Writers, authors
invited to attend the
Indie Road
Conference & Book Signing event
April 25-26 in
Tyler
TYLER, Texas — Are you interested in learning how to
publish your book on Amazon and other e-book retailers?
The book publishing world is changing. Authors no
longer have to rely only on “The Big 5” publishers in New York to publish a
book as the market is swaying more toward authors and readers.
In response to the changes, the East Texas Chapter of
Romance Writers of America is hosting the Indie Road Conference & Book
Signing event April 25-26 at the Courtyard Marriott, 7424 S. Broadway Ave. in
Tyler, Texas. Tyler is located 100 miles from Dallas, 100 miles from Shreveport
and 200 miles from Houston – making it a great central location for Texas and
Louisiana authors and writers.
“Right now is a great time to be an author. The
market is changing, shifting power back to the writer and the reader. Now
writers have the capability to produce a quality book from concept to
distribution and not shave off massive profits along the way,” Indie Road
Conference Coordinator and author JoAnna Grace said. “Readers can find amazing books
that might have rejected by the ‘gatekeepers’ of the past, and connect with the
authors like never before. It's very exciting!”
The writing conference and book signing is open to all
genres and will include workshops for writers wanting to learn how to
self-publish their books — as well as help those who have already published
their books learn advance marketing techniques and other skills.
Early bird registration is $110 through Feb. 28. The
price goes up March 1, so lock in your rate now.
Registration includes a catered evening of networking
on Friday (April 26) night, the workshops and materials for Saturday (April 26)
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., complimentary snack bar to keep you fueled throughout
the day, and booth space in the public book signing from 4 to 6 p.m. that
evening.
“Our mission is to bring indie and self-published
authors together with cover artists, editors, marketers and any other
professionals that support these authors. When we work together, everyone
benefits. It's a great time to be an author and we are here to celebrate our
success, learn how to improve, and build one another up,” Grace said. “This
conference will give any author at any stage of their journey the tools they
need to blaze their own trail.”
Vendor tables also are open to artists, small presses,
distributors, printers, editors, “swag” creators — anyone who can be of service
to authors. In addition, The Texas Association of Authors (TxAuthors.com) will
have their mobile book store set up for the entire conference offering books
from more than 60 Texas authors.
The conference is set up where attendees can stay at the hotel Friday
night through Saturday evening – starting with the Friday night get-together.
During the lunch break Saturday, a handful of restaurants are available within
walking distance in addition to the hotel restaurant. This makes it great for
out-of-towners who want to not have to travel for food, etc.
Here are bios and information on speakers who will lead
workshops during the event:
SPEAKER: Clover Autrey
“Self-Publishing 101”
Taking the plunge into the world of self-publishing?
This workshop is geared for the writers who are self-publishing for the first
time. It is basic, basic, basic, covering the step-by-step process of entering
your first book into the Kindle Direct Publishing program, Nook Press, and
Smashwords as well as other platforms. It also covers what you'll need in
preparation beforehand, as in a good eye-catching cover embedded with metadata,
your bio, book description, back matter such as "calls to action" and
strong anchor links, and most importantly how a writer can figure out the best
keywords to optimize the dreaded online search algorithms.
Clover has had a love of stories and romance reading
for as long as she can remember, especially inventing her own. She writes the
kind of stories she loves to read, high fantasy and time travels with Scottish
Highlanders or magical mermen and shapeshifters with powerful elements of
romance, where a hero and heroine must each make sacrifices to gain something
even stronger.
When she dove into the waters of indie publishing she
went head first into the deep end, researching every little aspect from
figuring out the best key words to optimizing websites and blogs. As writers,
we already know the power of words so let's put the right words to good use for
us.
Find our more at:www.cloverautrey.org
SPEAKER: Jana DeLeon
“The Business of Indie Publishing”
You may feel like you're done when you press the Publish button for your
novel, but the truth is, the hard work is just beginning. You're not just an
author. You're the CEO of your own business, and it's usually running with one
employee--you. When your product is in the store, it's time to shift your focus
to things like marketing, which means understanding and playing to your
advantage, retail algorithms and social media, which allows you to build a
loyal fan base, and who can forget the dreaded accounting and tax
responsibility.
Are you overwhelmed yet? Don't be.
With some careful planning, you can put together a business model that
allows you to run your business without losing focus on your writing. Learn the
most important things to focus on, how to prioritize them to your best
advantage, and when to ask for help and how to find it. Learn how to boost
sales without spending a fortune and the best plan for long-term revenue. Learn
how to keep good accounting records and avoid problems with the IRS. And most
importantly, learn where to find the support you need to be the most successful
indie author you can be.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jana DeLeon was raised
in southwest Louisiana among the bayous and gators. Her hometown is Carlyss,
but you probably won't find it on a map. Her family owned a camp located on a
bayou just of the Gulf of Mexico that you could only get to by boat. The most
important feature was the rope hammock hanging in the shade on a huge deck that
stretched out over the water where Jana spent many hours reading books.
Jana and her brothers spent thousands of hours combining the bayous in a
flat-bottom aluminum boat, studying the natural habitat of many birds, nutria
and alligators. She would like you to know that no animals were injured during
these "studies,” but they kept markers and peroxide in business.
Jana has never stumbled across a mystery or a ghost like her heroines,
but she's still hopeful. She now resides in Dallas, Texas, with her husband
Rene' and the most spoiled Sheltie in the world.
Find more at: http://janadeleon.com
CL Stegall (& others) with Dark Red Press
“Preparing Your Novel for the World”
CL will discuss-and provide information on properly
preparing a manuscript for the world: whether that be via self-publishing or a
micro press or submission to an agent or one of the Big 6 publishing houses.
Topics include:
Your Close Up- Is it ready?
Eyes On Make the Difference- Editing.
Pretty Is as Pretty Does- Formatting
Sometimes No is Almost- Gaining a thick skin.
Which Way Did He Go? Where and how to submit
Red Carpet- How to make the most of your release.
-
C.L. Stegall is the co-founder, Senior Editor and CEO
of Dark Red Press, an independent press for authors of Dark Speculative
Fiction. He is the author of the Progeny series of novels and shorts- the first
of which, "The Weight Of Night", was published in January 2011. He is
also the author of the adult Urban Fantasy series, Valence of Infinity. The
first novel in that series, "The Blood of Others", now available
online where ever fine books are sold. He spends his time writing, herding the
cats of DRP, and making his wife, Mona, laugh. They live in Plano, TX with two
dogs who think they run the joint.
Find more at: www.DarkRedPress.com
SPEAKER: C.R. Myers
“10k a Day- The Secret of Quality Speed Writing”
Is writing a struggle for you--every word like trudging through
quicksand? Do you seem to labor over every word or sentence or paragraph?
It's not you -- you don't have to be this kind of writer. You can change.
You can write with an ease and speed you never thought possible. Your
word count will improve as well as the quality of your writing.
Why wait? According to Albert Einstein the definition of insanity is
doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Be all that you can be, and become a more productive writer today.
10K a Day is a writing plan designed to increase the speed of your
writing. With focus and practice your speed will continue to increase until you
are writing faster and better than you ever thought possible.
C.R. Myers writes mystery and suspense-- cozy to edgy. She enjoys having
a well-developed plot with lots of surprises. Reviewers often point out that
she reaches inside the mind of the killer, ferreting out their most basic needs
and emotions. Of course, it's the reader's minds that really holds her
interest.
She also writes non-fiction books on writing and marketing, and gives
lectures and workshops, both as herself and as CEO of Lone Star Writing
Workshops.
As a child she was an incessant reader. As a teacher and mother, she
witnessed the joy of children experience reading stories for themselves,
especially those incorporating rhythm and rhyme. This experience lead to
publishing her own children's books. In the process of creating a new title,
she envisions the pleasure a child will receive when hearing or reading the
story.
C.R. Myers, a native Texan, received her MA from the U.T.T. She designed
and implemented her own creative writing course as well as writing college
sketches. Today, Ms. Myers works full-time as a free-lance journalist and
novelist.
Find out more at: www.crmyers.com
SPEAKER: Rene Groskrutz
“Blogging for Your Book Business”
Anyone can sit down and write ONE blog post, but can your write 20? 50?
100? Planning your blog and having a blog strategy is 75% of blogging success.
We'll discuss in varying degrees:
-The basic about owning your URL and why it's important
-Planning categories, writing titles
-How to avoid "overdesigning" and staying within your brand
-How authors can get more traffic by optimizing with great SEO for their
subject matter
-How to promote your blog content using social media
Even better, Renee will inspire and answer questions in a laid-back and
casual way that will help even the newbie feel comfortable in the process of
blogging.
Free booklets while supplies last, free PDF available at www.iTeachBlogging.com
Renee is a lover of all things blog and is on fire to teach small
business owners the power of blogging for business, and empower them with the
latest tools. She is the co-founder of four startups in the metroplex- a serial
entrepreneur, if you will- that comes together to serve as The Small Business
Experience. she is also the author of 15 Twitter Tips for Authors & Other
Grownups, Tips on Blogging for Business and creator of the 90-Day Social Media
Marketing Plan. She spends a lot of time working in her favorite monkey
pajamas, loves red wine and everything related to new technology and SEO.
Find out more at: iteachblogging.com & DFWWebsiteDesigners.com
SPEAKER: Roger Leslie
“Clearing the Road to Publication: An Action Plan”
Some people only dream of writing. Others generate
ideas or start manuscripts that never become completed, publishable drafts. For
many aspiring or unpublished writers, the greatest roadblock appears after the
initial inspiration. You can overcome such obstacles on your author's journey
and build momentum to complete works that are polished and ready for
publication. A flexible plan of action can transform your ideas into marketable
manuscripts. In this seminar, you will not only discover the plan, but tailor a
personalized version of it to ignite your passion to write and build momentum
that lasts until you complete the work that your imagination hungers to reveal.
With only an idea and a plan, you can follow this indie road to a
dream-fulfilled trip of a lifetime!
Dr. Roger Leslie is an award-winning author, editor,
writing coach, publisher and international speaker who empowers people to live
the life they dream. A prolific writer, Leslie has published books in multiple
genres, including fiction, self-help, biography, educational texts, performance
arts reference, and inspirational. His passion and energy as a speaker
transform audiences and provide them with the tools they need to build the life
they only imagined.
Find out more at: www.rogerleslie.com
Harry Hall
Turn your book signing into an event!
Except for the big-name authors, book signings are
often conducted in sterile environments with a flat atmosphere. They become
little more than opportunities for some low-key greetings and brief chats.
Sure, a hand full of friends show up, they might stand in line, buy a book,
congratulate you, pat you on the back, then leave. But book signings can be more
than that. In this session, you will learn how you can generate excitement,
create an aura of fun and party atmosphere at your next book signing. The key
is leaning a few promotional skills, and adding some playful elements to your
appearance, which can turn it into an event.
A popular speaker at writer's conferences, Harry Hall's
work has appeared in "Runner-Triathlete News", "Health and
Fitness Sport", and "The Dallas Morning News". Along the way he
interviewed: Chuck Norris, Robin Roberts, Nate Newman, Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Earl
Campbell, and a baseball team owner known for greater accomplishments, George
W. Bush.
Harry is a one-time radio talk show host and has taught
public speaking for 15 years. His book, "Help! Everyone is Staring at
Me", gives readers the tools they need for overcoming the fear of public
speaking. His next book, "Frenzy: When America Cheered the
Pedestriennes", focuses on the true story of the female endurance walkers
whose exploits thrilled the nation from 1876-1881. It will debut in late spring
2014.
Harry is a member of the DFW Writer's Workshop, World
Champion's Edge, Toastmasters International, and the Dallas Press Club. He is a
charter inductee into the Mayborn Authors' Guild and has been named the Texas
Dietetic Association's Media Personality of the Year.
Harry lives in Grand Prairie, TX with his wife of 26
years and their teenage son, Zane.
Find out more at: www.harryhallspeaks.com
Mitch Haynes
Before and After- Preparing Before and Marketing After.
After attending writer's conferences for many years,
Mitch found a common problem with each one, i.e. the speakers talk about
themselves and how they succeed in their endeavors. Hearing people talk about
themselves got boring really fast. He has designed a system that is unique in
its perspective: 1. Leave your ego at the door. 2. Don't talk incessantly about
yourself or your work. Turn it around and ask others about their work and
themselves. Build a relationship. Network with each other and build a sales
team. He's designed an entire conference devoted to this ideology.
Mitch is a graduate of the University of North Texas,
published author of "Hollywood Agent Provocateur" and President and
Chief Organizer of The Lexi-Con Writers Conference taking place on July 11-13,
2014 in Denton, TX.
Find more at: www.Lexi-ConWritersConference.com
SPEAKER: Janet Mackey
“1,000 Words Can Bring a Picture to Life”
Imagine being able to paint a beautiful portrait, a
detailed, breathtaking landscape, a gorgeous still-life. You can, with the
words you write. Good description, detailed character development, believable
dialogue, all begin with the same thing- detailed, specific writing with vivid
adjectives and strong verbs. Instead of looking at a painting done with brushes
and watercolors, you will be painting your own pictures with paper and pen (or
keyboard, if you prefer!). This workshop will equip beginning writers with
tools they need to write so vividly that their readers will be able to see the
picture they've crafted come to life.
Janet Mackey is a wife, mother, teacher, and published
author, a dream she saw fulfilled two years ago with the release of her first
Christian fiction novel, Losing Mama. Her second novel, This Latter House, is
due out this year. An English teacher for over 20 years, Janet loves helping
her students learn how to express themselves on paper with confidence and the
skills necessary to make them accomplished writers. She is also an avid reader,
scrapbooker, quilter, and part-time book editor.
Find out more at: janetmackey.wordpress.com
Olivia Hardin
Group Trip!
Most of the time writing is personal; the words flow
directly from the heart. But the journey of a writer should never be taken
alone. Writers need a slew of partners to get them from point A to point B.
From critique partners to support groups, to editors and cover designers, find
out about the different people who can help you travel the perilous road of
publishing. Olivia started her writing journey in 2011 when she was invited to
join a writers Facebook group. Through trial and error and shared experiences
she learned some of the dos and don'ts of those first steps.
When Olivia began having movie-like dreams in her
teens, she had no choice but to begin putting them to paper. Before long, the
writing bug had her and she knew she wanted to be a published author. Several
rejections plus a little bit of life later, and she was temporarily
"cured" of the urge to write. That is until she met a group of
talented and fabulous writers who gave her the direction and encouragement she
needed to get lost in the words again. Olivia's attended three different
universities over the years and toyed with majors in Computer Technology,
English, History and Geology. Then one day she heard the term road scholar and
knew that was what she wanted to be. Now she "studies" anything and
everything just for the joy of learning. She's also an insatiable crafter who
only completes about 1 out of 5 projects, a jogger who hates to run, and she's
sometimes accused of being artistic. A native Texas girl, Olivia lives in the
beautiful Lone Star State with her husband, Danny and their puppy, Bonnie.
Find more at: www.olivia-hardin.com
HOTEL INFO:
Courtyard Marriott
7424 S. Broadway Ave.
Tyler, TX 75703
Those attending from out of town can call 903-509-4411
to make hotel reservations. Conference prices are available for Friday, April
25 and Saturday, April 26.