2024 Summit Event Sponsors
The Summit Recap
Your voice is important.
Your voice is powerful and your message deserves to be heard.
And your dreams of publishing and launching a book to share your message, can become a reality.
This summit will show you how to get there from here.
Whether you are planning a book launch or seeking your first book deal, The Business Behind The Book Summit will equip you with the skills, information and network you need to build your platform, land a book deal, and promote and sell your book. The goal is to increase your economic empowerment and financial inclusion in the marketplace as a published author.
Join us in New York, April 23rd, 24th, and 25th, 2024 for an unparalleled 3-day event that will provide networking, opportunities for acknowledgement and celebration, workshops and expert panel discussions. The focus bringing together successful authors who will share the secrets of their success, editors and agents who will tell you what stands out to them, and members of the media and global publicity firms who will teach you how to sell your book.
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Bestselling Authors
Global
PR Firms
Literary
Agents
Publishers & Editors
THERE WHERE THREE DAYS OF LEARNING, EXPERTISE & NETWORKING
DAY 1
Tuesday, April 23
DAY 2
Wednesday April 24
DAY 3
Thursday, April 25
Build expertise participating in two curated workshops created to help you hone in on skills you need as an author. Then join the evening networking reception and inaugural The Business Behind The Gala.
Spend the second day listening, engaging and networking with a host of experts and best-selling authors as they share their expertise and learnings of what it takes to for you to achieve your book publishing goals.
Continue the third day of the summit listening and engaging with experts and best-selling authors. You will learn what are the next steps you can take to prepare for publishing your book or moving your current book forward.
Proud to bring inspirational speakers from across the globe
Speakers
Proud to bring inspirational speakers from across the globe
Proud to bring inspirational speakers from across the globe
Authors, Publishers, Agencies,& PR Firms
Attended for
Access
Hear directly from bestselling authors, global PR firms, and publishing industry insiders brought together by the mission of amplifying and elevating underrepresented voices.
Exposure
Industry knowledge, what really catches an agent's attention, what it takes to get media coverage: the insider info you need to launch your book.
Information
Carefully curated content will change your mindset about what it means to write and launch a book. Learn tactics and strategies that work, and put them into practice immediately.
Tracks
2
Days
3
Sessions
25
Experts
40+
Sessions & Schedule
As an author whether aspiring or established, it often comes down to making the right connections and maintaining and nurturing those connections over time. This is a fundamental key to achieving your goals as a published author and positioning your book or brand for success in the marketplace. Check in each morning (and throughout the Summit) to see who’s there. Ask someone you’d like to meet who’s also attending the Summit to meet you at the Hub or continue the conversation you’ve already started to help you with your authorship journey.
Tuesday April 23, 2024
Summit Registration
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Author's Networking Hub
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
As an author whether aspiring or established, it often comes down to making the right connections and maintaining and nurturing those connections over time. This is a fundamental key to achieving your goals as a published author and positioning your book or brand for success in the marketplace. Check in each morning (and throughout the Summit) to see who’s there. Ask someone you’d like to meet who’s also attending the Summit to meet you at the Hub or continue the conversation you’ve already started to help you with your authorship journey.
Francine Parham
General Afternoon Sessions
Welcome Remarks
Partnership and the Power of Your Network
11:30 p.m. - 11:40 p.m.
If you're on the journey to publishing a book, or are in the midst of planning a launch and promoting your book, there’s nothing more important than your network. The world of publishing can feel inaccessible and remote, but the truth is, if you know what to look for, your network and resources are probably much more extensive than you realize.
Lunch: A Table + Two Chairs Author Talk
11:40 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Lunch and dinner at the summit will feature Francine Parham’s signature event, “A Table + 2 Chairs,” a series that brings successful women and diverse individuals together to cultivate relationships and explore new perspectives. Our featured luncheon speaker is Daisy Auger-Dominguez in conversation with Bethany Saltman who worked with Daisy as a book coach on her second book. Daisy is a global leader recognized for her organizational leadership having held a multitude of roles within major corporations. She is also the author of "The Inclusion Revolution" and her second book, "Burnt Out to Lit Up". In addition to her work, Daisy serves on the Board of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Board of Trustees at Bucknell University. Discussion moderated by Keysha McNeil of Dow Jenes.
Daisy Auger-Dominguez
Bethany Saltman
Keysha McNeil
Moderator
Master Author Workshop 1: Finding Your Narrative
Ruthie Ackerman
Workshop Facilitator
1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Do you ever wonder about the narrative thread of your story? In this workshop, we will look at
the structures and narrative area that have worked for other writers, and talk about: What
themes keep popping up in your writing. What ideas keep you up at night? What pieces of your
personal history haunts you? Will you bring outside research to your book? Other people's
stories? How will all of these threads come together? You will walk away with a clear sense of
how to figure out the foundational themes that drive your writing and how to turn your story into
a narrative that will keep your readers turning the page.
Master Author Workshop 2: Honing Your Pitch
2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
To sell your book, you need to be able to tell someone what is about, why they should
care, and what is spectacular about your book… all in 1-2 sentences. This interactive
workshop will help you hone your pitch to a razor sharp edge.
Mercedes Barba
Workshop Facilitator
The Inaugural "Being Seen AND Heard"
Networking Reception and Awards Dinner
Many of us are familiar with or grew up as children in which we were told to be seen but not heard. And for some of us, that narrative never ended. Many of us have been told or have come to expect that space and power belong to others resulting in our voices becoming silent and our silence becoming our norm. And to increase our own value, to change the table and to shift our economies, there is a dialogue that requires and depends on each of us raising our own unique voices, not only to be seen, but also to be heard.
Join us for an evening of celebration along with Elaine Lin Hering, evening keynote speaker and author of "Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live more Fully" (Penguin Random House, March 2024) at the inaugural “Being Seen AND Heard” Reception and Awards Dinner. We will network with one another, hear from outstanding speakers and most importantly, acknowledge a group of courageous and unapologetic trailblazers. Individuals who have navigated, mastered and continue to pave the way in their own respective industries and fields using their voices to unselfishly drive impact and change for others to ensure they are also seen and heard. * A special announcement to be made as well.
*Tickets are available to the public, no additional charge for registered Summit participants.
Recipients to be announced.
5:30 p.m. Networking Reception I 6:30 p.m. Dinner and Awards
Featured Keynote Speaker: Elaine Lin Hering
Author of "Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent , And Live More Fully (Penguin Books, March, 2024)
Elaine Lin Hering Keynote Speaker
Oscar Parham
Host
Maricella Herrera Avila
Host
Awards
The Being Seen AND Heard Vision of Excellence Award
This highest and most prestigious award is designated for an individual who has the ability to see opportunities where others don't. They truly have the vision and prominence to lead and operate in a manner that transforms whatever they embark upon or are called to do resulting in a meaningful, impactful and successful outcome.
Michelle Snow
Founder Grow Together Foundation
Business Coach Michelle Snow Company
The Being Seen AND Heard Transformative Changemaker Award
Change is inevitable. However, there are those of us who embrace change and others that run from any possibility of change. This title receiver of this award not only embraces the idea of change, they often create and lead it and in a way that is viewed as not only being different, but a way in a transformative way - a way that many would have not thought of or believed to be possible.
Jabari Young
Senior Editor, Forbes
The Being Seen AND Heard Progressive Pacesetter Award
We can all think of individuals who are passionate and believe in what they do or talk about. They often push the boundaries by asking the important questions and showing up in a public way because it is needed to drive progress and ultimately change. The recipient's vision not only pushes the boundaries, but allows others to follow suit because the door has been opened by them for others to come through.
Award Recipient: To Be Announced at Event
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Summit Registration
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Author's Networking Hub
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
As an author whether aspiring or established, it often comes down to making the right connections and maintaining and nurturing those connections over time. This is a fundamental key to achieving your goals as a published author and positioning your book or brand for success in the marketplace. Check in each morning (and throughout the Summit) to see who’s there. Ask someone you’d like to meet who’s also attending the Summit to meet you at the Hub or continue the conversation you’ve already started to help you with your authorship journey.
Breakfast
8:00 a.m. - 9:15 am
General Sessions - All Attendees
WELCOME BACK: NOW THAT YOU HAVE SOME SKILLS ...
9:30 a.m. - 9:45 am
Francine Parham
Identify Your (Bigger) Goals
9:45 a.m. - 10:45 am
Have you ever asked yourself why you want to publish a book? This is a critical question every author needs to answer. A book should be holistically tied into the broader picture of your professional identity, experience, and activities, and all that starts with your “why”- what you are writing the book for. Your goals will determine so much about your content, publication strategy, and eventual promotion.
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Pauleanna Reid
Kim Perel
Shana Khan
Moderator
Now Put Your Book to Work
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Being a published author can do a lot for your career and your legacy- it truly is an investment in your future. So many people just want to “just get it out there” but this approach leaves immense value on the table. Being intentional about this endeavor can be the best investment in yourself that you could possibly make.
Deborah Owens
Francine Parham
Lunch: A Table + Two Chairs Authors Real Talk
12:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Lunch and dinner at the summit will feature Francine Parham’s signature event, “A Table + 2 Chairs,” a series that brings successful women and diverse individuals together to cultivate relationships and explore new perspectives.
Francine Parham
Keysha McNeil
Track 1: Aspiring Author
Wednesday, April 24th
For aspiring authors, track one will feature content on working with agents and publishers, identifying your goals, sharpening your message, building your platform, and how to write a rockstar book proposal that will stand out.
Let Your Message Do Your Marketing
1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
The most effective ambassador for your book is going to be …. Your book itself! Your book’s central message is its most powerful marketing asset. That core value proposition is what will convince people to buy it, and what they will tell others when they recommend it. Nailing this is not just about writing a good book, it’s what will give your book wings.
A Book Proposal That Gets Attention
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Editors and agents look at hundreds of proposals every month, and what they are really looking for is often a surprise to aspiring authors. Hear directly from them what stands out, and how to write a proposal that shows the promise of an amazing book.
Amina Iro
Kim Perel
Bethany Saltman
The Experts You Need: Getting Your A-Team Together
You need a team to publish a book, but who to enlist can be confusing and overwhelming. Learn the most important assets you will need as you pursue a book contract and launch your book.
3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Bridget Thoreson
Michelle Snow
Moderator
Agents, Contracts, and Advances: The Right Publication Strategy for YOU
Indie or big house? How much is a book advance, anyway? Do I need an agent? These decisions are crucial, and yet very difficult to make without an understanding of the system. This panel will feature agents, publishers, and authors telling you the pros and cons, and the crucial implications of your varying publication options.
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Amina Iro
Casie Vogel
Leila Campoli
Track 2: Publication & Promotion
Wednesday, April 24th
For authors with a published book or one under contract, track two focuses on marketing/promotion, sales strategy, leveraging strategic partnerhsips, launch plans, brand integration, and working with the media.
Planning A Powerhouse Book Launch
1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
The era of the book tour as a sales driver is long gone. The marketplace is overcrowded with competition, hundreds of thousands of media channels, and no author has exactly the same resources to draw on. What does a book launch look like in 2023? Hear from marketers and PR firms who will be discussing strategies to make your book launch soar.
Maisha Walker
Marissa Eigenbrood
Shana Khan
Moderator
Rocket Fuel Behind Your Launch: Publicists and What They Can Do for You
Hiring the right PR firm can be one of the best strategies to set your book up for success. PR firms do much more than pitch you to the media these days- most take a holistic look at your platform and how to most effectively leverage it, in addition to getting you featured in media. Hear from a panel of publicists about how hiring a PR firm works, what questions to ask when hiring one, and what you can expect when working together.
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Kourtney Jason
Raoul Davis
Kimberly Brown
Maximize Marketing and Sales Using Strategic Partnerships
You probably made use of partnerships in building your platform- corporate clients, organizational affiliations, other creators- but these partnerships can be a valuable source of book sales and ongoing promotional activities, long after your book launch is over. Hear from authors and marketing experts about how to make the most of these valuable connections.
4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Shirley V. Williams
Dan Goitein
Shelmina Babai Abji
Meet the Media and How to Work with Them
Getting featured in media outlets is a major part of any book launch and ongoing promotion and working with members of the media is a skillset. Learn how to leverage the media cycle to boost your promotion efforts- connecting to world events, pitching media outlets with short-form content, and how to handle the attention when it does come knocking.
4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
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Adam Auriemma
Evening Reception and Fireside Chat with Journalist and Author Lee Hawkins
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
This evening program will feature Francine Parham’s signature event, “A Table + 2 Chairs,” a series that brings successful women together and diverse individuals to cultivate relationships and explore new perspectives. Our featured speaker, Lee Hawkins, is an American investigative journalist with a 19-year tenure with The Wall Street Journal. In 2022, Lee as the lead reporter on his team was selected as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in the explanatory journalism category for the reporting of the Tulsa Massacre of 1921. He is currently a Roselyn Carter Fellow for Mental Health Journalism. Lee is also the series creator, co-executive producer, and host of the forthcoming podcast 'What Happened in Alabama?' for American Public Media/Minnesota Public Radio. From his media appearances that have included media outlets such as The WSJ Live, CNBC, NBC, Fox CBS, CNN to his upcoming book, "Nobody's Slave" (Harpers Collins, 2025), Lee brings a series of outstanding accomplishments that have well positioned him to pen his book. Discussion moderated by Keysha McNeil of Dow Jones.
Lee Hawkins
Francine Parham
Keysha McNeil
Moderator
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Summit Registration
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Author's Networking Hub
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
As an author whether aspiring or established, it often comes down to making the right connections and maintaining and nurturing those connections over time. This is a fundamental key to achieving your goals as a published author and positioning your book or brand for success in the marketplace. Check in each morning (and throughout the Summit) to see who’s there. Ask someone you’d like to meet who’s also attending the Summit to meet you at the Hub or continue the conversation you’ve already started to help you with your authorship journey.
Breakfast
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 am
General Sessions - All Attendees
The “P” Word: Let’s Talk Platform
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
The most ubiquitous word in book publishing. What is it? How do you build one? How do you leverage it? Most people think platform = number of social media followers, full stop. Nothing could be further from the truth. While social media can sometimes be a good benchmark, your platform is made up of every and any way you have to connect to potential readers. Once you understand platform more expansively, you will be shocked to realize how many resources you probably already have.
Maisha Walker
Shirley V. Williams
Maya Lewis
Author Case Study: Getting Your Book To Auction
10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Elaine Lin Hering didn't think she had a voice, and she certainly didn't have a social media following. At the time her agent shopped her book proposal to publishers, she had precisely 1191 followers on LinkedIn -- the only social platform she was really on. So how did she end up selling global rights to her book Unlearning Silence to Penguin Random House at auction? Platform comes in many different forms. Join this case study looking at the different ways to build and demonstrate the strength of your proposal/idea.
Elaine Lin Hering
Meghan Stevenson
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Rachel Ekstrom Courage
That Idea You Have for a Children’s Book
Admit it- you have an idea for a children’s book. We all remember our childhood favorites, the beautiful illustrations and whimsical stories- serious or silly- that captured our imaginations as children. The world of children’s book (also referred to as “picture book” or “kid lit”) publishing is one of the most misunderstood verticals in the industry. Hear from a panel of professional working kit lit authors and illustrators about what you can do to tell the story you wish you’d had as a child.
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Nina Crews
So Who or What is Helping Me to Sell My Book? The Mysterious World of Book Sales and Distribution
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
The way books make their way to bookstores and other retail outlets is often baffling and mysterious, and one of the most common questions new authors have is what bookstores for example will their book be in. The answer is surprising to folks, and the reality is that book distribution is a highly complex and shrouded system. A panel of experts will reveal its inner workings.
Bridget Thoreson
Lunch: A Table + Two Chairs Author Talk
with Christine Guilfoyle
12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Lunch will feature Francine Parham’s signature event, “A Table + 2 Chairs,” a series that brings successful women and diverse individuals together to cultivate relationships and explore new perspectives. Our featured speaker is Christine Guilfoyle, the President at SeeHer, the leading global collective of marketers, media organizations and industry influencers committed to creating advertising and supporting content that portrays women and girls as they really are. Discussion moderated by Keysha McNeil of Dow Jones.
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Christine Guilfoyle
Francine Parham
Keysha McNeil
Track 1: Aspiring Author
For aspiring authors, track one will feature content on working with agents and publishers, identifying your goals, sharpening your message, building your platform, and how to write a rockstar book proposal that will stand out.
Thursday, April 25th
Platform From the Ground Up
Having a robust platform is arguably the most important part of any book proposal today. And for new authors, building one can be daunting. The good news is that there is a way to do it. While there is no one-size-fits-all model for a platform, there are accessible tactics that anyone can use to start to build this critical asset. Your unique platform will play to your unique strengths (and no, it doesn’t mean you have to get 100,000K followers on social media!)
2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Jenna Banks
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Lan Phan
Nicole Anderson
AI - Are You Writing Your Book? Who (or what)?
2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
What is a ghostwriter? How does ghostwriting work? What about AI? When the minutia of wordsmithing a sentence (or 3,000 of them) is not your strong suit, it is very common to engage a ghostwriter. Make no mistake though- your ideas are still the core of your book, but there are many resources to help you with the execution.
Melissa Murphy
Sana Khan
Track 2: Promotions & Publication
For authors with a published book or one under contract, track two focuses on marketing/promotion, sales strategy, leveraging strategic partnerhsips, launch plans, brand integration, and working with the media.
Thursday, April 25th
Your Book in 10 years: Ongoing Marketing for Continued Sales
After months prepping for your launch, it can feel like a vacuum when it's all over. What comes next? Marketing a book is a long-haul endeavor, and you’ll want to transition from the sprint of a launch to a marathon. The good news is there are ways to ensure your book keeps selling as long as you are out there selling it.
2:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Shelmina Babai Abji
Alisa Gumbs
Do You Do Book #2? Second Editions and Second Books
With a successful book under your belt many authors start to wonder what comes next. Choosing your next move should be a highly strategic decision that takes your whole business and your current goals into account. Explore the strategy behind when it makes sense to do a 2nd edition or whether you should capitalize on your success and go for a new book.
2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Meghan Stevenson
Margaret Danko
General Sessions - All Attendees
Bestseller Lists: Real Talk
3:40 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Spoiler: there is no (ethical) playbook for getting on big name bestseller lists. Everyone wants to know the silver bullet answer to this question, and the truth is that there isn’t one. But it is possible to understand how the lists work, what goes into the selection process, what sorts of sales count, and more behind-the-scenes info about who ends up in those coveted spots.
Summit Closing
4:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The Power of Your Voice: Where Your Book Can Take You
Whether an aspiring or current author, attendees will have had the opportunity to participate in three days of curated information; focused learning; networking with one another as well as, industry experts and insiders. The goal being for each individual to clearly leave the Summit understanding the business aspect behind their book, coupled with not only what they need to specifically do, but who and what are the resources and experts required to help them navigate as a successful published author in the literary marketplace.
