The Business Behind
the book

An unparalleled event dedicated to advancing women and diversity in publishing

The summit

Your voice is important. Your voice is powerful.

And your voice deserves to be heard.

Your dreams of publishing and launching your book can become reality, and this summit will show you how to get there from here.

Whether you are planning a book launch or seeking your first book deal, The Business Behind the Book will equip you with the skills you need to build your platform, land a book deal, and promote and sell your book.

Join us in New York, Nov 7-9, for an unparalleled event that will bring together successful authors who will share the secrets of their success, editors and agents who will tell you what stands out to them, and members of the media and global publicity firms who will teach you how to sell your book.

Jump to speakers

The Summit

Bestselling Authors

Literary Agents

Global PR Firms

Publishers & Editors

Attend for

Access

Hear directly from bestselling authors, global PR firms, and publishing industry insiders brought together by the mission of amplifying and elevating underrepresented voices

exposure

Industry knowledge, what really catches an agent's attention, what it takes to get media coverage: the insider info you need to launch your book.

information

Carefully curated content will change your mindset about what it means to write and launch a book. Learn tactics and strategies that work, and put them into practice immediately.

Publishers, Agencies, & PR Firms

Jesse B. Creative

Ascendant Group

Pacific & Court

Ulysses Press

LinkedIn

Stonesong Literary Agency

Vision

Schedule

Sessions & Schedule

We are confirming new panelists every day- subscribe to our email list to hear updates!

Offering specific, actionable, and powerful summit content is what we are about: content that attendees can truly "get" and actually use. You will hear from experts in every sector of the publishing industry about how book publishing works, what editors and agents are looking for, how to build your platform and promote your book, and more.

Wednesday, November 8th

WELCOME: Partnership and the Power of Your Network

If you're on the journey to publishing a book, or are in the midst of planning a launch and promoting your book, there’s nothing more important than your network. The world of publishing can feel inaccessible and remote, but the truth is, if you know what to look for, your network and resources are probably much more extensive than you realize.

Francine Parham

Your Book as an Investment

Being a published author can do a lot for your career and your legacy- it truly is an investment in your future. So many people just want to “just get it out there” but this approach leaves immense value on the table. Being intentional about this endeavor can be the best investment in yourself that you could possibly make.

Caroline Levin

Deborah Owens

Identify Your (Bigger) Goals

Have you ever asked yourself why you want to publish a book? This is a critical question every author needs to answer. A book should be holistically tied into the broader picture of your professional identity, experience, and activities, and all that starts with your “why”- what you are writing the book for. Your goals will determine so much about your content, publication strategy, and eventual promotion.

Deborah Mortimer

Susan McPherson

Lunch Fireside Chat, A Table + Two Chairs

Francine Parham in conversation with Elizabeth Leiba

Lunch and dinner at the summit will feature Francine Parham’s signature event, “A Table + 2 Chairs,” a series that brings successful women together to cultivate relationships and explore new perspectives. An intimate conversation between Francine and author Elizabeth Leiba, our lunch conversation will explore the Elizabeth's story of building a 200k following on Linkedin, her book, and what, in her view, it takes to succeed as an author and thought leader today. Moderated by Keysha McNeil of Dow Jones.

Keysha McNeil

Elizabeth Leiba

Francine Parham

Dinner Fireside Chat, A Table + Two Chairs

Francine Parham in conversation with Caroline Clarke

Dinner will feature Francine Parham’s signature event, “A Table + 2 Chairs,” a series that brings successful women together to cultivate relationships and explore new perspectives. Our featured speaker, Caroline Clarke, is an award winning journalist, author, and editor whose experience spans the breadth of the publishing industry, from brand building for Black Enterprise to overseeing an Imprint in partnership with John Wiley & Sons, to writing her own remarkable story. Moderated by Keysha McNeil of Dow Jones.

Keysha McNeil

Caroline Clarke

Francine Parham

Thursday, November 9th

The “P” Word: Let’s Talk Platform

The most ubiquitous word in book publishing. What is it? How do you build one? How do you leverage it? Most people think platform= number of social media followers, full stop. Nothing could be further from the truth. While social media can sometimes be a good benchmark, your platform is made up of every and any way you have to connect to potential readers. Once you understand platform more expansively, you will be shocked to realize how many resources you probably already have.

Shirley V. Williams

Maisha Walker

Author Case Study: TBD

That Idea You Have for a Children’s Book

Admit it- you have an idea for a children’s book. We all remember our childhood favorites, the beautiful illustrations and whimsical stories- serious or silly- that captured our imaginations as children. The world of children’s book (also referred to as “picture book” or “kid lit”) publishing is one of the most misunderstood verticals in the industry. Hear from a panel of professional working kit lit authors and illustrators about what you can do to tell the story you wish you’d had as a child.

Jesse Byrd

Will My Book Be in Barnes & Noble? The Mysterious World of Book Sales and Distribution

The way books make their way to bookstores is often baffling and mysterious, and one of the most common questions new authors have is what bookstores their book will be in. The answer is surprising to folks, and the reality is that book distribution is a highly complex and shrouded system. A panel of experts will reveal its inner workings, including the book buyer and store manager of Barnes & Noble’s landmark 5th avenue location.

Octavia Goredema

Bridget Thoreson

Cal Hunter

Fireside Chat, A Table + Two Chairs

Francine Parham in conversation with Christine Guilfoyle

Lunch will feature Francine Parham’s signature event, “A Table + 2 Chairs,” a series that brings successful women together to cultivate relationships and explore new perspectives. Our featured speaker is Christine Guilfoyle, the president at SeeHer, the leading global collective of marketers, media organizations and industry influencers committed to creating advertising and supporting content that portrays women and girls as they really are. Moderated by Keysha McNeil of Dow Jones.

Keysha McNeil

Christine Guilfoyle

Francine Parham

Bestseller Lists: Real Talk

Spoiler: there is no (ethical) playbook for getting on big name bestseller lists. Everyone wants to know the silver bullet answer to this question, and the truth is that there isn’t one. But it is possible to understand how the lists work, what goes into the selection process, what sorts of sales count, and more behind-the-scenes info about who ends up in those coveted spots.