Summit Schedule

2023 Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit Schedule

Pre-Conference Session

Brooke Van Sickle - Author Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit

Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit: Orientation

New to virtual conferences? Watch the orientation session before the conference starts. Hosted by award-winning writing coach, Brooke Van Sickle. She'll walk you through what to expect during the conference, and how to be successful to make sure you get the most out of this amazing summit.

Day 1 Sessions

Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Bobbie Hinman

Mastering the Art of Editing for Your Children's Book with Bobbie Hinman

Join us for an exclusive interview with esteemed editor, Bobbie Hinman, who reveals the secrets to transforming your children's book into a literary masterpiece. Gain invaluable insights on the importance of a comprehensive edit, the significance of beta readers versus professional editors, and the art of listening to your target audience.


Brooke Van Sickle - Author Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit

3 Things All Children's Books Must Have with Brooke Van Sickle

Still working on your children's story? Before you can move forward with the publishing process, you MUST have a completed draft. Learn what all you need to create a complete story in this in-depth training from award-winning writing coach Brooke Van Sickle.


Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Arielle Haughee

The Roadmap to Publishing Success with Children’s Book Publisher Arielle Haughee

Award-winning author and publishing expert, Arielle Haughee, reveals the secrets to successfully publishing a children's book in this valuable session. Gain practical advice on getting started with the publishing process, learn when your story is truly ready for publication, and unlock essential strategies for working with publishers.


Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Kiri Jorgensen Spotlight

Crafting Captivating Stories for Young Readers with Children’s Book Publisher Kiri Jorgensen

Discover the key elements that captivate young readers, and unravel the distinctions between chapter books, middle grade novels, and young adult novels with children's book publisher, Kiri Jorgensen. Gain invaluable insights on crafting age-appropriate, complex plots, dynamic characters, and themes that resonate with this discerning audience in this in-depth session.


Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Karen Ferreira

Creating Picture-Perfect Books with Award-Winning Illustrator Karen Ferreira

Join award-winning illustrator and creative director, Karen Ferreira, in this captivating interview as she delves into the art of collaboration between authors and illustrators. Karen shares invaluable insights on how to communicate effectively with illustrators, allowing your vision to come to life while respecting their artistic freedom, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable creative process.

Day 2 Sessions

Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Donna Griffin

Unleashing Your Creativity as an Author with Donna Griffin

In this engaging conversation, best-selling children's book author Donna Griffin reveals the keys to crafting stories that connect with kids, the joys of collaborating with publishers, marketers, and illustrators, and the power of finding your unique voice as a writer. Whether you're an aspiring author or simply passionate about children's literature, this interview will inspire and equip you with valuable knowledge for your own publishing journey.


Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Laura Backes

Understanding the World of Indie Publishing with Laura Backes

Seasoned publishing expert, Laura Backes, takes us on an insightful journey through the realm of independent publishing to help you understand the critical differences between Indie and large trade publishers. Discover the benefits of choosing an Indie Publisher, and gain valuable tips on how to make your manuscript appealing to potential publishers.


Brooke Van Sickle - Author Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit

The 3 Publishing Options All Children's Writers Have for Their Books with Brooke Van Sickle

Discover the 3 options available for your children's book story in this in-depth training with award-winning writing coach and children's book publisher, Brooke Van Sickle. By the end of this session, you'll know the pros and cons of each, and which step to take first, no matter which option you choose!


Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Norene Paulson

An In-Sight to Working with Indie Publishers with Author Norene Paulson

Norene Paulson shares her experiences working with both Big-5 imprints vs small independent publishers in this candid interview. Understand what to expect during the publishing process, surprising things new authors don't realize, and how to be successful from this insightful session.


Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | April Cox

Utilizing the Power of Self-Publishing and AI with April Cox

Discover the secrets of successful self-publishing in this captivating interview with April Cox, the self-publishing expert and founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing. Learn how to use AI to your advantage, create compelling pitches, and turn your book into a high-quality product that stands out in the competitive marketplace.

Day 3 Sessions

Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Alexa Bigwarfe Spotlight

Insider Publishing Secrets from Children’s Book Publisher and USA Today Best-Selling Author Alexa Bigwarfe

A USA Today bestselling author, publisher, and founder of Write | Publish | Sell, Alexa takes us on an eye-opening journey into the world of children's book publishing. Discover the secrets behind what makes children's books so special, how to navigate the different publishing paths, and the marketing tricks that can propel your book to success.


Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Melissa Addey Spotlight

Leveraging the Alliance of Independent Authors for Your Book's Success with Melissa Addey

A can't-miss session for anyone considering self-publishing their own children's book. Campaign manager, Melissa Addey, walks us through the amazing benefits the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) has to offer including free resources, vendor and service recommendations, and pre-designed paths for authors to help you be successful when you're publishing your next book.


Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | RC Chizhov

Preparing for a Book Launch with Award-Winning Author R.C. Chizhov

From investment banker to full-time children's book author, R.C. Chizhov shares what she's learned during her publishing journey as an award-winning author. Learn more about how to be both a self-published and traditionally published author, the key parts to focus on before a book launches, and what marketing tactics to skip before your book debuts.


Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Carol Gugliemetti

The Power of Mom's Choice Awards for Indie Authors & Publishers with Carol Guglimetti

In this enlightening interview, Carol Guglimetti sheds light on the immense benefits of the Mom's Choice Award, including social media exposure, personalized shoutouts, and the prestigious award seal to enhance your book's marketability. Gain exclusive insights on how to navigate the evaluation process and leverage this coveted award to boost your book's success.

Day 4 Sessions

Holly DiBella McCarthy - Author Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit

Creating Useful Parent/Teacher Guides to Boost Sales with Holly DiBella-McCarthy

Holly coaches us on the creation of Resource Guides for your book that teachers and parents will use following her signature S.T.R.E.T.CH Activity template. Learn what you should put into your own activity guide, the activities that a teacher's looking for, and how to use this tool to help boost your own sales.


Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Paul Brodie

Easy Marketing Strategies for Amazon Sales with Paul Brodie

21-time Bestselling Author and CEO of Brodie Consulting, Paul Brodie, shares his insights into how to plan a successful marketing launch based on his experience from helping authors have over 100 consecutive best-selling launches. A great dive into the marketing world for anyone who has a book getting ready to debut soon!


Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Alyson Bourque | Lori Orlinsky

The State of Book Marketing with PR Experts Lori Orlinsky & Alysson Bourque

Have a book debuting soon? Curious if there's still room in the market to sell a children's book? Come here marketing geniuses Lori Orlinsky & Alysson Bourque share their insight into the state of book marketing in this invaluable session.


Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Ryan Coach Sloth

Leveraging School Visits for Book Sales with Coach Sloth

Over the past 15 years, Coach Sloth has traveled the country visiting around 1200 elementary schools to Educate, Entertain and Inspire well over a half million kids. Discover the benefits of scheduling school visits, how to get connected with schools, and the keys to delivering a presentation that kids love in this super informative session.


Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit | Erin Murphy

The Thrilling Journey of Publishing and Author Collaborations with Erin Mariah Murphy

Discover how Erin's passion for collaboration, genuine connections, and a captivating social media strategy led to over 1000 book sales in the first quarter in this exclusive interview with award-winng author Erin Murphy. With her second book on the horizon, Erin shares invaluable insights and marketing tactics for aspiring authors to soar high in the publishing world.

Day 5 Sessions

Brooke Van Sickle - Author Kidlit Indie Publishing Summit

Kidlit Indie Publishing: Closing Session

Now that you've listened to all the experts share their publishing tips, it's time to decide what to do NEXT. Join host, Brooke Van Sickle, for a complete walk-through of the publishing process so you know where to start based on your own writing journey. The best way to implement what you learned before leaving this conference!


Upgrade to VIP KidLit Indie Publishing Summit

VIP Exclusive: Publishing Starter Path (4-Part Video Training)

Ready to publish your children's book? Easily understand how to get started with the publishing path with these exclusive sessions taught by award-winning writing coaching and children's book publisher, Brooke Van Sickle, for VIP-members ONLY.

VIP Publishing Sessions include:

  • How to get started working with an editor and who to hire for your book
  • How to choose your printer and what to send them in order to make a tangible book
  • How to find an illustrator and work with them to create a beautiful book
  • How to begin the marketing process and prepare for the launch of your book

Watch all the sessions at once, or watch them later at your own convenience. All sessions included lifetime replay access to members of the VIP.

* All videos will be available in the VIP course portal. *

One Week Only: Hear from industry leaders about the children's book publishing process.

GET THE REPLAY HERE

This year's summit has ended. Get lifetime replay access to all the sessions now.