The July/October festivals differ from the January/April festival (which consists of seven author panels) where we concentrate on the nuts and bolts of publishing rather than genres.

New to Self-Pub Fest? If you are a self-published author or provide any of the services above (or another!) to self-published authors, please see the Participate page.

5 July 2026 online festival will consist of:

• 10am: editing: you’ve finished your book, you’ve had someone you trust to go through it so now you’re ready for a professional to go through it, and get it ready for publication.
• There will be a panel of six authors/experts with Morgen Bailey (or a guest) moderating.Six spaces remaining.

11am: there will then be a 30-minute break to prepare for the next panel.

• 11.30am: cover design, illustrations and book formatting ~ when you know what your book is finished (before or while the editor has it) you want to think about your cover, and any illustrations you might like inside, especially if you’re creating a children’s book or graphic novel. When it’s ready, how do you want the inside to look? What software might be used? This is the panel for that stage.
• There will be a panel of six authors/experts with Morgen Bailey (or a guest) moderating.Six spaces remaining.

12.30pm: there will then be a 30-minute break to prepare for the next panel and have lunch!

• 1pm: what else do you need before your book is published? ~ this panel will be looking at what else is needed, i.e. what price will you charge? What should your blurb look like?
• There will be a panel of six authors/experts with Morgen Bailey (or a guest) moderating.Six spaces remaining.

2pm: there will then be a 30-minute break to prepare for the next panel.

• 2.30pm: publishing ~ you have your edited/formatted book and cover with all the information you need to proceed… how do you publish it? Do you do it yourself via Amazon’s KDP, Draft2Digital (who helps go wide), or each platform individually (i.e. Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo etc.) or hire someone to do those processes for you then give you full control thereafter. They will also talk about ‘vanity’ publishing. Self-publishing publishers will only do the work for you that you would do. You would retain all your rights, be able to access your Amazon bookshelf, be paid your royalties directly rather than via the publisher etc.
• There will be a panel of six authors/experts with Morgen Bailey (or a guest) moderating. Six spaces remaining.

3.30pm: there will then be a 30-minute break to prepare for the next panel.

• 4pm: marketing/advertising inc. social media, website design etc. ~ you’re ready to tell the world about your book. How much of an online presence do you need? Do you need a website or is social media enough? Which social media platforms should you be on? What should you do on them? What are blog tours? Should you go out in the real world too?
• There will be a panel of six authors/experts including Sherry Hostler with Morgen Bailey (or a guest) moderating. Five spaces remaining.

5pm: Morgen will then close the festival.

So the day in a nutshell:

Authors on today’s panel will include:

• Psychological thriller novelist Sherry Hostler (4pm: marketing)

Authors in reserve:

Appearing today: when the 30 spaces fill you’re welcome to be a reserve,

Appearing at the 4th Oct 2026 Festival, also about the nuts and bolts of publishing): HJ Furl (marketing), Janet Pywell, Karl W Newton, Lesley Bootiman and Phil Oddy.

New to Self-Pub Fest? If you are a self-published author or provide any of the services above (or another!) to self-published authors, please see the Participate page.