Events

2008 Conference

April 26, 2008
8:00 amto5:00 pm

Pride in Publishing (register now!)

Keynote Speaker: Dan Poynter, author of The Self-Publishing Manual, now in its 16th edition

Official Bookseller of the NCPA 2008 Conference

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Speakers

Dan Poynter

Dan Poynter has produced more than 100 books and revisions so far, many of which some have been translated into other languages. Over the years, Dan has developed a system of writing that makes it all so easy and fun. His books are loaded with facts and figures, and they contain detailed inside information. They are always up-to-date because he revises them before going back to press. Dan has sold millions of his books, including several best sellers, for ten of millions of dollars in sales. Many of his books sell at the rate of 10,000 to 20,000 copies per year, every year.

Naida West

Naida West, PhD, sociology teacher and lobbyist, quit her other work in 1990 to write full-time. In 1997 she self-published River of Red Gold, the big historical novel that launched her publishing business and gave her the confidence to reject a contract with HarperCollins. To date, she has authored and published three historical novels. Two of these are required reading in college literature, history, and anthropology courses across the U.S. and in the U.K. A sought-after speaker, West weaves into her writing the insights gleaned from a long and checkered life — from potato picking in Idaho, translating German-English for the Indian government, and researching California’s violent criminals to serving on a school board, researching/writing about leadership of men and women in top jobs in business, political, and government, and lobbying for oil companies and other clients.

Stephanie Chandler

Stephanie Chandler is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and small business expert. She is the founder of BusinessInfoGuide.com, a directory of resources for entrepreneurs, and Pro Publishing Services, a business writing and marketing company specializing in electronic newsletters. She spent 11 years in the Silicon Valley before fleeing corporate America to pursue her business and writing goals. Stephanie has been featured in Entrepreneur, Inc., Business Week, the Los Angeles Times, and several other publications.

Michael Larsen

Michael Larsen is the author or co-author of a dozen books, including Guerrilla Marketing for Writers. Born and educated in New York City, Michael Larsen worked in promotion for three major publishers: William Morrow, Bantam, and Pyramid (now Jove). He and his wife, Elizabeth Pomada, moved to San Francisco in 1970. They started Michael Larsen–Elizabeth Pomada Literary Agents, Northern California’s oldest literary agency, in 1972. Since then, the agency has sold books, mostly by new writers, to more than 100 publishers. He is a member of Association of Author’s Representatives (AAR) and represents nonfiction authors.

Elizabeth Pomada

Elizabeth Pomada worked at David McKay, Holt Rinehart & Winston, and the Dial Press in New York City before moving to San Francisco in 1970 with her partner and husband, Michael Larsen. Together, they started Michael Larsen–Elizabeth Pomada Literary Agents in 1972. Since then, they have sold books from hundreds of authors to more than 100 publishers. Elizabeth is a member of the Association of Author’s Representatives (AAR), and co-founder with Michael of the San Francisco Writers Conference and the Writing for Change conference. She travels extensively, speaking at conferences, universities, and writers’ groups. She represents narrative nonfiction (memoir), adult commercial and literary fiction, women’s fiction, romance, and mysteries. Elizabeth is the author or co-author of seven books.

Pete Masterson

Pete Masterson is the author of Book Design and Production: A Guide for Authors and Publishers. He founded Aeonix Publishing Group in 1997 after having owned a print shop, managed a book-oriented typesetting service, doing work for large- and medium-sized publishers, and managing the publications and graphic production contractor at NASA Ames Research Center. He is a publishing consultant, book designer, and cover designer. During his career he pioneered POD production for railroad publications at Southern Pacific Railroad, and was an early participant with desktop publishing in a print shop setting. He has supervised production of more than 1,000 publications. Currently, he is focusing on sales of his book and in sharing his publishing knowledge with the independent publishing community.

Clint Greenleaf

Clint Greenleaf started Greenleaf Book Group after writing and publishing two books, selling foreign publication rights, and securing a multibook contract with Adams Media. Since then, he has built the company into one of the industry’s leading book distributors. Greenleaf Book Group has represented more than 500 titles and is one of the fastest-growing companies in America. Clint speaks at conferences and seminars across the country and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal as well as Inc. and Entrepreneur magazines, and he is a contributor to Inc.com and the Fox Business Channel.

Bud Gardner

Bud Gardner is the co-author of the New York Times best seller Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul, a great book with an important mission: to turn readers onto the value of writing. Bud is also a publisher. He and his wife, Jennifer Martin, founded Prairie Angel Press and published her first novel — The Huna Warrior: The Magic Begins. A popular motivational speaker and long-time member of the National Speaker’s Association (NSA), Bud has shared his writing expertise with clients and authors in several countries.

Karl W. Palachuk

Karl W. Palachuk is the author of five books. He is the founder of Great Little Book Publishing Co., Inc. and two other companies in Sacramento. He is also the founder and author of the Relax Focus Succeed Web site and newsletter. He has produced a number of audio CDs, podcasts, and other downloadable products. Karl has been a featured speaker at conferences and seminars over the last ten years.

Schedule (subject to change)

PDF version

Track A: Getting Started
Track B: Moving to the Next Level

8:00-8:45 a.m.
Check-In, Registration, Coffee, and Networking
8:00 a.m. (Book Room)
Book signing by Kiyo Sato, author of Dandelion Through the Crack
Book signing by Michele Avanti, author of Greehee: The Journey of Five
8:45-9:00 a.m. (both tracks)
Greeting, Introductions
9:00-10:30 a.m. (both tracks)
Introduction (Bud Gardner)
Getting Published: The Faster, Surer Way to Publication (Dan Poynter)
10:30-10:45 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m. (Book Room)
Book signing by Dan Poynter, keynote speaker and author of The Self-Publishing Manual
10:45-11:45 a.m.
Track A: Succeeding with Fiction: Creative and Commercial Aspects of Writing a Novel (Naida West)
Track B: Marketing Your Books Online (Stephanie Chandler)
11:00-12:30 p.m. (Book Room)
Book signing by Stefanie Cruz, author of Delta & Dawn
12:00-1:15 p.m. (both tracks)
Lunch
Ways to Make Yourself Irresistible to Any Agent or Publisher (Michael Larsen and Elizabeth Pomada)
12:30-1:30 p.m. (Book Room)
Book signing by Barry McArdle, author of I Sold the Moon!
1:15-1:30 p.m. (both tracks)
Overview of afternoon events
1:30-2:45 p.m.
Track A: Designing a Great Book (Pete Masterson)
Track B: Behind the Shelves: What It Takes to Sell High Volume Through Major Retailers (Clint Greanleaf)
2:30-3:30 p.m.
Book signing by Alan O’Connor, author of Gold on the Diamond
2:45-3:00 p.m. (both tracks)
Break
3:00-4:15 p.m.
Track A: Breathe Life into Your Writing (Bud Gardner)
Track B: Recorded Products and Other Spinoff Products (Karl Palachuk)
4:20-5:00 p.m. (both tracks)
Panel: The Future of Small Publishing
Open Forum

Location

Red Lion Inn
1401 Arden Way
Sacramento, CA 95815-4002
Map and Directions

Fees

$125 per person

Register online or download a registration form for payment by fax or mail.

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Updated April 26, 2008