Superstars Writing Seminars 2025: Full Schedule

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7:00am MST

Eggs Benedict Breakfast (Ticketed Event)

Saturday February 8, 2025 7:00am - 8:30am MST

Arapaho

Eggs Benedict Breakfest

Speakers

James Artimus Owen

James Artimus Owen is part artist, part writer, and all heart. He has written and illustrated the Mythworld series, two dozen Starchild comics, available as The Twentieth Anniversary Nearly-Complete Essential Starchild, The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica (and coloring books... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 7:00am - 8:30am MST
Arapaho

Ticketed Event

8:30am MST

Announcements

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:30am - 8:45am MST

Colorado

Announcements by Mark Leslie Lefebvre and Marie Whittaker

Speakers

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 →

Marie Whittaker

Marie Whittaker enjoys teaching about publishing and project management for writers. She’s Associate Publisher at WordFire Press and Executive Director of Superstars Writing. She started her career writing horror. Marie created The Adventures of Lola Hopscotch, is published in Weird... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:30am - 8:45am MST
Colorado

Announcements

8:45am MST

Book Cover Trends

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST

Arkansas

What's trending in book covers today? Our panel of illustrators and book cover artists talk shop and design.

Speakers

Jake Clark

I make badass art for badass stories. Full of grit and storytelling, my work is geared to capture attention. Using 3-d modeling software combined with digital painting and other assets, my fully custom creations play with perspective and scale in a way few other covers do.

Casey Cowan

Casey brings thirty years of expertise in journalism, publishing, and design to his work as a graphic designer, reporter, and publisher. His career began with a foundation in graphic design, where his creative vision shaped countless projects across various industries. In 2013, Casey... 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 →

James Artimus Owen

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST
Arkansas

Panel

8:45am MST

How to Sell Books Directly to Your Readers

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST

Amphitheater (EPR)

Getting around the 8,000-pound river gorilla has been the Holy Grail for a while. Learn from our panel of experts on how to cut out the middle-man and sell directly to your readers.

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 →

David Sherrer

David Sherrer is a lifelong gamer and story teller, and is the Marketing Director of Chenoweth Press and Lead Game Designer of Chenoweth Games. His debut card game "Cat Magic: The Game" released in 2022 and was funded on Kickstarter within hours of launching.

Mark Leslie Lefebvre

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 →

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST
Amphitheater (EPR)

Panel

8:45am MST

Masters of Publishing and Genre Fiction

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST

White River I

What are the advantages of a formal graduate degree in publishing that you can’t get just from online forums and writing conferences? Kevin J. Anderson and Allyson Longueira talk about their Publishing MA degree program at Western Colorado University.

Speakers

Kevin J. Anderson

Kevin J. Anderson is one of the founders of Superstars, a #1 international bestselling author known for his work in the Dune, Star Wars, X-Files, Batman and Superman universes. He is also publisher of WordFire Press, and director of the Publishing Masters Degree program at Western... Read More →

Allyson Longueira

An award-winning writer, editor and designer, Allyson Longueira has worked in fiction andnonfiction in multiple media, including newspapers, magazines and books for twenty years. Sheholds a BA in English from Rutgers University and an MA in journalism from the prestigiousUniversity... Read More →

Johanna Parkhurst

Johanna Parkhurst is the author of multiple young adult and adult contemporary romance novels. Her most recently published ghostwritten work was a YA romance that received a Kirkus-starred review. She has been traditionally published, published by small presses, and she currently... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST
White River I

Panel

8:45am MST

Creating a Successful Podcast

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST

Colorado

John Goodwin is the host of the award-winning Writers & Illustrators of the Future Podcast. Podcasting has become a successful means of reaching a target audience. How do you create a successful podcast and what are some of the important do's and don'ts.

Speakers

John Goodwin

John Goodwin, President Galaxy Press, has been involved with book publishing since 1986, publishing the fiction works of bestselling author L. Ron Hubbard which includes the Writers of the Future anthology. He is also host of the award-winning Writers and Illustrators of the Future... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST
Colorado

Session

8:45am MST

Intense Plotting vs Pantsing

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST

Gunnison

I have plenty of successful friends who swear they write from the seat of their pants—a fact that boggles me. I plot intensively, scene by scene, chapter by chapter. Does that lock me in? Good question. We’ll talk about what’s worked for me—and what hasn’t—over the course of twenty-seven books.

Speakers

Marc Cameron

New York Times bestselling author Marc Cameron has written short fiction for The Saturday Evening Post and Boys’ Life Magazine. He’s the author of thirty books—Westerns, Jericho Quinn Thrillers, Arliss Cutter Mysteries featuring a deputy US marshal based in Alaska, and seven... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST
Gunnison

Session

8:45am MST

Pitches / Career Counseling

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST

White River II

Please check in at the Appointments Desk at least 5 minutes prior to your appointment.

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST
White River II

Session

8:45am MST

Successful Indie Publishing: Bringing Your Book to Market

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST

Platte

This workshop will help attendees navigate the intricacies of independent publishing, from start to finish, showing them what to do and what to avoid in order to bring their book to market and become a successful self-published author.

Speakers

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 →

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST
Platte

Session

8:45am MST

The AI Editor Is In

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST

Rio Grande

Can AI programs edit as well as a human can? Let's find out!

Speakers

Lisa Mangum

Lisa Mangum is the Managing Editor for Shadow Mountain. She is also the author of four national best-selling YA novels, several short stories and novellas, and the nonfiction book Write Fearless. Edit Smart. Get Published. She regularly teaches at writing conferences. She lives in... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST
Rio Grande

Session

8:45am MST

Write (or Revise) to a Theme

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST

Manitou

Learn the secret ingredients for writing theme.

Speakers

September C. Fawkes

September C. Fawkes works as a freelance editor and writing instructor and is best known for her award-winning writing tip blog, SeptemberCFawkes.com. She has edited for award-winning and best-selling authors as well as beginning writers. For seven years she worked with David Farland... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST
Manitou

Session

9:45am MST

Break

Saturday February 8, 2025 9:45am - 10:00am MST

None

Break

Saturday February 8, 2025 9:45am - 10:00am MST
None

Break

10:00am MST

Blending Genres

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST

Amphitheater (EPR)

Our panel of multi-genre authors talk about what makes cross-genre/multi-genre/blended genre stories so fun and appealing to readers.

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 →

Chris Kennedy

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 →

Todd McCaffrey

New York Times Bestselling Author Todd J. McCaffrey has over sixty books in print including eight in the classic Dragonriders of Pern® series. He holds degrees in art and engineering, is a licensed pilot, and an Army veteran.

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST
Amphitheater (EPR)

Panel

10:00am MST

Industry Tools Discussion

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST

White River I

There are almost as many tools as there are published books, and finding the right one for what you need can be overwhelming. Our panel of experts discusses what's proven useful, what's new and upcoming, and how to find what you need.

Speakers

Jason Hamilton

Jason Hamilton is a mythic fantasy author, former content manager at Kindlepreneur, and now runs the largest YouTube channel about the use of AI in creative writing (The Nerdy Novelist). His Story Hacker membership (StoryHacker.ai) has helped hundreds of authors write their first... Read More →

Dave Sheets

Indie Author Book Services

Dave Sheets has spent more than 28 years in the publishing industry working with many of the top book publishers, distributors, and printers in the industry, followed by owning a publishing services company working with independent authors. He has served clients in various sales and... Read More →

Alex Smith

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST
White River I

Panel

10:00am MST

Thrillers: Keeping Readers on the Edge of Their Seats

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST

Arkansas

Our panel of authors talks about how to build stories with fast-paced action and heart-stopping twists and turns to keep thriller readers coming back for more.

Speakers

Marc Cameron

Laura Hayden

An early reader, Laura exhausted the children’s section of her local library by age ten. At that point, she switched to adult mysteries and science fiction and never looked back. Trained as an engineer, she continued to write “for fun” until one day, she decided to write “for... Read More →

Troy Lambert

Troy is the author of over 30 novels, including the critically acclaimed Max Boucher series and the Capital Murders Series, along with several others, including the audio-first shorts, the Solitaire Series. He’s also a ghostwriter and the author of several non-fiction books, includng... 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.

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST
Arkansas

Panel

10:00am MST

A Fistful of Commas: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Punctuation

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST

Gunnison

Dive into the world of punctuation and demystify those pesky dots and dashes.

Speakers

Lisa Mangum

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST
Gunnison

Session

10:00am MST

Build a Strong Marketing Foundation (Part 1)

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST

Platte

By creating and storing all your marketing information in one place in advance, you'll save valuable time when you’re ready to promote your book.

Speakers

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 →

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST
Platte

Session

10:00am MST

Culture, Ethnicity, and Worldbuilding (Part 1)

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST

Rio Grande

How to build meaningful Inclusion in your fiction

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 →

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST
Rio Grande

Session

10:00am MST

Diversification Strategies to Build an Ironclad Author Career

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST

Colorado

Come learn proven strategies for diversifying your operations and exploiting your IP to the fullest in order to create stability and longevity for your career.

Speakers

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 →

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST
Colorado

Session

10:00am MST

Pitches / Career Counseling

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST

White River II

Please check in at the Appointments Desk at least 5 minutes prior to your appointment.

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST
White River II

Session

10:00am MST

Write on Time: Secrets to Staying Organized and Stress-Free

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST

Manitou

Learn practical strategies to organize your writing projects, prioritize tasks, and create effective schedules to meet deadlines with confidence and reduce stress.

Speakers

Clark Rowenson

Fascinated by magic since pine cones could be fireballs, C. R. Rowenson (Clark) is an award-winning author, blogger, and writing coach that studies magic building like others study oil-painting. His prime directive is to help storytellers craft and repair unforgettable magic systems... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST
Manitou

Session

11:00am MST

Break

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:00am - 11:15am MST

None

Break

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:00am - 11:15am MST
None

Break

11:15am MST

How to Curate a Successful Anthology

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST

White River I

Learn from our panel of expert anthology editors how to plan, curate, and launch a successful anthology, year after year.

Moderators

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 →

Speakers

John Goodwin

Sam Knight

Sam Knight has worked for three different publishers, curated five anthologies, authored six children’s books, four short story collections, three novels, and over five dozen short stories, including a Planet of the Apes story and a Wayward Pines story, both co-authored with Kevin... Read More →

Jonathan Maberry

Lisa Mangum

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST
White River I

Panel

11:15am MST

Kickstarter

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST

Amphitheater (EPR)

From Brandon Sanderon's recordbreaking Kickstarter to your indie writer's modest $500 funded Kickstarter project, it seems like every writer is suddenly looking to Kickstarter as a funding source. Learn from our panel of Kickstarter pioneers on how and why you should consider launching your next writing project on Kickstarter.

Speakers

Dana Claire

Joshua Essoe

Joshua Essoe is a full-time editor who’s edited for NYT bestsellers, like David Farland and Piers Anthony, along with hundreds of independents. His books on writing, funded in just hours on Kickstarter cover the most-common issues he sees in fiction writing. Find him teaching at... Read More →

Tanya Hales

When Tanya Hales was a baby, she enjoyed books by chewing them to pieces before eventually moving on to the higher art of reading. Tanya splits her time between her work as a writer, an illustrator, and a mother, all of which she loves intensely. She now lives in Utah with her family... Read More →

Lydia Sherrer

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST
Amphitheater (EPR)

Panel

11:15am MST

The Genesis of Creation: Where We Get Our Ideas

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST

Arkansas

Ideas are all around us, if we know how to see them.

Speakers

JT Evans

J.T. Evans writes fantasy and urban fantasy novels. He’ll dabble with sci-fi and horror in short form as well. He is the former president of the Colorado Springs Fiction Writers Group and Pikes Peak Writers. When not writing, he secures computers at the Day Job, and plays way too... Read More →

Todd McCaffrey

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 →

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 →

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST
Arkansas

Panel

11:15am MST

Best Practices: Author Bio & Photo

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST

Manitou

An easy-to-use system of "best practices" for creating an author bio and photo that really work

Speakers

Chris Mandeville

Chris Mandeville is an unrepentant coffee drinker, night owl, and binge writer. She’s been teaching writing workshops for 15+ years, and loves to attend reader/writer events alongside her service dog, Oski. Her publications include nonfiction for writers, as well as short and novel-length... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST
Manitou

Session

11:15am MST

Build a Strong Marketing Foundation (Part 2)

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST

Platte

By creating and storing all your marketing information in one place in advance, you'll save valuable time when you’re ready to promote your book.

Speakers

Kerrie Flanagan

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST
Platte

Session

11:15am MST

Culture, Ethnicity, and Worldbuilding (Part 2)

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST

Rio Grande

How to build meaningful Inclusion in your fiction

Speakers

Jayrod P. Garrett

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST
Rio Grande

Session

11:15am MST

Pitches / Career Counseling

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST

White River II

Please check in at the Appointments Desk at least 5 minutes prior to your appointment.

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST
White River II

Session

11:15am MST

The Art of Villainy: Writing Great Antagonists

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST

Gunnison

A story is only as strong as the antagonist, so learn how to craft memorable villains that will elevate your story.

Speakers

Jennifer Brody

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST
Gunnison

Session

11:15am MST

The Author and the Narrator Can Be Friends

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST

Colorado

There are some things that authors can do to better help their work shine in audio. Learn about challenges a narrator can face while performing your book.

Speakers

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 →

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST
Colorado

Session

11:15am MST

Kaffeeklatsch (invitation only)

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST

Arapaho

(Private event for folks who missed the Banquet with Toni in 2024.)

Speakers

Toni Weisskopf

Toni Weisskopf is an American science fiction editor and the publisher of Baen Books. She has been nominated four times for a Hugo Award. She has won the Phoenix Award, the Rebel Award, and the Neffy Award for best editor.

Saturday February 8, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST
Arapaho

Ticketed Event

12:15pm MST

Lunch On Your Own

Saturday February 8, 2025 12:15pm - 1:45pm MST

None

Meal on Your Own

Saturday February 8, 2025 12:15pm - 1:45pm MST
None

Meal

1:45pm MST

AMA: Working with Your Author or Voice Talent

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST

Arkansas

Narrator and voice actor Ray Porter has narrated many of bestselling author Jonathan Maberry's stories. Ask them anything about their work or their collaboration!

Speakers

Jonathan Maberry

Ray Porter

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST
Arkansas

Panel

1:45pm MST

Ethical Considerations of AI in Publishing and Illustrating

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST

Amphitheater (EPR)

What could AI mean for artists? What are the potential impacts on publishing and illustrating? Is it an ethical means of generating creative work?

Speakers

Jake Clark

Casey Cowan

Chaz Kemp

James Artimus Owen

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST
Amphitheater (EPR)

Panel

1:45pm MST

Self Publishing Round Up With Industry Service Pros

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST

White River I

Industry pros from The INKfluence, CraveBooks, and ProWritingAid discuss the advantages of publishing with various publishing platforms.

Speakers

Dana Claire

Kerrie Flanagan

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST
White River I

Panel

1:45pm MST

A Baker's Dozen: 13 Lucky Ways Authors Can Leverage Draft2Digital Tools & Resources For Writing Success

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST

Platte

This talk will explore thirteen different tools and resources (most of them are free to use) that authors can use, regardless of how they are publishing. Even traditionally published authors and authors who are indie publishing exclusively to Amazon can take advantage of numerous free tools and other helpful author success resources and how to leverage them.

Speakers

Mark Leslie Lefebvre

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST
Platte

Session

1:45pm MST

Agile for Project Management for Authors

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST

Manitou

This workshop will demonstrate techniques for making use of your limited writing time using Agile Project Management techniques from the software development world.

Speakers

David R. Slayton

David R. Slayton (he/him) grew up in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where finding fantasy novels was pretty challenging and finding fantasy novels with diverse characters was downright impossible. Now he writes the books he always wanted to read. His epic fantasy, Dark Moon, Shallow Sea, won... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST
Manitou

Session

1:45pm MST

Level-Up Your Self-Publishing Game: Five Pillars of a Thriving Author Career — Intermediate Level+

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST

Colorado

Aimed predominately at authors who have already have a basic handle on Self-Publishing and want to take their business to the next level. James will discuss best practices and common mistakes that beginning authors make by looking at five key areas, or pillars, necessary for long-term success:

1. Content is King
2. Quality is Queen
3. Leverage Connections
4. Market Smarter, Not Harder 5.
It’s All a Numbers Game.

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 →

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST
Colorado

Session

1:45pm MST

Making Magic with Reader Magnets

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST

Arapaho

If you've done much research on selling books, you've likely noticed a vast general consensus that an author newsletter is a must! Reader Magnets are what get readers to subscribe to your newsletter. Seems simple enough, but what are reader magnets, really? What do they look like? How do you make them? What do you do with them after you make them? What should they do? Maybe you've even tried to make some, but they don't seem to be doing what you hoped they would. In this presentation, award-winning fantasy author, Z.S. Diamanti, demystifies what he considers to be one of the three foundational pillars for author growth. Let's make magic with reader magnets.

Speakers

Z.S. Diamanti

Z.S. Diamanti is the award-winning author of the Stone & Sky series, an epic fantasy adventure and Guard in the Garden, the first book in the Fables of Finlestia cozy fantasy series. He attended college forever and has far too many pieces of paper on his wall. He’s a USAF veteran... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST
Arapaho

Session

1:45pm MST

Pitches / Career Counseling

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST

White River II

Please check in at the Appointments Desk at least 5 minutes prior to your appointment.

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST
White River II

Session

1:45pm MST

Plot on the Spot

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST

Gunnison

Audience participation time! We work with the audience to pull together their suggestions of characters, settings, and situations to build a plot in 45 minutes.

Speakers

JanaLee Brown

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST
Gunnison

Session

1:45pm MST

Think Like a Retailer

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST

Rio Grande

How to harness your inner salesperson to better sell yourself and your books to potential customers.

Speakers

Angela Haas

Garden of the Gods Trading Post

Angela Haas was a buyer of art, books and gifts for fifteen years before moving on to teach communication, public speaking and mass media classes at University of Colorado Colorado Springs for eight years. She writes superhero fiction, romance novels and works with local businesses... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST
Rio Grande

Session

2:45pm MST

Break

Saturday February 8, 2025 2:45pm - 3:00pm MST

None

Break

Saturday February 8, 2025 2:45pm - 3:00pm MST
None

Break

3:00pm MST

A Modern Approach to Collaboration

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST

Arkansas

We've heard often about the many ways authors can collaborate all the way from working in the same house to penpals across an ocean. In this class, join the Plot Geeks as we dig into tools and methods for collaboration that you might not have used before. Our case study features Troy Lambert, a mystery and thriller expert, and CJ Anaya, the queen of romance, coming together to cowrite a thriller romance that combines their skills and authorial voices across two states! They'll talk about plotting, deadlines, software, and building a following by updating their progress weekly on YouTube! Have there been challenges? You betcha! They'll talk about those too!

Speakers

C.J. Anaya

C. J. Anaya is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author and writes teen and young adult fantasy romance. However, she tends to tell stories within the genres she loves to read. So you can find her sweet romantic comedies of the billionaire variety under the pen name Cynthia... Read More →

JanaLee Brown

Troy Lambert

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Arkansas

Panel

3:00pm MST

Horror: Scaring Up an Audience

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST

Amphitheater (EPR)

Horror stories may be frightening, but readers' fascination with the genre is quite enlightening. Join our panel of horror writers, editors, and enthsiasts as they discuss writing and reading in the genre.

Speakers

Mark Leslie Lefebvre

Jonathan Maberry

Marie Whittaker

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Amphitheater (EPR)

Panel

3:00pm MST

Resilience for Writers

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST

White River I

In our business, hard work is not always rewarded with success. We experience rejection on a regular basis, not just from publishers and editors, but also from the marketplace. Sometimes a project we love just doesn’t resonate with readers. In this panel, we’ll discuss strategies to deal with the rejections that too often come—and the slights we too often suffer.

Speakers

Joshua Essoe

Todd McCaffrey

Rebecca Moesta

Toni Weisskopf

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST
White River I

Panel

3:00pm MST

Bringing Historical Fiction to Life (the Village Idiot Way)

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST

Manitou

Tips, Tricks, and Techniques to Take Your Historical Fiction to the Next Level

Speakers

Steve Ruskin

Steve Ruskin writes science fiction with a streak of rebellion, and historical thrillers with a hint of magic. He is also an award-winning historian, with a PhD in History of Science. He’s been a professor, a mountain bike guide, and a number of things in between.

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Manitou

Session

3:00pm MST

Diversifying Your IP

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST

Rio Grande

You’ve written a story! The next logical question might seem to be: “Where can I sell this?” But what you should really be asking yourself is: “How many different ways and in how many different places can I sell this?” Once created, your intellectual property (IP) can lead a very diversified and useful life. Whether you are going trad, hybrid, or indie, how far your IP can go is limited only by your creativity and your willingness to craft a plan for your IP’s future.

Speakers

Allyson Longueira

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Rio Grande

Session

3:00pm MST

My Origin Story

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST

Colorado

Bestselling author Jim Butcher talks about how he got started writing stories, and finally made his big break in publishing.

Speakers

Jim Butcher

Jim Butcher is the author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera, and his new steampunk series, the Cinder Spires. His resume includes a laundry list of skills which were useful a couple of centuries ago, and he plays guitar quite badly. An avid gamer, he plays tabletop games in varying... Read More →

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Colorado

Session

3:00pm MST

Pitches / Career Counseling

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST

White River II

Please check in at the Appointments Desk at least 5 minutes prior to your appointment.

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST
White River II

Session

3:00pm MST

The Productive Author's Guide to Dictation

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST

Gunnison

A talk that covers the many ways to dictate a novel effortlessly and cleanly

Speakers

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 →

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Gunnison

Session

3:00pm MST

Unlock the Power of Custom Books with BookvaultBespoke

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST

Platte

Join us for an insightful session with Alex Smith (Technical Lead at Bookvault) on how BookvaultBespoke can transform your titles. Learn how custom features like sprayed edges, foiling, and ribbons can set your books apart, captivate readers, and unlock new revenue streams. Discover how these bespoke options can elevate your offerings and increase sales through direct sales stores and Kickstarter campaigns.

Speakers

Alex Smith

Saturday February 8, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Platte

Session

4:00pm MST

Break

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:00pm - 4:15pm MST

None

Break

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:00pm - 4:15pm MST
None

Break

4:15pm MST

Fantasy: Making it All Up From Soups to Settings

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST

Amphitheater (EPR)

Our panel of fantasy authors discuss why this genre is just pure magic for readers.

Speakers

Jim Butcher

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 →

Lydia Sherrer

David R. Slayton

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST
Amphitheater (EPR)

Panel

4:15pm MST

Tips from the Editors

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST

Arkansas

Join in the discussion with professional editors for updates in the industry, dos and don’ts, and insights into the business.

Moderators

Joshua Essoe

Speakers

Amy Cowan

Amy Cowan, a seasoned professional with nearly a decade of experience in publishing, excels in acquisitions, editing, and financial intricacies. Presently the Publisher at Young Dragons, an imprint of Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates, she spearheads Children’s and Middle... Read More →

Mia Kleve

MRK'd Up Editing

Mia has been an avid reader since she was a kid, starting with science fiction and fantasy, but soon moving into detective fiction. She’s one of those people who always has a book. She started as a proofreader, but soon moved into line, copy, and developmental editing. She has... Read More →

Lisa Mangum

Adriel Wiggins

Adriel Wiggins provides a variety of services to authors from continuity editing and audiobook proofing to virtual assistant tasks and organizing your business. Find out more at AdrielWiggins.com

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST
Arkansas

Panel

4:15pm MST

YA/MG: How to Write and Market to Readers AND Their Guardians

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST

White River I

Our panel of authors writing for today's youth talk about how to capture young imaginations and parental pockets.

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 →

Jennifer Brody

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

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST
White River I

Panel

4:15pm MST

Find Your Superpower as a Writer

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST

Colorado

My keynote from 2022, finding inspiration, tribe, networking

Speakers

Kevin J. Anderson

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST
Colorado

Session

4:15pm MST

How to Survive in an AI Saturated World

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST

Rio Grande

AI is here, and that is both exciting and terrifying. In this presentation, Jason will walk through the top concerns that people have about AI and what we can expect in the future as AI continues to improve. You'll learn what you can do today to not only survive in an AI-saturated world, but to thrive in it.

Speakers

Jason Hamilton

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST
Rio Grande

Session

4:15pm MST

Leverage Your Assets

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST

Platte

In “Leverage Your Assets,” we’ll tackle the overwhelming number of choices authors face when building their writing careers. This session is all about simplifying your strategy by focusing on what will actually move the needle.

Key Takeaways:
1. How to Identify High-Impact Opportunities: Learn to assess your strengths, resources, and current progress to pinpoint the next best steps for your career.
2. Creating a Sustainable Plan: Discover how to balance your time and energy with practical tools to avoid burnout while staying productive.
3. Leveraging Non-Writing Assets: Uncover ways to turn existing skills, hobbies, or networks into valuable career growth opportunities.

Speakers

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.

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST
Platte

Session

4:15pm MST

Pitches / Career Counseling

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST

White River II

Please check in at the Appointments Desk at least 5 minutes prior to your appointment.

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST
White River II

Session

4:15pm MST

Revision Strategies for Every Writer

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST

Gunnison

Here's the bottom line on how to edit and revise your writing!

Speakers

Jonathan Maberry

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST
Gunnison

Session

4:15pm MST

The Importance of Loglines

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST

Manitou

Summarizing and Pitching Your Novel to an Agent

Speakers

JT Evans

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST
Manitou

Session

4:15pm MST

The Wonder of the Poetic

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST

Arapaho

Using Meter and Imagery to enhance your prose

Speakers

Jayrod P. Garrett

Saturday February 8, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST
Arapaho

Session

5:30pm MST

Endowment Auction and Announcements

Saturday February 8, 2025 5:30pm - 6:15pm MST

Colorado

Announcements by Mark Leslie Lefebvre and Marie Whittaker

Speakers

Mark Leslie Lefebvre

James Artimus Owen

Marie Whittaker

Saturday February 8, 2025 5:30pm - 6:15pm MST
Colorado

Special Event

6:30pm MST

Dinner On Your Own

Saturday February 8, 2025 6:30pm - 8:00pm MST

None

Meal on Your Own

Saturday February 8, 2025 6:30pm - 8:00pm MST
None

Meal

7:00pm MST

Banquet (Ticketed Event)

Saturday February 8, 2025 7:00pm - 10:00pm MST

Cheyenne

Saturday Night Banquet

Saturday February 8, 2025 7:00pm - 10:00pm MST
Cheyenne

Ticketed Event

8:00pm MST

Science Fiction: the Sweeping Stakes of Space Opera

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm MST

Colorado

Space opera is having is heyday again, thanks to recent successes like the "Dune" movies and new HBO series. Our panel of experts discusses what makes for big enough stakes in this far-reaching genre, that still draws readers in.

Speakers

D.J. Butler

D.J. (Dave) Butler has been a lawyer, a consultant, a corporate trainer, and a registeredinvestment banking representative, and he is now a Senior Editor for ARK Press. He plays guitarand banjo whenever he can, and hangs out in Utah with his wife, their children, and the familydo... Read More →

8:00pm MST

Gaming and Social

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:00pm - Sunday February 9, 2025 12:00am MST

Gunnison

Game Time!

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:00pm - Sunday February 9, 2025 12:00am MST
Gunnison

Special Event

8:00pm MST

Karaoke

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:00pm - Sunday February 9, 2025 12:00am MST

White River II

Karaoke! Sponsored by Bookfunnel

Saturday February 8, 2025 8:00pm - Sunday February 9, 2025 12:00am MST
White River II

Special Event