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2023 SPEAKERS
Autumn May Birt Raven, Bestselling Author
Autumn has always felt like she woke up on the wrong planet, which is why she’s been trying to write herself into a new story ever since.
She won her first writing contest in high school and has gone on to have a book nominated for Best Book of 2017, win Best Worldbuiding, and has had others win reader’s choice awards. Writing has become a passion and produced over 20 published novels. Usually, she writes primary fantasy from epic to dark but all of them have bold heroines and heroes, epic landscapes, and, since she is a bit of a romantic at heart, usually a bit of love along the way.
She is half the team of Am Writing Fantasy. Along with her business and writing partner, Jesper Schmidt, she blogs, podcasts, videos, and creates courses to help other authors get ahead and achieve their writing and publishing dreams.
To learn more about Autumn, visit her website.
Bethany Jett, C.Y.L.E. (Cyle Young Literary Elite)
Bethany Jett is an associate literary agent with the C.Y.L.E. agency, as well as a multi-award-winning author, and a marketing strategist who earned top honors in her master’s program, where she earned her MFA in Communications focusing on Marketing and PR. Her motto is “Teach as you go,” which she lives out as the co-owner of Serious Writer, a company that teaches and empowers writers and authors.
Bethany is married to her college sweetheart, and together they’re raising 3 teen/tween sons and their Pomeranian Sadie.
Connect with her at BethanyJett.com.
Cyle Young, Founder of C.Y.L.E. (Cyle Young Literary Elite)
Cyle is the founder of a boutique literary agency Cyle Young Literary Elite, LLC. at CYLE, he oversees all aspects of book projects, from acquisitions to editorial and pitching to publishers. He represents a wide range of clients, from debut authors to multi-million-selling authors, and has successfully contracted over 350 books with both corporate trade publishers and independent presses, including the Big 5.
As a skilled negotiator, Cyle ensures that his clients' contractual details, including subsidiary and derivative rights, are secured. He also assists his clients in creating marketing strategies that can help elevate their careers. Cyle is a sought-after keynote speaker and workshop instructor and has spoken at writing conferences worldwide.
Cyle is passionate about helping people overcome adversity and encourages them to dream big. Through his digital marketing agency, Serious Writer, he helps writers break through the 'glass ceiling' of opportunity to achieve their dreams and reach their goals. His campaigns have achieved impressive results, including the growth of over 800,000 followers on social media platforms and over 100 million video views.
Cyle's energy and enthusiasm are evident in his work with the Serious Writer Club, a leading online education platform that supports and trains writers, predominantly stay-at-home parents, single moms, grandparents, pastors, and businessmen and women. As the owner and co-founder of Serious Writer, Cyle shares his wisdom and experience gained from selling over 350 books in four years with more than 2,800 students from 40+ countries worldwide.
Cyle's accomplishments have been featured in numerous print and digital outlets, including Writer’s Digest, Fast Company, Sports Illustrated, Publisher’s Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, Detroit Free Press, Chicago Tribune, and Tampa Bay Times. In addition to his professional achievements, Cyle is a proud husband and loving father to three children.
For more, please visit his website.
Dani Pettrey, Bestselling Author and Acclaimed Speaker
Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author, Dani Pettrey has sold nearly 800,000 copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.
She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland.
Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author, Dani Pettrey has sold nearly 800,000 copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.
For more information visit: www.danipettrey.com.
DiAnn Mills, Author and Public Speaker
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.
To learn more about DiAnn, visit her website.
Evan Gow, Founder of StoryOrigin
Evan Gow is the indie developer of StoryOrigin, a marketing tool and community of authors that work together to find reviewers, build mailing lists, increase sales, and stay on top of deadlines.
To learn more about StoryOrigin, visit storyoriginapp.com.
Jeannine Bennett, Founder and CEO of Vision to Purpose
Dr. Jeannine Bennett is an accomplished, published author and mentor for aspiring writers. With a deep-rooted passion for crafting Christian bible studies and career-centered self-help books, Jeannine has honed her skills as a self-published author, boasting multiple successful books. As the Founder and CEO of Vision to Purpose, a faith-driven organization committed to providing tailored career, writing, and business solutions, Jeannine's unwavering mission is to empower fellow authors to bring their literary dreams to fruition.
Jeannine's dedication to helping writers achieve their goals has already guided numerous writers to become bestselling self-published authors. Drawing on her wealth of experience as a seasoned career strategist, esteemed university professor, and trusted management consultant, Jeannine offers invaluable guidance throughout the entire book-writing process. From strategic writing techniques to navigating the complexities of publishing and promotion, Jeannine's expertise and mentorship are a guiding light for aspiring authors. With Jeannine's unwavering support, writers can confidently navigate the path to success and transform their literary aspirations into reality.
To learn more more, visit her website.
Jill Cooper, USA Today Bestselling Author and Author Coach
Jill Cooper is an USA Today Bestseller and Author Coach. Together with her wife, Malorie, they operate The Writing Wives, a company dedicated to aiding authors in leveling up and turning their career dreams into reality.
To learn more more, visit her website.
Judith Briles, Award Winning Author and Speaker
Judith Briles is an author, publisher, podcaster, book publishing consultant and professional speaker focused in the fields of book publishing, conflict resolution, and personal finance.
She is best known for being The Book Shepherd and the founder of AuthorYOU, the co-founder of Mile High Press, and was CW2 Denver's financial expert in the mid-2000s. Briles has been referred to as " The Book Shepherd" and is an advocate for author's rights, works with clients globally and leads the Book Publishing and Speaking Unplugged bootcamps. In 2019, She launched the Colorado Authors' Hall of Fame.
To learn more about Judith, visit her website.
Lisa Renee Jones, Bestselling Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones writes dark, edgy fiction including the highly acclaimed Inside Out series and the thriller You Look Beautiful Tonight. Suzanne Todd (producer of Alice in Wonderland and Bad Moms) on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense.
Prior to publishing Lisa owned a multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine. She lives in Colorado with her husband, a cat that talks too much, and a Golden Retriever who is afraid of trash bags.
To learn more about Lisa, visit website.
Malorie Cooper, The Writing Wives
Malorie Cooper is an NYT Bestseller and Author Coach. Together with her wife, Jill, they operate The Writing Wives, a company dedicated to aiding authors in leveling up and turning their career dreams into reality. When not writing and coaching, she loses herself in fashion and gardening. Often at the same time.
You can learn more about Malorie on her website and Facebook.
Mark Gottlieb, Trident Media Group
Mark Gottlieb is a vice president and prominent literary agent working at book publishing’s leading literary agency Trident Media Group in New York City. He has ranked highly among literary agents across the industry for overall number of deals and other individual categories. While at Trident Media Group, Mark Gottlieb has represented New York Times bestselling authors as well as major award-winning authors. He has optioned and sold numerous books to production companies and studios for film and TV adaptation.
Mark Gottlieb greatly enjoys working with authors to help manage and grow their careers with the resources available at Trident Media Group. In addition to having worked at the company’s Foreign Rights Department, he also ran the company’s Audiobook Department. Utilizing his drive and intuition for discovering talented writers, he is currently expanding his client list of authors. As a literary agent he looks forward to bringing authors to the largest possible audience.
To learn more about Trident Media Group, visit their website.
Mark Leslie Lefebvre, Best Selling Author
Mark Leslie Lefebvre has worked in the book industry since 1992, the same year his first short story sale appeared in print. He has more than thirty books published, both through traditional and indie digital means. His roles in the book industry include President of the Canadian Booksellers Association, Chair of the Professional Advisory Committee for Sheridan College's Honors Degree Program in Writing and Publishing, Director of Self-Publishing and Author Relations for Rakuten Kobo, where he created and launched Kobo Writing Life, and Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital. Since 2018 Mark has hosted the weekly Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast which now has more than 300 episodes sharing his unflinching look at the reality of the writing and publishing world.
To learn more about Mark, visit his website.
Michael La Ronn, Author Level Up
Michael La Ronn is the author of 45 books, spanning science fiction, fantasy, poetry, and nonfiction. He's a YouTuber, podcaster, and professional speaker, and is also the U.S. ambassador and outreach manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors where he co-hosts a show with Orna Ross on self-publishing advice. His books for authors include Be a Writing Machine, Mental Models for Writers, and 150 Self-Publishing Questions Answered.
You can find Michael La Ronn at AuthorLevelUp.com and on Twitter @MichaelLaRonn. He's also on YouTube at Author Level Up.
Mike Hourigan, VP of Marketing at Written Word Media
Mike Hourigan is the Vice President of Marketing at Written Word Media, where he brings more than 15 years of digital marketing expertise to the table. His approach to marketing blends ecommerce best practices with a "growth hacking" mentality that emphasizes exploring new channels and testing innovative (sometimes off-the-wall) strategies. At Written Word Media, Mike is responsible for reader acquisition across the company's five email promo brands and he oversees product marketing for the advertising products that authors use to promote their titles.
To learn more about Written Word Media, visit their website.
Nikoo & Jim McGoldrick, Public Speakers
May McGoldrick, Nik James, and Jan Coffey are pen names for USA Today bestselling authors Nikoo Kafi and Jim McGoldrick. Together, they have crafted over fifty fast-paced, conflict-filled historical, contemporary, and Western novels, and two works of nonfiction.
To learn more more, visit their website.
Russell Nohelty, Bestselling Author & Speaker
Russell Nohelty is a USA Today bestselling author, publisher, and speaker. Russell is the author of dozens of novels and graphic novels including The Godsverse Chronicles, The Obsidian Spindle Saga, and Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter. He is also the co-host of the Kickstart Your Book Sales podcast, and cofounder of the Writer MBA training academy.
To date, Russell Nohelty has raised over $400,000 on Kickstarter across over twenty-five projects. He has a very entertaining newsletter, which you can join at www.russellnohelty.com. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and dogs.
To learn more more, visit his website.
Shayla Raquel, Bestselling Author
A best-selling author and public speaker, Shayla Raquel teaches people the ins and outs of writing, publishing, and marketing their books. Her in-person and online classes focus on author branding, self-publishing, book marketing, and the craft of writing.
She is the author of the Pre-Publishing Checklist, “The Rotting” (in Shivers in the Night), The Suicide Tree, The 10 Commandments of Author Branding, All the Things I Should’ve Told You, and “Savage Indulgence.”
In her not-so-free time, she studies all things true crime and obsesses over squirrels. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three fur babies.
To learn more more, visit her website.
Staci Mauney, Prestige Prose
Staci Mauney is a freelance writer and editor and independent author from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is the owner of Prestige Prose, a professional freelance writing and editing company. She is a Gold member of the Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network (PEN) and a member of the Christian Editor Connection (CEC).
Her writing background includes published short stories and magazine articles, as well as grant writing and ghostwriting website content and blog articles. She has published six devotionals in the Echoes of Joy series and has maintained a devotional blog since 2011. Her first venture into fiction is a Christian cozy mystery titled Death by Dice: A Bunco Club Mystery.
She volunteers for a variety of organizations, is a frequent guest speaker and teacher for local writing groups, and is a past president of the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation Inc. (OWFI).
To learn more more, visit her website.
Wendy H. Jones, Writing and Marketing Show Podcast
Wendy H. Jones is an international best-selling, award-winning Scottish who writes adult mysteries, young adult mysteries and children’s picture books. She also writes non-fiction for writers, is the President of the Scottish Association of Writers, and is a writing and marketing coach. She is the host of the Writing and Marketing Show Podcast and is a writing and marketing coach. Her first online course, Get Started in Marketing Your Book will be released in October 2020.
To learn more more, visit her website.
William Bernhardt, WriterCon
William Bernhardt is the bestselling author of over fifty books, including Shameless (Kenzi Rivera 3), the Daniel Pike legal thrillers, two historical novels, two books of poetry, and the ten books in the Red Sneaker Writers series. He is the founder of the Red Sneaker Writers Center, which offers writers a free biweekly podcast, a free biweekly e-newsletter, small-group writing retreats, and WriterCon.
To learn more about WriterCon, visit their website.
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