the PubSense Summit. Shari is an author (Precision Pool, Pool Players Edge), former pro pool player (in the WPBA Hall of Fame), and publisher of Pool & Billiard Magazine. Nowadays she’s turned her aim from pocketing balls to helping authors pocket more book sales. She is also the creator of the well-known website Where Writers Win (vetted author resources). Shari teaches at conferences around the country and consults with authors and publishers to help emerging authors find their readers.
Thanks for being with us here today, Shari.
Please tell us why you got involved with PubSense.
Speaking at other conferences, I saw first-hand this “disconnect” from today’s publishing reality. Several of us in the “biz” – all authors as well – talked about producing a first-rate conference about the business side of being an author, one that would put both trad and indie options on the table, teach authors the realities – good and bad – of each, the marketing options out there, and put authors in a better position to make decisions (because there’s no ONE right answer!) We didn’t want another conference about craft; there are plenty of those. Rather, we wanted to create more of a roadmap for emerging authors / small publishers, wherever they were at in their process.
What do you see as the main benefit for indie authors in attending the PubSense Summit?
We’re arming indie authors with both knowledge and connections that will directly impact their bottom line. We all know there’s a lot of good AND bad info out there – our goal is to distill it down to the least an author needs to steer their own course.
What lessons have you learned from last year’s event that you’ve put into practice for this year?
The first change for us was the name! We loved PubSmart but it didn’t quite say it all because it’s not enough to be “smart” these days – we all have to be able to come together and make SENSE of this constantly shifting landscape!
Last year, we conducted post-con surveys and as a result, we added sessions and expanded the length of each. Attendees clamored for more time in between classes to learn from exhibitors in the “Discovery Zone” (exhibit area) and network with each other, so we’ve done that, too, as well as adding some events/meals to further nurture those opportunities.
What size audience are you expecting this year?
Based on our space and faculty we want to keep the number at no more than 300 to allow for maximum faculty/attendee interaction.
Is there anything PubSense Summit offers that participants might not find at other conferences?
The goal is to address three key areas: pre-publication, production, and post-pub marketing/PR. What you’ll see that’s quite different from most conferences includes:
Okay, now the hard part… we know you’ve got a lot of noteworthy speakers and events at the Summit, but tell us about just a few of them.
Five master classes offer more intense, two-hour sessions on Sunday. On Monday and Tuesday we have 18 one-hour sessions (6 more than last year – same price!), a keynote breakfast with Publisher’s Weekly publisher Cevin Bryerman; a keynote lunch with best-selling author Joanna Penn (The Creative Penn), and our signature Dish & Dialog dinner sponsored by CreateSpace/Kindle/ACX.
One unique session for indies is about SELF-e, an innovative collaboration between Library Journal and BiblioBoard® that enables authors and libraries to work together to expose self-published ebooks. Another, led by popular journalist Porter Anderson, called “What’s Trending,” will feature insiders discussing what’s coming up for indies to expand reach, hot genres, and challenges. An extended session called “Perfect Pitch” will teach us how to better pitch bookstores, clubs and librarians, and practice on those exact folks (plus an agent and editor) right within the session!
Digital book guru Peter Meyers will talk about the newest here-and-now ebook content design ideas, focusing on what you can do today without a blockbuster budget. And, Funding for Emerging Authors with PubSlush’s Amanda Barbara and Funds for Writers’ C. Hope Clark, delves into crowdfunding and presales for authors as well as plenty of tips on funding and budgeting to build your author career.
What is your favorite part of all this?
I love every bit of it –but without question my favorite part has to be every time an attendee says, “This was unique, and I learned so much!” Because that feels like, “Mission accomplished.”
Is there anything you would like to add?
Yes! As a gift to any of the IU tribe, if you visit writerswin.com you can grab WWW’s code to save 10% off Basic or VIP registration. And we’re having an exciting registration contest at the PubSense Summit site with a chance to win a $1,000 promotional consult and marketing plan from Claire McKinney PR!
Where can folks find out more about the 2015 PubSense Summit?
http://www.pubsensesummit.com
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