SESSION ONE
Transform your pitching strategy from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Knowing that there are hundreds of pitches vying for the attention of producers and editors every day, how can you make your pitch stand out? The science of the pitch lies in the elements every proposal must include to be informative, but the art of the pitch is found in the unique nuances that showcase your creativity and create a break-through connection. Increase the likelihood of not just any response, but a positive one, through the insights that will be offered through this panel discussion with industry experts.
Mike Stralow produces four podcasts for Holy Post Media (The Holy Post Podcast, Curiously Kaitlyn, The SkyePod, and The Esau McCaulley Podcast). He is a former pastor, and spent 8 years in fundraising for Christian nonprofits. He has a BA in Biblical and Theological Studies from Wheaton College.
Clarissa Moll is an award-winning writer and podcaster who helps bereaved people find flourishing after loss. She produces and moderates Christianity Today's flagship news podcast, The Bulletin. She hosted CT's Surprised by Grief podcast as well as a podcast for authors called The Writerly Life. Clarissa’s writing appears in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, RELEVANT, Modern Loss, Grief Digest and more. She is the author of four books on bereavement including the bestselling Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living with Grief and Thriving After Loss and Hurt Help Hope: A Real Conversation about Teen Grief and Life after Loss.
Lillian Fisher has served as the podcast manager for That Sounds Fun Podcast with Annie F. Downs for the last three years. Consistently charting in top shows in Religion & Spirituality, That Sounds Fun Podcast just celebrated its 10 year anniversary with over 100 million downloads. Lillian is responsible for booking over 100 guests per year and is also the "Chief Annie Officer" for AFD Inc. Lillian resides in Nashville, TN and when she's not working, enjoys baking, playing the violin, and fostering kittens.
SESSION TWO
As we seek to truly reflect God’s kingdom in the world today, it is imperative that we deepen our understanding of the unique needs of BIPOC authors and strengthen our collective reach across a comprehensive list of BIPOC media partners. The work begins with hospitality and ends with a media pitch list that supports the whole of each BIPOC author’s identity. Join Jevon Bolden from Embolden Media Group, as she shares a framework for amplifying the voices of color that sets you up to ensure a strong partnership built on trust and a marketplace presence that will make a meaningful difference for every BIPOC book launch.
With two decades of experience in the publishing industry, Jevon Bolden leads Embolden Media Group, a literary agency and publishing consulting firm that helps authors and publishers reach diverse and global audiences with quality content. Jevon has authored eight books, ghostwritten and edited hundreds of titles, and helped build culture-shifting author brands. Advocating for inclusion and equity for diverse voices in publishing, Jevon serves as a consultant to the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) and a member of the organization's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) subcommittee. As a conference speaker, workshop facilitator, writing coach, and mentor, she shares the best of what she knows with passionate, creative, and influential people who desire to publish great books that make a difference.
SESSION THREE
Join three industry experts to discover how to transform social media into a strategic PR tool. Discover best practices for building strong relationships with media, authors, and influencers across platforms like Facebook and Instagram and more. Learn how to craft dynamic, high-performing posts that resonate with your audience. This session will also explore essential social media principles, such as: building trust, engaging authentically, honing your social listening skills, and staying ahead of trends. You'll leave with practical tips for coaching authors on their social channels and powerful strategies to amplify your book promotion through targeted social media engagement.
Rebecca Schriner serves as the Publicity Manager with Zondervan Books, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishers. Prior to joining HCCP, she worked as a publicist for Baker Publishing Group and Torchflame Books. She earned an MA in Public Relations from Ball State University and a BS in Professional Writing from Taylor University. She is a guest speaker for Taylor’s Professional Writing program, and her writing appears in Brio and The Secret Place magazines. In 2023, Rebecca was selected as an ECPA Emerging Leader. She lives in Minneapolis and shares publicity tips on Instagram at @Rebecca_Publicist.
Mycah Gavic is the Digital Media Manager for Bethany House Nonfiction and Chosen Books—divisions of Baker Publishing Group. Using her skills in photography, eye for graphic design, and determination to keep up with the algorithms, she creates content that showcases and promotes authors and their books. When she’s not working, Mycah aims to travel to places with no cell service, find awe-inspiring hikes, and photograph it all alongside her husband, Myles.
Jacqueline Horbrook, also recognized as “Jackie the Educator” across social media platforms, hails from Chicago, Illinois, emerging as a pioneering force among millennials. Armed with a Master's in Education and a Bachelor's in Business, her vision is to be renowned as a Kingdom solutionist. She serves as the visionary CEO of Black Christian Influencers, a thriving community dedicated to empowering kingdom builders across diverse professions. Additionally, she presides over two other flourishing enterprises: BCI Influencer Agency and the Christian Travel Club. Ordained as a minister, her unwavering commitment lies in advancing the kingdom of God, leveraging her manifold talents and gifts.
SESSION FOUR
In this session, participants will learn effective strategies for managing author expectations throughout the publishing process. The focus will be on clear communication, setting realistic timelines, and navigating potential challenges with sensitivity. Attendees will explore techniques to build trust while aligning author goals with market realities. By the end of the session, publicists will be equipped to foster strong, productive relationships with their authors.
After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree from Calvin University, with a focus on Rhetoric and Communications, Karen Campbell began her career in the publishing industry at Baker Publishing Group. From there, she moved to Zondervan and served as their Director of Public Relations before moving on to start Karen Campbell Media, Inc. Throughout her 25 years in the publishing industry, she has had the privilege to work on multiple New York Times bestsellers, as well as countless ECPA bestsellers, and with several top-selling authors such as Philip Yancey, Lee Strobel, Tara-Leigh Cobble, President Jimmy Carter, Shane Claiborne, Karen Kingsbury, Lysa TerKeurst, J. Warner Wallace, John Stonestreet, Col. Oliver North, Kirk Cousins, Darryl Strawberry, and dozens of others. In 2009, Karen was awarded the WMPRSA Gold PRoof Award for her work on the publicity campaign for Multiple Blessings by Jon and Kate Gosselin with Beth Carson. Karen considers building and maintaining relationships with media outlets essential. Media hits include The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, CNN New Day, FOXNews.com, New York Times, USA Today, People Magazine, Good Housekeeping, The Eric Metaxas Show, In the Market with Janet Parshall, Christianity Today, The 700 Club, Life Today with James Robison, Focus on the Family, That Sounds Fun with Annie Downs, etc. She would say there’s nothing better than seeing a book receive great media coverage, succeed in sales, and change people’s lives. www.karencampbellmedia.com
Don Gates is the founder of The Gates Group, a multi-faceted literary agency working with best-selling and award-winning authors across the country on a variety of publishing endeavors. He works with many authors including Lee Strobel, Kyle Idleman, John Burke, Justin Whitmel Earley, Trillia Newbell, Jonathan “JP” Pokluda, J.D. Greear, and Aundi Kolber. Prior to his own venture, Don was the Vice President of Marketing at Zondervan. Before publishing, he spent fifteen years in brand management at YUM! Brands, Hershey Foods, and Campbell Soup. He received his BS from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he played Ivy League football. He also earned an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School at Northwestern University, and a MDiv from Southern Seminary.
SESSION FIVE
This session is designed for publicists eager to navigate the shifting sands of media and public relations with innovative strategies. We'll cover:
Trent Anderson is Podchaser's Head of Growth & Strategy, where he leads go-to-market activities across marketing, client success, and sales enablement. Prior to this, Trent led Podchaser Connect (a podcast guest booking agency) until its acquisition in August 2023. Through Connect, Trent's team was responsible for booking 80+ client guest appearances per month. Clients ranged from university faculty and scholars to c-suite executives to authors and media personalities.
SESSION SIX
A must-attend session! Join us as we wrap up the PR track with a panel of seasoned PR veterans who are ready to share everything they have learned over the years. The industry is changing rapidly, but some key insights in the world of publicity stand the test of time. Learn what has stuck, what has evolved, and how to navigate the changing waters ahead with perseverance and resilience. Come and get the answers to the questions you’ve been afraid to ask and receive words of encouragement regarding the importance of our collective work from a panel of veteran publicists who haven’t given up on the mission-minded nature of work and stand at the ready to press on alongside you.
After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree from Calvin University, with a focus on Rhetoric and Communications, Karen Campbell began her career in the publishing industry at Baker Publishing Group. From there, she moved to Zondervan and served as their Director of Public Relations before moving on to start Karen Campbell Media, Inc. Throughout her 25 years in the publishing industry, she has had the privilege to work on multiple New York Times bestsellers, as well as countless ECPA bestsellers, and with several top-selling authors such as Philip Yancey, Lee Strobel, Tara-Leigh Cobble, President Jimmy Carter, Shane Claiborne, Karen Kingsbury, Lysa TerKeurst, J. Warner Wallace, John Stonestreet, Col. Oliver North, Kirk Cousins, Darryl Strawberry, and dozens of others. In 2009, Karen was awarded the WMPRSA Gold PRoof Award for her work on the publicity campaign for Multiple Blessings by Jon and Kate Gosselin with Beth Carson. Karen considers building and maintaining relationships with media outlets essential. Media hits include The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, CNN New Day, FOXNews.com, New York Times, USA Today, People Magazine, Good Housekeeping, The Eric Metaxas Show, In the Market with Janet Parshall, Christianity Today, The 700 Club, Life Today with James Robison, Focus on the Family, That Sounds Fun with Annie Downs, etc. She would say there’s nothing better than seeing a book receive great media coverage, succeed in sales, and change people’s lives. www.karencampbellmedia.com
As founder and president of ROAR, Gary Schneeberger draws on his executive experience and executional acumen to help individuals and organizations engage audiences with the boldness and creative clarity that ensure they are heard. He has advised Hollywood studios (Universal, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox), television networks (USA, History, The CW) and global nonprofits (Focus on the Family). He has counseled and created communications platforms for authors, experts, speakers, coaches and consultants of every conceivable stripe, from some of the biggest names in movies and TV to true mom-and-pop shops. He has appeared on the CBS Evening News, CNN This Morning, NPR and HLN, among dozens of others. Schneeberger is the author of the best-seller BITE THE DOG: Build a PR Strategy to Make News That Matters (Niche Pressworks, 2018), part memoir of his life in the communications business and part guidebook to the effective practice of public relations. It has been hailed by critics as “helpful and hilarious” and revealing “a brilliant mind, heart and passion for excellence.” Colleagues have recommended it as “smart, clear, cogent, actionable and always thoroughly entertaining.” BookAuthority rated it the No. 1 PR Book for Beginners.
Beverly Rykerd is Vice President, Director of Publicity at WaterBrook & Multnomah, imprints of Penguin Random House. Beverly leads an outstanding team of publicists who take great pleasure in crafting bestseller publicity campaigns. With more than 30 years of experience, Beverly began her publishing career with Focus on the Family and then owned her own publicity agency, Beverly Rykerd Public Relations, for 17 years before joining WaterBrook & Multnomah 13 years ago. She has represented books in just about every genre in Christian publishing and has had the opportunity to work on some of the all-time biggest selling books in the industry.
Andrea Martin is the Sr. Director of Public Relations and Author Relations for Tyndale House Publishers. With a career spanning 18 years at Tyndale leading marketing, PR, and author relations teams, she has had the privilege of promoting and publicizing hundreds of books across diverse genres and works hard to amplify the voices of best-selling authors, renowned pastors, women’s ministry leaders, musicians, and celebrities, ensuring their message reaches audiences far and wide. Leveraging her deep understanding of the industry and her extensive knowledge of Tyndale, Andrea also collaborates closely with authors, partners, and agents, ensuring their journey from ideation to publication is seamless and enjoyable. Before her tenure at Tyndale, Andrea cut her teeth in the fast-paced worlds of television and newspapers, honing skills that now serve as valuable assets in her current role. When she’s not working, this native Bostonian can be found lost in the pages of a gripping novel, whipping up the latest TikTok recipe, or on a quest to find the perfect “Lobstah” Roll with her husband, three kids and giant golden retriever.
Tara Burns is the Associate Director of Marketing at InterVarsity Press, having worked within the publicity team for the last five years. Prior to IVP, she worked as a Media Director at a leading advertising agency in Chicago for over a decade, over-seeing media strategies for Fortune 500 companies. A career break in between these two positions allowed her to focus on raising her family and volunteering in her church and community. Tara lives in the Western Suburbs of Chicago with her husband and two teenage boys.
We thank the following companies for their support of the industry and this event:
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GENERAL
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