June 2022

Speaker: Susan Grunin
Topic: Hybrid Publishing
June 18, 2022, 10 a.m. to Noon

The presentation will look at Using a Hybrid Publisher including:

1. Defining a Hybrid Publishing Company
2. The Three Models of Hybrid Publishers
3. Key to Understanding the Differences between a Hybrid Publisher and a Vanity Press
4. Ways to Tell is a Hybrid Publisher is Legit
5. 8 Signs Your Publisher is a Scam
6. The Guidelines for Recognizing a Legit Hybrid Publisher from the Independent Book Publishers Association (2018)
7. What type of Author is Most Likely to Benefit from a Hybrid Publisher
8. Deciding Whether to Use a Hybrid Publisher – It Isn’t for Everyone!

Susan’s sample Author Page. Make your own Author Page and bring to the next meeting.

Susan’s PowerPoint presentation

Dr. Susan K. Grunin is a retired college professor, who taught for over 2 decades for the University of Virginia (UVA) and a number of other colleges and universities. Dr. Grunin also authored a text book for the University of Virginia Graduate School. She is a retired Executive who has been an Executive Coach, a CEO, a Human Capital Consultant and who also worked for the Federal Government, where she served in various positions for the Federal Courts, including over 20 years as a Federal Law Enforcement Officer.

Susan is currently a member of the Gulf Coast Writers Association of SW Florida and is writing a series of children’s books, Life Lessons and Tales of Little MisFit.

More about Susan

May 2022

Fiction in a Nonfiction World – The Evolution of An Author
How dinosaurs, Harry Potter, and Jack Canfield changed this writer’s course of history. It’s a major feat to write a book; it’s a whole other adventure to market it.D.J. Kristoff presents her journey from an award-winning science teacher digging dinosaurs in Montana to being inspired by the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios to writing her first book and having Jack Canfield, coauthor of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, show her how to market it.

Kristoff offers her insights on how to write for middle-grade kids based on her world travels and real-life experiences that she brought back into the classroom. “Writing my book was an adventure in itself as I followed the threads of the storyline and researched my new discoveries.”

Other topics include writing with a message, marketing, and making your story relevant in a nonfiction world to sell more than books.

Speaker: Stephen J. McGuire
Topic: Challenges of Self-publishing

January 15, 2022, 10 a.m. to Noon

Zoom and in-person meeting.

Location: Map
Word of Life Church
6111 South Pointe Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33919

Stephen J. McGuire, retired Chief Judge of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), wrote Prior Restraint, a political thriller.

Steve will discuss how he wrote the book, challenges of self-publishing, and his inside perspective about DC which influenced the storyline. Steve will also provide tips on how self-publishers can market their books.

Prior Restraint--America’s most famous news anchor is brutally murdered by terrorists on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC and the entire media establishment is paralyzed by the fear of who may be next. Seemingly overnight, a pernicious wave of self-censorship grips the airways and no one dares to further criticize religious fanaticism. When a leading newspaper columnist and her editor are soon thereafter kidnapped and murdered in New York, the media hysteria reaches a frenzy.

When Chief Judge of FTC,  Steve presided over well-publicized, antitrust enforcement proceedings. He was honored by President George W. Bush for his service to the nation’s judiciary and received the FTC’s Distinguished Service Award. Now a full-time resident of Naples, Steve has been coming to the area since the mid-1980s. He has traveled extensively to over 65 countries, including memorable trips to Africa, India, Vietnam and Japan. He and his wife Doris taught English to high school students in the Fujian Province of China in July 2019. His letter on the culture and lifestyle of Havana, Cuba was published by Cigar Aficionado magazine. In addition to writing, he enjoys classic cars, fine wine, and sharing life with his wife Doris, their golden retriever, Henry, and their mini goldendoodle, Alftie.

Steve’s Website

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