Authorpreneurship
For more information, contact Matty at matty<at>mattydalrymple<dot>com.
Red Flags and Rip-Offs: How Authors Can Spot & Avoid Scams
Authors—especially those navigating the indie publishing world—are frequent targets for scammers. From vanity publishers to fake contests and phishing emails, bad actors exploit both our enthusiasm and our inexperience. In this eye-opening session, you’ll learn how these schemes typically operate and how to recognize the warning signs. You’ll leave with practical strategies for evaluating offers, reviewing contracts, and protecting yourself from fraudulent or misleading opportunities that could harm your author career.
What You’ll Learn
How to identify red flags in solicitations, publishing offers, and agent outreach
The SALSA Test for identifying phishing emails
Key contractual terms that could jeopardize your rights and royalties
How to respond to questionable offers—and when not to respond at all
Trusted resources for vetting services
Where to report scams and seek redress
Who Should Attend
Indie authors at any stage of their publishing journey
Traditionally published authors exploring self-publishing options
Writers preparing to publish their first book
Author service providers and industry professionals who want to stay informed
Anyone who has received a suspicious message and wondered, “Is this legit?”
Instructors
This 60-minute seminar is facilitated by Matty Dalrymple, The Indy Author, or Michael La Ronn of Author Level Up.
Publishing Tips for Frugal Authors
Learn cost-effective strategies for editing, formatting, and design to create professional, market-ready books that maximize quality while minimizing expense. Perfect for indie and hybrid authors.
"Clear, comprehensive and full of excellent advice."
"This was an incredibly detailed and robust presentation. I really appreciate all the effort that went into this, and the slides make it easy to go back and review all the shiny nuggets of wisdom! "
Overview
Professional doesn’t have to mean pricey. Author and publisher Matty Dalrymple shares practical strategies for producing top-quality books while keeping costs under control. Learn how to prepare your manuscript to reduce editing fees, format ebooks and print books on a budget, choose the right cover design approach, and make smart use of tools and professional services. Whether you’re publishing your first book or your fiftieth, you’ll walk away with actionable tips to deliver market-ready books without overspending.
Description
Delivering a professional, market-ready book doesn’t have to drain your wallet. In this session, author and publisher Matty Dalrymple shares practical strategies to help indie authors produce top-quality work while controlling costs—without cutting corners that matter. Drawing on insights from her Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Shorts, Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, and nonfiction books for authors, Matty covers every stage of the publishing process, from editing and formatting to cover design and promotion.
Attendees will discover how to balance quality and frugality by making smart use of tools and services, partnering effectively with professionals, and recognizing when to invest for the greatest return. They’ll leave with a toolkit of actionable ideas to maximize impact on any budget.
What You’ll Learn
Editing Efficiency – How to prepare your manuscript so paid editors can focus on high-value improvements, and how to choose the right type and level of editing for your goals
Formatting on a Budget – Free and low-cost options for creating polished ebook and print interiors, plus tips for avoiding costly reformatting fees
Cost-Effective Cover Design – How to select between DIY, pre-made, and custom options, work productively with designers, and repurpose design assets for promotional use
Smart Use of Tools – Maximizing the value of free and paid tools (and knowing when not to buy), plus tips for avoiding “shiny object syndrome”
Frugal Marketing Materials – Creating compelling promotional assets without overspending, and knowing when AI tools can help—and when to avoid them
Author Business Mindset – How to evaluate return on investment (ROI) for every dollar and hour spent, and how to tap into membership benefits, discounts, and vetted service providers
Who Should Attend
Emerging and experienced indie authors who want to publish professionally without overspending
Traditionally published authors exploring hybrid or fully independent publishing
Authorpreneurs looking to improve ROI on publishing investments
Writers preparing to publish their first book who want a clear, cost-conscious path from manuscript to market
Engage Your Audience In Person and Online
You have information to share, and you have the knowledge to back up your message. But excellent content alone is not enough to deliver an excellent presentation. The techniques you apply to share your material will determine whether your audience’s attention is riveted to you or drifts to their social media feeds. And presenters need two important sets of presentation skills: the ability to engage an audience in person as well as in a virtual environment. Finally regardless of the format, they must be prepared to handle the Q&A portion of their presentation effectively and gracefully.
Matty Dalrymple, The Indy Author, has delivered dozens of talks, including presentations at Writer’s Digest annual conferences, the Alliance of Independent Authors SelfPubCons, International Thriller Writers CraftFest, Book Brush’s BookMARCon, the Fiction Marketing Academy, the Fictionary Community webinars, the Authorpreneur Summit Down Under, the Carolina Writing Workshop, the Women in Publishing Summit, the Pennwriters annual conference, and many more. (Go here for a full list.)
What You’ll Learn
Creating Compelling Material – Explore different approaches for sharing your material, and the pros and cons of each.
Engaging Your Audience In Person – Master the techniques for engaging your audience at in-person events, including how best to use your voice, your body language, and your position in relation to the audience to draw them into your presentation.
Engaging Your Audience Virtually – Learn how to overcome the challenges of engaging an audience on a virtual platform and to make the experience as compelling for them as if they were in the room with you.
Handling the Q&A – Learn how to engage in an interactive Q&A session that will ensure your audience gets their questions answered in a structured, productive manner.
Who Should Attend?
Authors early in their speaking careers who want to arm themselves with the best practices for engaging an audience
Experienced author-speakers who want to brush up on their skills and learn a few new tips and tricks
Pitch Perfect: Leveraging Podcasts & Video Interviews to Reach Your Audience
NOTE: This presentation will become available as of November 2026, when the exclusivity period after its Author Nation 2025 presentation expires.
Are you looking for ways to build your brand, share your expertise, and expand your reach—all without the time and expense of travel? With the growing popularity of video interviews and podcasts, you can now connect with broader audiences from the comfort of home. Matty Dalrymple, host of hundreds of episodes of The Indy Author Podcast and guest on dozens more, will share practical tools to help you effectively pitch yourself, promote your work, and build meaningful connections. In this session, you’ll learn how to:
Identify the best platforms and outlets for your message.
Craft an authentic and memorable pitch.
Foster lasting relationships with hosts and audiences.
Through step-by-step guidance on preparation, engagement, and adding value beyond the recording, this class is ideal for authors, entrepreneurs, and professionals looking to enhance their visibility, credibility, and influence in today’s digital landscape.