
New Frontiers in Writing is an opportunity for writers of all stripes to come together with industry VIPs, delving into the craft and business of writing, as well as exploring IP utilizations that go beyond the published page. In addition to two full days of classes and workshops, attendees will have ticketed access to the Grown-up Book Fair, keynote luncheon, and agent/editor pitch room. Registered attendees also get FREE and exclusive access to monthly Zoom sessions taught by industry professionals. Bonus sessions will occur on the first Monday, January through September 2025.
interest-free payment plan available

Craig Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire mystery novels, which are the basis for Longmire, the hit Netflix original drama. The books have won multiple awards: Le Prix du Polar Nouvel Observateur/Bibliobs, the Wyoming Historical Association’s Book of the Year, Le Prix 813, the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award, the Mountains & Plains Book of the Year, the SNCF Prix de Polar, Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, The Watson Award, Library Journal’s Best Mystery of the Year, the Rocky, and the Will Rogers Award for Fiction. Spirit of Steamboat was selected by the Wyoming State Library as the inaugural One Book Wyoming. Johnson lives in Ucross, Wyoming, population twenty-six.
Jane Friedman has 25 years of experience in book publishing, with expertise in business strategy for authors and publishers. She’s the co-founder and editor of The Hot Sheet, a paid newsletter about the book publishing industry, and has previously worked for Writer’s Digest and the Virginia Quarterly Review. In 2023, Jane was awarded Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.

Today’s Key Book Publishing Paths: What’s New, What’s Old, and What’s Right for You?
Friday, September 26th
9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
$49
Over the last decade, the publishing industry has undergone tremendous evolution due to the growth of online retail and digital books, as well as the power of any author to publish and distribute their work at the click of a button. But which path is right for you and your book—and how do you sift through the increasing number of hybrid publishers and paid services that make a lot of promises, but cost you a lot upfront?
Jane discusses everything you need to know about how book publishing operates today, in plain English, to help you understand the pros and cons of every major publishing path available. She’ll cover New York traditional publishing and what projects are well-suited to being represented by literary agents; the capabilities of mid-size publishers and independent publishers; how to evaluate small presses, micro-presses, and digital-only presses; what hybrid publishing is (or thinks it is) and how to evaluate such companies; and all forms of self-publishing practiced today.
This session will help you:
- Determine if your project is commercial enough to be appealing to a New York publisher—and what rights you’ll have to give up
- Understand the traditional publishing process, how it’s different from self-publishing, and how long you can expect any process to take
- Evaluate small publishers and the quality of work they produce. The world of independent publishers—including university presses, small presses, and regional presses—is vast and can sometimes be more challenging to understand than New York publishing, as they all operate a bit differently. You’ll learn how to assess the strength and position of any book publisher.
- Know what type of contract, advance and royalty you can expect with all types of publishers and services
- Identify the qualities of a hybrid publisher and determine if a hybrid is offering you something meaningful that you can’t accomplish on your own
- Have clear expectations when it comes to the marketing and promotion of your work for every type of publishing path
- Learn how print and digital books get bought and sold in today’s retail ecosystem across all forms of publishing
- Assess if you are well-suited to self-publishing your work, either as a complete independent (by setting up your own publishing company) or with the help of a service
How to Build a Lifetime Book Marketing Foundation (No Matter How You Publish)
Friday, September 26th
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
$99
If you’re the kind of writer who likes to ask, “What’s the single most important marketing activity I should focus on?” (because you don’t have time for anything else), this session is for you.
No matter how you plan to publish, or what you publish, every author must give some thought to marketing themselves as an author. But given how fast tools and techniques change—and how hard it is to attract attention—how can an author figure out what’s worthwhile to focus on?
This four-hour masterclass helps authors focus on the foundational elements that are most important to career-long book marketing, the bare minimum required for an online presence, and how to approach marketing when many of the traditional methods of publicity don’t work so well, given dwindling media coverage and review opportunities. This session will provide a framework for developing a strategy and approach that’s appropriate for your strengths and your work.
You’ll learn key principles for using your website, email newsletter (or Substack or blog), and a dash of social media to better reach and engage readers, both new and old. Plus we’ll consider offline or in-real-life opportunities to grow your readership through collaborations, partnerships, and literary citizenship
In this workshop, you will:
- Uncover the principles and techniques for marketing activities that play to your strengths, with special attention paid to lead generation (that is: finding readers)
- Learn the concepts of “content strategy” and “marketing funnel” and why these are important to determining how you will use your website, email, or social media
- Understand how to use social media (if you so choose) in a way that’s supportive of your goals and not a distraction (the big secret: focus)
- Find out why you should start building an email list today even if you think you have nothing to say
Especially for writers who would like to be smarter and more efficient about their online presence—and see that activity pay off—this session will push you to connect the dots between all your efforts and decide what’s essential and what you can set aside (so you can spend more time on the writing itself!).
About a third of this class will focus on email newsletters, the No. 1 overlooked means of reader engagement when authors evaluate their overall platform. (Email does not necessarily equal Substack, but we’ll cover using Substack, too.) Being able to directly reach your readers, or most avid fans, is a powerful capability that every author should have. While social media is usually touted as a primary way to build audience, when it comes to online marketing, email is still the most successful and profitable means of interacting with your readership.
By the end of this class, you’ll understand how authors can market and promote their own books without the support of a publisher over the long term, and how to avoid so much of the anxiety and distraction that’s generated by short-term focus on tactics.
What this class will not cover: technical guidance on click-based advertising on Facebook, Amazon, or BookBub; mechanics of promo stacking; Amazon-exclusive strategies or KU strategies; anything related to gaming the Amazon system.
You’ll learn not just the foundational principles of book publishing today, but you’ll also gain expert insight into the changing industry landscape, and how you can navigate your own path toward success. By the end of the session, you’ll be able to identify which publishing option is the best to achieve your goals.
PITCH ROOM
Bypass the slush pile by pitching your work to an agent or editor at our conference. Every attendee gets one free appointment. (Additional appointments may be available for purchase at the conference.)
We are currently inviting agents and editors who are seeking new work in multiple genres.
Want to suggest an agent or editor for consideration?
SPEAKERS
Attendees will have access to over 40 hours of in-person class content. Learn from industry professionals about the business of writing, the craft of writing, and our dedicated “New Frontiers” track covering Intellectual Property beyond the book.
You don’t have to wait until September to benefit from our top-tier speakers—we offer a FREE monthly Zoom class for all registered attendees. Our first class is Monday, January 6th, so register today!



SPONSORS/VENDORS






If you would like to be considered for an in-kind sponsorship package,
OTHER

Stay on-site at Embassy Suites-Amarillo Downtown.
Our special rate of $149 per night includes daily made-to-order breakfast and evening cocktail hour

If you are flying to our conference, the nearest, large commercial airport is Rick Husband Amarillo International. There are a multitude of smaller airfields able to accommodate charter and private flights.
SAFETY & ACCESSIBILITY
Our goal is to make the New Frontiers in Writing Conference a welcoming and safe space for all. To that end, the Conference has established a zero-tolerance policy regarding harassment of all forms, including verbal and written comments, displayed images, and acts of intimidation.
This zero-tolerance policy applies to all programs and activities associated with the New Frontiers in Writing Conference, including but not limited to live meetings, Zoom meetings, Pre-conference, or any associated activities either physical or virtual.

In addition, the Conference is dedicated to creating an accessible event for all. The Conference will take place in an ADA-compliant space. We request attendees who may need further accommodation reach out to our Health & Safety Team to create an advanced plan.
Any attendee who feels they are a victim of inappropriate behavior should immediately notify a Conference staff member. Complaints involving a staff member should be made to the Conference Director or the Conference Committee.
Sanctions for zero-tolerance violations may include:
- Explanation of the inappropriate behavior and request for immediate cessation
- Immediate removal from the event, without refund or recourse
- Temporary exclusion from New Frontiers spaces, both physical and virtual
- Permanent exclusion from New Frontiers spaces, both physical and virtual
- Reporting to local law enforcement
The New Frontiers Conference is dedicated to handling all matters with discretion. While complete confidentiality cannot be assured, we will make all reasonable efforts to limit the availability of details to those with a legitimate need to know.