2020 Conference Recap

Earlier this month, NAIWE and Communication Central co-hosted the Be a Better Freelancer conference—and boy, was it a success!

For the first time, the conference met virtually, and we offered it free! Nearly 400 people registered for the conference, some people attending only one session and others attending all nine sessions. Six countries were represented. We enjoyed hearing about the various time zones people were in, with some people staying up well past 2 am and others waking up at 5 am to attend our first-rate sessions and listen to our fabulous and insightful speakers!

We are so grateful to our conference sponsors: PerfecIt and Six-Figure Freelancer.

Here's to 2021, the year we hope to meet in person again and perhaps expand the conference based on our experiences of 2020.

April Michelle Davis

October Webinar: 7 Ways a Ghostwriter Can Help You Get Published

We wanted to get to know Claudia Suzanne (NAIWE's Ghostwriting Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

What is a certified ghostwriter?

There are two types of certified ghostwriters. The first is offered by Certified Professional Ghostwriter, which covers the “dedication, competency, and ethics of ghostwriters.”

The second kind of certified ghostwriter has completed a rigorous, award-winning 13-month training program (through the California State University, Long Beach) that covers the specific skills, industry knowledge, and ghostwriting psychology and mindset transitions necessary to command (not hunt for) high-end professional clients and fees. These ghostwriters are industry insiders and solopreneurs, not freelancers.

Join Claudia Suzanne, the NAIWE Ghostwriting Expert, as she reveals insider truths about the book industry, and how a certified ghostwriter can give your title a better chance in the marketplace. Learn:

• How the history of publishing works both for and against you
• How to position your book before you start writing it, not after you finish it
• The top four fiction and nonfiction issues that turn off readers
• The truth behind “platform”
• Insider business tricks that really matter
• … and much more.

You can join in this conversation on October 22, at 3 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a webinar on insider truths about the book industry and how a ghostwriter can help you succeed! The cost for NAIWE members is $10 and $30 for non-members.

To register for this webinar, please visit the NAIWE website.

Texas History Hero: Albert Miller Lea

Born in Tennessee in 1808, Texas hero Albert Miller Lea graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) ranked third in his class. He quickly became a highly acclaimed engineer, soldier, and topographer, leading dangerous expeditions to chart Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. His published works opened the door for East Coast migration into the upper Midwest regions of the USA. Albert Lea, Minnesota, was named after him.

When the Civil War broke out, many of his Academy classmates (Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, etc.) joined the Confederacy, as did Albert. However, Albert’s 25 year old son Edward, a graduate of the Naval Academy (Annapolis), chose to fight with the Union as the commander on the USRC steamer Harriet Lane.

In the twists of war, Albert was assigned to a detachment to plan the recapture of Galveston from the Union Navy. On New Year’s Day 1836, Albert was stationed on a church tower as the Battle of Galveston ensued. In anguish, Albert saw the Confederate gunship Bayou City ram the Harriet Lane. He rushed to find his son mortally wounded and in great pain. Albert knelt next to his son in prayer. When someone asked if he was safe, Edward responded “Yes, my father is here.” Those last four words were later inscribed on Edward’s tombstone in Trinity Episcopal Cemetery in Galveston.

To read the rest of this article, please visit NAIWE member David Rose's blog.

November Webinar: Webify Your Book!

In November, we will be chatting with Brian Schwartz, NAIWE's Self-Publishing Expert, on the very important topic of maximizing our potential on the web.

The internet has impacted nearly every industry and books are no exception. In this webinar, Brian Schwartz showcases how bestselling authors are taking advantage of the web to increase value, grow sales, and connect with readers. He’ll also touch on the key elements of an effective author website and the common mistakes. You’ll hear the 5-figure tip Brian gave an author regarding a video that went viral.

If you feel like a deer in the headlights when you go online, Brian Schwartz will show you the simple steps you can take. From optimizing yourself on Amazon to more advanced tactics that can improve your search engine rankings, you will discover ways to webify your book to gain more reviews, grow readership, and ultimately increase profits. In a post-COVID world with the majority of your readers only a click away, you’ll see why timing has never been better to unlock your book’s full potential.

Authorpreneur Brian Schwartz is the creator of the award-winning 50 Interviews series. More than 500 authors have trusted Brian and his team to publish their work. The mission of Brian’s practice is “to bridge the gap between self-publishers and traditional publishing by applying the proven strategies and techniques of successful independent publishers.” To meet this objective, Brian launched AuthorDock in 2016 to provide authors an all-in-one secure portfolio management tool to manage deadlines, extended teams, and critical resources. Brian is also the developer of PubWriter, a click-to-publish publishing platform used by authors to create their own web hubs for publishing, promotion, and sales.

The cost for NAIWE members is $10 and $30 for non-members. To register for this webinar, which will be held on November 19 at 6 pm eastern, please visit the NAIWE website.

September's New & Renewing NAIWE Members

Georgette Beatty (Carmel, IN); Robert Cameron (Edogawa, Japan); Rebecca Cartee (Columbus, GA); Annette Davis (Round Rock, TX); George De Stefano (Long Island City, NY); Diane Fanucchi (Arroyo Grande, CA); Betsy Fetchko (Ellicott City, MD); Deborah Hilcove (Gilbert, AZ); Kathi Laughman (Spring, TX); Tracy Lee Woods (Sanbornton, NH); Darlene Oliver (Hesperia, CA); Ofelia Perez (Orlando, FL); Carly Scott (Fergus, Ontario); Ronald Searl (Westmont, IL); Amelia Smithers (Gentilino, Switzerland); Leslie Sussan (Silver Spring, MD); Sheila Trask (Randolph, VT); Alexandra Uth (Chicago, IL); Ellen Webster (Chantilly, VA).