Monday, October 1

 

Pre-Conference Workshops

Hosted by various DBW 2018 sponsors and partners on Monday, October 1; all take place at Nashville's Music City Center.

No additional charge beyond Digital Book World 2018 registration; register for each workshop separately by clicking session titles below

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8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Session #102

MEDIA PANEL: Press Relationships, Pitching, Winning Press Releases, and More

Cindy Black (Account Director, Virtual Press Office / Cision PR Newswire)

Linda Bryant (Veteran Journalist & Freelance Reporter)

Bill Harper (Associate Publisher, Foreword Reviews)

Stephanie Koehler (Editor, BookPage Magazine)

Nicki Porter (Editor, The Writer Magazine)

Moderated by Aaron Kiel (Principal, ak PR Group and PR for Digital Book World)

Are you looking to generate publicity for your technology or publishing business? Have you tried to do it yourself, but you’re not quite getting the results you desire? Perhaps you have a PR professional and are generating some great media attention. But more than likely you don’t have a PR pro on staff and are attempting a campaign yourself – guerrilla marketing style – and not getting results. Here’s your answer! In this session, you’ll hear directly from media outlets. Their experts will give an overview about their media outlet and the types of stories they like to cover. They’ll give insights on how to best approach them and pitch stories, and what makes a good press release. You’ll learn bad PR (mistakes to avoid) and good PR (the right way to build a relationship with an editor, journalist, or freelancer). And you’ll get valuable tips that will help your organization generate publicity now and in the future. Most importantly: you’ll be able to ask the panelists direct questions so you can improve your outreach to the press. 

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9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Session #103

Podcasting As Marketing (VoiceFirst.FM)

Led by Bradley Metrock (Executive Producer, Digital Book World)

Host of top technology podcast This Week In Voice Bradley Metrock walks through the philosophy, as well as the execution, of podcasting as marketing. Monetizing podcasts is hard, but enhancing your and your company's image through podcasting is easy, and this talk will share considerations, insights, and creative examples on how some of the best in the business are doing it today.

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11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Session #104

Alexa Skill Building For Publishers And Authors (Amazon)

Led by Paul Cutsinger (Alexa and Echo, Amazon)

Make your presence known on Alexa. Bring your laptop and get hands on! In this 90-minute workshop we’ll walk you through how authors and publishers can create Alexa skills for themselves, their works, or their organizations. You’ll learn how to create stories, interactive fictions, and get your podcasts and blogs onto Alexa.

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12:45 PM - 2:45 PM

Session #105

Running An Indie Author Business  (ALLi)

Led by Robin Cutler (Director, IngramSpark, Ingram Content Group) and Orna Ross (Founder, Alliance for Independent Authors - ALLi)
This two-hour workshop will explain how Self-Publishing 3.0 works for authors, by outlining seven business models that self-publishers can use to increase their income, impact, and influence. The workshop will include examples of independent authors around the world who are creating lucrative publishing businesses.

 

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Session #106

Blockchain Technology: How It Applies To The Publishing Industry (Scenarex)

Led by Steve Breault (Chief Technology Officer) and Christine Joly (Chief Commercial Officer), Scenarex
This two-hour workshop provides insights on what blockchain technology is and how the technology can be applied directly to any type of publisher, complete with hands-on demonstrations and interactive learning for any professional working in in publishing.

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5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Digital Book World Welcome Reception and Exhibit Preview

For registered DBW 2018 attendees and their guests.

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Tuesday, October 2

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7:00 AM

Registration / Complimentary Continental Breakfast

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8:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Session #202

Welcome

Bradley Metrock

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8:45 AM - 9:45 AM

Session #203

Opening Keynote:

Ambient Computing

Walt Mossberg

Legendary technology journalist and author

The future of technology will not be smart phones or smart watches or e-readers or any physical device. Computing will be all around us: in the walls, in the ceilings, in the floors, in the furniture, in your clothing. And this has profound implications for digital publishing, for all kinds of digital content and communications … and for our legal system.

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9:00 AM

Exhibit Hall opens

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9:45 AM - 10:15 AM

Coffee + Review of Exhibits

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10:15 AM - 10:45 AM

Session #204

From Techstars To Shark Tank And Beyond:

Novel Effect's Impact On Publishing

Matt Hammersley and Melissa Hammersley (co-founders of Novel Effect)

Join the co-founders of Novel Effect as they explore opportunities for publishers with voice-driven content and share their journey participating in Amazon’s inaugural Alexa Accelerator, landing a deal on the TV show Shark Tank, winning a Webby, and securing a $3M investment from the world’s top tech and investment firms. Live demos included!

DigitalBookWorld.com blog post on Novel Effect's recent $3M investment raise

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10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Session #205

Joining Forces:

The Story Behind Publishing's Newest Partnership

Mario Pacini (General Manager, Entertainment, Walmart eCommerce U.S.)

Michael Tamblyn (CEO, Rakuten Kobo)

On the heels of launching Walmart eBooks by Rakuten Kobo, senior executives from both companies take the stage at Digital Book World 2018 to share how and why this unique partnership came to be, and how both Walmart and Kobo alike view the future of digital books within an ever-shifting culture and marketplace. This Fireside Chat will be hosted by Bradley Metrock (CEO, Score Publishing)

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11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Session #206

PANEL: The Customer, Your Boss: Direct-to-Consumer Marketing

Peter McCarthy (Director, Digital Services, Ingram Content Group)

Robin Cutler (Director, IngramSpark)

Andrew Wamberg (Head of Sales, Southeast, Google Cloud)

Moderated by Marcus Woodburn (Vice President, Digital Services, Ingram Content Group)

Understanding and reaching the consumer directly is becoming more and more important. Learn about tools, services, and best practices to maximize your direct-to-consumer knowledge, database, and sales. This insightful panel provides a quick overview of market changes and how the consumer is now – more than ever – key to understanding and growing your business.

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12:10 PM - 1:30 PM

Complimentary Lunch + Review of Exhibits

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Tuesday Case Studies (all held in the DBW Theater, located within the DBW Exhibit Hall - descriptions here)

C251 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM SPi Global

C252 1:15 PM - 1:45 PM IPG

C253 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Hindenburg Systems

C254 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM LifeWay

C255 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM Readercoin

C256 4:15 PM - 4:45 PM Copyright Clearance Center

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1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

BREAKOUT TRACKS:

An insightful collection of best practices, cutting-edge insights, insider tips, and useful tools, presented by industry leaders, authors, academics, and publishers. The six areas of focus include Marketing, Education, Legal, Production, Data, and New Media.

 

Marketing Book World (Presented by BookMachine):

Best practices and cutting-edge insights regarding how books are marketed today, by publishers of all sizes and types.

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1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Session #211

Metadata As A Marketing Tool

Kate Travers (Executive Director, Digital Operations, Workman Publishing)

Page Edmunds (Associate Publisher, Workman Publishing)

A description of the role of metadata in digital marketing: what it is, why it matters, and how it fits into the marketing and publishing workflow for both frontlist and backlist, including case studies in the effectiveness of strong metadata.

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2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Session #221

Monetizing Audiences: Strategies For Creating Demand Across The List 

Jon Fine (Senior Vice President and Publisher, Open Road Integrated Media)

Mary McAveney (Chief Marketing Officer, Open Road Integrated Media)

Moderated by Susan Ruszala (Marketing Business Development Consultant)

How can audience-first marketing allow publishers to buck a declining trend for ebooks, and create demand for titles regardless of pub date? Join us to learn firsthand:

* how search and content marketing contribute to digital content sales; 

* how price and retail positioning are vital to online success; and 

* how continuously analyzing audience behavior can produce surprising results. 

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3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

Coffee Break + Review of Exhibits

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3:45 PM - 4:30 PM

Session #231

PANEL: Best Practices In Book Promotion

David Burleigh (Director of Brand and Marketing Communication, OverDrive)

Leslie Chirchirillo (Operations Manager, eBooks2Go)

Geoff Cook (Author, Veronica and the Volcano; Advisor, Readercoin)

Moderated by Matt West (CEO, Dexterity)

Connecting titles with the right readers is a never-ending challenge for both authors and publishers, and in the digital landscape, yesterday’s sure-thing tactic is today’s waste of valuable resources. Hear three diverse perspectives on book promotion in today’s digital landscape.

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Education Book World:

Best practices and cutting-edge insights spanning the sister realms of scholarly/academic publishing and educational publishing.

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1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Session #212

PANEL: University Presses and Higher Education Publishing

Beth Kressel Itkin (Acquisitions Editor, Vanderbilt University Press)

Kimberley Williams (International Rights Director, Princeton University Press)

"Publish or perish" isn't just a phrase used to describe how those in education need to maintain visibility - it's also valuable insight into the increasing role universities play as publishers. Publishing print books alongside digital works, universities are pioneering in the world of publishing in ways that often fly under the industry's radar. This panel will share some of the trends shaping how higher education approaches publishing.

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2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Session #222

Reducing Textbook Costs Through Technology

Jordan Chussler (Academic Editor, Lynn University Digital Press)

Dawn Dubruiel (Instructional Designer, Lynn University)

Using the Lynn University Digital Press (LUDP) model, attendees will be introduced to an alternative means of library as publisher, which homes in on faculty-as-author and embraces iBooks Author software to demonstrate how curricula, specifically at institutions of higher learning, are able to embrace tailored digital scholarship while simultaneously reducing the burden of costly textbooks on university students’ wallets. The LUDP model will be detailed at length, providing insight into best practices, workflow procedures, author compensation models, peer review, and the incorporation of visual aids and interactivity to illustrate these processes. Also discussed: digital resources that the university takes advantage of to further assist the cause of reducing textbook costs for its students, like Cengage: Digital Learning & Online Textbooks. The session will conclude with audience Q&A.

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3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

Coffee Break + Review of Exhibits

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3:45 PM - 4:30 PM

Session #232

Digital Publishing In Education: A Glimpse Into The Future

Gavin Summers (Head of Digital, Hodder Education)

What will be the role of an educational publisher in the digital world? When free learning resources on any topic are just a Google search away … when the tools exist for teachers to craft their own custom-made ebooks, online quizzes, and educational games as easily as a Powerpoint presentation … when school budgets are under pressure and paid resources are first in line for the cut … how can our industry face the future confident that we will continue to provide value to our customers? Focusing on the K-12 market, this session will make the passionate case that YES: by committing to our customer-first approach, by playing to our existing strengths as quality content providers, and by constantly maintaining a service mindset, the future is bright.

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Legal Book World:

Best practices and cutting-edge insights not by lawyers for lawyers, but instead, from those within publishing who deal with legal-oriented issues such as rights management, compliance, and more, offered to all publishers as valued guidance.

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1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Session #213

What's So Bad About Vanity Presses?

A Fireside Chat With ALLi's Orna Ross and Alexa Bigwarfe

So-called "vanity presses" are a polarizing topic within the wide world of publishing. The idea of an author paying significant money to a third-party company to publish his or her book works just fine for some, and leaves others throwing around words like "scam." This fireside chat with Orna Ross (Founder, Alliance for Independent Authors) and Alexa Bigwarfe (Manager, ALLi's Self-Publishing Advice Conference) will differentiate between vanity presses and hybrid presses, lay out issues in the marketplace created by vanity presses, and talk through some of the controversy.

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2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Session #223

The Ins and Outs Of Acquiring Book Rights

Ami McConnell (Former VP of Simon & Schuster; Founder and Director of WriterFest Nashville)

Authors eager to realize their dream often approach the negotiating table with wide eyes and open hearts. Such artists may lack critical knowledge about of the business side of publishing. This session explores the various perspectives, ethics, and stakes at play in this critical piece of the publishing business – sharing the unique perspective of both author and editor.

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3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

Coffee Break + Review of Exhibits

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3:45 PM - 4:30 PM

Session #233

Trends in International Rights Processing

Kimberley Williams (International Rights Director, Princeton University Press)

The landscape of international rights is changing. This session will walk attendees through trends affecting all manner of publishing, including the rapidly evolving world of audio, providing action-oriented insights for publishers of all sizes and types.

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Production Book World (Presented By Ingram | Lightning Source):

Best practices and cutting-edge insights on the mechanics of modern book publishing, from creation to distribution to managing various formats and more.

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1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Session #214

How Publishing Standards Are Converging

To Enable a Potential Golden Age of Publishing Technology

Bill Kasdorf (Principal, Kasdorf and Associates)

Publishing standards used to be very sector- and purpose-specific. But over the past few years, they have increasingly converged. For example, the next generation of EPUB will be a W3C Recommendation, along Web Publications, so a single publication file can work online or offline, packaged or not. And these are now for all types of publications, not just books. Accessibility used to require special formats and markup; now, it calls for EPUB, using standard HTML markup and schema.org metadata. And there’s an increasingly useful and open ecosystem of tools and tests to help publishers get these things right. The result is an increasingly interoperable, cross-platform, multi-product, cross-sector publishing technology ecosystem that will remove friction and result in streamlined, agile workflows and more dynamic, adaptable publications. This presentation will show how much of this is already a reality, and what’s on the horizon.
 

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Session #224

Inside Penguin Random House Audio: Adapting to a Rapidly Evolving Market

Amy Metsch (Vice President and Associate Publisher, Penguin Random House Audio)

Dan Zitt (VP Content Production, Penguin Random House Audio)

Learn how Penguin Random House Audio has evolved publishing strategy and processes as a result of the US audiobook market’s continued rapid growth. Included: the expansion of Penguin Random House Audio’s list from 500 titles ten years ago to more than 1,200 titles planned for 2018, while maintaining rigorous recording standards, creating groundbreaking productions, and experimenting with marketing tactics to engage readers with the audiobook format.

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3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

Coffee Break + Review of Exhibits

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3:45 PM - 4:30 PM

Session #234

AI and Machine Learning In Content Production

Waseem Andrabi (Vice President, Content Services, Cenveo Publisher Services

Kinga Jentetics (CEO, PublishDrive)

John Prabhu (Senior Vice President, Technology Solutions, SPi Global)

Moderated by Kathryn "Kiffer" Brown (Co-Founder, Chanticleer Reviews)

How are computers, and the algorithms behind them which we refer to as "machine learning" or AI, guiding the future of producing content? What are some current examples of success in applying these principles specifically within publishing? This panel will delve into what's real, what's hype, and what's the future of computing and how it will affect publishers, large and small.

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Data Book World (Presented By Vearsa):

Best practices and cutting-edge insights on the analysis behind publisher decision-making, and the tools and philosophies guiding publishers toward better and better outcomes.

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1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Session #215

STATE OF THE UNION: Best Practices In Printing (Even In A Digital Book World)

Dave McCree (President, Book Publisher Services, LSC Communications)

In today’s digital world, there's one form of print media that continues to grow: physical book sales. Physical books have held strong as they continue to capture the emotions and loyalty of readers of all ages. But like any other form of content these days, the work does not begin or end with the printed page. The way we discover and distribute titles has been vastly enhanced by the digital world through advancements such Intelligent Metadata and AI Algorithms. This session shares best practices to most effectively bring physical books to the marketplace, and how the digital world is continuing to shape a new reality for the publishing industry.

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2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Session #225

PANEL: Data-Driven Decisions In Publishing

Maurice O'Connor (CEO, Vearsa)

Data Guy (Author Earnings)

Kelly Peterson (Director of Client Services, INscribe Digital)

Andrew Weinstein (VP of Content Acquisition, Scribd)

Moderated by Matt West (CEO, Dexterity)

With new information and data sources becoming available all the time, how do authors and publishers know what to pay attention to, and why? This panel explores what we have now that we didn’t then, from industry trends to individual title info, and how the new waves of book data might be turned into growth.

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3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

Coffee Break + Review of Exhibits

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3:45 PM - 4:30 PM

Session #235

STATE OF THE UNION: Data and Analytics In Publishing

Kristen McLean (Executive Director, Business Development, NPD Book)

An especially well-informed outlook for the US book market. Drawing on data from NPD’s BookScan and PubTrack Digital platforms, this presentation will deliver essential insights into the latest trends from book publishing’s most authoritative source of industry information, including:
* A recap of key industry performance in 2018
* The significant trends in content and platform
* The opportunities (and risks) for publishers and retailers in 2018 and beyond.

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