Level Up: The Business of Writing
Get $99 early bird pricing until April 30! $125 after April 30.
2025 Fireside Edition
You’ve written your amazing story. It’s coming out or is already out in the world, with a publisher or independently.
You’re thrilled for readers to discover your book but…nobody seems to be reading it.
Or maybe you want to write your next book, or put together an anthology, or maybe finish a gaming module but…you can’t.
Because of brain, or life.
Or, again, maybe this: you have people super excited about your book, but you’re not sure how to keep them interested until the next book comes out. Attention spans are short, and there are so many different books competing for readers, and so many marketing strategies competing for your attention.
Whether you’re independently or traditionally published, Level Up: The Business of Writing is for you, assembling eight amazing speakers to give you powerful workshops to help you level up, no matter where you are in your career!
Join us in 2025 for Level Up: The Business of Writing, Fireside Edition! This year, we’re offering four weeks (one more than our first edition—we’re levelling up Level Up!) of wonderful workshops and talks offered by experts who get results, ending in a planning session to figure out your next steps.
All workshops will be delivered on Zoom. Can’t make the dates and times? Workshops will be available for up to four weeks after their live date for rewatching, so you can cozy up on your own time and fill your brain with excellent learning.
Focus & Achieve with Jessica Barna
May 13, 7pm EDT
In Focus & Achieve you’ll learn how to create a powerful vision for your author career, plan your next steps, and stay consistently focused on the path to success. Jessica will guide you through the essential layers of focus needed to move past distractions, overcome lack of motivation, and gain the clarity necessary to move forward with confidence. Get ready to tackle your goals with a renewed sense of purpose and watch your author accomplishments pile up!
Meet Jessica Barna, an Executive MBA holder with 13 years of experience coaching and consulting for small businesses. As the founder of Author Achievement, Jessica assists motivated authors in boosting productivity and profits through strategic planning, community and accountability.
Jessica lives outside of Chicago with her chihuahua named Tortilla. In her free time, she reads, tries out new happy hours, and fosters dogs.
Fireside chat with Lydia M. Hawke (aka Linda Poitevin)
May 15, 7pm EDT
Lydia M. Hawke began her writing career with a traditional publisher and a dream contract…and then, as happens to so many authors, her publisher dropped her. Unwilling to give up her writing dreams and never one to back away from a challenge, Lydia turned her eye to self-publishing, first in romance and then in the urban fantasy genre. She has now found her place as one of the founders of crone lit with her beloved “Crone Wars” series and is thriving as an indie author. Join Lydia as she shares her journey, challenges, triumphs, and some candid, hard-won wisdom in a relaxed chat on Zoom.
Lydia M. Hawke is the author of bold urban fantasy for women who know their power. When worlds collide or apocalyptic disaster strikes, Lydia’s mature, magical heroines are more than capable of saving themselves–and the world. Her paranormal women’s fiction novel Becoming Crone has won multiple awards and was featured on Felicia Day’s Felicitations! Book Club Show.
Lydia makes her home in Canada where she spends her free time drinking what some would argue is too much coffee, thoroughly enjoying the grandparenting stage of life, caring for her collection of pets, and tending to her ever-evolving garden.
Her self-appointed mission in life is to reclaim the title of “crone” as a positive thing on behalf of all women of a certain age.
Truly WIDE Publishing, with Mark Leslie-Lefebvre
May 20, 7pm EDT
What are the choices and options available for authors in today’s diverse and dynamic publishing environments? What does it mean to publish your books WIDE? Truly WIDE, and truly open?
Join us as author and book industry veteran Mark Leslie Lefebvre shares an inspiring and insightful talk on the importance of understanding the various options that exist for authors within both traditional publishing and indie/self-publishing. He will delve into the pros and cons for each publishing path as well as the advantages and challenges of distributing books across multiple platforms rather than limiting them to exclusivity with a single online retailer.
Mark Leslie Lefebvre has worked in the book industry since 1992, the same year his first short story sale appeared in print. His past roles include President of the Canadian Booksellers Association, Chair of the Professional Advisory Committee for Sheridan College's Honors Degree Program in Writing and Publishing, Director of Self-Publishing and Author Relations for Rakuten Kobo, where he created and launched Kobo Writing Life, and Director of Business Development for Draft2Digital, the world's largest free and author-centric platform for the creation of and distribution of eBooks and print for indie authors. He is the host of the weekly Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast which is currently celebrating seven years of sharing insight28s into the business of writing and publishing.
As an award-winning and multi-nominated author, Mark (who also writes under Mark Leslie) has released over 30 books through both traditional publishers and indie authored titles. His books include the humorous urban fantasy adventures A Canadian Werewolf in New York, Fear and Longing in Los Angeles, Hex and the City, and Only Monsters in the Building; the true ghost story books Haunted Hospitals, Spooky Sudbury, Tomes of Terror, and Creepy Capital; movie trivia guides for the 80s films: Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Die Hard; and the non-fiction books for writers: Wide for the Win, Killing it on Kobo, An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores, and the co-authored The Relaxed Author with Joanna Penn.
Fireside Chat with Sara Megibow, Senior Literary Agent
May 22, 7pm EDT
Sara is the President and Senior Literary Agent of Megibow Literary Agency. She has worked in publishing since 2006 and represents New York Times bestselling authors including Rebecca Roanhorse, Margaret Rogerson, Jaleigh Johnson, Roni Loren and Jason M. Hough. Sara specializes in launching debut authors and working on long-term career development and profit strategy with them, and she’ll come share her story and wisdom (plus data! She loves data!) in this relaxed Zoom chat!
Sara is the President and Senior Literary Agent of Megibow Literary Agency. She has worked in publishing since 2006 and represents New York Times bestselling authors including Rebecca Roanhorse, Margaret Rogerson, Jaleigh Johnson, Roni Loren and Jason M. Hough. Sara specializes in launching debut authors and working on long-term career development and profit strategy with them. She is a graduate of Northwestern University with degrees in Women’s Studies, Gender Studies and American History. Always LGBTQIA+ Friendly!
Sara is open to queries and her query email address is: saraquery@megibowliterary.com
More information, clients and recent sales Publishers Marketplace
Stop Fearing the Blurb, with Jessie Cunniffe
May 27, 7pm EDT
Have you ever wondered whether there's an easier way to write your book blurb? A way to know what to include, and where? There is! Join pro Jessie Cunniffe to learn the secrets of salesworthy fiction book descriptions and discover how to implement them on your own back cover and beyond!
Jessie Cunniffe is a professional blurb writer and book blurb coach from Sydney, Australia. A passionate advocate of the indie author community, Jessie has dedicated herself to taking the pain out of blurb-writing with her custom blurb services and two signature courses: Book Blurb Magic and The Spicy Blurb Playbook. When she’s not writing or dreaming up the next BBM product, Jessie can be found journaling, exploring new ocean pools, and playing her guitar. On the occasion that Jessie manages to snatch some reading time, she’s probably buried in P. G. Wodehouse or Agatha Christie.
Fireside chat with Krista Walsh
May 29, 7pm EDT
Ottawa author Kista Walsh is a master at finding her readers. From social media to tabling at events, from Kickstarters to hard cover editions, Krista has grown both her brand and revenue with consistency and hard work. Join her as she chats about her career, various initiatives, and pitfalls she can help you avoid!
Known for witty, vivid characters, Krista Walsh never has more fun than getting them into trouble and taking her time getting them out. When not writing, she can be found reading, gaming, or watching a film – anything to get lost in a good story.
She currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario with her husband (who makes monsters), daughter (who loves monsters), and blue heeler (who is a monster)
7 Steps to Better Self-Editing, with Jennifer Brozek
June 3, 7pm EDT
How do you go from a first draft mess to a polished professional manuscript? What is the best technique to find dropped words, forgotten “ed”s, and incomplete sentences? Learn how to find plot holes, fix your prose, and make your editors love you. I will show you multiple multi-media techniques to make your manuscript shine.
Jennifer Brozek has earned nominations for the British Fantasy Award, the Hugo Award, and multiple Bram Stoker Awards. She has worked in the publishing industry since 2004. With the number of edited anthologies, novels, RPG books, and nonfiction books under her belt, Jennifer is often considered a Renaissance woman, but she prefers to be known as a wordslinger and optimist. When she is not writing her heart out, she is gallivanting around the Pacific Northwest in its wonderfully mercurial weather. Read more about her at jenniferbrozek.com or follow her social media accounts on LinkTree.
Fireside Hang Out and Planning Session
June 5, 7pm EDT
Ask your questions and get personalized tips and tricks to help you gain your next Level Up! Marie Bilodeau will be present to help you figure out next steps, share more tips and tricks, and help you focus on what’ll help you level up next!
Marie Bilodeau is an Ottawa-based author, TTRPG game writer, and storyteller. Her speculative fiction has won several awards and has been translated into French (Les Éditions Alire) and Chinese (SF World). Her short stories have also appeared in various anthologies and magazines like Analog Science Fiction and Fact and Amazing Stories. In a past life not-so-long ago, she was Deputy Publisher for The Ed Greenwood Group (TEGG).
She’s also the chair of Ottawa’s speculative fiction literary con, Can*Con.
