Schedule of Events

Are you an early bird? Do you love coffee as much as we do? Come early to meet and network with other self-published or aspiring authors and start building your own authors' network of support.

Whether you're an indie author, hybrid, or have hopes and roots in traditional publishing, one tool you have in common with authors of all concentrations is time. Marie Whittaker is a hybrid published author, professional publisher, Executive Director of a writing conference, and still finds time to be human. Come listen, learn to befriend your calendar, and find ways to master your most valuable asset—your time.

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Presented by Marie Whittaker

Editors, scammers, and marketing disasters, oh my! If you type “self-publishing” into your browser, you’ll be inundated with information. All the free content, or businesses geared toward helping you, for a fee, will leave you exhausted and overwhelmed with options, marketing, ads, spreadsheets, and more. Too many of us in the industry have had to learn the hard way what to avoid. Hear Ben Meeks tell the true horror stories of indie authors to learn from their mistakes, so that you can save your time, money, and energy.

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Presented by Ben Meeks

Building a strong and supportive network is key to finding success as an indie author, but where do we start? How do we connect with industry professionals, including other authors, in a meaningful way? Join Brittany Dowdle, co-author of the IBPA award–winning book Networking for Freelance Editors, to discover how to build the connections and network you need. In this session you’ll learn to redefine networking, position yourself for success, and discover how volunteering can supercharge your network. 

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Presented by Brittany Dowdle and Linda Ruggeri

AI brings as many possibilities as it does questions. So how do we, as authors, navigate what AI is, when it can be used, and the ethics around it? Bob McGough will break down the confusing mystery of Artificial Intelligence, explain the up-to-date ethics around it, and share where AI can best support authors.

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Presented by Bob McGough

As aspiring indie authors, we’ve heard a lot about where to click publish. But how do you start your own business? What is a FEIN? Why do you need a business plan? AWC treasurer Jerry Weiner will answer your questions about business basics and guide you through the steps necessary to get started. Jerry has decades of experience helping others in this area and will provide the critical information you need to form your own small business – and keep it going. 

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Presented by Jerry Weiner

As creatives we often express our art in more aspects than the written word. What if you could use your other creative forms and diversify your income? Milton J. Davis, an award-winning self-published author, will share how he uses his passion for graphic novels and videos to express his art and maximize his profits. He'll also teach us how to expand our own creativity into other markets and expand our publishing businesses.

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Presented by Milton J. Davis