Ask-a-Pro Sessions 2022

John Burke is the co-founder of Pub Site, an easy-to-use website building platform designed specifically for authors and books, and is the COO of FSB Associates, a publicity firm specializing in promoting books and authors on the web. Burke worked for several publishers including Crown, McGraw-Hill, Addison Wesley, and John Wiley, as well as in bookstores, before joining FSB Associates to launch its website development efforts.  For more information visit, www.fsbassociates.com

Robin Colucci has been helping world class experts write world changing books since 2003. Before that she built, grew, and sold a personal fitness business. She also was a journalist and worked as an acquisitions editor for an independent publishing house. Robin brings her deep, hands-on knowledge of publishing and entrepreneurship to her clients whose books cover a range of topics.

Melinda Copp is a freelance nonfiction book ghostwriter based in Bluffton, South Carolina. She specializes in helping aspiring authors get clear on the real story they were meant to tell, organizing their material in a powerful way, and then using the client’s ideas to write an engaging and compelling book that delivers their big message. She has an MFA in creative writing from Goucher College and a BS in journalism from West Virginia University. For more information and to schedule a consultation, visit http://www.writerssherpa.com.

Stacy Ennis is a best-selling author, creative consultant, and speaker, as well as the founder of Nonfiction Book School. She served as long-time ghostwriter for a Nobel Prize winner in medicine and executive editor of Sam’s Club’s Healthy Living Made Simple, a publication that reaches around 11 million readers. Stacy’s latest coauthored book is Growing Influence (Greenleaf Book Group, 2018); her TEDx talk, “How to raise brave kids,” has been viewed thousands of times around the world. She lives in Portugal with her husband and two children.

Cathy Fyock is The Business Book Strategist, and works with professionals and thought leaders who want to write a book as a business growth strategy. She is the author of nine books, including On Your Mark, Blog2Book, and her most recent, The Speaker Author: Sell More Books and Book More Speeches. Since starting her coaching practice in 2014 she’s helped more than 170 professionals become published authors.

Peter George believes that you should be able to confidently share your knowledge and experience. A speaker for more than 35 years, Peter has spent the past 17 years helping professional speakers, authors, consultants, and executives be calm, confident, and credible every time they speak. Using his AMP’D Framework, Peter’s clients become compelling speakers who understand how to craft and deliver presentations that engage, persuade, and inspire. Ultimately this increases their impact, influence, and income. His book, The Confident Public Speaker, will be available in May 2022. I’m looking forward to assisting you during our 15 minutes together. In the meantime, please visit https://PeterGeorgePublicSpeaking.com

Drew Gerber, CEO of Wasabi Publicity, is on a mission to change global conversations and challenge industry conventions. He lives to spark “aha” moments, helping people discover new ways of thinking to create positive change. Recognized by PR Week and Good Morning America for its innovative business practices, Wasabi Publicity helps authors expand their impact through top media. A member of Forbes Agency Council, Drew is author of “Destination Aha! Becoming Unstuck in Life and Business.”

As a publishing consultant and literary attorney, Denise Gibbon represents and educates authors—whether traditionally or self-published—about contracts, copyrights, and other publishing-related issues.  The name of her consulting business, Above the Dotted Line, memorializes her goal: to help authors understand what is above the dotted line before they sign on the dotted line. Denise analyzes publishing, agency, and audiobook contracts for a flat fee which includes a one-hour consultation. As well as reviewing, revising, or creating agreements for writers of all kinds, she also performs pre-publication reviews, secures permissions (for illustrations, photos, quotations, song lyrics, and derivative works), registers copyrights, and drafts terms of use and privacy policies for websites.

An award-winning author, nationally recognized speaker, and savvy publishing strategist, Jenn T. Grace is the founder of Publish Your Purpose, the acclaimed hybrid publishing company that gives first-time authors the secrets to getting their books written, finding an eager audience & marking their place in the publishing world. Publish Your Purpose is a certified B Corp social enterprise that meets the gold standard of socially and environmentally-friendly business practices.

Jenn leads ambitious authors through every aspect of writing, editing, and publishing so their book strategically aligns with their business objectives. Whether it’s a business guide that shows the breadth of their expertise or an emotional memoir that takes readers deep into life’s challenges, she helps authors articulate their purpose and fulfill their mission. 

Jenn has published the books of nearly 100 business owners, entrepreneurs, speakers, and memoirists so more diverse stories can exist in the world and her authors can make a positive impact and achieve the recognition and success they deserve. She is the author of six books, including her memoir, House on Fire. Jenn has been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. 

Jenn lives in Connecticut with her family and enjoys being outside with her son, kayaking, and admiring the birds and nature around her.

Anne Janzer is an award-winning author, nonfiction developmental editor, and marketing practitioner on a mission to help people make a positive impact with their writing. She works with nonfiction authors on developmental editing, coaching, and book marketing. Her writing-related books include Writing to Be Understood and Get the Word Out: Write a Book That Makes a Difference.

Brian Jud is an author, book-marketing consultant, speaker, seminar leader, television host and Executive Director of the Association of Publishers for Special Sales. Brian is the author of How to Make Real Money Selling Books (Without Worrying About Returns) This is the ultimate do-it-yourself guide to selling your books to non-bookstore buyers in large quantities, with no returns. He also wrote Beyond the Bookstore (a Publishers Weekly® book), a primer on non-bookstore marketing.

Mike Larsen is an author coach who loves helping writers succeed by adding value to their readers’ lives. He cofounded Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents, which sold books to more than a hundred publishers and imprints. Mike’s own books include How to Write a Book Proposal, now in its fifth edition, coauthored by Jody Rein; How to Get a Literary Agent; and Guerrilla Marketing for Writers: 100 Weapons for Selling Your Work, which he coauthored. His next book is Writing Success Guaranteed: How to Build a Life and a Career Doing What You Love will provide a unique new strategy for creating a fulfilling life as a writer. Mike was cofounder of the San Francisco Writers Conference and the San Francisco Writing for Change Conference. You can reach him at larsenpoma@aol.com or at www.michaellarsenauthorcoaching.com.

Publicist, media insider, trainer and coach Joanne McCall helps influencers,  nonfiction authors, and business leaders become Media Darlings, so the media calls them. As a licensed Business Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and a licensed Advanced Hypnotic Practitioner, her secret sauce is not only positioning, securing, and helping authors to capture media attention and deliver compelling interviews while creating and developing their own media empire, but also helping them enjoy the process. On a first-name basis with hundreds of top-rung producers, editors, writers, and journalists, Joanne secures coverage for clients including Brian Tracy, Ken Blanchard, Dave Ramsey, Geneen Roth, Dr. Donna Stoneham, The Deepak Chopra Center for Wellbeing, the co-founder of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Dr. Richard Bandler, and many others. She is the author of Media Darling: Shine Through Every Interview.  www.joannemccall.com 

Steve Markman specializes in securing speaking engagements for people in all industries and professions, including authors, consultants, coaches, entrepreneurs, executives, and principals who recognize that “free” speaking opportunities represent a golden opportunity for their business to boost visibility, generate leads and demonstrate thought leadership. Steve is the Founder & President of Markman Speaker Management, LLC which he launched in 1994. Steve conducts customized and virtual one-on-one advisory sessions where he teaches the processes, strategies, and tricks of the trade for people to successfully obtain speaking engagements and podcast interviews for themselves and their businesses. Steve has more than 30 years of experience in the speaker and conference field. He has helped over 1,000 people from all walks of life obtain speaking engagements on a global basis. He has secured speaking engagements for companies and businesses of all sizes – from start-ups to the Fortune 500, including IBM, PayPal, Subaru, and Bank of America – as well as dozens of professional services firms. Early in his career Steve headed up the conference divisions of leading organizations such as COMDEX and The Conference Board. You can reach Steve at smarkman@markmanspeaker.com and www.markmanspeaker.com.

An audiobook producer and narrator with 40+ years of experience in the industry, Becky Parker Geist is the CEO of Pro Audio Voices Inc. Typically working with authors and publishers who are challenged in reaching their widest audience, the Pro Audio Voices team provides audiobook production, including complex and unusual projects, podcasting, virtual theatre, and the Audiobook Marketing Program™ to help authors increase their impact.

Book Coach Roger C. ParkerRoger C. Parker’s first book, Looking Good in Print, was an international bestseller, paving the way for the next 30+ books he’s written. He’s known for his ability simplify complex topics like content marketing and design. His latest book is #Book Title Tweet.  Roger current activities involves book coaching and tools to help his clients balance creativity with consistent productivity and profitability. Joe Pulizzi, founder of the Content Marketing Institute, commented, “Anyone working with Roger will be in good hands, indeed.” “Rick Wong, former Sales Vice President at Microsoft wrote,” Roger’s helped me gain clarity on what kind of book I need to write in support of the business I’m building.”

Becky serves as President of BAIPA (Bay Area Independent Publishers Assn, which now serves members across the U.S.) and is a member of IBPA, APA (Audio Publishers Assn). She is the author of 5 titles, including Audiobook Toolkit for Authors; Selecting a Narrator for Your Audiobook: Insider’s Guide to Choosing a Narrator You’ll Be Thrilled With!; Game Plan for Educators; and two children’s books: Rock-a-Bye Wiship and Grandmother Moon and Other Mother Stories: Book One (co-authored with Vlatka Herzberg), and is launching her first novel Oct 2022. Her passion and company vision: to inspire the world through the stories we bring to life.

Ed Rigsbee, (CSP) Certified Speaking Professional, (CAE) Certified Association Executive, is the ROI Guy. He is obsessed with helping individuals and organizations to both receive and give more return on investment (ROI) in everything that they do. He will help your organization to elevate your business relationships from ordinary to extraordinary; in service, results and profitability. Ed is the originator of the “Member ROI Valuation Process” and term, “Member ROI-Centric Organization.”

Ed is the President of Rigsbee Enterprises, Inc., established in 1981. He is recognized internationally for his expertise in the areas of non-profit organization member recruitment/retention and strategic alliance development/implementation.

Miral Sattar is the CEO of LearnSelfPublishingFast.com. Miral uses data and analytics to help authors publish and promote their books using Amazon SEO and voice search . Thousands of students have taken her tech training courses designed for writers and authors. Miral has worked in the media industry for 15 years, most recently at TIME Magazine where she developed and implemented the digital SEO strategy that enabled TIME to be one of the most trafficked sites in the industry. Miral is also the founder of Bibliocrunch, an award-winning platform that connects authors with editorial services. Miral has lectured at Yale, NYU, CUNY, Pace, and other universities across America and helped numerous authors hit #1 in their categories. She and her writing have been featured in TIME, CNN, WSJ, NYTIMES, NY Daily News, among other media publications. She has a MS in Publishing (Digital + Print Media) from NYU and a BS from Columbia University in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. You can find Miral over on miralsattar.substack.com

Joan Stewart, Publicity HoundPublicity expert Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound, has mentored, coached and taught more than 50,000 authors, speakers, experts, CEOs and small business owners how to get thousands of dollars in free publicity and tell their stories to the world, without a $20,000 publicist. Joan has contributed to or been quoted in more than 60 books on marketing, public relations, publishing and small business.  Today, she is mostly retired but still enjoys working with clients in between her many hikes and enjoying her new home on the rim of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio.

Bestselling author and Award Winning Book Coach Lisa Tener specializes in helping healing and health professionals, entrepreneurs and other experts write and publish a compelling how-to, self-help or business book—taking them step-by-step through her unique process. Lisa has taught for over a decade on the faculty of Harvard Medical School’s CME publishing course, as well as at popular writers conferences and her award winning private courses. Lisa Tener’s clients have signed 5- and 6-figure publishing deals with Hachette, Random House, Harper Collins, New World Library and many others, as well as self-published to great acclaim and prestigious awards. Lisa has appeared on ABC World News, PBS TV, HLN and been quoted in The New York Times and more. Lisa received her B.S. and M.S. from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and studied writing under Frank Conroy, A.R. Gurney, Jr., Jean Valentine and other luminaries. Visit Lisa online where you can sign up for your free inspired author course and read her book writing blog. Lisa’s most recent book is The Joy of Writing Journal: Spark Your Creativity in 8 Minutes a Day.

“Ask me anything, I’m an open book,” Cindy encourages her authors as she shepherds them through their journey to write their book. Cindy Tschosik serves nonfiction authors as an author coach, ghostwriter, book doctor, editor, speaker, and yes, sometimes even as a therapist. As the author of “The Perfect Book Checklist” and best-selling co-author of “Called to Lead: Success Strategies for Women,” Cindy’s passion is to partner with authors to Change, Save and Celebrate Lives One Story at A Time. So, if you have questions about planning, writing, editing, publishing, marketing, or launching your book, Cindy has answers (well, 99.9% of the time, anyway). “Book Cindy for your Ask-A-Pro Session Today!”

As the director of education and programs (book marketing programs) for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Lee Wind loves empowering indie publishers to have their voices heard. He is also an author of fiction and nonfiction for kids and teens, with an award-winning YA novel (Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill) and a picture book the New York Times called “beautiful” (Red and Green and Blue and White, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky.) Lee’s nonfiction for readers age 11 and up, No Way, They Were Gay? was named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection. Learn more about Lee’s books at leewind.org – find out more about IBPA at ibpa-online.org