Author Nation 2024 Recap
A few weeks ago, the PublishDrive team attended the inaugural Author Nation conference, an exciting evolution of the well-known 20Books Vegas event. Author Nation, organized by Joe and Suze Solari and their incredible collaborators, has reimagined the conference, creating a refreshing experience for attendees.
While Author Nation carries the legacy of 20Books Vegas, it was a brand-new event. Our team was particularly impressed by the thoughtful and innovative approach the organizers took to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of participants.
A Refreshing New Approach
A conference where innovation met comfort—Author Nation brought fresh perspectives and genuine connections to the publishing world.
For those who find the typical Vegas environment overwhelming, Author Nation was a breath of fresh air. The conference was held in a space removed from the casinos, offering a quiet and smoke-free environment. Attendees could relax in cozy lounge areas outfitted with tables, couches, and even cash bars for evening networking.
This intentional layout fostered meaningful connections. Authors and industry professionals didn’t have to scramble to find quiet corners for conversations. Instead, the thoughtfully designed spaces encouraged organic interactions, making it easy to connect, share ideas, and form lasting relationships.
Innovation on Display at Vendor Day
Representing PublishDrive, CEO Kinga Jentetics, CTO Robert Csizmar, and Community Manager Danica Favorite showcased cutting-edge tools that are shaping the future of publishing. At Vendor Day, the team introduced attendees to two of their most exciting innovations: the AI-powered cover generator and metadata generator.
Robert demonstrated the cover generator, which received glowing feedback. Many authors were thrilled with the ability to quickly create professional-quality covers or generate concepts to guide their designers. Even those hesitant about using AI found the tool invaluable for brainstorming ideas and saving time.
The team also highlighted the AI Metadata Generator, already a game changer for many authors. This tool simplifies the often-intimidating task of writing blurbs and creating metadata, turning manuscripts into compelling, sales-ready descriptions in minutes. It also provides essential keywords and metadata to optimize books for discoverability.
Besides the AI-powered solutions, it was an opportunity to meet existing PublishDrive clients who already use our products such as Emilia Rose and Inez Johnson who use Distribution service to publish their books wide in over 400 stores globally. We also met with Jeanette Strode who is an Abacus customer to streamline her publishing business’ royalty management.
AI in Publishing: A Balanced Conversation
Author Nation provided a safe, balanced space to explore AI’s role in the publishing world. Sessions ranged from Danica’s talk on using AI to boost efficiency, to Elizabeth Ann West’s insights on AI-assisted writing, and Derek Murphy’s exploration of creativity in an AI-driven world. The diversity of perspectives made it clear: there’s room for everyone in publishing, regardless of their comfort level with new technologies.
Beyond AI: Marketing, Self-Care, and Connection
Author Nation went beyond tech talk to address some of the most pressing challenges authors face. From practical strategies for advertising and marketing to sessions on reaching more readers, attendees walked away with actionable insights to elevate their writing careers.
Importantly, the conference also focused on self-care and burnout prevention, offering tools to help authors balance their creative pursuits with their well-being. The emphasis on maintaining a healthy work-life balance resonated with many, reminding writers that nurturing their passion also means taking care of themselves.
Story Wars
PublishDrive was the EU sponsor for the Story Wars competition, which was an exciting culmination of various competitions around the world over the past few months, where the best of the best at creating an impromptu story went head to head to crown the champion. It was a fun night of storytelling and creativity, and we’re looking forward to next year’s competition.
A Memorable Experience
The PublishDrive team left Author Nation energized and inspired. Whether it was meeting new authors, sharing innovative tools, or gaining fresh insights into the ever-evolving publishing landscape, the event was an undeniable success. We’re already counting down the days to next year’s conference, eager to connect with even more authors and share in their journeys.
Why Author Nation Should Be on Your Radar
Author Nation masterfully blended the best of 20Books Vegas with innovative features that made it a must-attend event for authors and industry professionals. If you’re looking for a conference that combines cutting-edge insights, practical advice, and a supportive community, this is it.
For more insights from the event, don’t miss the thoughtful recap by our partners at Written Word Media.
You can also read this thoughtful post by Rusell Nohelty.
Next year’s Author Nation will be November 3-5, 2025. Find out more here.