Indie Author Weekend
Your golden ticket to self-publishing success awaits. Bonus: Registrants get lifetime access to all recorded sessions. Registration Fees
Register NowIndie Author Weekend Registration Scholarships Are Now Closed!Please note that RWA is no longer accepting registration scholarship applications for Indie Author Weekend. All applicants were notified of their application status by September 18, 2026. Did you know that by joining RWA now, you can save 10% on Indie Author Weekend registration? Enjoy exclusive benefits like advocacy, community, education, contests, weekly newsletter, a monthly digital magazine, access to archived resources, and discounts on conferences, workshops, and more. Your career deserves this advantage—join today! Schedule*Friday, October 16, 2026
Saturday, October 17, 2026
* Subject to change. Workshop Details (Friday, October 16, 2026)Select a Friday workshop title in the schedule to jump here. Use Back to schedule to return to the full Friday and Saturday list.  Author Case Study: a $100k MonthFriday, October 16, 2026 · 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CT During the event, you’ll learn:
Bryan Cohen runs Best Page Forward, a company that helps authors to learn, profit, sustain, and scale their author careers. He’s helped over 30,000 authors through his Ad Challenges and his Sell More Books Show Podcast has run every week for over a decade. Bryan has worked with New York Times bestselling authors and seven-figure entrepreneurs to help them grow larger, more-engaged audiences through publishing. His Author Ad Agency manages ads for authors selling millions of dollars in book sales per year.
 The Best Practice of Bestselling Indie AuthorsFriday, October 16, 2026 · 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CT In this engaging session, we’ll take a closer look at the best practices of the most successful self-published authors. You’ll hear simple, yet important strategies to help make your book more accessible, more discoverable and more desirable to readers. We’ll also provide a detailed look at how to work with Draft2Digital’s promotions team to get your books in front of the merchandising managers at retailers and libraries. Jim Azevedo is the marketing director at Draft2Digital (D2D). D2D is one of the world’s largest publishing & distribution platforms for indie authors and small publishers, serving over 300,000 authors who’ve collectively released over a million titles. Prior to D2D, Jim led marketing at Smashwords, the pioneering ebook self-publishing company, from 2011 until it was acquired by D2D in March 2022.
Celeste Barclay 
Virginie Carmichael How to Get More Book ReviewsFriday, October 16, 2026 · 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CT Reviews are one of the most valuable tools in an author’s marketing kit, but getting them consistently can be tedious. Booksprout makes that process easier. Join us to learn how successful authors use the platform, and what it takes to build a review team you can rely on. Celeste Barclay, also writing Mafia Romance as Sabine Barclay, lives near the Southern California coast with her husband and sons. She loves her days at the beach soaking up way too much sun, a good Netflix binge, and a strong hot chai. Her heroines are independent women who can defend themselves but love their Alpha heroes who want nothing more than to protect their soulmates in her Highlander and Mafia Romances. She holds degrees in International Affairs (B.A.), Teaching Secondary Social Science (M.A.T.), and Political Management (M.P.S.). She’s Gen Y/Oregon Trail and loves creating engrossing historical romances that bring the heat and contemporary romances that’ll make your toes curl and your granny blush. Virginie has always loved all things neat and organized, so she was a perfect fit to join the team as VP of Operations. As a sweet small town romance author herself, she wants to make Booksprout the best product it can be for authors like her.
 How to Rock Your Launch — A Pre to Post Guide to Launching Your BookFriday, October 16, 2026 · 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. CT How to Rock Your Launch, a Pre and Post Guide for Launching your Book, covers how to establish a marketing cadence prior to release, recruiting an ARC / street team, planning PR boxes, and other marketing strategies on a budget. Learn how to create an actionable plan to prepare for your launch, the day of, and slide into the post-launch transition. AK Nevermore writes a lot. An award-winning, bestselling author of spicy dystopian, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance, she’s been traditionally, digitally, and indie published. She enjoys operating heavy machinery, freebases coffee, and gives up sarcasm for Lent every year. AK has extensive experience writing copy and a robust mailing list of 3,500+ active subscribers with click and open rates above industry averages.
 NetGalley and Booktrovert for DiscoverabilityFriday, October 16, 2026 · 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. CT Darcy Piedmonte, Director of Client Acquisition and Success, will host a dynamic session tailored to independent author publishers. Learn how you can use NetGalley and Booktrovert to reach book advocates, industry professionals, and enthusiastic consumers. Together, the two platforms help with end to end marketing from pre-publication buzz to backlist sales. Takeaways include: understanding the NetGalley Community and discoverability tools, how to encourage feedback for your books, and building ongoing marketing and advertising strategies with consumer campaigns on Booktrovert. NetGalley and Booktrovert tools can help you stand out in a fast-moving digital marketplace! Darcy Piedmonte, Director of Customer Acquisition & Success at NetGalley, assists publishers in promoting digital review copies and audiobooks to book advocates and professionals across the industry. With the launch of Booktrovert, Darcy also helps publishers and authors achieve their consumer marketing goals. Through partnerships, innovation, and best practices, Darcy ensures that NetGalley helps books succeed.
 From Idea to The End: The Three-Part System That Helps Writers Actually Finish Their BooksFriday, October 16, 2026 · 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. CT Many people start writing novels. Far fewer finish them. The difference isn’t usually talent, discipline, or inspiration. It’s understanding that finishing a book requires three separate skills: developing your craft, building a sustainable writing habit, and managing the mindset challenges that derail nearly every writer. In this practical session, Hayley Milliman introduces a simple framework that explains why writers get stuck and how to keep moving from first draft to final page. You’ll leave with concrete strategies you can apply immediately, whether you’re starting your first novel or finishing your tenth. Hayley Milliman is Director of Community for ProWritingAid, where she champions and mentors a global community of writers working to elevate their craft. She creates practical, inspiring learning experiences that help authors move from rough drafts to polished manuscripts with confidence. An accomplished writer herself, Hayley has contributed to dozens of publications across creative writing, education, history, entrepreneurship, and marketing — giving her a rare ability to bridge storytelling craft with strategic insight. Most recently, she led ProWritingAid’s Novel November challenge, rallying over 70,000 writers worldwide in daily sprints, craft workshops, and community events — helping thousands push past doubt and write 50,000 words in just 30 days.
 The Silent Conversation: Decoding the Visual Tropes in Book CoversFriday, October 16, 2026 · 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. CT What if book covers have tropes, too? Long before a reader opens the first page, a book cover is already telling them what kind of story to expect. From traditional romance covers to illustrated rom-coms, discreet editions, and today’s collector’s market, the visual language of romance continues to evolve—but what are readers actually decoding? In The Silent Conversation, Laura Hidalgo explores the visual cues behind book covers and how they shape reader perception, create story promises, and influence purchasing decisions. Drawing from two decades of romance cover evolution, we’ll look beyond what’s simply “pretty” or trending to understand what a cover is actually saying—and whether it’s saying it to the right reader. We’ll also discuss the realities of working with a professional designer, including budgets, timelines, revisions, change orders, market trends, and how to make informed design decisions with long-term brand longevity in mind. Because sometimes a rose means romance. But sometimes, it’s a red flag. Laura Hidalgo is the founder and Art Director of Spellbinding Design, a publishing-focused creative studio specializing in book cover design, special editions, and author branding. Since founding Spellbinding Design in 2012, Laura has designed more than 500 book covers across multiple genres and art directed more than 50 special edition projects for authors, independent presses, and publishing partners. Her work extends beyond beautiful design into visual positioning, reader psychology, genre expectations, market research, and the publishing strategy behind how books are presented to readers. From covers and collector editions to author brands, websites, newsletters, and launch campaigns, Laura approaches design as part of a much larger conversation between the book, the author, and the reader.
 Why Readers DNF at Chapter 3 (and How to Stop It)Friday, October 16, 2026 · 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. CT Whether it’s DNF reviews, KU pages that stall out, or just radio silence, the root cause usually lies in the first act. This workshop walks through the specific structural moves in Chapters 1–3 that separate novels readers abandon from those that are unputdownable. Creator of over 30 writing workshops and multiple courses, Daniel Kaplan is passionate about dynamic educational presentations and coaching authors. With over a decade of experience, his mission is to demystify intricate artistic concepts and make them accessible to everyone.
 Beyond the Stacks: Setting Up Speaking Engagements at LibrariesFriday, October 16, 2026 · 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. CT Your book may belong on the library shelf—but you belong in the room, too! Libraries are more than places for readers to discover books. They’re community hubs looking for authors, speakers, educators, and creatives who can bring engaging programs to their patrons. In Beyond the Stacks, award-winning bestselling author Sylvia Hubbard shares practical strategies for turning your knowledge, books, and expertise into library speaking opportunities. Learn how to identify the right library contacts, develop programs librarians can say yes to, pitch your ideas professionally, create effective event proposals, discuss payments, and help promote your appearance. Whether you’re a new author trying to get your foot in the door or an experienced writer ready to expand your platform, you’ll leave with actionable ideas for getting beyond the stacks—and in front of new audiences. Come with your expertise. Leave with a plan to get booked. Award-winning Bestselling Independent Author of over 60 romance suspense books since 2000, Sylvia Hubbard is an avid blogger, speaker, podcaster, literary guru, mompreneur expert, digital strategist, and an addicted writer. SylviaHubbard.com | MotownWriters.com
Siera London 
T.B. Bond / Tia Benson-Bond Terms of Service Are Your BusinessFriday, October 16, 2026 · 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. CT Most authors click “Agree” and move on. Smart authorpreneurs don’t. Every time you upload to platforms like Amazon KDP, Barnes & Noble Press, Kobo Writing Life or Draft2Digital, you’re entering a binding business contract, one that directly affects your rights, royalties, pricing control, and even your ability to sell elsewhere. This session breaks down how those Terms of Service could impact your author business and why ignoring them can quietly cost you income, readership, and ownership. You’ll learn how to spot red flags, understand exclusivity clauses, minimize account penalties, and make informed decisions that protect your intellectual property. Because the difference between a thriving author career and a stalled one often lives in the fine print. Siera London is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance, romantic suspense, and women’s fiction. A retired military officer, she writes stories that center on women of color who are intelligent, flawed, desired, and deeply loved. Regardless of genre, Siera writes about heroines you know, heroes you love, and romance you can feel. Her next release, A Hard Habit to Break, in her Calvary Brothers series, released August 11, 2026, from Grand Central Publishing. Learn more about Siera and her literary catalog online at www.sieralondonauthor.com. Siera is represented by Lasheera Lee of SBR Medial. T.B. Bond / Tia Benson-Bond is a story teller with a keyboard, a sketchpad, and an unshakable love for pixels. When she’s not writing swoon-worthy scenes, doodling fantastical worlds or making websites look fabulous, she’s probably buried in a book or binging anime like it’s a full-time job. Certified Nerd Extraordinaire—she’s a proud Whovian, Trekkie, Otaku, and likely a few other fandoms she forgot to mention (but would totally argue passionately about at a convention). Visit her at www.bondgirlblue.com. |
You can’t miss Indie Author Weekend—a two-day virtual self-publishing conference on October 16–17, 2026, designed to ignite your indie author potential! Whether you're starting your journey to self-publish a romance novel or a seasoned author looking to level up, this event connects you with key industry experts who’ll provide straight answers to propel your career forward.
Create, Connect, Grow: Social Media for Romance Authors
Friday, October 16, 2026 · 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CT
Speaker: Kathleen Sweeney, Book Brush
Not sure what to post or tired of social media pulling you away from writing your next love story? Join Kathleen Sweeney from Book Brush for a lively, practical workshop packed with real-life content ideas you can start using immediately.
We’ll walk through easy ways to create consistent, engaging posts using tropes, tension, and those can’t-look-away moments readers love. You’ll see real examples that work for romance authors, and we’ll wrap with a quick live demo in Book Brush so you can create a ready-to-post graphic before you leave.
Kathleen Sweeney is the Chief Operating Officer at Book Brush, where she combines her love of technology and storytelling to help authors with book marketing. She has presented to over 350 author groups and thrives on making design and promotion easier (and more fun!) for writers of all genres.
She lives in central Illinois with her husband, three active boys and the two most handsome cats on the planet. Her hobbies include eating tacos and turning socks right side out.
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