Menu
Log in



helping publishers succeed


Log in

Member Log In

PubWest events

    • 22 Jan 2025
    • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    AI for Good in Publishing: Advancing Under-represented Voices and Stories

    Join us for an insightful webinar featuring Brooke Dobson and Brittany Pinney, two of the co-founders of Shimmr AI. With seven years of experience in leveraging technology and artificial intelligence to address critical challenges in the publishing industry, Brooke and Brittany bring a wealth of knowledge and a passion for empowering under-represented voices, including women, LGBTQ+ authors, and other marginalized groups.

    Presentation Summary:

    In this webinar, Brooke and Brittany will explore how AI can be harnessed to advance under-represented voices and stories in publishing. They'll address the striking under-monetization of assets in the industry, where only 5% of publishers' catalogs receive marketing support—a problem that disproportionately affects authors from marginalized communities.

    Key Points:

    1. The challenges of traditional advertising in publishing, highlighting how these obstacles particularly impact under-represented authors.
    2. Specific challenges faced by under-represented voices, including genre pigeonholing, difficulty reaching diverse audiences, and overcoming cultural stereotypes.
    3. The concept of "reverse discoverability" and how it ensures every book finds its reader, regardless of the author's background or identity.
    4. Introduction to Shimmr AI's automated advertising platform, designed to bring volume to the voiceless and light to overlooked titles, especially those by authors from marginalized groups.
    5. A case study demonstrating how AI can overcome marketing limitations and expand an author's reach, focusing on how this benefits under-represented voices.
    6. The potential of AI to level the playing field in publishing, fostering a more diverse and representative literary ecosystem that amplifies voices from all backgrounds.

    Through this presentation, attendees will gain insights into how AI is revolutionizing book discovery and promotion for under-represented authors. Brooke and Brittany will demonstrate how Shimmr AI's innovative approach addresses long-standing issues in the publishing industry, paving the way for a more inclusive literary landscape.

    Join us for this enlightening discussion on the intersection of AI and publishing, and discover how technology can be a powerful tool for amplifying diverse voices and fostering equal representation in literature.

    Register Here


    • 29 Jan 2025
    • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    How to use your website to drive sales, lower costs, and showcase your books

    A great website is now a must for every publishing house. Your website is the online home of your books, and the best source of information about them. It can also be a vital sales channel and a powerful way to engage with readers, authors, donors, and other important audiences. This session will focus on best practice examples drawn from a diverse portfolio of publisher websites, including small literary presses, children's publishers, educational publishers, and scholarly presses.

    Participants will learn how to:

    • Structure the press website to save staff time and costs
    • Boost title discovery through better bibliographic metadata
    • Effectively present your catalogue online and make it easier for readers to explore
    • Do more with less when it comes to book sales and marketing
    • Drive consumer sales with effective promotions
    • Organize efficient fulfillment for direct orders

    Our presenter, Craig Riggs, has worked in and around publishing for more than 20 years. He is a principal in the industry consultancy Turner-Riggs, and a co-founder of ReaderBound, a specialized builder of customized e-commerce websites for book publishers. His current portfolio emphasizes the development of new web platforms, publishing technology, and reader engagement. He leads the 49thShelf.com project for the Association of Canadian Publishers, and is actively engaged in commissioned research on book marketing, book discovery, and consumer behaviour. He holds a Masters in Publishing and is an adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University.

    Register Here


    • 11 Feb 2025
    • 2:00 PM
    • 13 Feb 2025
    • 6:00 PM
    • Caesars New Orleans Hotel, 228 Poydras St, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
    Register

    AGENDA DETAILS

    Visit our PubWest Conference Online page for full details and updates on the agenda.  Note: registrations are non-refundable.

    And reserve rooms now, click here for a direct link to book online (conference rate deadline 1/12/2025).

    • 24 Feb 2025
    • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Publishers Roundtables offer a chance to engage in open-forum discussions on the ever-changing landscape of publishing. Everyone is welcome, including publishers, associates, and staff at all levels. Our February Roundtable also includes our annual Members Meeting!

    Please note this PubWest session will not be recorded in order for participants to feel comfortable interacting openly and having frank discussions within the bounds of our conduct policies.

    Register Here


    • 19 Mar 2025
    • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    AI & Book Publishing: The Top Tools from Round 1

    We're still in the very early days in the use of AI for book publishing. In this webinar, Thad McIlroy (author of The AI Revolution in Book Publishing, and a featured speaker at PubWest2024) will examine the software tools that have so far proven to be valuable. Don't miss this one!

    Register Here


    • 26 Jun 2025
    • 30 Jun 2025
    • Philadelphia, PA

    PubWest and the Independent Publishers Caucus have teamed up to host a pavilion at the ALA Annual Conference. This is a great opportunity to showcase your titles to over 12,000 librarians and meet with collection development librarians from around the country. Take advantage of specially discounted pricing with display options to fit your budget. You can attend or simply display your titles – read more about it here and download an application here. For questions about this offer or to reserve space, please email ala@heiexpo.com.



Privacy  |  Contact Us  |  Join our email list 
Code of Conduct  |  DEI Statement  |  Antitrust  |  Anti-Harassment

          

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software