Superstars Writing Seminars 2025: Full Schedule

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10:15am MST

Creating Audiobooks

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST

From authors to narrators to A/V experts, our panel will talk about how to convert your stories from ready-to-read to ready-to-listen.

Speakers

Cindy Gunderson

Cindy Gunderson is a voice actress and award-winning author. Since she has commitment issues, she writes both sci-fi and fantasy, as well as contemporary romance and women's fiction under the pen name, Cynthia Gunderson.

Eric Madrid

Eric Madrid started audio engineering at a young age, pirating songs off the radio. With that ramshackle set up he recorded 1000 hours of book to tape for the Colorado deaf and blind school for his Eagle Scout project, Enharmonic studios was born. While dabbling in the touring rock... Read More →

Ray Porter

Ray Porter is a multiple award winning narrator with over 500 titles. His narration of “Project Hail Mary” garnered 2021 Audie awards for Best Science Fiction and Audiobook of the Year. In addition to being the voice of Darkseid in “Zack Snyder’s Justice League”, he can... Read More →

Jeanette Strode

During the last 8 years as COO of Shadow Alley Press, Jeanette’s learned a lot about Indie Publishing. It takes persistence, a dedicated team, and big goals and dreams. Since 2016, she’s worked with numerous authors on these exact things. Helping them to narrow down their goals... Read More →

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST
White River I

Panel

10:15am MST

The Art of the Con

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST

Amphitheater (EPR)

How do you connect on-the-spot with an in-person, unknown audience of possible readers, and convince them to give your books a try? Our panel of experts shares their experience hand-selling books at conventions.

Speakers

Todd Fahnestock

Todd Fahnestock is an award-winning, #1 bestselling author of fantasy for all ages and winner of the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age Award. He is a founder of Eldros Legacy—a multi-author, shared-world mega-epic fantasy series—three-time winner of the Colorado... Read More →

Chaz Kemp

I have been a professional illustrator for 25 years and I've done hundreds of book covers, interior illustrations and posters for clients in dozens of industries. In that time, I've studied marketing, branding and business. I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge with the Superstars... Read More →

Jonathan Maberry

Jonathan Maberry is a New York Times bestselling author, 5-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, and comic book writer. His vampire apocalypse book series, V-WARS, was produced as a Netflix original series. He writes in multiple genres including suspense, thriller, horror, science fiction... Read More →

Lydia Sherrer

Lydia Sherrer is the award-winning and USA Today Bestselling author of the Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus universe of books which have sold over three-quarters of a million copies worldwide. She has also published the TransDimensional Hunter series with NYT bestselling author John Ringo... Read More →

Thursday February 6, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST
Amphitheater (EPR)

Panel

11:30am MST

A Beginner's Guide to Indie Publishing

Thursday February 6, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST

Amphitheater (EPR)

The world of independent publishing is evolving faster than you can learn it. Where does a complete newcomer get started? Our panel of experts share their recommendations and experience.

Speakers

James Hunter

James Hunter is a full-time Inkslinger and the bestselling author of Vigil Bound, Rogue Dungeon, Shadowcroft Academy, Discount Dan, and the litRPG epic Viridian Gate Online! In addition to writing, James also runs Shadow Alley Press, a publishing company that specializes in LitRRP... Read More →

Chris Kennedy

A Webster Award winner and three-time Dragon Award finalist, Chris Kennedy is a Science Fiction/Fantasy author, speaker, and small-press publisher who has written over 65 books and published more than 500 others. Get his free book, “Shattered Crucible,” at his website, https://chriskennedypublishing.com... Read More →

Lydia Sherrer

Thursday February 6, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST
Amphitheater (EPR)

Panel

11:30am MST

AMA: Book Marketing Services

Thursday February 6, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST

White River I

Anything you ever wanted to know about BookFunnel, Crave Books, Bookvault, and Draft2Digital

Speakers

Damon Courtney

Damon Courtney is the creator and CEO of BookFunnel, an ebook delivery service for authors and publishers. Though he would like to be a highly successful indie author, he can only lay claim to publishing a single fantasy trilogy that he does really like, despite its lack of sales... Read More →

Kerrie Flanagan

Kerrie Flanagan, with 25+ years in publishing, is an accomplished author, consultant, and instructor. She’s written for top magazines, authored 24 books, and developed the Magazine Writing Blueprint. Kerrie supports authors through her expertise and dedication and through speaking... Read More →

Alex Smith

Alex Smith has been with Printondemand-worldwide for over 7 years during which time he has gained an in-depth knowledge of the publishing industry. This placed him in the perfect position to lead the redevelopment of the Bookvault platform. He has worked very closely with some of... Read More →

Nick Thacker

I'm a USA Today Bestselling Author, with over 40 thrillers published to my name. I run Book Career In A Year, helping authors reach the next level.

Thursday February 6, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST
White River I

Panel

2:00pm MST

Collaborating with Other Writers

Thursday February 6, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MST

White River I

Collaborative writing can take many forms: co-writing, ghost writing, tag-teaming, mentoring, and more. Learn from industry professionals as they talk about their experiences in collaboration. Hear about the pros and cons, the highs and lows, the dangers and benefits, and find out if collaboration might be a good fit for you.

Speakers

JanaLee Brown

Jana S. Brown has been involved in publishing as an Author, Editor, Presenter, slush reader, executive secretary, and marketer for nearly 30 years. She is the acceptance editor for Book Cave and an editor and author coach specializing in self-publishing. She writes the weird and the... Read More →

Chuck Gannon

Dr. Charles E. Gannon‘s best-selling books have won the Dragon Award, the ALA Choice Award (Outstanding Book), the Compton Crook Award, and have been nominated for four Nebulas. He is best known for the Caine Riordan series of hard sf novels, which have all been national best-sellers... Read More →

James Hunter

David Weber

David Mark Weber is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1952. Weber and his wife Sharon live in Greenville, South Carolina with their three children and “a passel of dogs”.With a blue-collar, science-fiction loving father, a college... Read More →

Thursday February 6, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MST
White River I

Panel

2:00pm MST

Poetry: Beat by Beat

Thursday February 6, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MST

Amphitheater (EPR)

Our panel of poets talk about what it is about poetry that makes our hearts thump, and how and why write poetry.

Speakers

Jayrod P. Garrett

Jayrod P. Garrett (they/them) is a storyteller with an MFA in English: Creative Writing from the UNR. They have published work with the League of Utah Writers and currently work on poetry, novels, editing, and storytelling projects. They live in northern Utah with their spouse and... Read More →

Michael La Ronn

Michael La Ronn (also known as M.L. Ronn) has published over 100 science fiction & fantasy novels and self-help books for writers.Michael also runs the award-winning YouTube channel “Author Level Up,” with over 40,000 subscribers and 2 million views. Writer’s Digest voted the... Read More →

Jonathan Maberry

Thursday February 6, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm MST
Amphitheater (EPR)

Panel

3:15pm MST

Guerilla Marketing for Indies

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MST

White River I

Our panel of experts discusses out-of-the-box ideas for authors taking charge of their own marketing efforts.

Speakers

Dana Claire

Dana Claire, a marketing and sales expert, public speaker, and young adult author, founded The INKfluence, a specialized marketing agency for authors. The INKfluence offers special edition design & production, Kickstarter campaign management, and direct sales website build outs. Passionate... Read More →

Andrew Cobble

Andrew Cobble is an independent fantasy author, publishing as AC Cobble, and is the founder of Merrick Books, which offers crowd-funding campaign management and direct-to-consumer book distribution for projects and direct sales. As an author, he’s published 19 titles and counting... Read More →

Mark Leslie Lefebvre

Mark has worked in the book industry since 1992, published more than thirty-five books, and is a pioneer in digital publishing. Past roles include President of Canadian Booksellers Association, Director of Self-Publishing & Author Relations and Director of Business Development, and... Read More →

Jeanette Strode

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MST
White River I

Panel

3:15pm MST

The Science of Science Fiction

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MST

Amphitheater (EPR)

Our panel of experts discusses how and how much science to insert into science fiction.

Moderators

Kevin Ikenberry

Kevin Ikenberry is a life-long space geek, bestselling science fiction and alternate history author, and teacher. With more than twenty-five novels published in multiple universes under his belt, Kevin continues writing stories uplifting the power of the human spirit in difficult... Read More →

Speakers

Ronald Coleman

Ronald Coleman is a scientist and author from San Diego, California. He has a PhD in Biology from The Scripps Research Institute. He’s consulted as a scientist on projects for television, film, and novels. He has notably contributed to Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger novels where... Read More →

Chris Kennedy

Jonathan Maberry

Craig Martelle

Craig Martelle is a million-selling author of Sci-Fi and Thrillers. He runs the Successful Indie Author series of author-help videos, books, and group.

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm MST
Amphitheater (EPR)

Panel

4:30pm MST

Plotters vs. Pantsers and Everyone in Between

Thursday February 6, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm MST

Amphitheater (EPR)

A mix of authors from across the plotter-pantser spectrums discuss what works for them, what doesn't, and why being on one end doesn't preclude you from learning tips from the other end

Speakers

Jennifer Brody

Jennifer Brody (a/k/a Vera Strange) is a Bram Stoker Award Finalist and the author of A SACRIFICE OF BLOOD & STARS, DISNEY CHILLS, THE 13TH CONTINUUM trilogy, STAR WARS: STORIES OF JEDI AND SITH, and SPECTRE DEEP 6, prompting Forbes to call her “a star in the graphic novel worl... Read More →

Todd Fahnestock

Kevin Ikenberry

Nick Thacker

I'm a USA Today Bestselling Author, with over 40 thrillers published to my name. I run Book Career In A Year, helping authors reach the next level.

Thursday February 6, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm MST
Amphitheater (EPR)

Panel

4:30pm MST

Upmarket: Finding That Sweet Spot

Thursday February 6, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm MST

White River I

Learn what upmarket fiction is, and how to talk about and pitch your stories in this highly popular genre, from our panel of experts in this space.

Speakers

Sabine Berlin

Sabine is an avid reader, writer, and editor. She has a BA in History, a Certificate of Proficiency in Editing and Document Design, and an M.Ed in Higher Education Leadership. During the day she works in higher education. At night she reads, writes, edits fiction, and watches K-dramas... Read More →

Lindsay Flanagan

Lindsay Flanagan is an award-winning editor with an MA in English and Creative Writing.Her debut novel, AnnaGrey and the Constellation, was published by Young Dragons Press in August 2023, with two more books about AnnaGrey slated for publication in 2024 and 2025.She’s edited for... Read More →

Rebecca Moesta

Rebecca Moesta (pronounced MESS-tuh) is a freelance editor, co-publisher at WordFire Press, and bestselling author. She writes SF/F and nonfiction books for writers, both solo and with her husband, Kevin J. Anderson. Her work includes novels in Star Wars, Star Trek, and Buffy the... Read More →

Kristin Nelson

Kristin established Nelson Literary Agency, LLC, in 2002 and over the last two decades, she has represented over fifty-five New York Times bestselling titles and many USA Today bestsellers. Her clients include Shelby Van Pelt, Hugh Howey, Jamie Ford, Marie Lu, Stacey Lee, Ally Carter... Read More →

Thursday February 6, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm MST
White River I

Panel