Three for the price of two—In this exclusive three-part series, our speakers share advice for the authors who want to jump into indie publishing. Our industry professionals guide you from getting your book professionally edited, to a deep-dive explanation of the self-publishing process, to how to market your book.

Join Editor Karen Krumpak, self-publishing expert Karen Richardson, and book marketer Leila Siddiqui, currently on the Simon & Schuster marketing team.

Hiring a Book Editor: How to Maximize the Collaboration

Whether you plan to self-publish or go the traditional route, it’s more common than ever for authors to hire their own editors before publishing their books. And no wonder—you want your book to stand out as professional, compelling, and consistent, and an editor’s ability to approach your story elements, writing style, and grammar from an outsider’s perspective is an indispensable tool in making that happen.

But it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into so that you can ensure that the time, effort, and money you dedicate to your book is worth it. Editor Karen Krumpak will prepare you for getting the most out of working with an independent editor to prepare your book.

This presentation will cover:

• The different stages of editing in practice so you can decide which is right for you.
• How to benefit from your editor’s advice—whether you agree with it or not.
• How to evaluate work styles and personalities to choose your editor and develop a positive working relationship.
• The differences (and similarities) between working with independent and in-house editors.
• Why you should hire an editor … instead of just asking a writer or reader friend for their opinions.
• When you shouldn’t hire an editor (and can save some money in the process).
• An overview of finding potential editors, payment, and other administrative tasks that come along with the process.

Self-Publishing: The Fundamentals and Beyond

Congratulations, you wrote a book! Maybe it’s your first. Maybe you’ve been published before—traditionally or on your own. Perhaps you’ve been planning to self-publish from the start. Or you’ve been discouraged by publishers’ responses to your submissions or lack thereof.

Whatever your reasons, goals, or level of experience, you’d like to know more about self-publishing.

At the end of the day, your book is a product. Readers, booksellers, and librarians will consciously or unconsciously compare it to those released by the Top 5 publishers when making their buy-decisions. In this presentation, you will learn how to avoid the telltale oversights that secretly undermine self-published books’ potential for success from the get-go.

Whether you want to use subcontractors or completely DIY your printed or digital book, this presentation provides a roadmap to attaining professional—yet cost-effective—results through:

• Copyediting and proofreading
• Cover design and interior layout
• SEO, keywords, and other tools for discoverability
• Writing a compelling book description
• Getting your book in libraries
• Choosing printers and distributors
• Pricing your book and understanding royalties
• Plus, detailed instructions on working with Kindle Direct Publishing
• Q & A

Marketing for Indie Authors

You did it … you gritted your teeth and laid it on the line to self-publish your first book. Congratulations! Pat yourself on the back, have a glass of wine, and take a deep breath—because that was the easy part.

The biggest question remains: how do you spread the word about your book and get it in readers' hands? The book marketing landscape is vast, and if you don't know where to get started, self-promotion can feel daunting. But it doesn't have to be.

Leila Siddiqui, a book marketer at Simon & Schuster, can help you understand book marketing basics with tips, insights, and suggestions on where to start and how to get organized.

By the end of this session, you'll understand the difference between the various social and advertising platforms, how to drill down your ad targeting, and the tools you need to build awareness and sales for your book.

The presentation will cover:

• Understanding book marketing basics
• Online author presence
• Social-media marketing
• Metadata, keywords, and how best to optimize your book page
• Insight on self-publishing platforms such as KDP and Ingram
• How to do targeted outreach
• Advertising platform walk-through and best practices