Foundations for Publishing Success

A Free Online Conference for Authors and Publishers. Most authors don't fail at writing — they fail at the business. This conference is about building a publishing operation that pays for itself.

Our Next Online Conference is coming April 13-14, 2027

Grow your reach. Strengthen your publishing business.

Join PublishDrive and industry experts for practical strategies to help authors and publishers reach more readers, expand distribution, and build sustainable publishing businesses. Whether you’re growing your own author catalog or publishing books by others, discover insights you can put to work.

We’re developing the next conference now. Register your interest to receive updates as speakers, sessions, and registration details are announced.

Over two days, you'll discover practical strategies for publishing, marketing, distribution, discoverability, business growth, and navigating the rapidly changing publishing landscape. Our goal is simple: provide actionable insights that help authors and publishers make better decisions, reach more readers, and create long-term success.

Watch our September Conference Videos

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

Previous Conference Schedule

Tuesday, September 8

Day 1 · All times Eastern

10:00–10:15	Opening remarks — Kinga Jentetics Live
10:15–11:00	Opening keynote — Orna Ross, ALLi – Foundations for Publishing Success in 2026 and Beyond Live
11:00–11:15	Break
11:15–12:00	Sarah Bean — “The Author Discoverability System” Live
12:15–13:00	Kerrie Flanagan — “One Book, Endless Content: How to Stop Starting from Scratch” Live
13:15–14:00	Dana Sacco — “From Writer to Author CEO: Build a Publishing Business That Supports Your Creativity” Live
14:15–15:00	Jill Cooper — “A Year of Frameworks and the Storm Protocol: Weather Storms and Soar to New Heights” Prerecorded
15:00–15:45	Phil Marshall — “What Today’s Audiobook Listeners Want” Live
15:45–16:00	Day-one closing remarks Live

Wednesday, September 9

Day 2 · All times Eastern

10:00–10:45	Elizabeth Ann West – "The Book was never the Business. Here’s how to make a profit." Live
10:45–11:00	Break
11:00–11:45	Russell Nohelty — “Calibrating Your HAPI Compass” Prerecorded
11:45–12:00	Break
12:00–12:45	Malorie Cooper — “AI-Powered Facebook Ads: How Authors Succeed in 2027” Prerecorded
12:45–13:00	Break
13:00–13:45	“Finding Your Support System: How Writing Communities Help Authors Succeed” — Ross Lynch / ALLi, Christopher Locke / IBPA, and Alexa Bigwarfe / Women in Publishing Live panel
13:45–14:00	Break
14:00–14:45	Steph Pajonas — “Determining How AI Fits Into Your Author Business” Prerecorded
14:45–15:00	Break
15:00–15:45	Danica Favorite – “From Ideas to Action, Your Publishing Success Plan” Live
15:45–16:00	Conference closing remarks Live

Who should attend?

• Independent authors
• Small and midsize publishers
• Author-publishers
• Hybrid authors
• Publishing professionals
• Literary entrepreneurs
• Content creators interested in publishing

Learn the foundations for publishing success

What you'll learn

• Global book distribution
• Book marketing strategies
• Building an author platform
• Publishing business fundamentals
• Wide publishing and discoverability
• AI tools for publishing
• Audience growth and reader engagement
• Industry trends and opportunities
• Productivity and mindset for long-term success

Previous Speakers

We're bringing together experienced authors, publishing professionals, industry leaders, and service providers to share practical advice you can implement immediately.

Russell Nohelty

USA Today Bestselling Author
Stephanie Pajonas

Co-founder of the Future Fiction Academy
Sarah Bean

Head of Marketing & Partnerships at Book launchers
Christopher Locke

IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services
Orna Ross

Founder & Director of of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)
Kerrie Flanagan

Author and Content & Community Manager for Booklinker

PREVIOUS SPEAKERS

Why attend?

• 100% free to attend
• Two full days of expert-led sessions
• Learn from publishing professionals and successful authors
• Discover tools and strategies to grow your publishing business
• Attend from anywhere in the world
• Gain practical insights you can apply immediately
• Connect with a community of authors and publishing professionals

Can't attend live?

No problem.
All conference sessions will be recorded and available for free on the PublishDrive YouTube channel after the event, so you can watch at your own pace and revisit your favorite presentations whenever you need them.

STAY UPDATED

Want to be the first to hear when speakers, sessions, and registration are announced?

Join the Foundations for Publishing Success conference newsletter.

Subscribers will receive:

• Speaker announcements
• Session updates
• Registration information
• Event reminders
• Exclusive conference news

Interested in meeting in person?

We're exploring future opportunities to bring members of the PublishDrive community together in Budapest, Hungary in June 2027 for in-person author gatherings focused on learning, networking, and meaningful connections. If you'd like to help shape a future event, we'd love your input.

LEARN MORE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is the conference really free?

Yes. The conference is completely free to attend, and all replays will be free on our YouTube channel.

Do I need to be a PublishDrive user?

No. The conference is open to authors, publishers, and publishing professionals regardless of where or how they publish.

Will sessions be recorded?

Yes. All sessions will be recorded and made available for free on YouTube after the conference.

How will I attend?

The conference will be hosted online. Registered attendees will receive access information before the event.

Hosted by Danica Favorite and PublishDrive

Hosted by PublishDrive

PublishDrive helps authors and publishers distribute, manage, and grow their publishing businesses globally. From metadata optimization and distribution to royalty management and marketing tools, PublishDrive supports publishing success at every stage of the journey.