IBPA Publishing University 2025

Grab a yummy breakfast and learn about IBPA's committees, board, and volunteer opportunities.

Brooke Warner, Publisher of She Writes Press, in conversation with Jonathan Merkh (President and Publisher of Forefront Books), Angela Engel (Publisher and Founder of The Collective Book Studio), and Dr. Ayo Sekai (Founder, CEO, and Publisher of Universal Write Publications) about rethinking business models, what to do with business models that straddle more than one category, and issues like co-opting business model terms to the point of dilution. The panelists will talk about how they think about their own models, how they're changing with the times, and how they position themselves relative to traditional publishing and other models.

Author to Thought Leader to Publicist-in-chief: You as a Speaker
Faculty Jeniffer Thompson and Mary Catherine Jones, with moderator and host Eryka Parker.

Start Talking: Amplify Your Platform in Front of the Camera and Behind the Mic

Even before the book is published, today’s author needs to switch gears from creating the book to creating a buzz. And one of the most effective ways to do this is to start talking. Done well, this means increasing your marketing visibility and building authority by engaging your audience, creating social media reels, booking podcasts, recording an audiobook, speaking at events, and producing engaging content that keeps your audience loyal.

In this interactive workshop, attendees will leave with concrete, repeatable ideas and actionable strategies to elevate their brands and elocute with ease. Industry pros Jeniffer Thompson (Monkey C Media) and Mary Catherine Jones (The Audiobook Experience) will teach you how to make the transition from author to thought leader to publicist-in-chief, and (most critically) how to look and sound like the professional you are and give a polished performance every time.

The author publisher breakout sessions are intended for author publishers (a.k.a. self-published authors) who are creating and publishing their own works. 

Grab some food, meet a few sponsors, and connect with your community!

Grab your food and join this candid discussion with room for everyone to contribute. We'll talk and share about how we are all impacted in an industry and culture that is pulling back from diversity commitments, and generate ideas for how we move forward by building trust, authenticity, and mutual learning within the publishing community to help diverse books reach the readers who need them.

Data-Driven Decisions for Author Publishers

Just finished a book and ready to publish? You have options, and we have information you didn’t know you needed. Join us for an exclusive review of the merits of Independent Publishing as we spill the TEA (Testimonials Educating Authors). This session includes statements from successful independent publishers, data from the 2024 ALLI data drop, and expertise from two industry professionals.

The author publisher breakout sessions are intended for author publishers (a.k.a. self-published authors) who are creating and publishing their own works. 

Cover Design Live Critique Panel!

Faculty: CB Messer, Claudine Mansour, Lacey L. Bakker, Paul Nylander, with moderator and host JuLee Brand.

If you would like your book considered for the live critique (with the goal to be constructive and helpful to all), please do so on the form here by Thursday May 8, 2025.

The author publisher breakout sessions are intended for author publishers (a.k.a. self-published authors) who are creating and publishing their own works. 

Don't miss our closing session of raffle prizes and rapid-fire takeaways!