Self-Publish Like a Pro • Reedsy

📚 Overview

There’s never been a more exciting time to be a self-published author. Today, anyone with a story to tell can reach a global audience — you just need to know how it’s done. That’s why we’ve lit the Reedsy Bat-Signal and brought together some of the biggest names in indie publishing for a one-day online conference packed with the knowledge, tools, and confidence you need to succeed.

Hosted by Reedsy — the team that’s helped millions of writers realize their publishing dream — this event features:

James Blatch, author and co-founder of Self-Publishing Show Live, one of the largest indie author conferences in the world
Mark Leslie Lefebvre from Draft2Digital, the leading self-publishing platform supporting over 250,000 authors
Ricardo Fayet, Reedsy co-founder and one of the most trusted voices in book marketing, whose guides have been read by over 80,000 authors

For the first time, their insights are accessible to anyone, anywhere.

Across four sessions, you’ll learn how to take your manuscript to market, reach the right readers, and launch your book like a total pro.

🎓 What You’ll Learn

The step-by-step process of turning a finished draft into a professional book.

How to position your book in the market so it hooks the right readers.

The ins and outs of self-publishing platforms, distribution, and royalties.

Proven strategies to launch your book successfully and keep sales growing.

Schedule

EVENT

11:00 - 11:45 EDT

Your Self-Publishing Blueprint

Turn your finished draft into a book readers can’t wait to buy. This session will walk you through the self-publishing process from start to finish — so you can publish with confidence, on budget, and on schedule.

EVENT

12:00 - 12:45 EDT

Tropes, Trends, and Titles: Matching Your Book to its Market

Hook readers before they’ve read a single page. Author James Blatch will show you how to match your book’s look and messaging to your genre — building a strong foundation for your marketing.

EVENT

13:15 - 14:00 EDT

Publishing and Distributing Your Book

It’s time to publish your book! In this session, we’ll dive into ebook and print distribution, cover the pros and cons of Amazon exclusivity, and explore the various options you have as an author. Mark Leslie Lefebvre will also walk you through how to publish a book on Amazon and other platforms, and share tips on how to optimize your book and author pages.

EVENT

14:15 - 15:00 EDT

Strategies Behind a Successful Book Launch

In this closing session, you’ll learn proven strategies to plan and execute a successful book launch. Ricardo Fayet will cover how to secure early book reviews and build your mailing list, and use price promotions, advertising, and social media to sell more books.

Speakers

Martin Cavannagh

Head of Content at Reedsy

Writer, presenter, and Head of Content at Reedsy. His newsletters, live streams, and blog posts reach millions of writers each month, Martin has appeared on various panels (both virtual and in-person), including the Writer's Summit at the 2024 London Book Fair.

Mark Leslie Lefebvre

Author & Marketer

Mark Leslie Lefebvre is a prolific author, speaker, and publishing industry expert with a distinguished career that spans over four decades and includes forty published books across numerous genres. With a background steeped in both traditional and independent publishing, Mark has been a book industry pioneer in both bookselling and digital publishing, with his first self-published book in 2004, and establishing Kobo's self-publishing platform Kobo Writing Life in 2012. He's currently the Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital.

Ricardo Fayet

Co-founder & CMO at Reedsy

Ricardo Fayet is one of the co-founders, and the chief marketing officer, of Reedsy. On top of overseeing the marketing for all Reedsy products, he has helped hundreds of authors with their own launches and marketing campaigns, landing several of their books on the Sunday Times or Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. He’s the author of two books on marketing for authors: How to Market a Book: Overperform in a Crowded Market, and Amazon Ads for Authors: Unlock Your Full Advertising Potential, and a regular presenter at prestigious writers’ conferences: NINC, AuthorNation, 20Books, RWA, and The Self Publishing Show Live, among others.

James Blatch

Author & Host of Self Publishing Show Live

James Blatch is a former BBC Defence Reporter, BBFC Film Examiner, and author of military aviation thrillers. His reporting career included coverage from HMS Invincible during the Operation Desert Fox build-up, Kuwait's Ali Al Salem allied air base, the Arctic Circle, and the UK air offensive during the Kosovo Conflict in 1999. James is also the co-founder of the Self Publishing Formula and organizer of the Self Publishing Show Live conference.