During this half hour welcoming ceremony, there will be a brief discussion about where to find the schedule and what to expect. Giveaways and how to enter will be announced. We'll also introduce the Keynote Speaker.

Writing isn't just an art—it’s medicine. Every time you sit down to write, you open the door to healing yourself and others.

In this keynote, Michael La Ronn shares powerful personal stories and timeless truths about writing’s ability to transform lives. No matter the scale, your words can become a lifeline for someone you may never meet. Some stories save lives. Others simply save the day.

You’ll dive into how writing challenges you to wrestle with life’s problems, rediscover your resilience, and reconnect with the wonder you once carried as a child.

Through heartfelt stories and practical insights, this keynote challenges you to rethink your mission: stop writing just to produce, and start writing to serve. You'll leave with renewed purpose, a deeper bond with your craft, and a powerful reminder that your words matter more than you can imagine.

In today’s competitive publishing landscape, authors need more than just great writing—they need savvy marketing strategies and tools to thrive. That’s where Authorpreneur.ai comes in. Learn how to leverage the power of this innovative platform to boost book sales, craft captivating listings, and generate innovative marketing strategies. This workshop equips authors with practical AI-driven tools to enhance visibility, attract readers, and grow their author brand. Perfect for authors looking to transition from writer to authorpreneur and achieve lasting success in publishing.

Key takeaways include:

• Crafting book descriptions and author bios that captivate readers.

• Optimizing Amazon listings to improve discoverability.

• Generating creative and actionable book marketing strategies.

• Understanding how AI can enhance productivity and save time.

This workshop is perfect for authors eager to transition from “writer” to “authorpreneur” and build a thriving business around their books.

Learn how to make your website more effective at growing your email list, ranking on Google, and selling copies of your books. Thomas Umstattd Jr. has been building websites for over two decades, and in this workshop, he will review your websites. All attendees will leave with clear ideas to enhance their online presence. But, if your website is selected for review, you will leave with specific, tailored recommendations for how to make your author website better. You must attend live to be eligible to have your website reviewed.

As a bonus, all participants will gain free access to Thomas’s popular course, “How to Create an Amazing Author Website.”

Are you stymied by the concept of Show, Not Tell, or struggling to know what to Show and when to Show it? This workshop will provide five hands-on tips that not only explain the concept but also offer a guide for how to use it effectively. Effective Showing can increase the emotional impact of your novel and create one that makes readers become lifelong fans. New York Times bestselling author Shirley Jump will lead an interactive workshop that gives you easy, manageable tips that will have you bringing your fiction to life right away. Real-world examples will help participants actually see the difference between telling and showing and employ the techniques in class. Ideal for intermediate writers looking to enhance their storytelling.  

Let’s build a setting for our fantasy novels... quickly!

It doesn’t always make sense to spend weeks or months building a full fantasy world for our books. Sometimes we don’t need a fully fleshed-out globe or plate tectonics... But that doesn’t mean that we can’t create something realistic, immersive, and deep in a short amount of time.

In this seminar, we are going to talk about creating a regional setting or kingdom for our story. We will take some inspiration from Earth’s patterns to achieve the climate and biomes we desire, place important landforms like rivers and mountains, and then work through cities/towns and population sizes. We will also briefly go over some core cultural/societal choices such as political systems, naming languages, religion, and history.

We will end with some additional resources you can utilize to take your setting to the next level if desired.

Your book’s success doesn’t end at launch day—it’s where the real journey begins. After the excitement of launch day fades, what’s your plan to keep readers engaged, build your audience, and ensure your book continues to work for you? In this session, discover the secrets to sustaining momentum well beyond the first sale.

You’ll learn how to:

• Build long-term audience engagement strategies to turn readers into loyal fans.

• Leverage media opportunities, from podcasts to book clubs, to keep your book in the spotlight.

• Repurpose your content to expand your reach across social media, blogs, and other platforms.

• Craft a cohesive post-launch plan that keeps your book relevant for years to come.

Perfect for non-fiction authors, this session delivers actionable strategies you can start using immediately to turn your book into a lasting tool for growth, whether you’re building a brand, generating leads, or establishing thought leadership.

Are you ready to elevate your writing career by stepping onto the stage? Establishing yourself as a successful speaker is both an art and a science. Where do you start?

From Page to Platform is your essential blueprint to making that leap. This comprehensive seminar will help you land your first speaking engagements, deliver captivating presentations, and build a respected brand as a speaker. You’ll learn how to:

• Define your speaking goals and craft your unique message.

• Connect deeply with your audience, in-person or virtually.

• Land your first paid speaking engagement.

• Discover the secrets to creating impactful slides.

• Impress organizers and ensure you’re always in demand.

Learn from Matty Dalrymple and M.L. Ronn (Michael La Ronn), two acclaimed speakers who have successfully transformed their words into income on the speaking circuit.

Whether you’re an experienced author or just starting out, From Page to Platform offers insightful strategies, practical steps, and the inspiration you need to share your voice with the world from the stage.

Religion, mythology, folklore, superstition, rituals, they’re all a part of our daily lives and impact every moment of human history. Trying to replicate that in a sci-fi/fantasy setting is difficult, to say the least. So today, let’s look at the basics of building “realistic” religions and mythos in sci-fi/fantasy stories, and how they can affect the wider world.

Discoverability is one of the biggest challenges authors face in today’s competitive marketplace, and metadata is the key to overcoming it. In this workshop, “Unlocking the Power of Metadata: How to Make Your Books Discoverable and Sell More,” you’ll learn how to optimize key metadata elements like titles, keywords, categories, and descriptions to increase visibility and sales.

We’ll cover practical strategies, common mistakes to avoid, and provide actionable tips to make metadata work for you. Additionally, get a downloadable Metadata Optimization Checklist to put what you’ve learned into action.

Whether you’re a new or experienced author, this session will empower you to connect your book with the readers searching for it. Let’s unlock the power of metadata and give your book the attention it deserves!

Want to stop wasting money on Amazon Ads and finally make them work for your books? In this special pre-recorded expert panel, Dale L. Roberts sits down with some of the top minds in Amazon Advertising to break down real-world strategies, common mistakes, and what’s working right now to sell more books. After the panel airs, he’ll be live to answer your questions and dive deeper into the tactics that can help you maximize your ad results. Don’t miss your chance to learn from the best—and get the insights you need to succeed.

Narration is a reader’s doorway into the story, so how can writers make the most of it? In this seminar, I’ll examine the merits and limitations of different types of narration, give practical ways to improve “voice”, and demonstrate cool tricks like deep POV to completely immerse readers in a story (even if the narrator can’t be trusted…).

Are you ready to turn your book cover into a marketing powerhouse? Join Carin from Miblart for “Unlock the Secrets to Creating Book Covers That Sell” to discover how a well-designed book cover can act as a powerful marketing tool. This session is perfect for authors, whether self-publishing or collaborating with designers, who want their books to stand out in a competitive market.

Learn key design elements, common mistakes to avoid, and tips for creating professional, genre-appropriate covers. We’ll also explore best practices for working with designers to ensure a smooth collaboration.

By the end, you’ll have the tools to create a visually compelling cover that captures readers’ attention and boosts sales. Attendees will also receive a free resource guide summarizing the session’s insights and a “Typography in book cover design: do and don’ts” guide.

Imagine a world that feels out of control—a world full of fear, uncertainty, and trauma.

Now imagine harnessing these feelings.

Discover the transformative power of horror in this compelling seminar led by the president of the Horror Writers Association. Learn how horror stories teach us to face our fears, build resilience, and rewrite our own survival narratives.

Backed by research proving that horror fans are more resilient in times of crisis, this session will explore how the genre empowers us to analyze and overcome fear, process trauma, and find strength in adversity. Far from just entertainment, horror offers tools for personal growth and hope, even in the darkest times.

Join this thought-provoking exploration of why horror writing matters, how it fosters emotional resilience, and why it’s more relevant than ever. Whether you’re a fan, a writer, or simply curious, this seminar will inspire you to embrace your inner strength and see monsters for what they truly are: opportunities to overcome.

Eloise, J.M. Celi, and Ben Pick come together in a lively discussion of what makes spinoffs work and fail by examining Star Wars, the ever popular and prolific franchise, to analyze what went right and wrong in creating the subsequent shows. By approaching this discussion from a storytelling standpoint, the three authors hope to identify key components to guarantee success within their books.

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This presentation would be pre-filmed and a highlight reel of sorts of the entire conversation. It would be with the idea of helping authors who are considering writing spinoffs to decide what they would write about and how to ensure it's a success.

During this hour, the Conference Chairs, Shanon (S.D. Huston), J. L. Kauffman, and Devon Gambrell will relax with AWC speakers, discuss anything great we learned that day, and make connections with our audience members.

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