The Power of Passion

(FRIDAY, 10:00-11:30) Just as passion is required in our stories, we authors need to keep the passion alive in our hearts: a passion for our genre and a passion to write. Changes in today's publishing world can often be disheartening and put a damper on that passion. Don't let that happen to you! 

How New Authors Can Attract a Publisher and an Audience

(FRIDAY, 2:45-3:45) Cassandra Carr, Daisy Harris and Tara Lain. Have you heard of them? Maybe not yet, but they started 2011 with no published books. Now between them they have more than 20 books published with major digital-first publishers. They aren’t awesome, just determined — like you. In this workshop, these newbie authors will discuss how they picked their genres, chose a publisher, methods they used to pitch, how they sold, found mentors and, after their first book launched, how they built an audience with a miniscule budget. Find out when you should spend money and when you shouldn't bother! You need advice from writers who remember Day One. For these three, Day One was yesterday.

What Rights Do you Have? And How Much Are They Worth?

(FRIDAY, 2:45-3:45) So you’ve written a novel. This workshop walks you through the many ways in which you can profit from just one book. We will discuss the various values and ways to sell domestic publishing rights, foreign publishing rights, e-book rights, audio rights, film/television rights and how much each of these can and should be worth and how each of these should be contractually addressed.

How to Set up a Successful Autographing or Literary Event

(WEDNESDAY, 1:00-2:00) National bestselling author, Naleighna Kai ,will share her expertise on connecting with corporate sponsors and national brands to make your book launch party or literary event a major success. For the past eight years, she has garnered sponsors such as Harley Davidson, Loreal, Soft Sheen Carson, State Farm Insurance, several major publishing houses and many others for the Annual Cavalcade of Authors events and release events for literary clients. Learn what it takes to put together a dynamic event that will not only introduce your name and work to other markets, but will make it something that book clubs and avid readers will remember.

What RT Editors Want & What Authors Need to Know

(WEDNESDAY, 1:00-2:00) Learn how to get coverage of your book in RT Book Reviews and on RTBookReviews.com whether you are a debut author or have many books in print; an e-book, small press or traditionally published author; a writer of romance or any other genre fiction, including mystery, young adult, inspirational, erotica and everything in between. The RT editors will tell you what to do, what not to do and what drives us crazy!

Powerful Public Speaking & Presentation Skills for Authors

(WEDNESDAY, 2:15-3:15) You write heroes and heroines full of courage! You create an intricate world within your novels! But the idea of standing up and talking about your book to a crowd of people makes you sweat! Sound familiar? Then this workshop is for YOU! Come on by and learn some valuable tools that will help you handle any crowd, keep your cool and knock 'em dead! Humphreys is a nationally certified speaker and trainer with over 10 years experience. Her clients have included U.S. Navy, AT&T, Verizon, Playland Parks and more.

Using Book & Brand Elements to Target Niche Markets

(WEDNESDAY, 4:45-5:45) Promotion isn't a four-letter word, but it still makes many authors cringe. Self-promotion can be an expensive time drain with difficult-to-determine results. To paraphrase an old advertising adage, "Only 50% of promotion works, and no one knows which 50%." Targeting niche markets is one way to zero in on readers interested in elements within your brand and books. This workshop will explore ways to identify those elements, find those markets and develop creative promotional options.

How to Get Love for Your Romance: Top Bloggers and Reviewers on What They Look for in a Book

Media Training 101

(THURSDAY, 2:45-3:45) Get an insider's tips on how to get media coverage and what to do when you have it. This workshop will start with info on how to pitch yourself to newspaper, radio, magazine and tv producers and work its way to what to do and say during the interview itself. Special focus will be on "crisis" mode or how to react when an interview starts to go wrong. 

MARKETING: The DIY Marketer: Five Proven Ways to Bring Readers to Your Book

(FRIDAY, 1:30-2:30) The days of launching your book by relying upon brick and mortar exposure and traditional media are over. Learn how to get visibility in the changing promotion and publicity climate and how creating a plan like Discoverability101 can help you build your promo foundation, set the tone, share your story, connect with readers and help you go where the talk starts and word-of-mouth goes viral.

Get Media Coverage Now! The Ultimate HOW-TO Workshop

(FRIDAY, 2:45-3:45) National bestselling author and award-winning journalist, ReShonda Tate Billingsley will teach you the tricks of the trade when it comes to securing media coverage. Whether you're an author, a book club member, or an entrepreneur-your book, product, or event can benefit from media coverage. Media coverage (a.k.a. earned media, vs. advertising or paid media) is a cost-effective means of marketing. Press releases are important but remember, the release is just one step in your campaign to secure media coverage. In this interactive workshop you will learn cost-effective methods to help spread the word about whatever it is you are promoting.

Navigating Social Media for Authors and Book Lovers

(WEDNESDAY, 2:15-3:15) Are you considering self-publishing? Trying to build a brand for yourself? Launching a book-signing tour? Or just trying to get on Hollywood’s radar in hopes of a film or television option? Perhaps you're sick of being clueless as to what everyone’s tweeting about and would love a speed tour of what social media is, starting with a quick history of the theory (and proof) of six degrees of separation, then going on to how you can use it (without getting lost in it). Discover not only the newest, hottest platform, but ways of redressing classic business techniques to build online buzz to increase sales and raise your profile.

Spreading Your Marketing Virus

(WEDNESDAY, 3:30-4:30) Word of mouth is, by far, the best publicity. But how do you generate it? Book publicist and social media expert Dana Kaye will teach you organic ways to build a platform, expand name recognition and generate buzz. The workshop will put a strong emphasis on social media, blogging and thinking outside the box.

Using Podcasts to Grow Your Brand

(WEDNESDAY, 3:30-4:30) Marketing and promotion are being left in the hands of the individual author, making us ask, what can I do to get my name out there in an already crowded market? Podcasts are one such tool in the writer's marketing belt. Whether you are newly published, multipublished or even if you are not yet published, you need to get and keep your name in front of readers. This workshop will teach you to use podcasts to further your marketing and promotion goals.

Group Branding Via a Blog

(WEDNESDAY, 4:45-5:45) Join The Outfit as they share the dos and don'ts for how to create effective branding when you are part of a group blog. They will also explain how it works best, how you can measure its success and how it can boost sales.

How to Organize a Successful Group Blog & Connect With Readers

(THURSDAY, 11:15-12:15) Join the Naughty Nine Novelists who have a wildly successful joint blog as they share strategies they've implemented for their group blog to reach readers and lessons they've learned about working together. One lone reader will join the panel for a different perspective and a Q&A will follow for those who want to set up a group blog or just learn more about it.

Building a Better Blog Tour

(THURSDAY, 1:30-2:30) Ever wonder how authors get all those great blog reviews and banner ads on reader sites? Feeling frantic enough with meeting your deadlines, let alone adding social marketing and media time to your schedule? Don't know how RSS feeds, Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook differ? No worries: Lori T. Strongin will take you step by step and explain the nuts and bolts of social networking, as well as cover Internet/blogging dos and don'ts, plus how to build your own blog tour for maximum exposure and minimum cost!