IBPA Publishing University 2025

Grants, Funding & Other Opportunities for Under-Resourced Indie Publishers with Joylynn M. Ross and Brandy Miller.
 
For author publishers and micro publishers who are figuring out the business of publishing 
 
Are you full of literary dreams, visions, and goals that are bigger than your budget? Don't get discouraged because in this workshop, you will be empowered and equipped with the resources, systems, strategies, and techniques to help you achieve, manifest, and reach them. If you are an author or publisher looking to build, scale, and grow your publishing business, and would like the resources you need to do so, then this is the workshop you don't want to miss. 
 
To help you maximize the workshop, consider investing in the following companion curriculum and resources: 
 
Make a Living as a Writer (hardcopy curriculum):  
https://www.pathtopublishing.com/conferencestore
 
Act Like an Author, Think Like a Business: Ways to Achieve Financial Literary Success: https://www.pathtopublishing.com/actlikeanauthorbook

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.