Publishing Options Workshop (POW)

Publishing Options Workshop (POW)

Opportunities in the Changing World of Publishing

Join the discussion at the Publishing Options Workshop to explore the many opportunities available to writers in the changing world of publishing. Literary change agent and author advocate April Eberhardt will identify and define the range possibilities, and three indie authors (children's literature, young adult literature, and women's literary fiction) will discuss their different paths to publication: Susan Bearman will cover the author platform and social media, Shari A. Brady will cover branding, and Mary Driver-Thiel will cover the nuts and bolts of setting up a business.

Meet the Panel

April Eberhardt is a self-described “literary change agent” and author advocate who founded her own agency to assist and advise authors as they navigate the increasingly complex world of publishing. Her agency specializes in building long-term strategies with authors, which often include a blend of traditional and self-publishing. April works with serious authors who recognize the need for professional support, and the importance of publishing in the highest-quality way. She holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing and a CPLF from the University of Paris. The agency's website is www.aprileberhardt.com.

Susan Bearman is an author, editor, and marketing communications specialist who conducted a successful Kickstarter campaign in the fall of 2012 to fund the printing and production of her picture book, the Animal Store Alphabet Book. In addition to her own writing, Susan helps authors and small businesses by creating websites and developing their online platforms. She conducts frequent workshops on social media and also does one-on-one and small group training. She has extensive experience writing for business both online and in print, and is a regular contributor to Write It Sideways. More at www.bearman.us

Shari A. Brady is the author of Wish I Could Have Said Goodbye and her awards include: first place in the Independent Publisher’s Book Award Contest, Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, Royal Dragonfly Book Award and a top novel pick in the Anderbo Self-Publishing Contest. She has spoken to numerous writing groups on self-publishing and writing, most recently at the Chicago Writers Conference. A native Chicagoan, she earned a business degree from Loyola University and a creative writing degree from the University of Chicago. Her next novel, All the World’s a Stage, is scheduled for release in 2014. More at sharibrady.com

Mary Driver-Thiel is the author of The World Undone, and the owner and sole proprietor of Pine Lake Press, LLC. She has spoken to various groups about the process of independent publishing and, along with April Eberhardt, was a featured speaker at the 2013 UW Madison Writers' Conference. Her short stories have been published in various literary magazines, most recently Alfie Dog, Epiphany, and Halfway Down the Stairs. She is a member of Off Campus Writers Workshop and The Writers of Glencoe, and is the founder and facilitator of the Lake Forest Writers' Group. She is currently working on the sequel to her debut novel. More at marydriverthiel.com.

The event price is $65, and space is limited, so register today. For details and registration, visit http://pow.eventzilla.net.