The sun sets on another great conference…

Self-publishing discussions, meeting new authors, the Riverwalk…what more could one ask for in a conference? The Romance Writers of America conference delivered all that and much, much more.
One of the great things about a conference is you learn from others as much as you share your own experiences. Here’s a short list of takeaways from another great RWA conference:

1. Covers, covers everywhere: One key marketing tool we saw in every attendees hand was a business card. But not just your average cards: many authors are including their covers on their cards. Sure the thumbnails are tiny, but that’s still an easy way to get your book in front of people, whether you’re sharing your contact information with fellow authors, potential readers, or friends and family. When talking about a story, it’s great to have a visual take away.

2. Pub dates matter, even when you are a nimble self-publisher: Having a clear publishing date and plan isn’t just about giving yourself enough time to put on the finishing touches for packaging and marketing your work. A set date helps in communicating when readers (and retailers!) can expect the next installment and it builds anticipation.

3. Authors working together works: We’ve highlighted several author collectives in the past, and we’ve met even more of these groups at RWA. We hope to bring you more of their stories in the near future. These authors are finding ways to collaborate on their work, share industry information, re-package their work into boxed sets, and celebrate each others successes — and finding new readers and more sales in the process.

4. We love email, but…: Meeting authors face to face is worth the trip (even one that was seven hours with a lay over!) It’s great to hear authors talk about their upcoming work, their concerns, their tactics and their successes. Thank you to everyone who came by our open house and workshop to share your self-publishing experience with us.

5. Tacos three times a day is not a bad idea: We enjoyed our time in San Antonio and thank RWA for a terrific conference and the opportunity to share our NOOK Press experiences and news with so many authors.