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Raleigh-Durham Chapter: Marketing 101: Tips on Promoting and Publicizing Self-Published and Traditionally Published Titles

Sunday, March 24, 2024

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2:00 pm-4:00 pm Eastern

Lulu Press, 700 Park Offices Dr. #250, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Join the Raleigh-Durham chapter for a moderated panel discussion on marketing your work, whether you’re traditionally published or self-published! Panelists will include: Tonya Duncan Ellis, author of the Sophie Washington chapter book series; LaTasha Stewart-Estelle, Sales Director for Harper Christian and HarperWave; and Chelsea Bennett, Education and Community Manager for Lulu Press. Light refreshments will be served.

Panelists

Chelsea Bennett is the Education and Community Manager for Lulu.com and host of Lulu’s YouTube series, Lulu University, as well as their monthly webinar series. Her areas of expertise include self-publishing, Print-on-Demand technology, building an author brand, direct sales and marketing. When not thinking about publishing, Chelsea can be found playing disc golf with her husband or having in-depth conversations about the universe with her cat, Batman.

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the award-winning, 13-book, SOPHIE WASHINGTON children’s chapter series and THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM (HarperCollins, Balzer + Bray, 2024). She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, and the Brown Bookshelf’s Highlights Foundation-sponsored Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort. Tonya has spoken and taught at the Highlights Foundation, for SCBWI’s Winter Conference in New York City, and for SCBWI Houston and Austin chapters. A former journalist and freelance magazine writer, she holds a BA degree in French from Centre College of Kentucky and an MBA degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Tonya is represented by Sara Megibow of kt Literary. She lives in Houston, Texas and is married with three children. Website: www.tonyaduncanellis.com

LaTasha Stewart-Estelle is an accomplished 25 year veteran in the book publishing space. She currently serves as Director of Sales for HarperCollins Christian Publishing and HarperCollins Focus overseeing the ABA Independent and Library Channels.

With an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and Inclusion, LaTasha has been charged with overseeing the company’s participation in Essences Festival of Culture, The Hampton University Minister’s Conference, the largest Non-Denominational Church conference in the United States, and has been charged with creating and strengthening the company’s relationships within the Divine Nine.

A captivating and insightful speaker, LaTasha brings a wealth of sales knowledge and know how about the industry as a whole and all sales channels within it. Known for her direct and unflinching approach LaTasha and the teams she oversees have a proven history of exceeding their sales goals year over year.