Superstars Writing Seminars 2025: Full Schedule

9:15am MST

Setting the Stage on the Page: Making the WHERE Matter (Part 1)

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

(Part 1 of 2) An overview of basic world-building issues to consider along with techniques for how to make setting more symbolic.

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 →

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

Skills Day

11:00am MST

Setting the Stage on the Page: Making the WHERE Matter (Part 2)

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

Rio Grande

(Part 2 of 2) An overview of basic world-building issues to consider along with techniques for how to make setting more symbolic.

Speakers

Lisa Mangum

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

Skills Day

2:00pm MST

The Cover Story: A Workshop on Cover Design (Part 1)

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

Rio Grande

(Part 1 of 2) In this workshop, James will discuss how to bring together all of the elements that make a successful, attractive cover, and then demonstrate by live workshopping up to four covers submitted by attendees. Anyone wishing to have their cover(s) considered needs to to submit a PDF by no later than January 20th. I'll choose up to four to workshop, and will probably comment on several more. No one is required to submit covers, since teaching attendees about what works is the point of the class – but if anyone wishes to, they may end up with all-new covers at the end of the session.

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 →

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

Skills Day

3:45pm MST

The Cover Story: A Workshop on Cover Design (Part 2)

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

Rio Grande

(Part 2 of 2) In this workshop, James will discuss how to bring together all of the elements that make a successful, attractive cover, and then demonstrate by live workshopping up to four covers submitted by attendees. Anyone wishing to have their cover(s) considered needs to to submit a PDF by no later than January 20th. I'll choose up to four to workshop, and will probably comment on several more. No one is required to submit covers, since teaching attendees about what works is the point of the class – but if anyone wishes to, they may end up with all-new covers at the end of the session.

Speakers

James Artimus Owen

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

Skills Day

10:15am MST

Query Letters 101 Workshop (Part 1)

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

Rio Grande

(Part 1 of 2) Creating a QL: Not sure how to start writing a query letter? Or maybe you've got a draft, but you're not getting any bites. Let the experts at Eschler Editing dive into your letter--or show you the steps to get it drafted--and get immediate feedback and suggestions. This session is for every level of query writer--beginning-to-query writers, intermediate drafters, and even for those who have written multiple queries. Bring your laptops to work on your query right in the class.

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 →

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

Session

11:30am MST

Query Letters 101 Workshop (Part 2)

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

Rio Grande

(Part 2 of 2) Creating a QL: Not sure how to start writing a query letter? Or maybe you've got a draft, but you're not getting any bites. Let the experts at Eschler Editing dive into your letter--or show you the steps to get it drafted--and get immediate feedback and suggestions. This session is for every level of query writer--beginning-to-query writers, intermediate drafters, and even for those who have written multiple queries. Bring your laptops to work on your query right in the class.

Speakers

Sabine Berlin

Lindsay Flanagan

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

Session

2:00pm MST

Agent Live Critique

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

Rio Grande

Attendees provide 2 copies of their first page of a manuscript printed. A moderator or reader reads the first page out loud, followed by critique.

Speakers

Cherry Weiner

Born and raised in Australia. Came to American when I married a Brooklyn boy. I worked for one of the biggest Literary Agents in NY until he fired me and then his clients took two years to convince me to open my own agency by sending me authors and their manuscripts. I handle all... Read More →

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

Session

3:15pm MST

Sell Loads of Books with TikTok

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

Rio Grande

TikTok Shop is officially here and people are buying in! Whether you’re a debut author trying to come out the gates swinging, or you have a great backlist to offer readers, the time to sell books on TikTok Shop is now. It doesn't have to be overcomplicated. In this presentation, award-winning fantasy author, Z.S. Diamanti, breaks down TikTok and TikTok Shop into easy-to-understand nuggets and gives you practical steps to implement on your own. Come learn the ins and outs of TikTok Shop and how to sell loads of books!

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 →

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

Session

4:30pm MST

Publishing 101

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

Rio Grande

The Status of Traditional Publishing Today

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 →

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

Session

8:45am MST

Getting Ready For Your Close-up

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

Rio Grande

Understanding what film studios want and how to work with them

Speakers

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 →

James Fox

James Fox is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and filmmaker with over 15 years of experience crafting compelling stories across film, books, and digital media. Creator of the acclaimed The Sol Saga series, he is known for his intricate world-building and character-driven narratives... Read More →

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

Session

10:00am MST

Level Up: Turning Your Intellectual Property into Successful Games

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

Rio Grande

Join David Sherrer as he shares actionable insights on leveraging your intellectual property to create engaging and profitable games, drawing from his successful Kickstarter experience and game development expertise.

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.

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

Session

11:15am MST

AMA: Running a Seven-Figure Author Business

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

Rio Grande

Jeanette will be sharing secrets on how to get to the next level on your author journey from structure and process to networking and making deals.

Speakers

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 →

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

Session

1:45pm MST

How to Catch a Trend: Romantasy and the Business of Trends & Genre Mash-ups

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

Rio Grande

Catching a hot publishing trend is like lightning in a bottle, but trends are always changing and evolving, so explore practical tips for writing to market but not being derivative.

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 →

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

Session

3:00pm MST

Combating Burnout

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

Rio Grande

Discover effective strategies to recognize, manage, and overcome burnout, revitalizing your passion and productivity in the creative process.

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 →

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 →

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

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

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 →

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

Session