Lakefly Writers Conference: Focus on Self-Publishing

Thinking about self-publishing? The Lakefly Writers Conference, May 12-13 in Oshkosh, has some great offerings to get your book off to a successful start!

Mary T. Wagner

Children’s author Mary T. Wagner will share her (mis)adventures in self-publishing on Friday afternoon.  Part nuts-and-bolts advice about publishing, part savvy and joyous perspective about the fun and opportunities to be had as a self-published author, Wagner shares the good, the bad, and the stuff she learned the hard way.

Wayne Breitbarth

LinkedIn expert Wayne Breitbarth will show you the ins-and-outs of how to use LinkedIn to network yourself and sell more books. Breitbarth, author of The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success, will discuss the many features of LinkedIn and how to use all of them to your advantage. Also a great workshop for those who are already working with a publisher!

Brea Behn

Also on Friday, Brea Behn will help authors find the ideal book cover -- without spending a fortune – and advise writers on how to create a concise book summary and author bio that is sure to entice new readers. Those considering self-publishing will not want to miss this workshop!

On Saturday, there will be a panel discussion on book reviews and why they matter. An excellent workshop choice for both those who self-publish and authors working with a traditional publisher. You’ll learn how reviews boost your rankings on sites such as Amazon and GoodReads, how to handle bad reviews, and much more!. Bring your questions for the Q&A session.

To round out the topic, Kristen Bratonja from Orange Hat Publishing will led a 90-minute

Kristen Bratonja

workshop on publishing options.  Bratonja will cover the pros and cons of the major types of publishing - traditional, vanity, self, and indie - to help authors better navigate this increasingly complex industry and to help them decide which option may be best for them. She will also cover some of the major publishing scams and tips on how to avoid them.

Considering self-publishing? By the end of the conference, you should be able to decide if this option is right for you and how to successfully package and promote your self-published book.

The Lakefly Writers Conference is May 12-13 at the Oshkosh Convention Center. Registration is $60 and includes lunch on Saturday. For more information or to register, please click here.

The conference is sponsored by the Oshkosh Public Library and Friends of the Oshkosh Public Library in partnership with the Oshkosh Area Writers Club. 

If you would like to a sponsor for this annual event, please contact Ruth Percey at the Oshkosh Public Library: percey@oshkoshpubliclibrary.org Donations can be also made to the Oshkosh Foundation – Oshkosh Public Library Programming Fund.