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Inkers Con

Inkers Con 2023

Live in Dallas, Texas - June 9-11, 2023

It’s time to take your writing career to the next level! Join hundreds of other authors at unique workshops and panels in writing, marketing, and business practices. The INKERS CON curriculum is designed to bring your career to the next tier—whether you’re an aspiring, newly published, or advanced author. Explore the newest concepts in publishing, network with peers, and meet with industry and retail leaders to improve your sales, quality, inspiration, and productivity.

INKERS CON has both online and in-person access! After attending the Dallas, Texas conference on June 9-11th, attendees will also be able to attend the digital version of the conference at no additional cost, which includes professional recordings of all presentations. This online access (which releases on July 22, 2023) will give you the ability to rewatch events as well as catch up on any that you miss.

We are currently in Early Registration saving you $100!

1 Payment $649
Payment plan 4 X $163

June 9-11, 2023

  • Two intensive days designed to propel your career, sales, and earnings to the next level. Includes 24 classes on marketing, advertising, business, and craft/writing
  • Learn from industry experts and bestselling authors on a variety of unique topics, all designed to help you reach the next level in your career.
  • Presentations are professionally recorded, so attendees can relax and design their own conference itinerary while not stressing out over missing any classes.
  • High-quality video recordings of every presentation are included with the conference registration, plus dozens of other online events during our digital release on July 22nd - August 6th.
  • Meet and greets and other networking opportunities will allow for friendship and business relationship growth between author attendees.
  • Enjoy six years of access to the 2023 presentation videos and conference content.
  • Three evening parties will provide opportunities for even the meekest of attendees to meet and network with other authors.
  • A delicious (not a box) lunch on both conference days will allow for attendee interaction and relaxation between classes.
  • Canceled tickets will receive a 100% refund until May 1, 2023, and will be non-refundable after that.
“When I signed up for Inkers Con I was at the point in my career where I was seriously thinking of just throwing in the towel. I wasn't seeing sales, had no motivation, and wasn't motivated to be consistent, or even to write half the time. But then, on the advice of a friend, I signed up for Mini-Con and then after that signed up for Inkers Con. I went in with what I hope was an open mind and wow! After going through the classes, the roundtables, and connecting with the authors involved my mind was blown. So much information and I went through it methodically - took notes and have gone back numerous times and implemented some of what I'm learning and I have to say - I wish I'd attended it back in 2019. What I learned empowered me enough to tear my author career to the ground and start rebuilding it. Focusing on one lane, building my brand, and really applying myself to my business. In doing so, I've seen a steady rise in sales across all platforms and have actually made back the cost of the conference and then some. If you haven't attended yet - do so. It’s a game changer and a career builder.
Patrica Bates, author
1 Payment $649
Payment plan 4 X $163

2023 Agenda

MARKETING CLASSES

Creating a Thriving Email List

with Automation by Holly Darling
An email welcome automation isn’t just an item on your to-do list, it could be a mini marketing machine, one that continually provides you with sales, referrals, reviews, and engagement with your readers. In this class, you’ll learn a framework of engagement, the do’s and don’ts of automation, and how to create a custom experience for your readers inside your welcome sequence. 

Building a Sustainable Seven-Figure

Business by Catharina Maura
A #1 Amazon bestselling author will share her roadmap to success, which includes optimization of your product, sales tactics and strategies, and how to level up once you find your audience.

TikTok for the Win

by Eden O'Neil and Kat T. Masen
With over a billion users, the impact of TikTok on the book world can’t be ignored. But what if you hate being on camera and don’t have the creative energy to tackle another social media platform? Two authors will share their strategies and insights and how they each reached phenomenal success through TikTok.

Building a Bestseller

by L.T. Ryan
The best writing and fantastic plots can still fall flat with readers if they aren’t executed properly. In this class, learn from a seven-figure bestselling author who will share pre-development, writing, and marketing decisions that can impact a book’s success. Lee will take you behind the scenes and show real-life examples and the results.

Better Readthrough and Higher Royalties

by Quinn Wardg
Readthrough in your series is crucial and directly affected by the strength of your back matter. In this class, you’ll learn strategies and tactics for increasing your readthrough by optimizing your back matter. You’ll leave this class with a clear idea of what to fix with your current books and how to approach back matter to maximize your readthrough and royalties.

Elements of Click-worthy Cover Design

by Rebekah Haskell
Is your book cover drawing in readers or pushing them away? In this class, learn what should be your number one consideration when designing a cover and what elements are important in triggering sales. Whether you’re an author looking to work more effectively with a design professional, or an aspiring designer yourself, this class will help you make educated decisions and accurately judge your current covers.

Effectively Marketing Your Backlist

by Golden Angel
Do you struggle with marketing, especially when it comes to older books and series? Many authors focus on their new releases and ignore their backlist, but your backlist can help keep your income steady, and many authors say it makes up the bulk of their income! Learn how to analyze your data to make effective marketing decisions for your backlist, the power of free books and sales, and the differences between marketing wide versus Kindle Unlimited books.

ADVERTISING CLASSES

Starting Facebook Book Ads from Scratch

by Malorie Cooper
Facebook ads can be intimidating (and expensive!) if you don’t know where to begin. In this class, a Facebook ads expert will start with the basics and explain audiences, ad setup and creation, and how to start small and grow from there. (virtual presentation)

My Facebook Ads are Failing

by Malorie Cooper
If you just can’t get Facebook ads to perform or their performance is abysmal – this class is for you! A Facebook ads expert will help you to do an audit of your ads, offer strategies to reboot and improve their performance, and address potential culprits to your success.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a $90,000+ Royalty Month with Amazon Ads

by Bryan Cohen
What can we learn from massive success stories with Amazon Ads? In this class, Amazon Ads expert Bryan Cohen will break down an author’s $90,000+ royalty month where ads were the primary promotional method. By sharing how the author reached this point and the nitty-gritty details of their massive month, you’ll discover how to start ads, grow ads, and how to take them way past your current ceiling of royalties.

Mastering the Art of Ad Strategy

by Bonnie Paulson
This is an interactive “how to” workshop that will help you to create a personalized ad strategy that works for you. You’ll take actionable steps to create a plan completely customizable for you and your books. Learn how to take control of what’s important and apply what’s working. This strategy building can apply to any budget and any genre.

8 Tips for Running Better BookBub Ads Campaigns

by Carlyn Robertson
With a captive audience of voracious readers, BookBub can be one of the most powerful avenues for book advertising. In this presentation by a BookBub representative, you’ll learn 8 actionable tips that will help you create profitable campaigns, increase the performance of existing ads, and avoid common mistakes with BookBub Ads.

BUSINESS CLASSES

Selling Directly to Your Readers

by Katie Cross
One of the best ways to build loyalty and grow independent income streams is through direct sales. A six-figure author will break down the process and share valuable tips on how to run traffic to and through your website, engage readers with a 1:1 relationship, how to sell off retailers, and tactics for finding and keeping an audience.

The How of Creativity

by Jeff Wheeler
Creativity is a muscle, and there are exercises you can do to strengthen and develop it. In this class, you’ll learn creativity tips from The Hunger Games, Pixar Studios, Stephen King, Andrew Carnegie, and a famous fighter pilot. Learn where creativity comes from, so you can always have a steady supply of it.

Activate and Align your Author Success

by Renee Rose and Carissa Andrews
Could your thoughts be holding your success at bay? Moving past success blocks can make a huge difference in selling books, self-promotion, defeating writer’s block, and opening up the flow of creativity. Learn how to leverage the Law of Attraction and other manifestation techniques in order to elevate your author career to the next level.

Productivity Tips & Juggling It All

bsten Granata and Deann Powell (writing as Diana Xarissa)
Whether you’re a full-time author or juggling three jobs, it seems like there’s never enough time to get everything done – plus get in your needed word count! If you’re struggling with time management, focus, and stress levels, this class will help you prioritize, segment, and maximize the time you have. Taught by two high-powered and successful authors, you’ll leave this class feeling more confident and capable of managing your schedule.

Sharing the Secrets of Success

(Panel to be announced soon)
Ever wish you could sit down with a top-selling author and get their top advice? Five bestselling authors each share their unique journey to success and what they do to maintain it. In addition, they will each do a deeper dive into a specialized focus or tip that they find crucial to their success.

KDP Select AND Multiple Streams of Income

by Misty Beller
Though Amazon’s KDP Select program is often profitable enough to lure authors into the ebook exclusivity it requires, it IS possible to use that program and build enough other streams of income so all your eggs are not in the Kindle Unlimited basket. Misty will share the non-ebook revenue streams and multiple advertising drivers she’s used to build income of nearly $500,000 this year—over half of which is not from KU page reads.

CRAFT CLASSES

Writing Your Way to 7-Figure Fiction

by Theodora Taylor
There is a secret sauce to writing successful books, and it’s all about using universal human desires and motivation to hook readers and give them a satisfying experience that they will rave about. Learn how to write what you love, run your author business your way, and make raving fans out of your readers.

Focus on Story Issues

by Jen Graybealr
Stuck in the midst of your story? Do you have a great novel you’ve abandoned because you couldn’t get through it? This class dives into brain chemistry and the science of frustration. You’ll learn how to examine the layers of a story to figure out what is missing/not working/what should happen next. Dust off those deserted manuscripts or reattack your writer’s block with confidence – this class will give you the confidence and knowledge to work through your next stall.

Worldbuilding for Any Genre

by Leslye Penelope
Creating unique, fully realized environments that readers will want to get lost in is not just a skill for fantasy or science fiction writers. No matter what time period or location your stories are set in, mastering fictional worldbuilding is key for reader delight. Learn techniques any author can use to bring your setting to life.

Pants Optional

by Kate Hawthorne and Annabeth Albert
Are you a pantser or a plotter? It doesn’t matter – this class is built for both! From the basics of planning a publishing schedule to more in-depth topics like getting your story off the ground, developing meaningful character arcs, setting the pace, and facing the dreaded bleak moment, two career authors (one a pantser and the other a detailed plotter) will share tips and tricks from opposite ends of the craft that have worked for them.

Stealing Secrets from Screenwriting: How to Make Your Book Bingeworthy

by Ines Johnson.
In television – every scene matters and if you don’t hook the viewer and keep them engaged, you’ll lose them to another channel. The secret to success is in the writing – and an ex-screenwriter-turned-bestselling author is sharing all of her secrets of screenwriting in this c23 lass. Learn how to weave in multiple storylines, use leads, sequels, and buttons, and the best character archetypes like the red shirt to answer story questions and open closed doors for the sequel.

Advanced Story Structure: Craft a Satisfying Plot

by Alex Lidellr
Have you noticed that a joke punchline feels “right” when it comes on the third beat, but not on second or fourth? Same is true for plots – there is a beat cadence that makes the story feel satisfying. Learn and practice it in this workshop! This is is BYOP (Bring Your Own Plot) workshop, so you can practice the technique on your own story. Plotters and pantsters are equally welcome.

Attendee Reviews

“Inkers Con is a life and career changing experience! Whether you’re a new or seasoned author, there’s something new to learn.”
Author Kate Hawthorne
“Inkers Con took everything you know about conferences and made it better. It was exhilarating, incredible, and knowledgeable!”
Author Nicky F. Grant
“Inkers Con is where you go wanting to grow and learn as an author and walk away inspired from the knowledge you have gained.”
Author Jane Ashley Converse
“I left this conference energized and inspired! From the smart speakers discussing marketing to the well-organized schedule focused on craft and book sales, InkersCon was the best writer’s conference I’ve been to.”
Author Tamara Lush

Complete Schedule of Events

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

  • 10 – 4 p.m. Attendee led roundtables
  • 4-7 p.m. Registration in the hotel lobby. Swing by and grab your attendee bag and t-shirt, and meet our welcome crew!
  • 5-7 p.m. Welcome Reception. We’ll be mingling on the outside fire pit deck with appetizers and drinks! Stop in and bring some of your paperbacks – we’ll have a blind book swap station where you can sign and wrap your babies and then trade them with other author attendees

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

  • 8:15 – 5:30 p.m. Presentations and food! We’ll have morning sessions and afternoon sessions, with a nice break in between with a hot buffet lunch. Sit inside or out, there’s a lot of room to unwind and enjoy the delicious food and dessert.
  • 5:30-7 p.m. Let’s pop the champagne and celebrate! We’re returning to the fire pits for a mingle-fest with crisp champagne and delicious appetizers. Drop your raffle tickets into the prize jars – you might get lucky and win!

SUNDAY, JUNE 5

  • 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Presentations and food! We’ll have morning sessions and afternoon sessions, with a nice break in between with a hot buffet lunch.
  • 5-6 p.m. Closing Reception. Trade contact information with your fellow authors, enjoy closing remarks from our conference team and enjoy a parting cocktail. With a ton of restaurants just across the boardwalk, you might want to walk over as a group and enjoy dinner before you hit the road or retire to your room.

Anonymous Responses from our Attendee Exit Survey

I loved how willing the speakers were to chat with you one on one, so incredibly generous with their time. Everything ran so smoothly, I was blown away! I enjoyed the variety of panels and liked that I didn’t have to worry about the ones I had to miss because I knew I’d have access to them later.

Loved having lunch provided. It allowed for more social interaction between attendees. Loved the location, the variety of classes, the parties. I think it was put together extremely well.

I thought everything was done with excellence. All of the workshops I attended were well-done. The information was relative and helpful. There was such a nice flow to the entire weekend. I loved the openness of the hotel, also. It was easy to get around. There were great restaurants within walking distance. It was one of the best conferences I’ve attended.

Wow. Just wow. It was such a fantastic experience. Overall, the speakers and attendees were wonderful. There was a great atmosphere of camaraderie. I loved all the extra touches, from the beautiful champagne dinner to the creation studio to snacks in the hallway to the awesome goody bags. Loved the hotel and restaurants nearby. I’m glad there’s a digital version later, as there were times when I wanted to go to two presentations and couldn’t. A couple of sessions I didn’t go to at all but rather used the time to network in the halls.

I loved how approachable all the authors were. Despite the fact that they had presentations to prepare or were writing, they all made time to talk with us, sign books, and take pictures. It was such a comfortable environment and as a new author it can be nerve wracking walking in to something like that but then to have them all be so down to earth made the experience that much better. I loved being able to connect with other writers…it was such a friendly environment that even for someone like myself who tends to be a little shy I felt really comfortable and I left knowing I had really made new friends.

I loved the energy, the inclusiveness, the spirit of everyone. Ohh, and the food was amazingly good. everything I ate was great. Also, and this is not only unique to this conference but probably wasn’t planned – all of the speakers were so accessible. They didn’t sneak off to some private area but sat at the tables and engaged authors, answered questions, told stories, etc. And the most amazing part, and this made me smile ear to ear, was that the other speakers come to other sessions, sat in the front row and took notes. This is a great lesson for authors, that even after you have accumulated a million dollars in royalty, you are still a student and still learning. I’ve never seen this done at any other conference and it brought tears to my eyes.

I loved the opportunity to meet with so many authors at so many different levels of experience. I LOVED the blind book swap. Such an awesome idea. It was so fun getting to learn from authors I admire. Everything felt so positive and encouraging. No one hesitated to share their knowledge or made someone feel “less than” for being new. It was a really amazing experience. The app was awesome and I really loved the venue. I’m really looking forward to the digital ticket as well to catch all the presentations I wasn’t able to attend live.

What a great conference space! There was enough space for break-out conversations and it felt intimate and not overwhelming like some cons can.

Honestly, it was a wealth of knowledge. There wasn’t one thing I didn’t enjoy.

1 Payment $649
Payment plan 4 X $163

LOCATION

Hilton Plano Granite Park
5805 Granite Parkway, Plano, Texas, 75024

The Hilton was chosen for Inkers Con because of its beautiful design, comfortable areas to relax and plenty of space for great conversations. The Hilton offers:

  • An on-site restaurant, bar and morning coffee shop
  • Walking distance to Granite Park Boardwalk including five restaurants

Frequently Asked Questions

There are some great conferences out there, but what sets Inkers Con apart is our focus on up-to-date, actionable information. We work with our speakers to share their expertise in a way that you can immediately implement it in your business. We also provide digital access to all presentations with high quality video, transcripts, closed captioning and audio for six years. This digital access also includes our launch weekends (July 22nd – Aug 6th) with online events and networking opportunities.

Everyone joins Inkers Con at a different point in their career. We have new authors who are building their foundation and want the best information right from the start. We also have authors with dozens (the highest we’ve heard so far is 110) of books who are refining their craft and advancing their marketing. It is never too late or too early to join Inkers Con. Plus, with six years of access you can grow and access the content you need when you’re ready for it.

Great question. Each year we have a new conference with a new agenda and new classes, but that doesn’t mean the old ones lose value. The best reason to join now is that it is time to focus on your business. You’ve probably thought about this for a while, tried a few new strategies with varying success, and looked for guidance. You might have wondered what others are doing to succeed. Now is the time to focus on your business and learn from the top authors and experts.

We focus on adult fiction, and the knowledge shared can be applied to any fiction genre (and even some non-fiction!). Our speakers are superstars and experts across a great mix of romance, fantasy, science-fiction, thriller, and general fiction genres – and our attendees are the same!

Yes, we are happy to offer PayPal options if that is easier for you. Just email Terezia at terezia@inkerscon.com to arrange an invoice.

You will have full access to all of the classes listed on the conference lineup, plus any recorded roundtables, Q&As, transcripts, and audio files for six years from the date of purchase. You’ll have plenty of time to absorb and implement the awesome information. Plus, you can rewatch them as many times as you want.

Yes, you can access all the content from any country you’re in.

Watch from the comfort of home! Log in via any computer, laptop, or smart device with access to the internet.

Live event tickets are fully refundable until May 1, 2023. Digital tickets are always 100% refundable.

We kick off registration Friday at 8 a.m. Friday we have an optional attendee led roundtable session. Join us at our kick-off cocktail party where even the shyest person will meet a friend. Our classes will be held Saturday from 8:30 – 5:30 and Sunday from 9 – 5:30.