Publication options: agented or unagented, traditional or self-published?
How to determine which path is right for you
How to manage your chosen path successfully
Panelists
Robin Sullivan has worked in all three branches of publishing. As a self-publisher, she propelled her husband Michael Sullivan to the top of multiple Amazon fantasy lists, selling nearly 40,000 books in just four months. In the small press world, she formed her own company, Ridan Publishing, representing the highest quality award winning titles by authors such as Nathan Lowell, Marshall Thomas, and Leslie Ann Moore. As for big-six traditional publishing, she leveraged Michael’s self-published success and received a six-figure, three-book offer from Orbit Books, the fantasy imprint of Hachette Book Group.
Rosemary Rawlins is the author of Learning by Accident, a caregiver’s story of trauma, healing and resilience. Rosemary currently speaks at medical conferences, hospitals, and is a consultant for the TBI Model System at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her story was featured in the New York Times and will be featured on BrainLine.org this August. She holds a B.S. degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Richmond, and lives with her family in Glen Allen.
Dave Smitherman is a partner at Palari Publishing, which began in Richmond in 1998 producing regional books, and has expanded to publishing hardcover, paperback, and e-books nationwide. In addition, Dave co-authors books with celebrities and prominent businesspeople, and works as a book coach for independent writers. He has a degree in journalism from Radford University and is heavily involved in social media.
David Kazzie is a novelist in Richmond, where he lives with his family. His self-published debut novel, The Jackpot, has sold more than 11,000 copies since January and spent nine days on Amazon’s Top 100 Kindle Bestseller List, peaking at No. 34. He is the author of several short animated videos, including “So You Want to Write a Novel,” which have more than 2 million YouTube hits. He is represented by the Ann Rittenberg Literary Agency.
