Pitch to Print: Turning Your Idea into a Book

You’ve got an idea for a book. Maybe it’s a business title drawn from your professional experience, or a piece of fiction that’s been living in your head for years. We believe that everyone has a book in them!

Join us for some insider tips on how to take that first spark and turn it into a printed book you can hold in your hands.

Our international panel of authors, publishers, and communication experts will walk you through every step from refining your concept to finding the right editor and promoting your finished work. You will leave with practical guidance and inspiration to start (or finish) your book whether you’ve already started writing or are still wondering if your idea is worth pursuing.

We’ll explore the very first questions every aspiring author needs to ask:

• Where will your inspiration come from, is your idea unique? Why are you writing your book and who is your audience?
• How do you set a realistic schedule for completion?
• Do you need an agent?
• Do you need an editor? What does an editor contribute?
• Should you seek a publisher or self-publish?
• What does a publisher want you to consider for your book?
• How do you plan for promotion and marketing from the outset?

Our panelists have done it all and they’ll share the highs, the challenges, and the lessons learned.

Meet the Panel:

• Shane Hatton - two-time author and a globally recognised expert in leadership, communication, and team culture. His insights on leadership and culture have been featured in leading publications such as Harvard Business Review, and Forbes while his book was named finalist in the Australian Business Book Awards.

• Monique Zytnik – An Alumni Mentor for the Expert Author Academy, Monique has helped more than 25 international business book authors navigate their publishing journeys. She brings an insider’s view of the common highs, lows, and roadblocks authors face. As the award-winning author of Internal Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Monique will share how she turned a niche professional expertise into a globally published, market-ready book.

• Adedoyin Jaiyesimi – Communications Advisor and self-published author of From Clueless to Success and A is for Audacity. Adedoyin will give a candid look at the self-publishing route, from the freedom it offers to the challenges of marketing your own work.

• Hilary Scarlett – Consultant, keynote speaker and author of Neuroscience for Organizational Change – an evidence-based practical guide to managing change which is published by Kogan Page and is now in its third edition. Hilary will share how she translated complex science into practical insights and actions for change, HR and communication professionals. She will also share what is involved when creating subsequent editions of a book. Hilary has also published Brainpower at Work – tips on building a brain-friendly workplace and will be happy to share her experience of publishing a book through Amazon print on demand.

Your Hosts: Eduvie Martin, Past President of IABC UK&I currently writing a comic book on climate change and a keen reader will chair the session while Susan Walker ABC author of Employee Engagement and Communication Research and currently writing a biography will facilitate the discussion.

Are you dreaming of unboxing your debut novel, want to publish your professional insights, or have a half-written manuscript gathering dust, this session will help you chart the way forward. You’ll get insider knowledge, actionable advice, and the motivation to finally see your name on the cover.

It’s time to turn your idea into a book. Join us for Pitch to Print, your first step on the road from concept to published author.