ALL SESSIONS pass
ALL SESSIONS pass & AWARDS Dinner
As Seen on Shelf Awareness
Join us at the conference:
May 2-4, 2025!
CLICK TO REGISTER or use button below
THREE DAY - All Session Pass
$399 until December 31, 2024 (Early bird pricing)
$495 until 3/31; $550 until 5/1; $700 at show.
Join us for BookCAMP 2025
DoubleTree Newark International Airport
Only 30 min. from Times Square NYC
MAY 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 2025
Get a 3 day ALL SESSIONS PASS
BookCAMP 2025 is a three day event on May 2, 3, and 4th, where independent authors, publishers, industry experts gather to learn, trade success stories and network.
Friday, 1pm to 6pm; Saturday, 10:30am-5pm; Sunday 9:30am-noon
(Exhibit Tables: Friday and Saturday; Sun. optional)
BookCAMP 2025 will help indie authors & publishers market, publicize, meet with other publishers & authors, make literary agents available, audiobooks, and how to get your books into Costco, Target, and much more!
ALL SESSIONS pass includes
Meet new people * Hobnob with professionals * Learn and engage * Find new suppliers
Get motivated to learn new techniques and plan your publishing strategy with the help of experts
Register today for an ALL SESSIONS pass:
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All Keynote Presentations
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All Breakout Sessions
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Artificial Intelligence uses; writing & marketing
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"Meet the Expert" one-on-one consultations with a field expert
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"40 Under 40 in Publishing" ceremony
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Friday Cocktail Reception
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How to get the most out of the show session
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Literary agent
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Book to movie screen (a few sessions)
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Saturday and Sunday Opening and Wrap-Up/Closing Sessions
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Some meals provided Lunch, coffee, tea, snacks and breakfast
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Access to Sponsor Tables in the main ballroom
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Discounted tickets to the IPA / NYC Big Book Awards dinner & ceremony
Sponsorships for Vendors (printers, designers, etc.) See options here
Who should attend BookCamp 2025?
* Independent publishers * Independent authors * Hybrid publishers *Self-published authors *
Association presses * University presses * or anyone who is interested in advancing their
book publishing know-how should attend. The event will feature informative sessions,
networking opportunities, and workshops including:
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Marketing and promotion
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Sales and distribution
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Selling to Costco, Target,etc.
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Get into bookstores
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Literary agents
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Book Adaptation for Movie Screen
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Use of Artificial Intelligence
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Writer Circles
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Self-Publishing
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Book Distribution
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Advertising & Promotion
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Public Relations
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Social Media
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Book Printing
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Audiobooks / Podcasting
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Selling to Libraries
See schedule and register now!
We also recognize our worldwide authors of our award programs. This year we will host attendees for our Independent Press Award / NYC Big Book Award awards ceremony & dinner at BookCAMP 2025 on May 3, 2025. BookCAMP 2025 grew out of a quarterly magazine BookCAMP, which addresses authors and publishers' business challenges of book publishing.
Special hotel rates at the Newark International Airport Hotel, Doubletree by Hilton, Newark, NJ
Contact Ted Olczak at Ted@GabbyBookAwards.com or (718) 938-4590.
Aryn Van Dyke
I help authors rock their book marketing strategy
Book marketing consultant and author coach. I spent 5 years at HarperCollins helping authors promote their books and build their brand. I've worked on hundreds of book launches, including multiple New York Times bestsellers, spanning across multiple nonfiction and fiction genres.
I understand the complexities of the publishing industry and thrive in creating unique strategies for authors to promote their books.
Zoltan Istvan
With his popular 2016 US presidential run as a science candidate, bestselling book The Transhumanist Wager, and speeches at institutions like the World Bank, BMW World, and the United Kingdom’s Parliament, Zoltan Istvan has spearheaded the effort to transform transhumanism into a thriving worldwide phenomenon. He is often cited as one of the leaders of the radical science movement.
Zoltan began his career at National Geographic, covering conflict zones. He writes on technology, ethics, and AI issues for media like The New York Times and Newsweek. He is also the original author of the now crowdsourced Transhumanist Bill of Rights, which was published in Wired magazine.
He has philosophy degrees from Columbia University and the University of Oxford.
Shahid Mahmud
Book Bale
Before founding the innovative Book Bale, Shahid Mahmud built a strong foundation in finance and publishing. He pursued a successful career in investment banking, specializing in fixed income and derivatives. As Senior Investment Officer for the City of San Diego, Shahid managed a $4 billion portfolio, implemented an active management strategy, and introduced the City’s first-ever options program. In recognition of his contributions, November 7, 2005, was declared "Shahid Mahmud Day" in San Diego by the acting mayor. In 2006, he shifted his focus to his passion for books, founding Arc Manor, a respected science fiction and fantasy publisher that has worked with esteemed authors like Nancy Kress, Katherine Kerr, Harry Turtledove, and Robert A. Heinlein. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to create Book Bale, a community-driven eBook platform offering affordable access to books and connecting readers with authors through exclusive events while guaranteeing at least 60% of membership fees are distributed to member authors and publishers.
Morgan Baker
Write Your Way…with Morgan
Spreading the Word – Writing Companion Pieces
Your book has just been released, or is scheduled for publication and it needs friends who will help tell your story. Companion pieces such as essays or reported articles, are good friends. They can amplify your book and message. The more material out there in different publications covering a range of topics, the more you’ll generate interest in your book. Nail down the themes, and submit to the big-name publications, or venues with specific audiences.
Morgan Baker’s memoir, Emptying the Nest: Getting Better at Goodbyes is about reinventing yourself, learning how to handle loss, and emerging from depression. She has written companion pieces for Modern Dog, Grown & Flown, The Bucket, Boston Parents’ Paper, and more. She teaches at Emerson College (and on Zoom). She is also the managing editor of The Bucket.
Robert Bloecker
Print Nation
Robert Bloecker is the Vice President of Print Nation, where their passion and dedication to customer satisfaction are unparalleled. His primary goal is to provide our clients with the highest quality products, a quick turnaround time, and exceptional customer service. With these three core principles at the heart of the print nation business, they're confident that they can exceed your expectations for all your printing needs.
Michele Cobb
Audio Publishers Association;
AudioFile magazine; PubWest;
Executive Director of the Audio Publishers Association;
Publisher of AudioFile magazine; Executive Director of PubWest;
and a Publisher of her own audio book business
Her specialties include audiobooks, audio publishing industry, library market, digital strategy, marketing, and podcasts.
How does audio affect print book sales?, what are the trends? Best practices & selling to specific markets.
Warren Frasier
John Hawkins and Associates, Inc.
Agent for Joyce Carol Oates
Warren Frazier joined the firm in 1992. His primary focus is on fiction, but he has an interest in particular areas of nonfiction including technology, history, world affairs and foreign policy. He is the agent for Joyce Carol Oates, author of the acclaimed New York Times bestseller THE ACCURSED; Adam Johnson, author of New York Times bestseller THE ORPHAN MASTER’S SON and winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in fiction; Jess Walter, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller BEAUTIFUL RUINS; Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Olen Butler, author of THE STAR OF ISTANBUL; G. Willow Wilson, author of ALIF THE UNSEEN, finalist for the Flaherty-Dunnan Prize for First Fiction; and Frederik Logevall, author of EMBERS OF WAR: The Fall Of An Empire and the Making Of America’s Vietnam, winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in history. He is a graduate of Princeton University and a father of two young children.
Don Mazzella
National Press Club
Small Business Digest
Author/Co-Author
Host of Small Business Digest and is heard regularly commenting on politics nationally on national news shows. Has founded author groups who do not charge members. His latest book is Ruler of the Seas from Brick Tower Press; he co-authored seminal book on marketing to small business, The Janus Principle, Focusing Your Company On Selling To Small Business. Earlier in his career, he won a National Press Club award for best consumer story as leader of Income Opportunities magazine which was owned by Essence Communications. He has previous senior management and editorial experience with Thomson-Reuters, McGraw-Hill and Informatics in both the editorial and marketing functions. He holds BA, MA and MBA degrees from New York University.
Ted Olczak
Independent Press Award / NYC Big Book Award /
BookCAMP mag by Printed Word Reviews
Olczak manages the marketing and is the publisher for the Independent Press Award and the NYC Big Book Award magazine. Olczak is a career-long publishing professional, and earned his Master's Degree in Marketing Management in Book and Magazine Publishing from New York University.
Olczak started in the 90's working with book & magazine publishing, and has personally worked with thousands of books, and hundreds of publishers and authors on how to position their book and create successful marketing plans including: Penguin Random House; Simon & Schuster; Readers Digest; Scholastic; Inner Traditions; Macmillan; St. Martin's Press; Weldon Owen; Workman; Chelsea Green; Abbeville (art books); American Express Publishing; Berrett-Koehler (Nonfiction); Charlesbridge (childrens); Chronicle Books; SOHO Publishing (Crime/Mystery); Candlewick (childrens); Dark Horse Comics; Harvard Business Press; Journalstone (Horror); Kensington Books (Young Adult/ Romance); Microcosm Publishing; New Harbinger (Psychology/Mental Health); North Atlantic Books (MBS/Cook/lifestyle); Sterling (Publishing arm of Barnes & Noble); Parragon; Osprey (Military); Vertical Inc. (Manga/Lit); Oceanview (Mystery); Viz Media (Manga); etc.
Amy Rivers
Amy Rivers is an award-winning novelist, as well as the Director of Writing Heights Writers Association. Her psychological suspense novels incorporate important social issues with a focus on the complexities of human behavior. Amy was raised in New Mexico and now lives in Colorado with her husband and children. Amy now has over 90,000 instagram followers.
Jeff Rivera
Collective 5 Entertainment
Jeff Rivera is an American writer/producer and owns a media company with 22+ TV development deals. His co-productions are with some of the leading scripted and unscripted television companies in the industry.
Rivera began his career as a child actor, then assistant casting director, then writer. His first book was published by Warner Books (Grand Central Publishing) and now a bestselling author.
Rivera has produced social media campaigns, Skype/Google Hangout tours and web content for many high profile influencers, including Mark Cuban, Mark Victor Hansen, Jeff Kinney, Elmore Leonard, Mitch Albom, Stan Lee, Seth Godin, Nicholas Sparks, James Van Praagh, and cast members from from the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. He is the founder of the One Hour Mentorship Program which connects some of the most influential people in Hollywood with emerging and mid-career BIPOC creatives.
Rivera has appeared on national television, radio and print in such outlets as Forbes.com, The Boston Globe, The Observer, Rotarian Magazine, TMZ, WABC, WNBC, WCBS, SITV, and NPR. Rivera has also written for Entertainment Weekly, Mediabistro/Adweek, TheGrio, School Library Journal and the Huffington Post.
Jarred Weisfeld
Start Publishing
Jarred Weisfeld started his career as a Production Assistant for Vh1, where he pitched and sold a show to rap sensation Ol' Dirty Bastard and subsequently became ODB's manager. From there he created and produced television shows for Vh1, MTV, Spike TV and Nickelodeon. Recently Jarred has served as Executive Producer on "Gone Too Soon" which was seen in over 50 Countries, "Charlie Sheen: Hollywood Blackbook," and "Chasing Gaga as well as The Unauthorized Saved By The Bell Story ." Jarred currently serves as CEO of Objective Entertainment, a full service literary agency. Jarred is currently the President of Start Publishing, a publisher of high quality titles in a variety of niches; including science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, and advice how to. Mr. Weisfeld has overseen the acquisition of over eight publishing companies. Start now has a backlist of over 6,000 titles and is distributed by Simon and Schuster.
Guy LeCharles Gonzalez
Loudpoet.com
Guy LeCharles Gonzalez is the Chief Content Officer for LibraryPass, and former publisher & marketing director for Writer’s Digest. Previously, he was also project lead for the Panorama Project; director, content strategy & audience development for Library Journal & School Library Journal; and founding director of programming & business development for Digital Book World.
Wolfgang Schmid
Surplus Logistics LLC.
50 year veteran in shipping books. had written and re-written the rules of logistics, especially during the Covid years that turned the shipping industry upside down. Freight forwarding expert for publishers and printers globally.
Brian Feinblum
BookMarketingBuzzBlog
I have worked in book publishing, public relations, and marketing for three decades, having helped thousands of authors, from first-time, self-published writers to New York Times best-selling authors, including Dr. Ruth, Stephen Covey, Ken Blanchard, Mark Victor Hansen, and Comedian George Wallace. A published author and an award-winning blogger, I have spoken before Book Expo America and numerous writers conferences, including ASJA, IBPA, Thrillerfest, Romantic Times, Cape Cod's Willamette Writers Conference and Sarah Lawrence Writers Institute . The Writer, IBPA's The Independent, and other industry publications have published my articles on book marketing. I love and passionately respect the written word and hold free speech to be our most cherished right . Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, I lived in South Florida for seven early adult years, but now reside in Westchester. I love books, dogs, kids, chocolate, the movies, and the Mets...in that order. Check out my site at https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/
Brian Jud
Premium Book Company
Brian Jud is an author, book-marketing consultant, speaker, seminar leader, television host and president of Premium Book Company that sells books to non-bookstore buyers on a non-returnable, commission basis.
Brian is the author of How to Make Real Money Selling Books (Without Worrying About Returns) This is the ultimate do-it-yourself guide to selling your books to non-bookstore buyers in large quantities, with no returns. He also wrote Beyond the Bookstore (a Publishers Weekly® book), a primer on non-bookstore marketing.
Brian has also written and published five titles on career transition that are distributed internationally. He is a prolific writer of articles about book publishing and marketing. He is the author of the eight e-booklets with Proven Tips for Publishing Success and the contributing editor to the monthly newsletters, Book Marketing Matters, The Sales Informer, The Authority and Bound to Sell.
David Nudo
Frm. Mnging Director of Books, The New York Times
President Emeritus, Publishers Marketing and Advertising Association
Returned to The NY Times Media Group to manage the book category of advertising in all Times properties (Book Review, the Daily, Magazine, e-newsletters, podcasts, etc.)
Recipient of the Chairman's Sales Excellence Award 2013
Co-Chair of multiple Employee Resource group working on diversity and inclusion since 2012
Kenichi Sugihara
Roku TV platform/
SelectBooks
Roku TV platform/ SelectBooks
Platform program on Roku TV for access on multiple streaming services, an Independent Press Publisher with national distribution; provides expert authors with a hybrid / partner publisher model.
Strong marketing professional skilled in Copywriting, Web Content Writing, Publicity, Proofreading, and Editing.
Attendees:
Thank you so much for all your work organizing BookCAMP, and everything you and Gabby do to help authors!
-Megan Henry
Just a quick note of thanks for conducting an excellent BookCAMP and a very nice Awards dinner. Gabby really lends you a touch of class, which I trust you appreciate every morning of your life. I'm grateful also for the introductions to — and lessons from — Kenichi & Jared, plus the other acquaintances I was able to make.
–David Benjamin
“Ted, I want to thank you for your support and the amazing event you created. Thank you very much in advance for all the amazing work you put into the event. Jenny and I loved it very much. Thank you once again.”
–Ernesto Atkinson
I had a fantastic time at the Awards banquet and felt truly spoiled!
Thank you so much for the fantastic evening! It was a night to remember.
–Laurisa Brandt
“You all did an amazing job! Just a wonderful event. Thanks for everything.”
–John Warner
Speakers or Vendors
As a speaker, the event was profitable, and if all those who said they would join my program actually do so, it will be excellent. From all I could see you did a wonderful job in organization and execution.
–Brian Jud
Great meeting you at your BookCAMP event over the weekend. I enjoyed being a panelist on the first day. I could not believe that was the first year because it was so well-organized and polished.
–Jeff Rivera
“So glad to have been your first presenter at the first BookCAMP. You have a wonderful model for success here and it will succeed because you are a people person”…
“I am your guy no matter where you want to go.”
–Brian Feinblum
“You got a great turnout. Thanks for having me.”
–Jarred Weisfeld
Great show and it was good to see you! Thanks for inviting me to join the show.
–Kenichi Sugihara
Thanks so much for having us, Ted! It was great to meet you as well as the authors in attendance and talk about ways to create audiobooks through ACX.
–Jess Guro