LAURA REETH – Social Media & Advanced Marketing for Published Authors

What social media works best for different genres? Take your Tweets, Facebook page, Instagram and Pinterest account to a whole new level using video and other audience building techniques. Do in-person fan events or conferences boost your visibility? See how getting out and meeting your readers ties into that social media presence. Laura Reeth, the personal publicist for in charge of Nora Roberts’ publicity and online media, works directly with thousands of readers through social social media and book signings. She guides established writers on how to stand out and grow a fan base using Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Google Plus and discusses how to streamline promotion….so you have time to work on your next book in progress. 

Laura Reeth is the personal publicist for NYTimes best-selling author Nora Roberts. She oversees the Nora Roberts (600,000+ followers) and JD Robb (130,000+ followers) Facebook pages as well as The Fall Into The Story blog -- which is a more intimate look at Nora's life at home. A graduate of Seton Hall University, Laura has worked in various areas of Public Relations from corporations to boutique PR firms to community relations for over 30 years. 

STEPHANIE FOWLER & TONY RUSSO  – Podcasting: “So, What's Your Story?” Show 

About the Show: Two small town writers, Stephanie Fowler and Tony Russo, sit down and talk with other writers and authors about their work, the story behind the story, the writing process, and other writerly topics in this podcast for word nerds and bookworms. The podcast can be found on iTunes and Stitcher Radio and can be heard each Saturday at 1 p.m. on WSDL 90.7 - Delmarva Public Radio.  

STEPHANIE FOWLER  won the 2001 Sophie Kerr Prize at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland for a collection of creative non-fiction short stories about Delmarva titled Crossings. After working her way through the self-publishing process, she quit her comfortable job in corporate healthcare and decided to open an indie publishing company called Salt Water Media in Berlin, Maryland. Stephanie works with other writers and authors and helps them navigate those weird publishing waters. Stephanie and her wife, Patty, live near the beach in Fenwick Island, Delaware with their definitely-not-spoiled dog, Lima. She is currently working on her second book.

TONY RUSSO  has worked as a print and digital journalist for the better part of the 21st century, writing for and editing regional weeklies and dailies before joining the team that produces OceanCity.com, among other destination websites. In addition to having documented everything from zoning changes to art movements on the Delmarva Peninsula, Tony has written a couple books on Delmarva beer culture for The History Press. His first book, Eastern Shore Beer, was published in late 2014 and his second book, Delaware Beer, was released in the spring of 2016. He lives in Delmar, Delaware with his wife, Kelly, and the only one of his daughters who hasn't moved out. Together, they keep their dog and cat comfortable.

LEIGH-ANN LAWRENCE – Branding You: How to Build Your Personal Brand Online 

Marketing and self-promotion are an important of the modern writer’s life. To remain competitive, reach new readers, and gain credibility in their fields, authors need to have an established online presence. This workshop will teach writers how to set up their own author websites, including a discussion on the type of content that should be included and how to integrate existing social media accounts. The presenter will also touch on powerhouse platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook and discuss how social media and one’s own author website can be used in tandem to build a professional reputation online.

Leigh-Anne Lawrence  is the Director of Marketing and Media Relations at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville. She has worked in the public relations field for more than 10 years and specializes in professional writing, brand management, and social media training for higher education institutions, small businesses, and independent professionals. She regularly speaks on social media and PR best practices at regional and national conferences and is a regular contributor to the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) blog. Visit her online at www.leighannelawrence.com.