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Audience: Author Publishers (A.K.A. Self-Published Authors) clear filter
Thursday, May 15
 

1:00pm CDT

Thursday Workshop 3: Optimizing Amazon for Profit
Thursday May 15, 2025 1:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Optimizing Amazon for Profit
Ian Lamont

Amazon Ads. Kindle Direct Publishing. Amazon Advantage. No matter which way you turn, Amazon is always finding another way to take a bigger slice of the revenue pie ... and leave less for publishers. So how can publishers put some of that money back into their own pockets?

An experienced independent publisher and Amazon seller, Ian Lamont has deep experience with Amazon programs. While he doesn't have a magic wand, he has insights and best practices that can help everyone from independent authors to distributed publishers make more money from sales on Amazon. 

Come prepared with your three biggest concerns about Amazon and your best listening skills. This fast-moving session will leave you with tons of notes and resources, and will feature an opportunity for on-the-spot evaluations of your own Amazon book listings. 
 
Topics will include:
  • The 10 Commandments of Amazon 
  • Detail Page Optimization for Books 
  • Amazon Search Fundamentals
  • Best Practices for Amazon Ads
  • Navigating Dark Patterns on Amazon     
  • Branding on Amazon, from A+ to Amazon Stores

Speakers
avatar for Ian Lamont

Ian Lamont

Founder, i30 Media Corporation
**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 1A - Fri 5/16, 1:20-1:35pm, 1B - Fri 5/16, 1:40-1:55pm, 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pm, 2A - Fri 5/16, 3:05-3:20pm, 2B - Fri 5/16, 3:25-3:40pm, 2C - Fri 5/16, 3:45-4:00pm, 4A - Sat 5/17, 1:45-2:00pm, 4B - Sat 5/17, 2:05-2:20pm... Read More →
Thursday May 15, 2025 1:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Intercontinental - Kellogg II-III (lobby level)

1:00pm CDT

Thursday Workshop 4: Business Management
Thursday May 15, 2025 1:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Business Management
Tieshena Davis and Maria Dismondy

For Start Strong Independent Publishers.

Learn the elements of building a strong publishing business, gain strategies for real-time business analysis, and develop the necessary systems and processes to succeed. What’s your business plan? What are your goals? What kinds of sales are you planning for: Libraries, bookstores, online retailers, bulk sales, other? What’s your three-year plan, and beyond?

We’ll review all the key functions of every publishing business, walk through ways to troubleshoot and respond to challenges as your business grows, and explore critical standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the systems and processes you’ll need to run your business day to day, week to week, and year to year. This workshop will include hands-on activities, examples of problem-solving, and time for your questions (and answers!)
Speakers
avatar for Tieshena Davis

Tieshena Davis

CEO & Publisher, Publish Your Gift®
Tieshena Davis is the CEO of Publish Your Gift®, a hybrid publishing firm specializing in author branding for leaders at the top of their field. She is a seasoned award-winning entrepreneur, author and board director with over 24 years’ experience in strategic management, growth leadership, and corporate training. Tieshena... Read More →
avatar for Maria Dismondy

Maria Dismondy

Publisher, Cardinal Rule Press
Maria Dismondy uses her experiences as a former educator and author for over a decade to work with writers on getting their messages into the world as the publisher at Cardinal Rule Press. Maria is the founder of Making Spirits Bright, a nonprofit dedicated to providing access to... Read More →
Thursday May 15, 2025 1:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Intercontinental - Kellogg I (lobby level)

5:30pm CDT

Welcome Reception - Literature & Libations
Free reception for all conference attendees, as well as our MBPR and MIPA friends.

Come with a recommendation for an indie published book (published by someone else)!

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:30pm - 7:30pm CDT
Intercontinental - Great River Court (first level, above lobby)
 
Friday, May 16
 

8:00am CDT

Small Group Breakfasts (additional fee)
Come and join your peers for interactive small group breakfast meetups around topics you have a shared interest in!

Tell us your top 3 topics after you sign up (using this form here) and get ready to make new friends. Small Group Breakfast topics include:
-Distribution
-Systems & Operations
-Children’s Publishing
-Working with Libraries
-Direct to Consumers
-Marketing and Technology
-Hybrid Publishing
-Diversity in Publishing
-Other – suggest your own!

When you arrive, register on the First Level in the Great River Court and then head down to the Minnesota Court (lower level. You can choose the table you'd like to sit at—and move around—according to topics posted at the various tables! (Be sure to bring business cards and/or be ready to share your contact information.)

We'll shuffle the room seating so you'll have the opportunity to join three different group discussions over the hour and 45 minutes.

While we wish we could offer this event for free, there is an additional fee of $65 to register for a small group breakfast, which only partly offsets the cost of food. (The breakfast buffet will have vegan options as well as gluten-free options.) You can sign up for the small group breakfast here.
Friday May 16, 2025 8:00am - 9:45am CDT
Intercontinental - Minnesota Court (lower level, below lobby)

11:00am CDT

Welcome and Opening Keynote: The Pillars of Publishing – Copyright and Freedom of Expression
Our program begins!

Andrea Fleck-Nisbet, IBPA's CEO, will welcome everyone and introduce Maria A. Pallante for our opening keynote:

The Pillars of Publishing – Copyright and Freedom of Expression
The legal framework that supports the publishing industry has never been more important. Maria A. Pallante, President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers, will discuss the bedrock principles that underpin the global publishing ecosystem: copyright and freedom of expression. The discussion will explore the landscape of copyright law and regulation, with a particular focus on exclusive rights of authors and publishers in their creative works, as well as the crucial role of freedom of speech and freedom to publish to our democracy and an informed citizenry.
Speakers
avatar for Maria A. Pallante

Maria A. Pallante

President and CEO, Association of American Publishers
Maria A. Pallante leads AAP’s strategic agenda and public policy portfolio, working with her talented team to advance and protect the laws that incentivize and protect creative and intellectual authorship. From 2011 to 2016, she served as Register of Copyrights and Director of the... Read More →
Friday May 16, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Intercontinental - Great River Ballroom (first level, above lobby)

12:00pm CDT

12:45pm CDT

Board Recognition
Join us to thank our outgoing – and welcome our incoming – members of the IBPA Board of Directors.

1:15pm CDT

Breakout 1 (Author Publishers) - Your Brand and Value Proposition
Friday May 16, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Breakout 1 (Author Publishers) - Your Brand and Value PropositionDetails to be announced.

Faculty include Lindsy Bivens and Brandon Birkmeyer, with moderator and host Jeniffer Thompson.

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

Brandon Birkmeyer

Personal Branding Coach, Brands On Brands Consulting
Brandon is a personal branding specialist and a former Coca-Cola and Apple advertising executive with over 22 years of experience at Madison Avenue advertising agencies advising top FORTUNE 100 companies on brand strategy. In 2018, he launched the Brands On Brands podcast, which is... Read More →
avatar for Lindsy Bivens

Lindsy Bivens

Consultant & Publisher, The Author's Pen
Lindsy Bivens is a powerhouse consultant, publisher, and dynamic speaker who has empowered countless authors, entrepreneurs, and leaders to transform their stories into movements. As the visionary behind The Author’s Pen, LLC, Lindsy has personally guided over 100 authors and impacted... Read More →
avatar for Jeniffer Thompson

Jeniffer Thompson

Creative Director, Monkey C Media
** Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 2A - Fri 5/16, 3:05-3:20pm, 2B - Fri 5/16, 3:25-3:40pm, 2C - Fri 5/16, 3:45-4:00pm, 5A - group - Sat 5/17, 3:35-4:00pm, 5B - group - Sat 5/17, 4:05-4:30pmAreas of Expertise: Amazon Marketing Services, Design, General Publishing... Read More →
Friday May 16, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Intercontinental - Governors II (lower level, below lobby)

3:00pm CDT

Breakout 2 (Author Publishers) - Consumer Marketing
Friday May 16, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Consumer marketing
Faculty Juliet Wills and Django De Gree, II, with moderator and host Andrea DeWerd.

In today’s fast-evolving publishing marketplace, indie authors and small presses are outpacing traditional publishing by embracing nimble, data-driven, and low-cost marketing strategies. This session—moderated by Andrea DeWerd (the future of agency) with panelists Django De Gree (Focus On Words and WroteBy.Me) and Juliet Wills (Galaxy Press)—will explore what’s actually working right now, from direct-to-consumer marketing and sales, to SEO, trend-spotting, and new technology—including the AI-powered tools that are actually helpful. We'll dig into the growing gap between traditional and self-publishing, highlight the value of tracking and attribution in the advertising and sales funnels, and share practical tools and tactics that every author-publisher or small press can use to drive discoverability and sales today.

The author publisher breakout sessions are intended for author publishers (a.k.a. self-published authors) who are creating and publishing their own works. 
Speakers
avatar for Django De Gree, II

Django De Gree, II

CEO, Author, Wrote By Me
**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 1A - Fri 5/16, 1:20-1:35pmAreas of Expertise: Distribution, Internet Marketing, Marketing, Metadata, Print-on-Demand, Special Market Sales, Publicity, Social Media, Websites, Public Speaking, Printing (General), Direct to Consumer... Read More →
avatar for Juliet Wills

Juliet Wills

VP Global Sales and Rights, Galaxy Press
Juliet Wills: I started in publishing while still in High School as the receptionist of a literary agency. Early in life I discovered a passion for inspiring our youth to read (I started as a reluctant reader myself, and with a great book fell in love with reading, so I know how important... Read More →
avatar for Andrea DeWerd

Andrea DeWerd

Founder, the future of agency LLC
**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 1A - Fri 5/16, 1:20-1:35pm, 1B - Fri 5/16, 1:40-1:55pm, 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pmAreas of Expertise: Internet Marketing, General Publishing Consultancy, Book Reviews, Marketing, Metadata, Public Speaking, Special Market Sales... Read More →
Friday May 16, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Intercontinental - Governors II (lower level, below lobby)

4:15pm CDT

Friday Afternoon Keynote Panel: AI and Publishing - Opportunities, Challenges, and Transformation
In this panel discussion moderated by Keith Riegert (President of the Stable Book Group and CEO of Perfect Bound), Mary Rasenberger (CEO of the Authors Guild), Amanda Zila, PhD (Co-Founder of Inkbloom), and Trip Adler (Founder and CEO of Created by Humans) will address the various opportunities, challenges, and transformations happening as AI impacts the publishing landscape.  

Topics will include: 
  • Acquisition management 
  • Copyright protection 
  • Fair use and ethical considerations 
  • Licensing opportunities  
  • Editorial, production, and marketing tools 
These industry experts will provide their insights into the emerging technologies that are rapidly changing our industry. With ample time for Q&A, the audience will also have the opportunity to share and engage on these topics.
Speakers
avatar for Mary Rasenberger

Mary Rasenberger

CEO, The Authors Guild
Mary Rasenberger is the Chief Executive Officer of the Authors Guild. Prior to joining the Guild in November 2014, Mary practiced law for over 25 years in the areas of intellectual property, media and technology, with special expertise in copyright law. Most recently, Mary was a partner... Read More →
avatar for Trip Adler

Trip Adler

Co-Founder & CEO, Created by Humans
Trip Adler is an entrepreneur and executive who has spent his career at the intersection of publishing and technology.   He is the co-founder and CEO of Created by Humans, an AI Rights licensing platform that connects creators and AI companies. The company is dedicated to preserving... Read More →
avatar for Amanda Zila

Amanda Zila

Co-Founder & CEO, Inkbloom
** Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 1A - Fri 5/16, 1:20-1:35pm, 1B - Fri 5/16, 1:40-1:55pm, 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pmArea of Expertise: AIRegistered attendees can sign up for “Ask the Expert” consults at the conference starting at 10am on Thursday May... Read More →
avatar for Keith Riegert

Keith Riegert

President / CEO, The Stable Book Group / Perfect Bound
Keith Riegert is the CEO of the SaaS platform, Perfect Bound, as well as the president of The Stable Book Group. He serves on the Board of Advisors for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and is a member of the Board of Advisors and an adjunct professor at NYU’s Masters... Read More →
 
Saturday, May 17
 

8:30am CDT

9:15am CDT

Saturday Morning Keynote Panel: Re-Thinking Business Models
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.
Speakers
avatar for Brooke Warner

Brooke Warner

Publisher, She Writes Press
**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 1A - Fri 5/16, 1:20-1:35pm, 1B - Fri 5/16, 1:40-1:55pm, 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pm, 3B - Sat 5/17, 11:05-11:20am, 3C - Sat 5/17, 11:25-11:40am, 3D - Sat 5/17, 11:45am-12noonAreas of Expertise: Distribution, Editorial, General... Read More →
avatar for Angela Engel

Angela Engel

Publisher & Founder, The Collective Book Studio
​** Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times:  2A - Fri 5/16, 3:05-3:20pm, 2B - Fri 5/16, 3:25-3:40pm, 3A - Sat 5/17, 10:45-11:00am, 3B - Sat 5/17, 11:05-11:20am, 3C - Sat 5/17, 11:25-11:40amAreas of Expertise: Children's/YA Publishing, Distribution, General Publishing... Read More →
avatar for Jonathan Merkh

Jonathan Merkh

President & Publisher, Forefront Books
**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 3A - Sat 5/17, 10:45-11:00am, 3B - Sat 5/17, 11:05-11:20am, 3C - Sat 5/17, 11:25-11:40am, 3D - Sat 5/17, 11:45am-12noon, 4A - Sat 5/17, 1:45-2:00pm, 4B - Sat 5/17, 2:05-2:20pm, 4C - Sat 5/17, 2:25-2:40pm, 5A - group - Sat 5/17... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Ayo Sekai

Dr. Ayo Sekai

Founder, CEO & Publisher, Universal Write Publications
**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 2A - Fri 5/16, 3:05-3:20pm, 2B - Fri 5/16, 3:25-3:40pm, 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pmAreas of Expertise: Marketing, Academic Publishing, Strategic Partnerships in PublishingRegistered attendees can sign up for “Ask the Expert... Read More →

Saturday May 17, 2025 9:15am - 10:30am CDT
Intercontinental - Great River Ballroom (first level, above lobby)

10:40am CDT

Breakout 3 (Author Publishers) - Author to Thought Leader to Publicist-in-chief: You as a Speaker
Saturday May 17, 2025 10:40am - 12:10pm CDT
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. 
Speakers
avatar for Jeniffer Thompson

Jeniffer Thompson

Creative Director, Monkey C Media
** Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 2A - Fri 5/16, 3:05-3:20pm, 2B - Fri 5/16, 3:25-3:40pm, 2C - Fri 5/16, 3:45-4:00pm, 5A - group - Sat 5/17, 3:35-4:00pm, 5B - group - Sat 5/17, 4:05-4:30pmAreas of Expertise: Amazon Marketing Services, Design, General Publishing... Read More →
avatar for MaryCatherine Jones

MaryCatherine Jones

Owner, Executive Producer, The Audiobook Experience
**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 1A - Fri 5/16, 1:20-1:35pm, 1B - Fri 5/16, 1:40-1:55pm, 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pm, 2A - Fri 5/16, 3:05-3:20pm, 2B - Fri 5/16, 3:25-3:40pm, 2C - Fri 5/16, 3:45-4:00pm, 4A - Sat 5/17, 1:45-2:00pm, 4B - Sat 5/17, 2:05-2:20pm... Read More →
avatar for Eryka Parker

Eryka Parker

Founder, eParke Press
I'm a publishing consultant, book coach, and developmental editor who strives to ignite passion in others through creative coaching and writing workshops.
Saturday May 17, 2025 10:40am - 12:10pm CDT
Intercontinental - Governors II (lower level, below lobby)

12:15pm CDT

12:30pm CDT

Diversity in Publishing Roundtable Discussion
Saturday May 17, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
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.
Saturday May 17, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
Intercontinental - Kellogg I (lobby level)

1:40pm CDT

Breakout 4 (Author Publishers) - Data-Driven Decisions for Author Publishers
Saturday May 17, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm CDT
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. 
Speakers
avatar for Vivaca Leburu

Vivaca Leburu

Key Account Sales Manager, IngramSpark
New to IngramSpark but not new to sales, I have over 20 years of experience across diverse industries including IT, consumer lending, fashion, and now publishing. My background has equipped me with a sharp eye for opportunity, a passion for growth, and a strategic mindset that helps... Read More →
avatar for Leigh Pierce

Leigh Pierce

Key Account Sales Manager, Ingram Content Group
**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 3A - Sat 5/17, 10:45-11:00am, 3B - Sat 5/17, 11:05-11:20am, 5A - group - Sat 5/17, 3:35-4:00pm, 1B - Fri 5/16, 1:40-1:55pm, 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pmAreas of Expertise: Distribution, Ingram/IngramSpark, Metadata, Print-on-DemandRegistered... Read More →
Saturday May 17, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm CDT
Intercontinental - Governors II (lower level, below lobby)

3:30pm CDT

Breakout 5 (Author Publishers) - Cover Design Live Critique Panel
Saturday May 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
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. 
Speakers
avatar for CB Messer

CB Messer

Artist, CB Messer Illustration & Design
**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 3A - Sat 5/17, 10:45-11:00am, 3B - Sat 5/17, 11:05-11:20am, 3C - Sat 5/17, 11:25-11:40am, 3D - Sat 5/17, 11:45am-12noon, 4A - Sat 5/17, 1:45-2:00pm, 4B - Sat 5/17, 2:05-2:20pm, 4C - Sat 5/17, 2:25-2:40pmArea of Expertise: DesignRegistered... Read More →
avatar for Claudine Mansour

Claudine Mansour

Creative Director/Owner, Claudine Mansour Design
**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 1A - Fri 5/16, 1:20-1:35pm, 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pm, 2B - Fri 5/16, 3:25-3:40pm, 3A - Sat 5/17, 10:45-11:00am, 3C - Sat 5/17, 11:25-11:40am, 4A - Sat 5/17, 1:45-2:00pmArea of Expertise: DesignRegistered attendees can sign... Read More →
avatar for JuLee Brand

JuLee Brand

Publisher, W. Brand Publishing
JuLee Brand has over thirty years of experience as an award-winning graphic designer and over ten years of publishing experience working as an Art Director at Hachette Books Nashville and being publisher/founder at W. Brand Publishing, a boutique hybrid publisher specializing in memoirs... Read More →
avatar for Lacey L. Bakker

Lacey L. Bakker

Owner/Publisher, Pandamonium Publishing House
Lacey L. Bakker is a best-selling author and founder of Pandamonium Publishing House, an independent publishing company that has been helping authors bring their stories to life for nearly a decade. Lacey has a proven track record of guiding authors through every step of the process... Read More →
avatar for Paul Nylander

Paul Nylander

Book Designer, Illustrada Design
** Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 1A - Fri 5/16, 1:20-1:35pm, 1B - Fri 5/16, 1:40-1:55pm, 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pm, 4A - Sat 5/17, 1:45-2:00pm, 4B - Sat 5/17, 2:05-2:20pm, 4C - Sat 5/17, 2:25-2:40pmAreas of Expertise: Design, Ebooks, General Publishing... Read More →
Saturday May 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Intercontinental - Governors II (lower level, below lobby)

4:40pm CDT

 
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