9th Annual
November 6 & 7, 2021
The 805 Writers Conference
TOOLS — SKILLS — RESOURCES
Delivering the information you need to succeed in publishing
It is with great sadness that I’m writing to let you know that the 805 Writers Conference 2021 has to be canceled for this year.
Despite months of hard work and preparation by myself and a great team, negotiations with the Crowne Plaza Hotel, exploring every avenue to make this the best conference yet, while adhering to all possible city, county and state guidelines, we just could not make it happen. So – it looks like COVID-19 has claimed another victim.
While our health is fine (and hope yours is too!), our disappointment is great. We are all aware of the value and benefits of gathering in person, meeting people, and sharing the kind of professional information and contacts that can only come from a significant face-to-face event. However, on this, the day I usually start buying advertising, I had to acknowledge that considerably fewer people than normal have registered, and only a handful of authors wanted to be part of the Book Expo.
I contacted a few former attendees and they all said the same thing: “I really don’t want to be in a room all day with strangers, even if they are fully vaccinated.” Hearing the same thing over and over, I had to face the truth. This is not the year for a live conference. So, officially, the 2021 805 Writers Conference and Book Expo is canceled.
I truly wish this conference could have happened. A great lineup of speakers agreed to speak, so I am asking some of them to do a WPN Webinar or be a guest on my podcast, TalkingBookPublishing.today. WPN will continue to host monthly meetings on Zoom. I would have loved to see all of you and have a great time with top people sharing knowledge about book publishing. But it is not to be this year.
We’re already putting plans in motion for 805 Writers Conference 2022 ― and hoping that the virus will be in our collective rear window by next fall. We look forward to seeing you then, if not before!
We are immensely appreciative of your support and wish you a happy, healthy, productive rest of 2021 and into 2022.
Warm regards,
Kathleen Kaiser
President, Writers and Publishers Network
Three Events in One
The 805 Writers Conference is not only for people wanting to publish books but for book lovers and poets. Three different ways to enjoy, learn and find new authors and poets.
Conference Sessions
Speakers and panels drawn from across the country, both industry professionals and authors.
Open Mic
The conference closes with an 805 Poetry Open Mic. dates will be rescheduled.
Book Expo
Free and open to the public, featuring 40 authors. Pre-register for drawing to win over $100 in books.
Testimonials
I set out to learn what platform I would need if my work could stand alone, to make connections, and get a plan for what I needed to do next to advance my career, and I accomplished everything. This was a fantastic conference and I would highly recommend it to others.
Quality information with impressive panels. Lacking bells and whistles, but truly didn’t need it. Quality stands on its own. The speakers were all uniquely different and therefore added perfect variety.
The weekend was filled with informative speakers who spurred us on. The information was plentiful and provided new ideas and possible avenues for the novice and published writers.
I wish that I’d have had the information from this seminar 7 years ago. My book journey would have had a far different outcome.
Hotel—Crowne Plaza at Ventura Beach
Near it all
The Crowne Plaza Ventura is situated 8-minute walk from Ventura Station train station, a 4-minute walk from the Ventura Pier, and a 6-minute walk to downtown Main Street and a variety of restaurants and entertainment.
The hotel affronts the Ventura Promenade, an oceanfront pathway that runs between the Ventura Pier and Surfers Point. Trail users can continue east into the San Buenaventura State Beach area, but the trail ends at San Pedro St. The west end of the trail connects with a bike path that extends 15 miles all the way to Ojai. Be sure to walk out onto the Ventura Pier and to take in the views of the city, Ventura Pier Beach, and the Channel Islands.
Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Ventura has a restaurant on-site as well as a bar to keep you full and satisfied throughout your stay. The outdoor swimming pool overlooks the beach. A fitness center gym, as well as a business center, can be also enjoyed.
Room rates are $199 per night, plus all applicable taxes. The rate is good until October 10, 2021.
Want to learn how to write a winning query letter? Why not ask literary agent Michelle Zeitlin from More Zap Management. Here is part of her session at the 2019 conference.