Express Yourself...™ Authors’ Conference
Friday, September 26 – Sunday, September 28, 2008
Sheraton Park Ridge, Valley Forge, PA
From our first very successful Authors' Conference Infinity Publishing has assembled noted publishing professionals. We extend invitations to presenters who are directly involved in originating and developing new concepts in book publishing, distribution, and marketing. We invite presenters who will gladly invest time in talking individually with conference attendees about their books. We rarely have a banquet head table so you might find yourself enjoying a meal while talking informally with a presenter or keynoter seated across the table from you.
Yes, we do have several presenters who are invited back each year because they continue to have exciting new concepts to share. Many of these concepts are presented for the first time, using Infinity's annual Express Yourself...™ Authors' Conference as a platform to explain insightful developments of book marketing ideas and expanding avenues for distribution. All of our presenters are very familiar with ever-evolving publishing models, so you won't hear a rehashing of "how it was always done" stuff. The publishing business is changing in ways that benefit authors, and our presenters are in touch and in tune with the trends that are reshaping the book publishing industry today.
We are always on the lookout for potential presenters with fresh ideas that will provide direct benefits to attending authors. However, we avoid those with big egos who demand high honorariums, in favor of maintaining an affordable registration fee for participants. As always, our goal is to assemble a highly diverse group of publishing experts who will provide participants with timely, accurate, and exciting information on how to promote and market their books more successfully.
Speakers and Presenters |
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Devin O’Branagan is an exceptionally hot novelist and a marketing professional with decades of experience. RED HOT PROPERTY, published by Infinity Publishing in 2008, is Devin O’Branagan’s third novel. She is also the author of SPIRIT WARRIORS and WITCH HUNT, published by Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books in English and Heyne Books in German. She is a successful Realtor® who devotes much of her resources to the cause of animal welfare. Devin lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains and is hard at work writing RED HOT, the eagerly anticipated sequel to RED HOT PROPERTY. Visit her website at www.RedHotNovel.com |
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Dan Poynter is an author of more than 102 books, has been a publisher since 1969 and is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP). He is an evangelist for books, an ombudsman for authors, an advocate for publishers and the godfather to thousands of successfully-published books. His seminars have been featured on CNN , his books have been pictured in The Wall Street Journal and his story has been told in US News & World Report. The media come to Dan because he is the leading authority on book publishing. Dan travels more than 4,000 miles each week to share, inspire and empower writers, publishers and professional speakers through keynotes and seminars. Some of his books are Writing Nonfiction, The Self-Publishing Manual, The Skydiver's Handbook, The Expert Witness Handbook and The Older Cat. Dan shows people how to make a difference while making a living by coaching them on the writing, publishing and promoting of their book. He has turned thousands of people into successful authors. His mission is to see that people do not die with a book still inside them. See his Para Publishing website at http://ParaPublishing.com |
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Brian Jud is an author, book-marketing consultant, seminar leader, television host as well as founder and president of Book Marketing Works, LLC. Brian created Book Central Station (www.BookCentralStation.com) where publishers can find rated lists of suppliers to help them publish and market your books. Brian is the author of Beyond the Bookstore (a Publishers Weekly book) and The Marketing Planning CD-ROM describing new ways to sell more books profitably to special-sales buyers. He is also the editor of the Book Marketing Matters newsletter on special sales topics. With Netsuite, he developed and introduced the Special-Sales Profit Center, the web-based, targeted-marketing system that helps deliver incremental sales and profits. Brian is the author of the Proven Tips for Publishing Success series of eight books published by R. R. Bowker. He has also written and self-published five books on career transition that are distributed internationally. Brian is the host of the television series The Book Authority and has aired six hundred and fifty shows. In addition, he is the author, narrator and producer of the media-training video program You're On The Air. He also wrote and published the books It’s Show Time and Perpetual Promotion. These describe techniques for authors to get on and perform on television and radio shows. |
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Penny Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns. Her company researched, developed and implemented the first comprehensive Internet publicity campaign called The Virtual Author Tour. Penny began her career in the publicity, book marketing, and literary field over 15 years ago. During that time she has been an author, freelance writer, publicist, and instructor. She has been instrumental in creating several highly successful marketing and publicity campaigns for author events and book launches. Penny is also President and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. and has developed and implemented countless marketing and publicity strategies. She has worked with such high profile clients as world renowned psychic and ghost buster, Jane Doherty, Jac Flanders (of the original Fantastic Four) and Tammi Menendez, wife of Erik Menendez and the first eBay auction of a Princess Diana gown (lot "9" from Christie's New York ). Her clients have been featured in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Today Show, The Bridal Guide, National Public Radio, MSNBC, and many others. Penny's diverse background enables her to bring a multitude of talents to the table as well as a myriad of marketing techniques. Penny recently signed a three-book deal with a mainstream publisher: Morgan James Publishing, to re-release From Book to Bestseller and Get Published Today as well as publish her upcoming book, Striking Internet Gold. Penny is Editor for the e-newsletter "The Book Marketing Expert," which has a subscriber base in excess of 4,000. You can visit her web site at www.AMarketingExpert.com |
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Tonya M. Evans-Walls, Esq., is the managing attorney of a Philadelphia-based law firm that concentrates in the areas of entertainment law (literary, music and film), intellectual property (copyright and trademark), estate planning, and municipal finance. She is the co-chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Sports, Entertainment and Art Law Committee, and an adjunct professor at York College of Pennsylvania. She is also a nationally recognized speaker who presents to various audiences regularly on publishing and intellectual property law and estate planning issues. Tonya is also a performance poet and writer, and the author of numerous books, including Copyright Companion for Writers, Literary Law Guide for Authors: Copyright, Trademark, and Contracts in Plain Language, Seasons of Her and SHINE! Her latest title is Contracts Companion for Writers (June 2007). Her short story, "Not Tonight" appears in an anthology titled Proverbs for the People, published by Kensington. Tonya attended Northwestern University on a four-year tennis Visit Tonya at www.LegalWritePublications.com or her award-winning |
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Jeniffer Thompson is president of Monkey C Media, a full design house offering web and print design services. Monkey C Media is known for their innovative designs and unparalleled website creation and makeover programs. Mrs. Thompson is also a freelance lifestyle writer in the San Diego area; she has worked in the publishing industry for more than 12 years and offers consulting services for authors and Web site analyses. Her highly anticipated book: Website WOW; How to turn your Web site into your most powerful marketing tool will be available in the Spring of 2007. For more information, visit Monkey C Media at www.monkeyCmedia.com. |
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Melanie Rigney is the owner of Editor for You, an editing and evaluation service that is proud to count Dan Poynter and many Infinity authors among its more than two hundred clients since the business's inception more than three years ago. Melanie was the editor of Writer's Digest magazine for five years and earlier in her career served as managing editor of Advertising Age magazine. She also worked for Thomson Financial Publishing, Macmillan Computer Publishing, and United Press International. Her memoir, currently titled The Apostles He Sends, will be released in October by Liguori. She lives in Arlington, Virginia. | |
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Bonnie Neubauer is the author of Write-Brain Workbook, 366 Exercises to Liberate Your Writing (Writer’s Digest) and the inventor of Story Spinner, a handheld tool/toy that generates millions of creative writing exercises. Her playful workshops spark creativity and build writing practice momentum for writers and aspiring writers. If you are currently in need of a writing boost, visit www.BonnieNeubauer.com and click on Story Spinner Online where you will find gazillions of free creative writing exercises to get your pen moving. In her spare time Bonnie likes to invent games; hunt for fossils, Indian artifacts, and minerals; go to library book sales; and picnic in the car with her husband. Her agent is in the process of pitching a follow-up book of creative writing exercises titled, Take Ten, Ten Hundred Writing Exercises to Build Momentum in Just Ten Minutes a Day. She is certain the publisher will shorten the title!! Bonnie can be reached via her website, www.BonnieNeubauer.com. |
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Over the course of the past seven years, published author and snack chip connoisseur Chris Master has transformed himself from a graphics greenhorn into a cover design powerhouse with over 2500 book covers under his belt. In the past year, Chris has taken on the bold new challenge of indoctrinating his chatty design assistant Ivan to the Infinity process. An apologetic butcherer of the Spanish language, Chris enjoys quoting The Simpsons and playing Wii bowling … poorly. His dislikes include people who talk in movie theaters, people who deliberately spoil plot twists, and people who insist on adding an “s” to his last name. When not obsessing about the television show Lost, Chris strives to sell copies of his own book, Tiny Cracker Zoo, though he inevitably gets distracted by his feverish zeal for toy robots in disguise. In spite of his torrid, ongoing love affair with his abundant collection of Transformer toys, Chris has been blissfully married to his beautiful, patient, and vastly smarter wife Marianne for 5 years. Chris is survived by his scheming cats Gandalf, who is also smarter than he is, and Lady Penelope Von Meow-meow, who simply isn't. | |
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In a world void of light, hope, and punctuation skills, a figure has emerged. Her name is… Caryn Elizabeth Search! As a college student, Caryn (pronounced “Ka-ren,” not “Car-o-lyn” or “Cor-ine”) decided it was time to leave the safety net of university life, where she had resided comfortably for 6 years, and venture out into the big, beautiful world of book publishing. Armed with her English degree, Caryn boldly kicked down the front door of Infinity Publishing and proclaimed, “I am here to ease your suffering of poor grammar and comma splices. I will show how to differentiate between ‘there, they’re, and their’ and I will show you a land where misspellings are a thing of the past! I implore you — follow me!” Five years later, Caryn (again, that's “Ka-ren”) continues her mission, holding the position of Fearless Leader of the Editing Department. When she is not saving the world from incorrectly-used quotation marks and apostrophes, Caryn (“KA-REN”), a graduate student, enjoys a peaceful life with her much-adored dog, Lucy, who uses perfect grammar, and her husband of three years, Todd, who speaks… good. | |
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Cover designer Ivan Carter grew up in Philadelphia, PA and is an avid fan of the Eagles and Philly Cheese steaks. Ivan earned his degree in Graphic Design from Arcadia University in 2005, and was the chancellor of the student government and the student representative on the board of trustees in 03’ and 04’. To balance his life and his craving for cheese steaks, Ivan practices multiple forms of martial arts – currently Praying Mantis Kung Fu. In his free time, Ivan also enjoys playing video games and the guitar. Before joining Infinity Publishing in May of 06, Ivan worked in design with Safeguard Business Systems in Lansdale, PA and a small design firm The Printed Word. Ivan continues to pursue his love of art, and plans on continuing his education in this area. | |
Participating Professionals |
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Photographer Chad Thompson will be offering professional headshots at this year’s Express Yourself Author’s Conference in Valley Forge. Thompson has an eye for detail and a command of lighting that gives him the ability to show his subjects at their very best. Thompson shoots professionally for Outdoor and Lifestyle magazines in California, Arizona and Oregon. He is also a co-founder of Monkey C Media a full-service design house offering web and print design, and photography services. Monkey C Media is known for their innovative designs and unparalleled website creation and makeover programs. For more information, visit Monkey C Media at www.monkeyCmedia.com and Chad Thompson at http://artcrisis.org. |
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Award-winning writer/artist Judith Trustone, is the Director of Sagewriters, which has so far published seven books of literary merit written by prisoners, families, victims, advocates and progressive Corrections professionals. Her “Healing with Words” model is a powerful tool for organizations. Judith designs “Justice” programs for high schools and also hosts an internet radio show, “Healing Justice.” |
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Michael Kleiner Michael Kleiner is an award-winning sportswriter and public relations practitioner, known for his enthusiasm, aggressiveness, creativity, initiative and successful placements. Michael has operated his own public relations and web site design business in Philadelphia since 1999 focusing on authors and small businesses. In 2003, he received the Home-Based Business Advocate Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration for Philadelphia; Pennsylvania; and Region III (PA, DE, MD, VA, WV, DC), as well as The Communicator Award of Excellence for Feature Writing, its highest distinction and an international award. His free-lance articles have appeared in Norway at your service, The Norseman and Olympian, and his press releases have been used as models by reporters. Beyond the Cold: An American's Warm Portrait of Norway is Michael's first published book, tracing the development of his affinity and affection for Norway, its culture and people although he is not of Norwegian descent. It begins when he lived in Norway with his family at age 11 and blossomed through return trips as an adult, a period spanning four decades. Being a writer was Michael’s goal from a young age and he pursued it early on in his first visit to Norway, as he penciled his first book, Wendell the Football. Michael is completing a two-year term as President of the Mt. Airy Business Association and lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Lisa, and soon-to-be 8-year old boy-girl twins, Matthew and Devra. |
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Beth Mansbridge
Beth resides in St. Augustine, Florida where she is an active member of that city’s Branch of the National League of American Pen Women. She is also a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association of New York. She participates in two writers’ groups and volunteers her services to several nonprofit organizations. Her passions include her husband, two cats, family, reading, photography, astronomy, the arts, health, and current events. |
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LinDee Rochelle, lifelong poet and essayist, found motivation in a 1994 magazine article, “Writing Life Begins at 40.” After raising twin boys, she took that statement to heart and drew on her early, academic journalism background to solicit writing for regional magazines, and created Penchant for Penning, a writing/editing/public relations service (www.PenchantForPenning.com). Thriving on versatility, Rochelle’s diverse articles have featured antiques, food, off-road recreation, architecture, and business. LinDee went on to found Women Writers of the Desert, which evolved into the online source, Women Writers Worldwide (www.WomenWritersWorldwide.com). Rochelle co-edited Love in Bloom, the writers’ club anthology (Infinity, 2005) and began working in publishing, assisting both emerging and established authors. Unique people-jobs such as Desert Jeep Tour Driver, Commercial Photographer for San Diego Harbor tours, and Media Supervisor for the Arizona State Fair continue to fuel her imagination, blending keen observational skills and insights with inherent talent and natural curiosity. Rochelle’s dance instructor mother instilled in her a love for the arts and nurtured her on stage and off from the tender age of three. “I write,” says Rochelle, “with a general love for all that is beautiful in life and a specific interest in painting a picture with words. I invite readers to follow my adventures and explore them on their own terms.” Rochelle’s writing perspicacity may have waned had it not been for a creative mother, complete with egg carton lamps and a penchant for the metaphysical. Education is certainly not all academic... |
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Participating Authors |
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Bob O'Connor is an Award Winning Finalist in the 2008 National Indie Excellence Awards, Fiction Audio Books category, and the Best Books 2006 National Book Awards, Historical Fiction category. Historical Novels by Bob O'Conor include "Catesby: Eyewitness to the Civil War",
"The Virginian Who Might Have Saved Lincoln" and
"The Perfect Steel Trap Harpers Ferry 1859" |
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Will Hutchison is the author of the award-winning novel, Follow Me to Glory, the story of a young English officer serving in the Crimean War. A meticulous researcher with a passion for history, the author spent countless hours at Eton College, the Royal Military Academy, the National Army Museum, and numerous other archives in the United Kingdom, as well as several visits to the battlefields of the Crimea. He has worked closely with other Crimean War experts, as well as retired Scots Guards officers and non-commissioned officers to ensure historic and regimental accuracy. He is currently at work on the sequel to his novel and looking forward to the release of his extensive, full-color photographic essay, Crimean Memories: Artifacts of the Crimean War (Schiffer Publishing, 2009), in which he brings life to more than 300 artifacts through detailed photography and insightful histories of each item. Hutchison has spent his life in interesting, and often dangerous, pastimes from leading Marines in Vietnam, to working as an undercover drug agent in Amsterdam with military CID, to serving as a Federal special agent conducting fraud investigations of nuclear plants. He is a graduate of Syracuse University, with twenty-six years as an officer in the US Army and Marine Corps, and has written and lectured on military history internationally for over twenty years. He resides in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. |
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Authors' Conference Co-Directors |
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Jane M. Martin is a respiratory therapist, teacher, and the author of Breathe Better, Live in Wellness: Winning Your Battle Over Shortness of Breath. Jane is a conference co-director and an author's advocate for Infinity Publishing. Ms. Martin's stories and articles have appeared in regional and national publications. Jane is known for her down-to-earth story writing style, revealing the essence of successful and inspiring pulmonary patients. She is known, as well, for her teaching and written articles showcasing her unique ability to distill complex information into understandable and useable methods to improve the health and quality of life for pulmonary patients and families. She is the founder and director of www.BreathingBetterLivingWell.com. Jane holds degrees in education, language arts and respiratory care.
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John F. Harnish John’s involvement in various aspects of creating, writing, publishing, and marketing spans over four decades—from letterpress to high-speed digital presses. His work has been successfully self-published, traditionally published, and most recently he’s authored three books published under author-originated publishing agreements. He is currently working on My Book’s Published – Now What Do I Do??? scheduled for release soon. John enjoys a life long love affair with the creative process and thrives on a creative challenge. His magic smart paper from eons ago is in advertising design. As a Marketing Consultant, Harnish was involved in start-up operations and new product introductions such as ATMs and the Pulsar watch. After completing his service in the US Air Force he did free-lance commercial art and grew a client base to support an advertising design firm he started in 1967. John is the recipient of several awards from the Philadelphia Direct Mail Club, as well as the prestigious Gold Mail Box from the Direct Mail Association – now the Direct Marketing Association. He developed creative campaigns to launch the first Pulsar digital watch and first use of the ATM. As Special Projects Director of Infinity Publishing, John initiates innovative programs and negotiates enhanced distribution, and writes the monthly Authors’ Advocate Newsletter and the Authors’ Gazette. He is co-director of Infinity’s annual “Express Yourself…” Authors’ Conferences. He is a popular speaker and a noted expert on the POD/A-OP revolution gaining in popularity in the publishing industry and wide acceptance with booklovers.
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