Special Guest Sheila Manna on Understanding Publishing Options & Scams to Avoid

## Details

Guest Speaker Sheila Manna from the Author Learning Center will cover recognizing common scams, publishing options available to authors.
A presentation first with a Q&A after.

Understanding Your Publishing Options and Common Scams to Avoid
Industry changes have made it one of the best times in history to be an author, but also one of the most confusing times with all of the different publishing options that are available.
In this workshop, the Author Learning Center’s (ALC) Manager of Author Education, Sheila Manna, will review the four primary publishing paths available to authors, and explain the benefits and challenges of each option. Attendees will learn the basics of DIY publishing, general contractor publishing, supported self-publishing, and traditional publishing. Sheila will explain how these publishing options differ, the amount of responsibility and control you have with each, and ultimately, which path may be the best fit for you, your budget, and your book.
With all these options comes an increase in the number of scammers targeting authors, unfortunately. They are making false claims and promises, pretending to be someone they are not, and taking money without fulfilling services. So, how can you tell the difference between a scam and a legitimate opportunity? Sheila will give you sure-fire ways to immediately recognize a scammer by the claims and promises they make, the job titles they use, and whom they say they represent. She will also explain how the publishing industry actually works so you can tell if the person contacting you is offering a legitimate opportunity or just trying to scam you.
In addition, Sheila will share 7 noteworthy ways the ALC can help you reach your writing, publishing, and marketing goals in 2026 and beyond. There will be a Q&A following the presentation where Sheila will take questions and provide answers and helpful resources.
About the Presenter:
Over the last eight years, Sheila Manna has transferred her many years of product management and marketing communication experiences to the publishing industry, where she focuses on helping authors write and edit their best books, find a publishing path that works for them, and successfully build a readership through effective marketing strategies. As the Manager of Author Education for the ALC, Sheila develops and manages all of the website’s content and tools including webinar events, special programs, educational resources, and community engagement, while providing author support and guidance as needed. The ALC website is designed to educate, motivate, and support writers as they follow their path to becoming a published author, and includes a comprehensive collection of information, advice, resources, community, and tools related to writing, editing, publishing and marketing a book. The ALC’s mission is to help writers create their best work, understand the ever-changing publishing industry, and reach their sales goals through effective book marketing.