#Writers conference, affordable, EXCITING, #Self-pub talks you need to learn from! EPICON2015 in March in San Antonio!

EPICon-2015

March 12 - 14, 2015

Menger Hotel, San Antonio, Texas

Call (800) 345-9285 and use discount code 031115EPIC or book online and use discount code EPICON

Workshops

Book production from A to Z - David Wilk Starting with the raw manuscript, publishers go through a long list of steps to end up with a finished print and/or digital publication. In this two hour workshop, we will cover every element of the editorial and production process, resources writers must access, budgeting, workflow, new and emerging tools and technologies, and tips for saving time and money while producing books that meet commercial standards. We will talk about digital and traditional printing, ebooks, both reflowable and fixed layout, childrens' books, enhanced ebooks, HTML5, and more.

Cover Copy: Getting Your Hooks in Deep - Jeff Seymour Indie author and Carina Press freelance editor Jeff Seymour has written cover copy for dozens of books, including his own, over the course of his career. He’ll discuss how to break down a synopsis to find its sharpest hooks and how to fit them into a short, sweet package that will give readers everything they need to open a book. Topics will include basic  structures, hook identification, working under a strict character count, and making judicious use of your hard-earned writing skills. Bring a synopsis! We’ll work together to create cover copy for someone’s book over the course of the workshop. 

Crafty Business for the Working Writer -  Carol Berg Whether writing fiction, non-fiction, long or short, a professional writer has responsibilities to publisher, agent, reader, and self.  Many are related to communication, design, or scheduling.  But professional responsibility must also include the craft of writing itself.  This workshop will explore those sometimes uncomfortable lanes where the business of writing and the craft of writing intersect. 

Distribution, Sales, Marketing - David Wilk In this two hour workshop, we will discuss the complete range of critical functions that publishers, and authors who publish must know about in the areas of distribution, sales, marketing, PR, and even social media and websites. We will talk about how the trade book industry works, who the players are, what they do, what works best for publishers and authors who publish, and especially, what you need to know and do in order to be as successful as possible, whether you are publishing in print, digital or both, whether you have one book to sell or 100.

How to Hit the Bestseller Lists with Ebook Preorders – Jim Azevedo Preorders represent one of the most exciting new tools for indie ebook authors and publishers.  In this session, you will learn how preorders work, and how to plan, stage and execute a successful preorder strategy. The recommended preorder strategies in this session are grounded in professional publishing best practices that will help make any ebook launch more successful. Attendees will hear recent case study examples of how indie authors have used preorders to increase sales rank and visibility, and will leave the session equipped with knowledge that they can put to immediate use.

How to Sell Books by the Truckload on Amazon - Penny C. Sansevieri Amazon is a great place to sell books, but most authors don’t realize that Amazon has an internal sales machine that will actually help you market your book, for free, if you trigger it? It’s called their internal algorithm and, not that dissimilar from ranking on Google, Once Amazon’s algorithm kicks in, you could see a boatload of free promotion come your way from Amazon.

Indie, Digital, or Traditional?: Whom to Submit What To and Why - Jeff Seymour In the smash-bang explosion of the digital revolution, writers have more choices than ever in deciding whom to submit their work to. In this workshop, indie author and Carina Press freelance editor Jeff Seymour will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the independent, digital, and traditional models; evaluating the market for your story and choosing the model that fits it best; and the benefits to the author of an all-of-the-above approach. He’ll also talk about why, despite his work as an editor for a digital-first imprint of a major house, he chose to publish his first book independently; why he may not make that choice for his next book; and what he’s learned on both sides of the indie/traditional divide.

Practical Marketing Advice - Jennifer Fusco In this interactive session, authors and others will learn how to hook new readers to sell their book in four easy sentences. Learn the differences in marketing strategies and how to apply each to grow a readership. This session will also cover an in depth discussion of brand and brand management techniques.  Learn the differences between a publicist and an author’s assistant (no, they’re not the same thing).  And discuss lessons learned from Corporate America and how they apply to authors, as well as, the future of author marketing and what lies beyond what we already know.

Super Fans - The Secrets to Selling More Books - Penny C. Sansevieri At the end of the day, for all of the marketing we do, for all of the Tweeting, Facebook-ing, and blogging we really just want to know if it’s paying off. Does any of this sell books? This session will teach you not only how to identify your exact right market, but how to effectively and efficiently go after them and turn fans into SUPER FANS.

The Author /Publisher Marketing Partnership - Jennifer Fusco and Molly Harper
This panel discussion is guaranteed to shed light on the workings of the author/publisher marketing relationship. Join bestselling paranormal romance author, Molly Harper, and Market or Die Author Services, Jennifer Fusco as they talk about marketing support provided by the publisher and what the author is expected to do for themselves.

The Juggling Act – Writing For More Than One Publisher - Cindy Myers Writing for multiple publishers allows you to write different kinds of stories, reach more readers and increase your income. Learn how to manage multiple deadlines, juggle release dates, handle promotion, and head-off potential conflicts. Author Cindy Myers, who has written more than 55 books for seven different publishers, shares tips and techniques for dealing with the demands of writing for more than one publisher – including how to combine self-publishing with other writing obligations.

Outsmarting the Clock – Time Management For Writers (and other publishing professionals.) - Cindy Myers   Whether writing is your full-time job or a part-time passion, finding time to put the words on page – not to mention for editing, promotion, and other business tasks – can be a challenge. In this workshop, prolific author Cindy Myers offers tips and techniques for finding more time to write and making the most of the time you do have. We’ll talk about targeting time-wasters, defeating procrastination, dealing with distractions, getting your family on your side, knowing when and what to delegate, and look at some writing exercises that could up your productivity and creativity.

Social Media Strategies for Authors and Publishers - John Warren For authors and publishers, social media offers a way to connect directly with audience. Social media is about adding value—for your stakeholders and audience. In this workshop, we’ll discuss successful social media strategies that address social and strategic goals, from a “digital strategy” that involves broadcasting commercial messages to a true “social strategy” that seeks to reduce costs or increase customers’ willingness to pay. We will review different platforms will help authors and publishers to achieve diverse goals, assess ways to rethink organizational structure and roles; examine techniques to become familiar with your customers’ and competitors’ social media habits; and assess tools for social media analytics. This is a “flipped” workshop and includes a assignment to do prior to the workshop: choose two publishers—one trade or general interest publisher and one academic, professional, or nonprofit publisher—and follow their activities on at least two and preferably three social media platforms—such as Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr—for at least two weeks, preferably more. Be prepared to discuss the nature of their activities and your perception of the effectiveness of these publishers’ social media strategies during this workshop.

Writing a World That Works -  Carol Berg A vivid sense of place helps any story come alive.  Whether your story is set in modern day Chicago or a medieval kingdom that wars with dragons, the characters in your story are going to be interacting with a world you create.  What must you consider when setting your adventure, mystery, fantasy or thriller in a world that is not contemporary USA?  We'll discuss the building blocks of believable societies, avoiding cliches, common world-creation mistakes, and evocative writing techniques.

Zen and the Art of Metadata Maintenance - John Warren Metadata is the lifeblood of publishing in the digital age and the key to discovery. Metadata is a universe, a continuum of standards, and a process of information flow; the process of creating and disseminating metadata involves both art and science. This workshop we will examine the theory and practice of metadata, from the basics of quality metadata construction and management, steps for analyzing your metadata process and instilling continuous improvement steps, programs such as BISG’s Product Certification Program, practical applications for publishers and authors such as keywords, metadata issues for ebooks, and the “frontiers” of the ever-evolving metadata universe. Metadata permeates and enables all aspects of publishing, from information creation and production to marketing and dissemination and an understanding of metadata is essential for publishers, authors, and all those involved in the publishing industry.

REGISTER NOW! Join the Fun and learn how to be the best author you can be!

Registration cost $224.00  Do it now! https://www.epicorg.com/conference-attendee-registration/registrationformform.html