Florida Publishers Association conference to focus on publishing, marketing books

Frank Gromling, founder of Ocean Publishing, has been instrumental in bringing educational programs to authors and others in the book business. Gromling is president of Florida Publishers Association.
Frank Gromling, president of Florida Publishers Association, founded the traditional press Ocean Publishing several years ago in an effort to bring quality titles to the marketplace. Gromling is my own publisher; he’s brought out two of my books. He learned firsthand the challenges of getting books into a reader’s hands and as a result, he shares his experience and expertise with authors who are traditionally and self-published as well as with small publishing houses. Gromling and other FPA members have put together a fall conference in hopes of assisting authors and other industry professionals who want to see their books succeed.
The FPA Conference at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott North runs September 14-15, beginning with a facility tour of HCI, home of Chicken Soup for the Soul products. There’s a Friday evening social, and attendees can enjoy vendor displays as they rub elbows with leaders in the publishing world.
Editors and staffers from Publishers Weekly and others in the industry will speak on Saturday. Sara Nelson, editor in chief of Publishers Weekly will keynote the Saturday luncheon. Cevin Bryerman, PW associate publisher, Louisa Ermelino, book reviews director, and Jim Milliot, Business News Director, will speak. Topics include how PW chooses its books for review, how news stories/editorials develop and the relationship of PW with booksellers, librarians and other publishing industry insiders.
Other Saturday sessions by experts will cover getting reviews, book design, bookstore sales and marketing basics.
Unless an author’s name is a household word, he or she may be challenged by the marketplace even if the title is worthy. The FPA conference aims to help authors of all persuasion to increase their chances for success with their books.
“We’re excited about the lineup of experts for this conference,? Gromling says. “We expect it will be well-attended by many who have an interest in publishing and bookselling.?
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July 11th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I am a new writer, with disablities I am dyslexic and have grammer problems,I have written 12 books so far one is in the copyrights office as I am typing to you, my books are fabled stories for children. Some are suspense, mysteries, and some are compliation of short stories. I am looking for a publishing company that is not too expensive for a first timer and is from Florida where I reside at. I have friends who went to publisher houses outside of florida who had bad problems arise in their books, layout, illustrations, etc.
I wanted to also ask about illustrations, what do i ask for do i get one on my own or do i get the illustrator frm the publishing company who does my book. I have 2 completed books, one will soon go to copywrite.
thanks Linda