With the rise of self-publishing, the large assistance from Amazon's Kindle Direct Platform, online blogs/vlogs and podcasts that require only a good mic and some basic editing software to produce, anyone can put their content out there now. The key to knowing what path to take is to discern what works for you - at this time of your life and then actively stay open and flexible to what comes.

As an author who has been traditionally published, is actively self-publishing her own work, and working with a hybrid publisher to help other writers get their stories to market, understanding where I was in my life helped me determine what kind of publishing route I should pursue. There is plenty of (free) content and help along the way. 

Sharing my experience after nearly a decade as a published author and having experienced several facets of the publishing world, I've learned that following my own intuition is the key to fulfillment and sustainability. After suffering burnout-induced depression in 2021-2022 and not actively writing for over a year, I learned about myself, my capacity, my boundaries, and how I could be whole in the midst of tumultuous life circumstances - and create beautifully written stories.

Helping other storytellers understand how to navigate getting their work produced out there and having a balanced life while doing it is my calling. 

Sharing my journey using AI to create illustrations for 'Curse Unwound.'

It is a rewarding yet challenging experience that may inspire other authors or creatives.

Turning a manuscript into a physical book can feel overwhelming, but I'm here to help make that journey smoother and demystify the art of book design. The presentation aims to answer questions about the importance of a book cover, interior formatting, collaborating with a designer, and getting ready for this exciting stage of the self-publishing adventure.  Essentially, it will provide authors with all the information needed to feel prepared for their book's design. Together, we'll gather the insights you need to make informed decisions about how you'd like your book to look. I truly hope that you'll leave with a deeper understanding of the design process and the confidence to take those next steps!

From the perspective of an author who published a successful, still-in-print, agented memoir with W.W. Norton, Sara will give a clear and detailed argument for why it sometimes makes the most business sense for an author to go the self-publishing route. She will detail her own decision-making process as she weighed the publishing options for her next two books, and she will provide insights from the other side of that decision – her first of two self-published books was released this fall. 

When the members of Susan Crossman's book writing Mastermind Group were falling behind on “her” publishing plan she came up with a novel idea to give them a taste of and a template for publishing and the group is now looking forward to the publication of a collaborative book that forges new ground in the field. Find out what she did and how her co-authors are making a bigger impact in this novel presentation about focus, creativity, and bending time. 

I will explore the process of songwriting as a creative process & also how it occupies the realm of the indie music business of self publishing.  I have written over 100 songs & co-produced three full length albums.