Superstars Writing Seminars 2025: Full Schedule

9:15am MST

Sustainable Project Management for Creatives (Part 1)

Wednesday February 5, 2025 9:15am - 10:45am MST

(Part 1 of 2) The method taught in this class encompasses the Writers' Life and helps creatives to find the work-life balance using a custom, agile model designed with creatives in mind.

Speakers

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 →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 9:15am - 10:45am MST
Platte

Skills Day

11:00am MST

Sustainable Project Management for Creatives (Part 2)

Wednesday February 5, 2025 11:00am - 12:30pm MST

Platte

(Part 2 of 2) The method taught in this class encompasses the Writers' Life and helps creatives to find the work-life balance using a custom, agile model designed with creatives in mind.

Speakers

Marie Whittaker

Wednesday February 5, 2025 11:00am - 12:30pm MST
Platte

Skills Day

2:00pm MST

Sharpening Your Writer's Third Eye (Part 1)

Wednesday February 5, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm MST

Platte

(Part 1 of 2) A hands on workshop on how to write better using techniques used by the top 1% of fiction writers

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 →

Wednesday February 5, 2025 2:00pm - 3:30pm MST
Platte

Skills Day

3:45pm MST

Sharpening Your Writer's Third Eye (Part 2)

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:45pm - 5:15pm MST

Platte

(Part 2 of 2) A hands on workshop on how to write better using techniques used by the top 1% of fiction writers

Speakers

Michael La Ronn

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:45pm - 5:15pm MST
Platte

Skills Day

10:15am MST

Digital Book Delivery via BookFunnel

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

Platte

TBD

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 →

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

11:30am MST

The Marketing Conundrum

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

Platte

Marketing exists on three pillars - brand, advertisements, and promotions. Exploring each of these builds a strong foundation through a continuous learning and adjustment process. Master the process. Master your author career.

Speakers

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 11:30am - 12:30pm MST
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Session

2:00pm MST

Publicity for Newbies

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

Platte

This presentation will show aspiring authors how to get noticed.

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 →

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

3:15pm MST

Mastering Facebook Marketing

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

Platte

Join David Sherrer, marketing expert for USA Today best selling author Lydia Sherrer, as he shares actionable insights on mastering Facebook marketing for business growth, covering topics from effective ad copywriting to advanced targeting and retargeting strategies.

Speakers

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.

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

4:30pm MST

Making The Most of Digital and In Person Hand-Selling

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

Platte

An author's guide to leveraging available tools for helping to get your book into the hands of the right readers.

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 →

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

8:30pm MST

Cover Copy Party

Thursday February 6, 2025 8:30pm - 10:00pm MST

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Cover Copy Party with Joshua Essoe and Lisa Mangum

Speakers

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 →

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 →

Thursday February 6, 2025 8:30pm - 10:00pm MST
Platte

Special Event

8:45am MST

Sustainable Social Media Strategies

Friday February 7, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST

Platte

Detoxify your relationship with social media and find strategies that will fuel your creativity instead of draining it.

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.

Friday February 7, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am MST
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Session

10:00am MST

Transforming Profit Margins: A Guide to Direct Sales and Special Edition Books

Friday February 7, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST

Platte

Learn actionable insights for breaking free from traditional distribution limitations, allow for greater control of profit margins, increase customer retention, and create a new paradigm of profitability in book publishing.

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 →

Friday February 7, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MST
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Session

11:15am MST

Author Branding for Success

Friday February 7, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST

Platte

Exploring the ins and outs, ups and downs of successful author branding based on more than thirty years of tracking trad and indie authors.

Speakers

Mark Leslie Lefebvre

Friday February 7, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm MST
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Session

1:45pm MST

Badass Book Covers 101

Friday February 7, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST

Platte

Learn how to create standout covers in any genre.

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.

Friday February 7, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm MST
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Session

3:00pm MST

Book Marketing In 2024

Friday February 7, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST

Platte

Three Marketing Strategies You MUST Be Focusing On

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.

Friday February 7, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST
Platte

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

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

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

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
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Session

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
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Session

3:00pm MST

Unlock the Power of Custom Books with BookvaultBespoke

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

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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

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 3:00pm - 4:00pm MST
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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