Traditional publishers—trade, professional, and scholarly alike—are finding financial sustainability increasingly difficult (if not impossible) to achieve. In response, many creative publishing professionals have invented and are scaling new, more flexible business models that empower content producers and mediate risk for their own organizations.

Panelists will share:

• How they’ve reenvisioned the author-publisher relationship and are leaning hard into publishing as a service
• What prompted them to move beyond traditional models
• Their vision for equitable risk/reward sharing with authors and content producers
• Which age-old norms they’re ditching, and which they’re preserving
• Their keys to success and longevity in the ever-evolving publishing ecosystem

Join us for a lively and informative discussion. Your contributions will be welcome.

Podcasting has quickly become one of the most powerful ways for publishing professionals to connect directly with readers—and build loyal communities along the way. Whether you’re already behind the mic or just curious, you’ll learn long-term strategies from publishing pros who use podcasts to expand reach, amplify book marketing, explore author-pitching techniques, and deepen audience engagement.

We’ll explore:

• How to identify topics that resonate with your audience
• The process of cultivating authenticity to gain trust
• The differences between platforms and distribution channels (Spotify, YouTube, Apple, and more)
• Choosing the right format to navigate platforms: audio, video, or both
• Best practices, production essentials, and emerging trends

Bring your questions, challenges, and experiences for a lively, engaging, and candid conversation to demystify the process. You’ll leave with practical insights, fresh ideas, and a clearer sense of how podcasting can support your publishing goals.

Want to know more about how AI is shaping (or will shape) many of our industry platforms—from the business of publishing to editorial to sales and marketing to publicity? This timely two-part panel is for the curious as well as seasoned users of this lightning-paced technology. Don’t miss this unique learning opportunity!

Our expert panelists will:

• Highlight trends within their specific publishing roles
• Provide insights (both pro and con) as to where this technology is headed
• Make practical recommendations for how we can best prepare ourselves in our current and future positions
• Address audience questions and concerns

Join us as we continue future-proofing ourselves in an informative and supportive setting that demystifies the technology trends we face today.

Session One
On the Page: The Editorial Landscape

We’ll focus on the practical opportunities AI offers editors. From effective developmental editing to time-saving line editing, AI is changing the manuscript-preparation landscape. How are ChatGPT, NotebookLM, Claude, and Perplexity, among others, facilitating the editing process? Are we sacrificing accuracy for expedience? Whatever your role—now or in the future—join us for a lively discussion about how AI is changing the way we edit.

Want to know more about how AI is shaping (or will shape) many of our industry platforms—from the business of publishing to editorial to sales and marketing to publicity? This timely two-part panel is for the curious as well as seasoned users of this lightning-paced technology. Don’t miss this unique learning opportunity!

Our expert panelists will:

• Highlight trends within their specific publishing roles
• Provide insights (both pro and con) as to where this technology is headed
• Make practical recommendations for how we can best prepare ourselves in our current and future positions
• Address audience questions and concerns

Join us as we continue future-proofing ourselves in an informative and supportive setting that demystifies the technology trends we face today.

Session Two
Beyond the Page: How the Business of Publishing Is Integrating AI

This second session will showcase how AI is being integrated into the publishing industry as a whole. Unlike session one, which focuses on editorial considerations, we’ll investigate the broader uses of AI in sales and marketing, publicity, book production, and other promotional efforts that drive a book’s success. Expert panelists will provide insightful guidance on implementing this remarkable technology. They’ll also field your questions about specific advantages—and potential disadvantages—AI presents. All publishing enthusiasts can benefit from this discussion.

It’s no secret that book publishing, especially the Big Five, relies heavily on tech and data to compete in today’s market. We don’t all have access to the latest paid marketing tools or the largest sales datasets, but there are scalable ways for book workers and publishers of all sizes to use data and analytics to optimize their work. 

Our expert panelists will:

• Discuss methods used to track market trends and key metrics
• Spotlight personal practices employed to create actionable items 
• Offer sustainable suggestions and alternatives to cost-prohibitive tools and processes
• Address audience questions and concerns

Join this panel of sales, marketing, and publicity experts to explore the trends they’re tracking, the kinds of data they’re paying attention to, and how they engage responsibly and thoughtfully with consumer data.

As changeable as publishing has become lately, printing and manufacturing remain among the most unpredictable areas in the industry. What used to be standard practice might not be the best decision for now and in the future. In order to thrive, publishers need to know what’s changing and what longtime rules are being rewritten. In this illuminating and informative conversation, print and production professionals reveal what’s working for them.

Our discussion will include:

• How to design and prep files for the best print outcome
• Understanding the pros and cons of domestic vs. international manufacturing
• Practical ways to build sustainability into your print purchasing

Join us for a lively roundtable discussion as industry experts share how they are meeting today’s—and anticipating tomorrow’s—challenges.

In our fast-paced, deadline-driven, and high-pressure publishing environment, conflict is inevitable. It can derail our work in editorial teams, author relationships, and organizational settings. But it can also serve as a catalyst for generating better ideas, help us build stronger teams, and inspire more inclusive workplaces.

Want to unpack what truly drives conflict? Interested in learning how to shift from reactive to constructive responses? How about developing concrete, effective approaches that let conflict work for us, not against us?

Participants leave with practical tools and strategies for navigating difficult conversations before tensions escalate.

Together, we’ll:

• Identify personal underlying drivers of your conflicts
• Practice reframing conflict as an opportunity for collaboration, creativity, and organizational growth
• Run through practical tools and frameworks for navigating difficult conversations

Join us in a safe, supportive environment as we discuss the root causes of conflict and reframe them as opportunities for growth rather than disruption.

One of the most powerful ways to future-proof your freelance career is by intentionally building a smart, supportive professional network.

This interactive workshop moves beyond vague advice like “put yourself out there.” You’ll learn how to network strategically, confidently, and in ways that feel authentic to you. After a focused presentation, we’ll dive into guided practice so you can apply what you’ve learned immediately—right here at the conference.

You’ll walk away with:

• A clear understanding of how networking fuels referrals, opportunities, and career longevity
• A personalized plan for identifying key contacts at this conference and at future industry events
• A guide for writing your polished elevator pitch that reflects your skills, goals, and communication style
• Practical strategies for starting and sustaining meaningful conversations
• Tools for maintaining and strengthening your network as your career grows

You’ll also receive networking worksheets you can use during the session, throughout the conference, and as a long-term guide.