PUBLISHED JANUARY 2017

by Angela Bole, CEO, Independent Book Publishers Association

Angela Bole

In just three short months, IBPA members will gather in Portland, Oregon, for our annual Publishing University. The conference is scheduled for April 7-8, 2017, with special pre-conference sessions on April 6, and registration is open at publishinguniversity.org. Will you be there?

Whether you’re looking for introductory learning on new-to-you topics or hunting for strategic approaches to new challenges, I truly believe Publishing University is the place for you. You’ll press fast forward on your publishing program with nearly 30 educational sessions, including experiential learning labs, an insightful keynote speaker, a gala book award ceremony, fun networking events, and so much more.

Introducing Jane Friedman

Last month, I was thrilled to announce the official keynote address for Publishing University 2017: a fun and informative discussion with Jane Friedman.

Jane has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in digital media strategy for authors and publishers. She’s the co-founder and editor of The Hot Sheet (hotsheetpub.com), the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and is the former publisher of Writer’s Digest. She has been interviewed and featured by NPR, PBS, The Washington Post, the National Press Club, and many other outlets.

Jane Friedman

In addition to being a columnist with Publishers Weekly and a professor with The Great Courses, Jane maintains an award-winning blog for writers at JaneFriedman.com (200,000 visits per month). She’s delivered keynotes on the digital era of authorship at the San Francisco Writers Conference, The Muse & The Marketplace, and Willamette Writers Conference, among many others. She speaks regularly at industry events such as BookExpo and Digital Book World, and has served on panels with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund.

Her essays have been published in anthologies by the University of Chicago Press, Seal Press, Milkweed Editions, and McPherson & Co. She has a book forthcoming from the University of Chicago Press, The Business of Being a Writer (2017).

A Preview of Other Attractions

In addition to Jane Friedman’s address, Publishing University 2017 will host nearly 30 breakout sessions, a special cocktail hour called Literature & Libations, one-on-one consultations with industry experts, a gala book awards program, IBPA’s Annual Members Meeting luncheon, and—for the first time anywhere—a screening of the new documentary Word Slingers: The Story of Self-Publishing. There truly will be something for everyone.

Of course, my door is always open to your thoughts and feedback. Please feel free to e-mail me any time at angela@ibpa-online.org to let me know how to make your Publishing University experience the best it can be. I remain at your disposal and look forward to seeing you in Portland!

Just before Angela Bole became IBPA’s Chief Executive Officer, she was Deputy Executive Director of the Book Industry Study Group, Inc. (BISG), which fosters conversation and consensus across all sectors of the book business. Before that, Angela served for two years as BISG’s Associate Director and two years as its Marketing and Communications Manager.