Events

Readercon 33 this past July was a standout Science Fiction convention, but it looked different and felt more intimate than any other typical Sci-Fi convention I’ve attended. There were no flashy costumes, sprawling vendor halls, or multimedia displays vying for attention. Instead, I was surrounded by people deeply engaged in conversations about character development, world-building, […]

I’ve always dreamed of going to Scotland. I am half Scottish yet have never visited the country, even though I’ve longed to see Edinburgh and Glasgow for myself. Both cities are rich in the celebration of the arts. Not to mention, many world-renowned poets and writers are from the area.  This summer, I finally realized […]

Nicole Schroeder Most days, the Artists For Humanity EpiCenter in South Boston, Massachusetts, hosts local teenage artists and their professional mentors. In the non-profit’s open venue, amid canvas paintings hung along the walls and artwork made of reclaimed windshields that line the walkway on the second floor, students from underprivileged communities work alongside others in […]

Reflections from the Content Entrepreneur Expo 2024 Jen B. Green Attending a conference is always a game-changing experience, offering new ideas, invaluable networking, and insights into trends and new technology. From May 5–7, more than 350 people gathered at the Hotel Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio, for exactly that at the Content Entrepreneur Expo (CEX). Sponsored […]

Grace Snoke Although there’s a lot to learn at writing conferences, there are two things that only in-person conferences can provide: the energy found from being among other authors and networking opportunities. 20Books Sevilla took the energy and networking found at most 20BooksTo50K® conferences to a new level. Heidi Heinz, Lola Parrilla Heinz, Enrique Parrilla, […]

Imagine a room where successful indie authors exchange strategies with tech innovators and publishing veterans discuss future trends with industry disruptors. This was the reality at the inaugural Future of Publishing Mastermind, held from February 27-29, 2024, at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans.  In the heart of the Big Easy, a summit of publishing […]

Two Conferences Collide as 20Books Vegas Transitions to Author Nation During the second week of November, the largest group of independent authors, publishers, and industry professionals gathered at the Horseshoe casino hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the sixth iteration of the event in seven years, yet it had a much different air than […]

A Look Back at the NINC 2023 Conference At the TradeWinds Island Grand Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida, September 20–24, 2023,the professional novelists organization dubbed Novelists Inc. (NINC) put on their annual conference laden with conversations about the modern publishing landscape. NINC is a professional writer’s networking organization designed to help manage an […]

Preview This Year’s Calendar of Events for Indie Authors Robyn Sarty One of the highs of being an indie author is connecting with like-minded people, and the best places to do that are conferences and retreats. From broad-scope conferences covering everything from craft to marketing to smaller retreats, the industry has a range of events […]

It had been half a year in the making since Craig Martelle, co-founder of 20BooksTo50K®, began inviting authors from around the world, promising a unique experience that would challenge and reward them. Following the success of the first Indie Capstone event in Las Vegas early in the year, Martelle promised a new group of authors […]

In the ever-evolving world of literature, the Romance genre stands as a juggernaut, captivating readers with tales of love, passion, and connection. The 2023 Romance Writers of Australia (RWAus) annual conference marked a pivotal moment in the association’s thirty-two-year history, ushering in a new era of growth and collaboration. With sponsors like Harlequin, Draft2Digital (D2D), […]

On April 14, I moved my favorite houseplant to the edge of my desk and clamped my backdrop behind my office chair, adjusting my lights and setting up my webcam. I was not the only one. Writers, podcasters, and artists across the world were doing the same, preparing to appear at the annual online Science-Fiction […]

The Independent Book Publisher Association (IBPA), which recently celebrated its fortieth anniversary, chose a resort and spa nestled on beautiful Coronado Island, located just across the bay from downtown San Diego, as the landscape for its 2023 Publishing University conference. With catered meals, complimentary drinks, and first-class hospitality, the resort was the perfect location for […]

Everything You Might’ve Missed at the 2022 Conference, From Official Events to Connections Made at the Cake Machine IAM Staff Five days. Fifty-two vendors. Nearly eighteen hundred in-person attendees, with even more tuning in virtually. By many accounts, the 20Books Vegas 2022 conference that took place November 14–18 at Bally’s Events Center in—you guessed it—Las […]

More than a month has passed since 20Books Vegas 2022 came to an end. The nearly two thousand authors who attended have returned home and come down from the high of participating in the biggest indie author conference in the world. But for those same attendees, the lessons and new friends that came from the […]

Volunteers Behind This Year’s 20Books Vegas Say Giving Their Time Is Its Own Reward At the 20Books Vegas 2022 conference, the 6 a.m. volunteer shift buzzes with energy. People from all corners of the world run off in groups to unload swag from vehicles, unpack notebooks, and prepare their stations. I was lucky enough to […]

Going to the Frankfurt Book Fair is a jolt of adrenaline for book lovers. For the past seventy-four years, from all the regions of the world, publishers have been coming together to show off their beautiful work for readers, and as an indie author, you are part of the trade. Each year, the six-plus buildings […]

Books on the beach sounds like a relaxing summer pastime—or maybe a cliché online dating profile, depending on who you ask. But in the case of the annual conference hosted by Novelists, Inc. (NINC), the concept has become a productive, professional five-day event that balances traditional and indie spheres, business and fun. And this year, […]

Ahead of 20Books Vegas, the annual four-day indie author conference hosted by 20BooksTo50K® creator Craig Martelle, a renewed era of travel has arrived—and it’s safe to say it’s more inconvenient than ever. In 2022, long lines, delays, and short staffing have all contributed to higher levels of stress and frustration as travelers return to in-person […]

Susan Odev When Mark Dawson made his clarion call for volunteers to help backstage and front-of-house for the Self Publishing Show Live event, held June 28 and 29 in London’s South Bank, I hesitated to raise my hand.  The inaugural event, back in 2020, heralded the start of lockdown, and there was an excellent chance […]

Breaking Bread (and Churros) across Europe: 20Books Madrid in Review There is no substitute for in-person events. “You’ll learn a few things from the books, you’ll get quite a bit from the professors, but where the real knowledge and experience comes from, what you really need to make an effort to focus on, are your […]

The Pirates Have Landed In between the 20Books Madrid and the SPF Live London conferences, there was a quieter, smaller, yet possibly more disruptive conference: 20Books Holland.  The Netherlands is several years behind the United States in the indie publishing world. Authors might be frustrated when working in an environment where traditional publishing still has […]

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