Workshops for the 2025 Between the Pages Writers Conference
SATURDAY KEYNOTE – A New Era of Book Promotion
Jeniffer will discuss the changing landscape of book marketing and how authors can build an authentic, joyful, and sustainable marketing plan.
Many authors consider book sales to be their main goal and focus on book marketing strategies to meet that end. But the key is to think beyond the book and sell the author instead.
- Connect and build a lasting relationship with your readers
- Author goals, budget and audience needs
- Increase visibility, build your platform and engage with fans
- How to pull it all together
WORKSHOP – Ignite Your Next Book Launch with a Powerful Plan
Book launch planning can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. In the class, Jeniffer Thompson shares best practice standards for a successful book launch that won’t break the bank. Good planning starts well in advance, but first, you’ll need to establish goals for measuring success and honoring your budget. With a clear budget in mind, you can make smart choices and establish a plan for measuring your ROI, leveraging your fanbase, and igniting a motivated street team. Plus, you’ll learn how to build relationships with influencers, get endorsements, budget for pre- and post-publication reviews, make a plan for giveaways, and advertise on places like Book Bub. Jeniffer will also share sample book launch plans to help you customize a plan that is perfect for you and your book.
SUNDAY KEYNOTE – From the Courtroom to the Bestsellers List
Nancy Allen’s journey from Ozarks trial lawyer to #1 New York Times bestselling author of legal thrillers is a singular tale. Her first novel, a book that was ultimately published by HarperCollins and optioned twice in Hollywood, was rejected by two hundred literary agents when she was seeking representation at the beginning of her career. As she describes her path to publishing with the Big 5 houses and becoming a co-author of the most successful writer in the world, she will share key lessons she learned along the way.
- The query letter: essential elements, and when to change the make-or-break hook
- The importance of authenticity in writing and in pitching your work; recognizing inherent qualities that can give you an edge over the competition
- Hitting the sweet spot with revision: knowing when enough is enough!
- If the conventional rules aren’t working, be prepared to depart from them
SESSION 1: Running an Indie Author Business
Colin Conway
Becoming a successful indie author requires more than just writing a fantastic book. It requires wearing many hats—marketing guru, accountant, and salesperson. Learn the essential components to take your career to the next level.
In this presentation we’ll cover:
- – Crafting your brand
- – Reinvesting in yourself
- – Publishing options (among many others)
- – Tracking and measuring success
SESSION 2: Marketing Your Books
With so many avenues for marketing your books, deciding which is the best for you can be a challenge. Social media, email, and networking are all great, but will they generate the results you want?
This session will cover:
- – Identifying and understanding your audience
- – Building an author brand
- – How to leverage technology to help you reach your goals
SESSION 1: Back to the Basics of Romance
Whether you are writing a terrifying horror novel or a sweet sweet romance, this class is for you. We’ll discuss the basics of romance as they apply to all genres.
To help you bring your readers living breathing characters who fall in love regardless of the world around them we’ll also cover:
- Tropes
- Heat levels
- Natural progressions
SESSION 2: ADDING SPARK TO SWEET ROMANCE:
Just because they are ‘sweet’ doesn’t mean they have to be vanilla. Come learn how to take a no-sex romance and add a little spark. Also helpful to writers of other genres who may need to add a bit of romance to their mystery, sci-fi, western, etc.
Indie Writers Need Audiobooks
Audiobooks are another avenue to get your hard work produced and out to your readers. Learn more about it in this workshop where we’ll cover:
- How to get started
- Picking the right narrator
- Responsibilities of the rights holder
- Responsibilities of the narrator/producer
ATTENTION: Paul will take the first 5 submissions and make them into an audio file so you can see what your work will sound like as an audio book. Please CLICK HERE to take advantage of this awesome offer.
SESSION 1 – Hooking Your Audience
Finding the Opening that Words:
- The importance of the first line
- Where to start the story
- Getting to the Inciting Incident
SESSION 2 – Owning Your Creativity
What to do when your characters stop talking to you:
- Balancing story with character agency.
- Getting into your character’s head
- Knowing when to take the story back from the character and how.
Session 1 – The Quiet Parts Out Loud: How to Craft Veteran Characters Realistically
Xavier Poe Kane will demonstrate how writing veterans differs from writing characters currently serving. Xavier will leave attendees with an appreciation for the unique challenges the veteran community faces so civilian writers can avoid projecting outside concerns and issues on this subculture. Attendees will leave the session with a better understanding of:
- Issues and challenges facing the veteran community (Burn Pits, homelessness, and suicide)
- How one’s circumstances leaving the military affects their return to the civilian world
- How veterans are supported (or not) by the government
Pulling Back the Curtain on the Submission Process
From the mundane to the expected, to the surprising, to the critical. We will cover:
- What to Include and what to leave out
- What editors seek and what thrills them
- What you might be surprised to learn about the submission process
- What can seal the deal
No more pitch sessions are available.
Session 1: Your Book is Available. Now What?
This is the “hard” part of being a published author. It doesn’t matter if you are traditionally, indie, or self-published, YOU are your best marketing tool. Together we’ll go through some ins and outs of getting started, keeping the momentum going, and what’s next.
Session 2: The Ins and Outs of Book
Award Programs and Professional Reviews
Have you ever wondered how to find all these book award programs without being on Google 24/7? There are ways to do it. You may have also wondered if they are worth it. Together we’ll look at finding the awards programs, how they fit your vision of your book, getting your money’s worth for the award, promoting the awards, and try to answer your questions.
Do you really need a professional review? The answer is easy…YES! How do I get one without the huge expense and what do I do once I have it? The second part of this session will discuss where to look for professional reviews and what to do with them once you get one or two.