Archive: 2015 Chanticleer Writers Conference & Awards Banquet
September 26th, 27th, 28th, & 29th, 2015; Saturday at the Bellingham Yacht Club, and Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday at the Hotel Bellwether at Squalicum Harbor on beautiful Bellingham Bay, Washington located conveniently between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.
Chanticleer Authors Conference 2015 Speakers and Faculty Members
CAC15 Speakers & Presenters
Robert Dugoni: Amazon #1 Bestselling Author, NY Times and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author (and all around great guy!)
Robert Dugoni is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series: My Sister’s Grave, Her Final Breath (September 2015) and A Clearing in the Woods (May 2016). He is also the author of the critically acclaimed, David Sloane series: The Jury Master,Wrongful Death, Bodily Harm, Murder One and The Conviction. His books are sold world-wide in more than 20 countries and have been translated into a dozen languages including French, German, Italian and Spanish. Dugoni and author Steven James teach a four day writing intensive. www.novelwritingintensive.com
A writer turned lawyer turned writer. Dugoni is a NY Times bestselling author of legal thrillers. A Stanford graduate and UCLA law school graduate, he practiced for 13 years in San Francisco. We at Chanticleer Book Reviews agree with others that “Dugoni is the undisputed king of the Legal Thriller.”
Sessions:
- Robert Dugoni will make a special presentation on Tuesday
- Panelist on Publishing in Today’s Marketplace
- Author Signing at Books By the Bay Book Fair on Tuesday at 5:30
- Opening Remarks at the Chanticleer Writing Competitions Awards Banquet and Gala.
Elizabeth Dimarco: Game Changer – BOOKS I LOVE, CEO
CEO and co-founder of BooksILove, a word-of-mouth app for mobile devices. An accomplished author, technology geek, and marketing guru, Elizabeth works with with CEOs to think creatively to generate visibility and competitive differentiation in a cluttered marketplace−skills required for book discovery.
Elizabeth thrives on audacious ideas that are game-changers.
Sessions: Elizabeth will be giving the How to Use BOOKS I LOVE App to Build Book Buzz presentations throughout the conference.
Take advantage of the great opportunity to be a market leader with this cutting edge technology. Chanticleer Reviews will link all of our reviews to Books I Love and vice versa. Elizabeth will show you how to install and use the app, as well as how to persuade friends and fans to use it.
Authors can use BOOKS I LOVE app to: Regularly recommend using BookSnips that you create, announce book launches with Happenings, share the books you love and help readers discover your books, and promote author signings, give-aways, and more! Find out how at Elizabeth’s sessions.
Diane Isaacs: Excutive Film Producer and Director of Luna Design: NYC/LA/ATL/PDX
Diane brings more than two decades of experience in film and television industries as an executive film producer, president of production for Don Johnson Productions at Universal and Paramount pictures, president of development and production for Green Moon Productions where she produced films for Antonio Banderas and Emma Thompson.
Diane is also the executive creative director of Luna Design: Design & Branding, Content Strategy, Experimental Marketing, Web & App Development, Photo & Video Production. Clients include: Bunker Media, Microsoft China, BLUEPRINT NYC, Prime Pictures, and others.
Sessions:
- Story Telling in a Modern World
- The Book to Film Labyrinth: the art of loglines, high “concepting,” and pitching
- Sunday Luncheon Keynote Presentation
- Monday Morning Kaffee Klatsch
Cami Ostman: Life Coach, Author, and Marathon Runner
Cami Ostman is the editor of Beyond Belief: The Secret Lives of Women in Extreme Religions and the author of Second Wind: One Woman’s Midlife Quest to Run Seven Marathons on Seven Continents (Seal Press), which was reviewed in O, The Oprah Magazine. She is a founding mother of the Red Wheelbarrow Writers community in Bellingham, Washington and is a writing teacher, a life-coach, and a family therapist as well as a regular contributor to Adventures Northwest magazine. Cami’s gift as a coach and teacher is supporting people in figuring out what it is they have to say and helping them render their message with scenic clarity and a powerful voice.
- Platforms (not shoes): How to Position Yourself as an Expert on Your Topic
- Taming Your Inner Critic
- Keynote Sunday Evening Dinner Presentation
Shari Stauch: Marketing Guru and Public Relations Specialist
Shari Stauch has been on the forefront of marketing and public relations for more than 30 years. She conducts seminars on website marketing and author branding and is the CEO of Where Writers Win, a company that “shrinks the web” and vets services for authors.
She currently is the president of the Lowcountry Initiative for the Literary Arts (LILA) in Charleston, S.C. Stauch is an award-winning essayist and fiction writer, author of four non-fiction books, and has recently completed a novel set in her hometown of Chicago, Illinois.
Tuesday Luncheon Keynote Presenter
Sessions:
Session 1: Social Media Savvy for Authors: Building an Author Platform Using the Best Social Sites for YOUR Audience
Stauch will talk about which social media sites you need to be on, tips for building audience on social media platforms, and what to share and how often to share it.
Session 2: 7 Steps to a Great Author Website: It’s All About Function vs. Form.
This is the opportunity to learn about why a professional website is a must-have hub for your author communication, understand what content readers are looking for, how to increase your searchability, and how to have an attractive site that also WORKS.
Session 3: How to be a Best Seller? It’s All About the Influence! How to Grow Your Audience Using Key Industry Influencers.
Learn how book reviewers, book bloggers and live book clubs can tip the sales scale in an author’s favor. Important lessons can be taken from Shari’s presentation This discussion includes a demo of resources for finding your reviewers and clubs in the Winner Circle, as well as suggestions on how to approach them with your book(s).
Session 4: Top Twenty: “Outside the Box” Book Marketing Ideas! How Thinking About Your Readers Will Sell More Books.
Lastly, find out why shouting “Buy my book” isn’t enough anymore. Be sure to check this presentation titled Learn how other authors have identified key marketing strategies to set themselves apart in an ever growing marketplace of books. Includes a facilitated brainstorm session: Authors will walk out with at least three new ideas to grow their own readership.
Pamela Beason: Award Winning Mystery Author and Private Investigator
Pam is the author of seven full-length fiction works; The Only Witness and The Only Clue in the Neema Mysteries, romantic suspense novels Shaken and Call of the Jaguar, and Endangered, Bear Bait, and Undercurrentsin the Summer Westin mystery series, published by Penguin/Berkley. She has most recently self-published the first of her YA series, Race with Danger.
Pamela also wrote the nonfiction ebooks: SAVE Your Money, Your Sanity, as well as Our Planet and So You Want to Be a PI? Pam has been awarded the Daphne du Maurier Award and both First Place and Grand Prize in the Chanticleer Novel Competition. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes novels and screenplays and works as a private investigator.
PANEL: SHOW ME THE MONEY: Pricing Strategies for Indie, Hybrid, Traditional, Digital E-books, and Print – Running Real-World Publishing Numbers.
Sessions:
- Planning a Series (90 minutes)
- Characterization–Creating Memorable Characters to Keep Your Readers Coming Back.
Joy Capps: Chief Marketing Officer, Bublish
Joy Capps is an award-winning, results-driven business communicator who thrives on building relationships and brands through strategic marketing communication campaigns. Each program she develops consistently increases visibility, augments sales, expands brand awareness, grows existing customer bases and engenders customer loyalty. Over the years she has provided brand building and marketing communications support to many companies, including Compaq Computer Corp., Enron, Stan Lee Media, TECO, Safety-Kleen Corp., Benefitfocus and PeopleMatter. Joy’s experience is complemented by a Master’s Degree and leadership roles in the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), including a three-year term on IABC’s International Board of Directors.
Susan Colleen Browne: Author and Lover of All Things Irish
Susan Colleen Browne is the creator of the Village of Ballydara series, novels and stories set in Ireland. She’s also the author of a memoir, Little Farm in the Foothills: A Boomer Couple’s Search for the Slow Life, a Washington State Library “Summer Reads” book selection, as well as the Morgan Carey series for kids. Susan is a community college creative writing instructor and runs a mini-farm in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Her latest novel is Book 3 of the Village of Ballydara series, The Hopeful Romantic.
Sessions:
Keeping it Short: Writing Novellas, Novelettes, and Short Fiction to Enhance Your Writing Career and Increase Your Readership
Whether your goal is to jump-start your writing practice, build on a series, or dip into publishing independently, writing short can boost your career and your creativity. We’ll discuss format, length, and key elements of shorter works as well as explore source material for your stories. You’ll have the opportunity to brainstorm a story idea, and get tips for publishing your short fiction too. Discover new ways and inspiration to let your storytelling shine! Keeping it Short Handout
Create Your Indie Book Marketing Plan – Coffee Klatsch
Book marketing isn’t rocket science—it’s simply letting people know about your book and making it available! In this session, we’ll focus on basic marketing strategies to get you started. We’ll identify potential marketing goals and review various promotional activities, focusing on easy, low- or no-cost strategies. You’ll also receive guidance as you develop a list of key tasks to suit your book and personal style. You’ll leave with a preliminary marketing plan and ideas for a unique book launch!
PANEL: SHOW ME THE MONEY: Pricing Strategies for Indie, Hybrid, Traditional, Digital E-books, and Print – Running Real-World Publishing Numbers.
Bennett Coles: SciFi Author with Titan Books and Publisher of Promontory Press
Bennett R. Coles is an award-winning science fiction author who has the (perhaps) unique distinction of being traditionally, hybrid and self-published. His writing was certainly influenced by 15 years as a Navy officer and since his retirement from active duty in 2005 he has traveled widely in his quest to secure for himself the moniker of “international man of mystery”.
Today he lives a settled family life in Victoria, Canada and has somehow found himself running the maverick publishing company Promontory Press, as well as engaging as a reluctant revolutionary in reshaping the entire publishing landscape. He is also occasionally found hard at work on his third novel, due for release by Titan Books in 2016.
Bennett Coles will be doing multiple sessions:
Session 1: Publishing Children’s Books in Today’s Market
Session 2: Working with Illustrators
Session 3: Understanding Book Distribution
Session 4: My SciFi Journey from Self-published to Traditionally Published with Titan Books
Sean Curley: Renaissance Man & Software Development Director for Oracle
Sean Curley is often referred to a a Renaissance man because of his diverse educational background in Computer Science, Philosophy, Management, Space Studies, and Creative Writing. He is frequently found speaking on diverse topics such as Humanism, management, parenting, and religious history. He is a director of a software development team for Oracle. He also serves on the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers board representing independently-published authors. Mr. Curley lives in Colorado with his children.
Session: The State of the Union for Indie Publishing
Depending on how you look at it, independent publishing has been around for one to two decades now. It is a young, fast changing industry fraught with possibilities and with problems. When it started, you had to be patient and more than a little technical to make it work. Now, it has been streamlined with a multitude of companies arising to service every need. And that is part of the ongoing problem – there are so many choices and so many ways to do things, how is one to know what is best? This discussion will cover the current state of the industry and discuss the various practices available. If you are considering publishing a book independently, don’t miss this informative talk.
Fox Deatry, Marketing and PR
Fox Deatry previously served as the Director of Digital Content Development, Marketing and Publicity for a Los Angeles-Paramount Studios-based entertainment company, which had an exclusive deal with 20th Century Fox. In his capacity, he established dynamic social media campaigns that effectively reached out to the company’s target demographics.
Sessions:
- Monday Keynote Luncheon Presentation
- Kaffee Klatsch Session: Marketing, Outreach, and Publicity
Diane Garland: Continuity Specialist for Fiction Series
Diane specializes in the world of continuity editing, a systematic way of cataloging all the little known facts in a book series. USA Today bestselling author, Ann Charles, amongst others, count on her attention to detail and her organizational skills to keep their series on track and their fans coming back. Visit her website at www.YourWorldKeeper.com
Session: Continuity Editing Tools and Tips.
Story continuity is a small but very important part of a book series. It allows the author to provide consistency to their story world and makes for a smooth transition for the reader from book to book. Strong continuity editing of a work allows for the reader to stay within the author’s world whether it is a cozy small village or an outpost in another galaxy. Your WorldKeeper works with the author to organize and track changes and details within the series.
Dawn Groves: International Digital Communications Specialist
An author and senior consultant with Einblau & Associates, Dawn focuses on workflow effectiveness, team strategy & communications, and digital efficiency. Her work has been quoted in print publications such as Harvard Business Review, Professional Excellence, Success Magazine, The Scrivener, Bottom Line Personal, etc. http://www.dawngroves.com/
Session 1: Digital Writers: Cutting Edge Resources and Tools of the Trade
Dawn share the latest, most useful digital tools of the writing trade including the latest programs for writing as well as keeping track of projects. She’ll go over the best online resources and communities for each genre, the most inspiring blogs, the best comprehensive, respected advice columns, and web hotspots for publicizing work. There are dozens of excellent resources to help writers travel the road from idea to publication.
Session 2: Blogging for Writers: Doing the Least to Generate the Most
Writers often bemoan the need to publicize their works via online blogs. It’s an understandable frustration because blogs can be time consuming and distracting. In this timely presentation, Dawn will share why blogs have become critical in today’s marketplace and how to fit them into already full schedules. She’ll specify the minimum necessary steps for creating a strong author blog and conclude with ways to manage the resistance accompanying their development.
Amanda Hagarty: Social Media and WattPad Specialist
Amanda started building websites and doing online promotion in 1995. Social media marketing and promotion are a passion-turned-business for her. Amanda June Hagarty is an author with a background in business, marketing, and sales. When she is not writing she teaches other authors how to more effectively use social media to enhance their discoverability. She dislikes the term “social media expert” and prefers to think of herself as an author platform specialist. She has a love/hate relationship with Facebook like everyone else, and her favorite social media is Wattpad, where the whole point is reading and writing.
Sessions:
Wattpad Wonderful: Drive your Discoverability with Social Media Just for Readers and Writers
Wattpadis an author discoverability engine. It is a unique form of social media where the whole point is reading and writing. We will explore some of the specific ways Wattpad can be used to drive book sales, gain fans, and generate reviews. This session is best for independent authors who are able to publish their creative works in any forum they choose, and for the adventurous author looking to take their exposure to the next level.
Kaffee Klatsch – Increasing Your Internet Foot Print
A discussion about author platforms.
Kaffee Klatsch: Social Shenanigans
This is a lighter side discussion of author specific activities you can get up to on social media to both have fun and boost your discoverability. Bring with you any unique ideas you have used to promote online aside from the usual “buy my book” on Twitter. Let’s come up with some creative ideas that will spice up your platform, and make the chore of social media something you can enjoy.
Kayce S. Hughlett: Author & Certified Martha Beck Life Coach
Author Kayce Stevens Hughlett is a long-time blogger and contributor to several collections and online publications. Her 2012 non-fiction book, As I Lay Pondering: Daily Invitations To Live a Transformed Life, is a lyrical and lucid treasure that invites readers to new awakenings throughout the year. Her latest creation, Blue: a novel, releases September 10, 2015.
Session: Book Buzz Your Way
MaryAnn F. Kohl: Author, Publisher, and Literary Agent for Children’s Books
The award winning author of more than 20 books of art experiences for children of all ages, including Action Art, Discovering Great Artists, Preschool Art, Scribble Art, and numerous other best-selling favorites. MaryAnn shares her love of learning and art through workshops at educational conferences throughout the United States. MaryAnn is on the Board of Directors for the Independent Book Publishers Association (www.ibpa-online.org) and was chosen as a Barnes and Noble Parent Expert (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/maryann-kohl-importance-of-art/379002442/) as well as a NAEYC Live Learning Center Speaker. She is also a literary agent for non-fiction early childhood activity books. She lives in Bellingham, Washington.
Session: MaryAnn will present an introductory session to the business side of the Children’s Book Market. Please come with your questions.
- Children’s Book Market, presented by MaryAnn Kohl, Literary Agent/Publisher – Board Room, Tuesday
Steve Lundin: Awarding Winning Media Strategist for BIGFrontier Marketing Agency, Chicago
Steve Lundin is the Chief Hunter and Gatherer of BIGfrontier, a media strategy and thought leadership agency. He is an award winning marketing professional, journalist and pop culture anthropologist with graduate training in counseling psychology. He has helped hundreds of companies develop successful thought leadership programs that have led to sales, funding and acquisitions. His techno noir business thriller, The Manipulator, was published in 2014. It came out in the Top 100 on Amazon in the satire category and has remained in the Top 1000 for over a year.
Session – Signature Branding: Developing a Thought Leadership Program to Drive Book Sales.
He will provide a primer on professional techniques for development of a personal author branding program to drive sales of books. Lundin will provide guidance on assessing personal intellectual assets; analyzing the marketing; developing a unique point of view and assembling a thought leadership program.
He’ll also discuss expectations, execution, and potential results. Lundin’s company has developed over 100 thought leadership programs for companies during the past decade, and he has successfully practiced these techniques himself.
Kathy Meis: Founder of the Award Winning Bublish Platform for Digital Books
Kathy Meis is an entrepreneur, writer, editor and editorial manager with more than twenty years of experience in the media and publishing industry.
Bublish is a publishing technology company that offers cloud-based tools, metrics and resources to equip today’s business-savvy authors for success. An innovative, award-winning platform, Bublish empowers “authorpreneurs” by providing a complete social marketing and digital publishing solution. Launched at Book Expo America in June of 2012, Bublish is changing the way writers share their stories and reach their readers. Thousands of authors around the world use Bublish to promote their work and build their brand.
Sessions presented by Bublish:
- What is Bublish and How Authors Can Use It to Accelerate Book Sales
- Creating Top of Mind Association
- Marketing with Meta Data
Janet Oakley: Historian and Award Winning Author
Janet Oakley writing as J.L Oakley is an award winning author of historical fiction. Her writings appear in various magazines, anthologies, and literary publications. Tree Soldier won the 2012 EPIC ebook Award, 2013 Chanticleer Grand Prize and was chosen by Pacific NW librarians as their 2013 Everybody Reads pick. Its sequel,Timber Rose, won a 1st place 2014 Chaucer Award and silver 2014 WILLA award. She also was award the Bellingham Mayor’s Arts Award .
Last April, Oakley published her first mystery novella, SaddleRoad, for the launch of the Lei Crime Kindle World series. She is currently finished up her second novella for a late October launch. Janet will share her knowledge and experience about two hot topics in today’s publishing industry.
Sessions
- Kindle World: What is it? And How Do You Get Your Works on this Elite Amazon Marketing Platform
- an effective new publishing platform on Amazon that is getting raves
- ACX – Audio books–How she converted her books to audio-books on a budget
Rochelle Parry: Megabite Design
Rochelle Parry has been designing and developing web sites since 1997 and printed materials since the 1980s. She is the creative director at Chanticleer Reviews and has designed and produced high-end photography-focused books. She has been in the Pacific Northwest for 16 years and enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, riverboarding, surfing and riding her motorcycle. You can see some of her work at www.megabite.com .
3 Sessions:
Session 1: Websites Options for Authors
If you’re a little intimidated or overwhelmed by the need to get a website, this workshop is for you! Parry’s session Websites for Authors will explore the various options of how to have a presence on the internet. We will focus on the advantages and disadvantages between having a website and domain name that you own, and the “free” options using blogging software, such as WordPress.com. There will be time for Q & A.
Session 2: Optimizing Your WordPress Website
Session 3: Reach Your Audience! Setting up an email system on your website
Mailchimp is a free system you can implement on your website to build a following with an email list. Setting it up can be a bit tricky. This workshop is hands-on! Bring your laptop, walk out with a Mailchimp system. Limited to 10 people.
Gary Pickering: CEO of CLICKMONSTER
Gary is the founder and CEO of ClickMonster. Gary is an international expert in search engine optimization(SEO) for internet businesses (and that definitely includes author platforms and selling books online) and utilizing social media to increase sales. He helps author websites get discovered.
Gary has been offering web services since 1997. ClickMonster’s mission is to continue helping businesses of all sizes succeed online with a ROI based approach to internet services.
SEO (Search Engine Operations): Find out how SEO can improve your book sales, increase website traffic, and promote your author brand and titles. Gary will share simple tips that can improve your SEO.
Lindsay Schopfer: Writing Coach and Fantasy/Steampunk Author
Lindsay Schopfer is the fantasy and steampunk author of Lost Under Two Moons (2012) and The Beast Hunter(2014). When he isn’t writing, Lindsay is a writing coach and instructor for Adventures In Writing, where he helps writers learn about and improve their craft. He has taught workshops for the Pacific Northwest Writers Association and the Romance Writers of America, and is a member of the Northwest Independent Editors Guild. He is also a mentor for Educurious, a Gates Foundation-funded program designed to connect high school students with professional writers.
Sessions:
Subgenres in SciFi & Fantasy:
Fantasy and sci-fi fans and authors of all skill levels will enjoy this entertaining and informative breakdown of some of speculative fiction’s most popular genres and subgenres. Participants will learn the histories and unique traits of more than a dozen different sub-genres, as well as how to identify their own genre and how to use it to predict what their readers will expect from their stories.
Managing Your Author Marketing Resources – from a writing coach’s perspective
Creating Original Worlds:
Each time a writer begins a new story they have an opportunity to take their readers to places they have never been before. Fantasy, sci-fi, and paranormal authors will all benefit from this in-depth, detailed look into the unique craft of creating original worlds. Participants in this course will learn creative ways to do their world building, some essential questions to ask themselves about their worlds, and a variety of techniques to make their worlds as original as possible.
Christine Smith: Captain of the David B and Author
Christine Smith and her husband Jeffrey launched Northwest Navigation Co Inc. in 1998 with the rebuilt David B and the desire to provide a relaxed luxury cruise experience complete with local history and gourmet food. You can read all about the adventure to rebuild the David B in Christine’s Chanticleer Award Winning book More Faster Backwards: Rebuilding David B.
Session: Compound Interest for Authors
Understanding the magic of how author promotional and marketing “deposits” earn compound interest that can significantly boost an authors’ investment returns over the long term. Learn about this paradigm switch from having to sell your book in 90 days or less to succeed to the thriving current “long tail” paradigm of today’s and tomorrow’s publishing market. Today’s publishing industry thrives on “long tail” economics more than ever before.
Jennifer Snow: Romance Author with Harlequin and Penguin Random House
Jennifer Snow is a regular columnist on the Working Writers & Bloggers site and The Writer’s Fun Zone. She has published articles in Mslexia Magazine, WestWord Magazine, RWR and Southern Writers Magazine. She has also taught RWA Chapters courses online. Her publishing credits include her six book small town, contemporary romance series published through Harlequin Heartwarming and a new MMA sports romance series published through Penguin Random House Berkley/NAL.
Sessions:
Marketing/ Business Model for Writers
This workshop will focus on the various paths from writing ‘the end’ to seeing a novel on a bookstore shelf. I will talk about whether or not an agent is required, how to find one, the process of working with an editor and the various marketing and promotional tools available for writers, including examples from personal experience of the most effective methods. I will also discuss the importance of building an author platform early in the career and branding. This workshop also covers the topic of the ‘hybrid author’ in today’s publishing world.
The First Five Pages
This workshop will focus on common manuscript errors and how to avoid them, what key elements belong in the first five pages of a genre fiction novel, and tips to spark the interest of an agent or editor.
From Acceptance Letter to Publication
This workshop will deal primarily with the publishing industry and the process of publishing a novel with a larger press. The different stages from negotiation of the contract to line edits and copy edits, cover approval and more.
Sara Stamey: Book Doctor and Author
Sara Stamey received her Masters in English and Writing from Western Washington University and now teaches Creative Writing as well as Publishing & Editing at WWU. She is the author of four published novels, her latest the suspense novel Islands, a Book of the Year finalist. She also offers editing services as a “book doctor,” specializing in helping authors find and polish their voice.
Sessions:
Cooperative Book Publishing with Book View Cafe
— a successful alternative to traditional publishing. Authors join their efforts to publish quality books and support each other with editing, book design, marketing, and much more. I would discuss my experience with Book View Café and nuts & bolts of how writers could form a cooperative.
The Book Pitch – it isn’t just for lit agents anymore
How to brainstorm, write, and deliver the all-important core book description to sell and promote your book. The “core pitch” can be adapted for agent/editor queries, book cover, and marketing. We’ll write and pitch each other, getting feedback on this essential tool.
John Trudel: Talk Show Radio Personality and Political Thriller Author
An award winning author of international political thrillers that are science-based, John Trudel is now a retired electronics engineer. John has developed prototype electronic intelligence devices and weapons systems and consulted to Special Ops during the Vietnam conflict era. He then made a career change and developed a new type of product: the Snooper automobile radar detector of Gumball Rally and Cannonball Run fame. After selling that business, he went back into the technology biz just in time for the late 80s and roaring 90s. He started writing his thrillers and his first was published in 2011. John takes his real-world high-tech experience, stretches it, sets it a few years in the future, and then he crafts tales of heroes fighting powerful evil. One way that John is now promoting his novels is with becoming a popular radio media interview-ee with his novels’ buzz-worthy tagline: Thrillers are fiction…until it happens!
Session:
Riding the RADIO Tiger: Media Interviews
- It is a journey, not a punch list
- How to find out the right match of “hosts and shows”
- Are shows scripted?
- What are hosts looking for in an interview
- What should you (the interviewee expect)
- What exactly does a host do?
- How to handle difficult hosts
- How to prepare for an interview
Sheila Webb, Ph.D.: Visual Aspects Specialist
Dr. Webb is an associate professor at Western Washington University’s Journalism department. She teaches the critical and analytical exploration of the visual aspects of storytelling in print and online media; research on the cultural history and news media application of photography, infographics, typography, audio and video clips. Her research area is the cultural role of the media, particularly the role and rhetoric of news narratives in magazines. She served as Project Manager of ONline@UW, and has worked in museums as an educator, curator, and public information coordinator.
Paul Wegenast: Yipida — a Global Marketplace for Creators
Sales and marketing veteran in traditional and online book publishing, digital media and e-commerce. Brings valuable experience in strategy, business development and leveraging his extensive professional network in tech and digital media. Over 15 years experience in management including growing an online startup to exemplary.
Session: Yipida: Your Voice, Your Story, Your Community
Yipida is a global marketplace for Creators and Entrepreneurs where authors can become a content provider, showcase your works, start your own digital store, and discover new readers, and build audience.
James R. Wells: Science Fiction Author, Journalist, and Information Systems Designer
James writes about climate and environmental topics, for
Whatcom Watch and on my Daily Kos page. In his day job, he designs information systems that support energy efficiency programs for utilities and others who are working to save gigawatt-hours every year, reducing costs and emissions. With its Kafka-esque view of an escalating, dominant corporate presence, James R. Wells’ The Great Symmetry echoes the timeless social messages of truth, freedom and sacrifice embraced by science fiction greats like Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, and the author’s own great grandfather H. G. Wells.
Sessions:
- Like Icarus Taking a Selfie: Driving Sales with eBook Discount Promotions
- Community Marketing – When you are getting ready to self-publish your book, two questions loom over your project and in fact your entire life: Who will read my book? How will I find them? This session will bring a fresh and welcomed perspective to book promotion.
- SciFi Panel Discussion
Stefanie Winger: Community Business Development Manager, Barnes & Noble
Stefanie Winger works for Barnes & Noble as an Assistant Manager and is also the acting Community Business Development Manager. She has had the opportunity to work with many schools, non-profit organizations, and local authors in the past couple of years. She will be discussing the services Barnes & Noble offers to authors and publishers, how to get your book into a Barnes & Noble store, and tips on how to sell your book from a bookseller’s perspective.
Sessions:
Session 1: Barnes and Noble’s New Publishing Platform
Session 2: How Barnes and Noble Services Can Help You Increase Your Readership and Book Sales and How to Sell Your Book from a Bookseller’s Perspective
Tom Wise, Ph.D. and Nance Wise: Agile and Lean Specialist
- Rev up Your Writing Process with Agile Project Management
Applying project management methods to achieve your writing goals
And…. Kiffer Brown: Media Scout, Founder of Chanticleer Reviews, and Publisher of Cloudberry Press
Media scout for literary agents, publishing houses, movie producers, and industry professionals, along with folks seeking a good read, Kiffer Brown is known for her instinct of picking winners. Reader Extraordinaire, she reads thousands of works a year searching for today’s sparkling gems that will become tomorrow’s best sellers. She truly loves what she does and her passion shows.
Kiffer is also the founder of Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media. In addition to running a professional editorial review service, she is the president of Whatcom Writers and Publishers, Salish Sea League of Writers board member, Upstart Crows Writers Assoc. founder, and member of Western Washington University’s publishing curriculum’s advisory board.
Questions? Email us at Info@ChantiReviews.com
Page updated on 09/22/2015
Single Day, Multi-Day, and Four Day Passes are Available!
Please scroll down to see the list of presenters and sessions.
The 2015 CBR conference will focus on:
- Book Marketing
- Brand Building
- Social Media Mastery
- Building a Fan Base and Increasing Readership
- Time Management
- Publishing and Distribution
- Accelerating Book Sales
- Latest Tools and Techniques for Authors
- Flourishing as an Author in this New Golden Age of Publishing.
Register today! Seating is limited.
Please Scroll Down for more information about the Conference and Book Festival.
We invite you to check back often as we update information!
Four-Day Attendee Complete Package includes
- Saturday Sessions with Lunch and Casual Dinner and Dance at the Bellingham Yacht Club
- Sun., Mon., Tues. Cocktail Networking Parties
- Sun., Mon., Tues. Luncheon with Keynote Speakers
- Sunday Dinner with Keynote Speaker
- Monday Night Cocktail Party (Cash Bar) Complimentary appetizers.
- Awards Banquet Dinner on Tuesday evening with Keynote Speaker
- Sunday Dinner with Keynote Speaker
- Coffee, Tea, & Snack Breaks: Sat., Sun., Mon., & Tues.
- All sessions and classes on Sat., Sun., Mon., & Tues.,
- Attendees can have their books displayed and for sale in the book room Sun., Mon., & Tues.
- Panel Discussions
- Author Readings
- Author Signings & Introductions
- Door Prizes
- Cash Bar featuring PNW beers & wines.
- Sessions to feature experts in: Social Media, Branding, Time Management, Publishing and Distribution, Book Promotion, Sales Acceleration, Internet Technology, Amazon/Kindle, and more!