This talk relates to the theme “How to Organize Your Thoughts Before You Write” and will guide participants through creating a Book Roadmap.

A Book Roadmap is a strategic pre-writing tool I use with my ghostwriting and book coaching clients to set a strong foundation for their nonfiction book.

This is more than just an outline. It clarifies the purpose and structure of your book before you start writing, ensuring that every chapter supports your goals and speaks to your ideal reader.

In this session, we’ll cover what a Book Roadmap should include, such as:

• Your Book’s Business and Personal Goals

• Your Big Idea and Core Message

• Your Ideal Reader and their Transformation

• A High-Level Chapter or Story Structure

This foundation makes it easier to actually write – and helps you feel confident that the book you’re creating connects back to your bigger goals for your business.

1. “The Lulu Lowdown: Pros & Cons of Publishing on Lulu”

• Pros: User-friendly tools, high print-on-demand quality, global distribution network
• Cons: Higher print costs, lower royalties compared to KDP, ebook distribution limited, and customer service issues

2. “Tell Your Truth: Crafting a Memoir Without Oversharing”

• Balance emotional authenticity and privacy by framing your story with purpose.
• Use techniques like third‑person distance, composite characters, and name changes
• Anchor your memoir with a message or lesson—making it memorable without exposing every secret

3. “Blank Page No More: Starting When You Don’t Know How”

• Begin with mini-memoirs: prompts or defining moments.
• Journal raw emotions first, then refine and extract wider themes  .
• Study memoirs you admire—identify their hooks, pacing, and structure

4. “AI as Your Co-Pilot: Outlining & Formatting Like a Pro”

• Use large‑language models to draft chapter structures, suggest headings, summarize, and generate formatting templates.
• Reverse engineer published memoirs with AI to learn structure, voice, pacing, and tone.
• Pitfalls: guard your unique voice, edit thoroughly, don’t let AI tell your full story—AI outlines, you tell it.

Designing and planning a book launch can be an ominous task for any author, whether it is your debut or your tenth book. How do you make the launch memorable and worthwhile for your audience? The key is remembering that, first and foremost, this event is a launch – a way to build excitement and propel your book sales and your loyal following.

The approach for each author should be tailored to the themes in your book. Everything about the event, from the location and the date to the agenda and giveaways, can be tailored to promote the theme(s) in your story. You always want to be reinforcing the uniqueness of your book to imprint your brand in your readers’ minds.

Examples might be hosting an event on a boat if you have a nautical theme or at a haunted house, even if it’s a “rumored” haunted house, for a supernatural or horror theme. The setting can draw your readers in and pique their interest. Remember, you are always working on building your brand, and this is the “launch” of that effort.

 The opportunity for selling books to non-bookstore buyers is twice that for selling through bookstores. And you can sell books non-returnable. In other words, you can double your sales, revenue and profits – if you know what to do and how to do it. You will, after attending this webinar. Brian Jud has been selling his and his clients’ books to special-sales buyers for over 30 years and will share his tips with you. Here are some of the topics he will discuss:

• Benefits of selling to non-traditional segments
• How to prepare for selling in non-bookstore markets
• Tips for selling into the retail segments
• More places to sell children’s books
• How to tap into the academic market
• How to sell fiction in ways and places you never thought of
• New ways to sell in large quantities to buyers in corporations, associations and the military
• Where to find the names of prospective buyers and how to contact them
• Non-traditional pricing tips to maximize your profits

Why sell to non-traditional segments?

·       Large quantities – lower cost = more profits

·       Non -returnable

·       Less competition – better pricing

·       Recurring revenue – long term – relationship with buyer

·       Speaking, spokesperson

·       Referrals

·       Cash flow

·       Backlist is current

Turn your pain into your legacy using a book!

Whether you want to land national TV appearances, book speaking gigs, or attract media attention for your book or business — a great media kit can open doors. In this presentation, veteran TV publicist Darice Fisher will show you exactly how to create one.

You’ll learn what goes into a standout media kit and why it’s one of the most valuable tools in your publicity arsenal. Darice will break down the essential elements — from crafting an attention-getting bio, to selecting the right photos, to writing TV-ready show segment pitches.

You’ll also discover common mistakes that can instantly turn producers off — and how to avoid them. Plus, Darice will share real-world tips from her 22+ years of helping clients land spots on top daytime talk shows, news programs, and reality TV.

By the end of this session, you’ll be on track to create a polished, professional media kit that positions you as a credible, bookable guest — and makes it easy for TV producers and media outlets to say “yes.”

Perfect for authors, entrepreneurs, speakers, coaches, and service-based business owners — anyone who wants to boost their visibility and take their media outreach to the next level.

Many writers have powerful stories, but few know how to turn those stories into a sustainable source of income and impact. In this engaging and empowering session, Dr. Lena walks attendees through her Pages to Profits™ Method—a proven framework that helps coaches, creatives, and aspiring authors go from blank page to bankable brand.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Identify and shape their signature story
• Package their expertise into published products
• Leverage their book as a lead-generating, credibility-building business asset

Whether you’re writing a memoir, a message-driven book, or a motivational guide, this talk will give you the mindset, method, and momentum to launch like a pro.

I will be speaking on different topics including;

• How to start writing when you don't know where to begin.

• How to organize your thoughts before writing.

• Should you write daily? Pros and cons.

• The #1 writing habits that helps you finish your book.

• How to write when you are tired, busy, or doubting yourself.

• What to do when you hit a creative wall.

• How to finish what you start (even if it's been years).

• Simple ways to improve clarity and flow in your draft.

• How to handle feedback without losing your voice.

• Common mistakes first time authors make (and how to avoid it.

You are welcome. Stick around for more.

3 years experience of research to publish (May 2025) WW2 invention of virtual reality for the military in 1940 (My grandfather, Royal Navy). 

“Write every day, no matter what.”

“Just get up an hour earlier and write.”
 

“Just let the words flow, even if the writing is terrible.”

You've probably heard this advice before…but it doesn't work for you. Why? Because everyone's brain is different, so there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to writing. In this presentation, you'll learn how to create a writing routine that works for YOUR brain, so that you can actually finish what you started.

The #1 reason why people don't finish their books is because they never find a writing routine that works for them. Let's discover the secrets of how YOUR brain works so that you can finish your book!

Just because your book didn’t take off the first time doesn’t mean it’s over. In this practical and encouraging session, you’ll learn how to breathe new life into a book that didn’t sell as expected. We’ll unpack the common reasons books underperform—poor positioning, weak covers, unclear messaging, missed marketing windows—and explore smart, strategic ways to relaunch. From title tweaks to content revisions, new formats, and fresh marketing angles, you’ll walk away with a step-by-step plan to reposition your book and give it the second chance it deserves. Perfect for self-published or traditionally published authors ready to try again—this time, with more clarity and impact.

I will go through all the information I have about creating a book for children. The points I will address are: 
- How to start? Can you be alone? 

• Topic: How to pick a topic?
• Researching the topic
• Illustrations, how to choose? colors? What do children need to see?
• audience? all children? a specific group of children?
• mentorship, do you need that?
• Reviewing? Who needs to review? How?
• Representing and publishing
• Mental support

For 18 years Patrice said, "If I ever write a book, the title will be "It's Never Too Late if You Start Today." Finally, on March 1, 2021, she opened a Word document and started writing. Motivated by curiosity, she wanted to find out why this idea never faded. 

A year later, Patrice finished this book with a refreshed title. What made the difference between talking about it and finishing it? Choosing a TODAY day. 

Today is yesterday's tomorrow. To stop the passage of time, Patrice will speak on how to claim TODAY and get started. 

Becoming an indie author is an exciting, transformative journey—and
you don’t have to do it alone. This presentation gives you an introduction to the four
elements of self-publishing: Editing, Book Design, Marketing, and
Distribution. Packed with insightful information, it outlines the roadmap
to turning your manuscript into a published book. Whether you’re
just starting out or ready to level up, this presentation gives you the opportunity
to step confidently into the world of independent publishing and
begin the journey of bringing your vision to life!

Do you shuffle through piles of hastily-scribbled notes, regularly attempt to reorganize half-filled journals, or chase documents through the shifting clouds of cyberspace? If you answered yes to any or all of the above, then I ask you to put down the stapler, release the sticky notes, put the laptop to sleep for just a few minutes, and listen…

As an author, editor, narrator, and wrangler of my own multi-directional brain, I have developed a passion for witnessing other creative minds like you thrive in whatever medium of creativity calls to you. For those times when writing heals the creative ache in your soul, I have a story for you to consider, a personal reflection of how I wrestled my scribbled notes and wandering ideas into a well-structured and free-flowing publication. Perhaps that sounds like an oxymoron, but let me explain…

In this presentation, I’ll share with you three adventurous stories and one happy conclusion that aim to motivate you from self-criticism to self-empowerment!

In this presentation Susan Crossman will review the three aspects of strong writing that many people don't know about: Structure, Story, and Craft. 

Before a single word is read, your book is already speaking. What is it saying?
This session dives into the storytelling power of book design. Victoria Wolf, an award-winning designer of hundreds of indie titles, shares how intentional design, both inside and out, can elevate your book, engage readers emotionally, and reflect your unique voice. You wrote an amazing book—now give it the visual voice it deserves.