The
FPA 2008 Publishing Retreat
April
12–13, 2008
Florida FFA Leadership Training Center
near Haines City, Florida
Relax
and learn in natural Florida!
Your
Invitation to Attend
Publishers
— Join the Florida Publishers Association (FPA) for this excellent
opportunity to hone your publishing skills and find new, proven ways to sell
more books. FPA speakers show you how to improve your business and increase
sales. Submit your questions for our speakers with your registration
materials.
Wannabe Publishers — If you’re considering becoming a
traditional publisher or want to self-publish your manuscript, attend this
Publishing Retreat and discover how to avoid costly, learn-as-you-go
mistakes. Find out how to publish a book that will be up to publishing
industry standards in content, design and manufacture. Submit your questions
for our speakers with your registration materials.
Authors — Authors invest much effort and energy in
writing their books, but sometimes traditional publishers don’t share the
details of how authors can help sell more books. Similarly, authors
published by vanity/subsidy publishers simply cut the author loose upon
their book’s release. The Publishing Retreat will help you learn what your
publisher should do (or should have done) and what you can do to open new
sales avenues for your books. Submit your questions for our speakers with
your registration materials.
Vendors — We understand that other publishing
associations charge an arm and a leg for the privilege of allowing you sales
access to conference attendees. Not so at FPA events; we are
vendor-friendly! For the price of admission to the Publishing Retreat, you
get the opportunity to set up a display of your company’s wares for
attendees to peruse during the event, and you may attend all of the
speakers’ presentations as well. Only ONE rule for vendors: NO suits
allowed. Leave the monkey suit at home and get out your blue jeans for this
event.
About
the Florida Publishers Association, Inc. (FPA) — The Florida Publishers
Association was originally organized to provide Florida’s growing group of
book publishers with an opportunity for education and networking and to
provide its members with a clearinghouse for publishing information. FPA
began with only six members, but with the skyrocketing popularity of
self-publishing and the subsequent rise of the small press, FPA’s numbers
steadily increased. FPA’s mission is to provide Florida’s book community
with an opportunity for education and networking. The organization also
takes a strong First Amendment stance and assists the Association of
American Publishers in its efforts to ensure our publishing freedoms by
contacting legislators when free speech, publishing and copyright issues are
at stake. The Florida Publishers Association is a not-for-profit Florida
corporation and is an affiliate of Publishers Marketing Association (www.PMA-online.org),
Small Publishers Association of North America (www.SPANnet.org),
and Association of American Publishers (www.publishers.org).
About
the Florida FFA Leadership Training Center — The Florida FFA (Future
Farmers of America) Foundation, Inc., owns and operates the 126-acre
Leadership Training Center, which is located on beautiful Lake Pierce near
Haines City in central Florida’s Polk County. The Leadership Training
Center exists to provide a learning environment in which leadership,
communication and employability skills can be taught to members of
Florida’s FFA chapters. The Center is the focal point of many Florida FFA
activities and offers an educational and recreational environment for FFA
members and agricultural educators. To learn more about The Florida FFA
Foundation, Inc., visit
Saturday’s
Schedule of Events
11:00–11:45 Registration
— Pick up your registration packet and name badge at the registration
table, visit the vendor booths, and network with FPA board members, speakers
and attendees.
Noon–1:20 Welcome
Lunch, FPA Business, Sponsor Acknowledgments, Speaker Introductions —
Enjoy a deli-style, soup-and-sandwich lunch buffet, and get to know the
other attendees. Your relatives, friends and families can join us. See the
registration form for details.
1:30–3:00
Marketing Fiction/Nonfiction for Authors — FPA Board Member Linn
Random will present the fiction segment and FPA Association Executive Betsy
Lampe will present the nonfiction segment. Learn how authors can help create
demand for their books.
3:00–3:15
Break — An opportunity to visit the vendor booths, network with
speakers and attendees, and pause for refreshments.
3:15–4:15
“Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Publishing Law in 45
Minutes” — Intellectual Properties Attorney Sara Goodman will give a
45-minute presentation on publishing law with time at the end for general
questions.
4:30–5:30
“The Push and Pull of Marketing” — Dennis Lloyd, Director of
Sales and Marketing at the University Press of Florida, will discuss
what’s traditional and what’s new in book marketing.
6:00–7:00
Barbecue Dinner — Hamburgers and hot dogs, with cole slaw, relish
tray, potato salad, corn on the cob, baked beans and a corn muffin or roll,
with chef’s dessert and iced tea, lemonade or coffee. Your relatives,
friends and families can join us. See the registration form for details.
7:00– Bonfire
— An opportunity for some good, old-fashioned fun. The LTC staff prepares
the bonfire and provides seating around it. We’ll have marshmallows and
‘Smores.
Sunday’s
Schedule of Events
7:00–8:00 Country
Breakfast — Continue networking as you enjoy scrambled eggs, grits,
country gravy, biscuits, bacon and sausage, cereal, milk, orange juice and
coffee, and the chef’s daily special selections. Your relatives, friends
and families can join us. See the registration form for details.
8:00–9:30 How
We’ve Done It (and How You Can, Too) — Frances Keiser, of Sagaponack
Books, and Marlin Houser, of Marhouse Inc. Award-winning author/publishers
will describe how they’ve made successes of their publishing companies.
9:30–9:45
Break — Waste not, want not. Polish off what’s left of the
breakfast breads and drinks while visiting our vendors.
9:45–11:15
Production and Printing — FPA Vice-President MyLinda Butterworth and
FPA Secretary Steve Sirlin will describe what every publisher should know
about production and printing.
11:15–11:45
Wrap Up and Door Prizes — If we haven’t answered your most burning
question, now’s the time to pose it. Next, we’ll go wild handing out
valuable door prizes. Don’t miss it!
12:00–????
Lunch and a Cruise — Have a nice country lunch of fried
chicken, mashed potatoes, cole slaw bread and more before you leave. And if
you’re not in a hurry to leave, join us for a one-hour, 28-foot pontoon
boat cruise on tranquil 3,800-acre Lake Pierce. Relax and enjoy! Please note
that the cruise is shown as a separate cost on your registration form. Your
relatives, friends and families can join us. See the registration form for
details.
Guest
Speakers
Sara
Goodman, Intellectual Property Attorney, with a concentration in
publishing-related law (Boca Raton, Florida)
“Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Publishing Law in 45
Minutes.” A basic-level presentation on the publishing contract; copyright
basics; invasion of privacy basics; libel basics. We’ll get right to the
nitty gritty of what you need to know to stay out of trouble and out of
court so you can have fun being a publisher.
Sara Goodman is a South Florida attorney with a unique publishing law
practice. She represents authors, publishers, artists, photographers and
agents on all matters relating to publishing. Prior to moving to Florida,
Sara was in-house counsel to two of the world’s largest commercial
publishers, serving as Associate General Counsel to Bantam Doubleday Dell
(now Random House, Inc.), and as Associate Counsel to Simon & Schuster.
Her in-house practice at both companies covered a wide range of publishing
related matters, including extensive contract drafting and negotiation,
intellectual proprietary rights licensing, and pre-publication legal reviews
of both fiction and nonfiction for libel, copyright infringement and
invasion of privacy problems. Sara is a member of the Florida and New York
Bars. She received her undergraduate degree with honors from Rice University
in Houston and her law degree with honors from New York University School of
Law. Sara Goodman can be emailed at SaraLegal@aol.com.
Dennis
Lloyd, Director of Sales and Marketing, University Press of Florida
(Gainesville, Florida)
Dennis
will present “The Push and Pull of Marketing.” It’s not enough to
place books on a bookstore shelf, or to convince the local newspaper to run
a review. To reach the target audience for your books, you must constantly
seek to find the balance between the two — and understand how they
interact. We’ll save plenty of time at the end for questions.
Dennis Lloyd began his publishing career in acquisitions, but for the past
fifteen years has worked in marketing and sales at a number of university
presses, typically as head of the department. Beginning in Illinois, he
travelled to Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Alabama before arriving in
Gainesville in late 2006. His job responsibilities have included each of the
major activities that are undertaken by a small- to mid-sized academic
publisher. Dennis can be reached at dl@upf.com.
FPA-Member
Speakers
MyLinda
Butterworth, Creative Director, Day to Day Enterprises (Oviedo,
Florida).
MyLinda has been the Creative Director of Day to Day Enterprises for eleven
years. She not only writes books, but she knows how to create award winning
books from the inside out. She is currently the Vice President for Florida
Publishers Association and a professional storyteller.
“Book Design from the Inside Out” – While you may think that only the
cover is important for selling a book, what happens if you open that
fabulous book cover only to find that the print is too small or the way it
looks makes you say, huh? Your book needs to look good on the inside and the
outside. They may spend 3-5 seconds picking your book by the cover but they
will spend hours within its pages. So once you’ve written the book, you
need someone to design and/or layout your book so that it is easy to read
and ready to sell. This workshop will take you through the essential
elements you need to know to do the work yourself or to know if the person
you hired did a good job. MyLinda can be reached at books@daytodayenterprises.com
Marlin
L. Houser, Publisher/Author, Marhouse Inc. (Altamonte Springs,
Florida).
Marlin will present “Maximizing Book Sales Through School Bookings.”
Knowledge of a few simple steps will help you achieve this endeavor. I will
show you how. All you need to do is follow the steps, and you will open the
doorway to unlimited funds.
Marlin L. Houser was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, where he lived
with his three brothers and two sisters. As a young man in high school he
wrote many short stories. Marhouse Inc. was created in January 2004 with the
purpose of publishing children’s chapter books, and The Adventures of
Little Fox series was the award-winning result. First in the series,
Generations, won Best Children’s Fiction in 2006 (FPA’s President’s
Book Awards) and The Secret of Squirrel Meadow won both Best Juvenile
Fiction and Best Overall Book in 2007 (FPA’s President’s Book Awards).
Both books are available in softcover, hardcover and teacher’s guides.
Book three in The Adventure of Little Fox series, Unfamiliar Territory, is
due out this summer. Marlin can be reached at Marlin@adventurefox.com.
Frances
Keiser, President, Sagaponack Books (St. Augustine, Florida).
Frances will present a “How I’ve Done It” segment on how she has sold
over 50,000 copies of her books with in-house marketing and distribution.
Frances Keiser is co-founder and president of Sagaponack Books. Established
in 1999, the company publishes and distributes books to encourage ecological
understanding by children. The award-winning Pelican Pete series written by
Ms. Keiser is marketed with ancillary products selected to complement the
reading material. Sagaponack launched two new imprints in the fall of 2006.
Frances can be reached at email: fkeiser@sagbooks.com,
www.SagaponackBooks.com.
Linn
Random, Publisher, Sanibel Press, Inc. (Altamonte Springs,
Florida).
Linn will discuss marketing, advertising and promotion of fiction books. Her
presentation will include: the high concept, tip sheet, branding, amazon,
blogging, successful book signings, chats and online review sites, contests,
auctions, prizes, direct mail, newsletters, public speaking, opportunities
in print and mith Media, the press kit, promo items, radio & TV, and
selling beyond the bookstore.
Linn Random began her successful career at Walt Disney World Marketing. She
has also worked for two international advertising agencies and a major
Internet company. In addition to winning two International Addy Awards, she
coordinates all aspects of public relations campaigns and strategies,
including copy writing, event planning, media kits and relations, rolling
press tours and trade shows. Linn Random is a member of the Mystery Writers
of American, International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime and the
Romance Writers of America, and serves on the Board of the Florida
Publishers Association. She is the co-publisher of Sanibel Press Inc., which
produces novels in print, ebook and audio format. Linn can be reached at LinnRandom@earthlink.net,
www.SanibelPress.com.
Steve
Sirlin, Sales Representative for United Graphics, Inc. (Hollywood,
Florida)
Steve will discuss the different printing options available to publishers
today.
Steve has been providing book manufacturing services to publishers in
Florida and the Southeast U.S. since 1993. He has also been a member of the
Florida Publishers Association since that time and became a member of the
board of directors last year. He has extensive knowledge of Digital and
Offset printing technologies as well as many of the different types of
bindings offered today. Steve represents United Graphics, a book-specific
printing company, located in Mattoon, IL.Steve can be reached at ssirlin@bellsouth.net.
Betsy
Wright-Lampe, President, Rainbow Books, Inc. (Lakeland, Florida)
Betsy will discuss how nonfiction authors can create demand for their books.
Betsy is the president of Rainbow Books, Inc., a 30-year-old independent,
family-owned publishing house in Lakeland, Florida. She has worked in
publishing for 20 years and is the daughter of Rainbow’s (and FPA’s)
founder, Betty Wright. Betsy is also the association executive of the
Florida Publishers Association. She is a two-time presenter at the National
Writers’ Workshop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and gives presentations on
book publishing for writers’ groups statewide. Her company, Rainbow Books,
Inc., publishes self-help and how-to nonfiction titles, and mystery fiction.
Rainbow produces over 20 titles per year, and Betsy works as the company’s
production and marketing manager. Betsy Wright-Lampe can be contacted at RBIbooks@aol.com.
Accommodations
Florida
FFA Leadership Training Center (LTC) — Very nice, clean rooms (used by FFA
adults and students for training events) are available, based on occupancy,
for the FPA Retreat rate of $75 for one occupant, $80 for two occupants, $85
for three occupants and $90 for four occupants. Sleeping rooms are all
subject to Florida state and local taxes, currently at 12% (taxes are
subject to change under Florida state tax laws).
Ben Hill Griffin Lodge guest services staff are available 24 hours a day.
The LTC features 52 sleeping rooms, some located in the Ben Hill Griffin
Lodge and others in six villas. Two types of rooms are available for FPA
Publishing Retreat attendees (prices listed above are the same for both
types of rooms):
Lodge
Rooms (see photos at right). These rooms are very similar to hotel
rooms. Amenities include: Two double beds, private bath, telephone, and
color TV with satellite and remote control (rollaway beds available). The
Lodge lobby features a fireplace, color TV with satellite and remote
control, comfortable seating, ice machine, vending machines with soft drinks
and snacks, free Internet wireless in lodge and educational complex only.
Villas (see photos below). Four of our Villas have four
bedrooms each, with two double beds and private bath, surrounding a
20-by-20' common area that features a TV, couch, side chairs and dining room
table for eight. Two of our Villas have four bedrooms with two sets of bunk
beds and private bath, surrounding a 20-by-20' common area with a TV, couch,
side chairs and dining room table for eight. The villas are a short walk
(football field length) to the conference center and Lodge. Not recommended
for the handicapped. (Be sure that, when you book a villa room, you are NOT
choosing one of the kid-style bunk-bed rooms.) Three villas are equipped
with complete kitchens that are available for private meal or reception
preparations.
Recreational activities include canoeing on Catfish Creek,
bass fishing with professional guides, pontoon boat tours, volleyball and
hiking on our nature trails.
Reservations
may be made, on or before April 7th, by calling the Florida FFA Leadership
Training Center at (863) 439-7332. Ask for either Evie at extension 6329 or
Gwen at extension 6323. The LTC accepts only Visa, MasterCard and
American Express cards. Be sure to indicate that you are with the Florida
Publishers Association’s Publishing Retreat, and be sure to specify the
room type (Lodge or Villa) after reading about them (above).
Directions
to the Florida FFA Leadership Training Center—
From
the North:
Take I-4 to Highway 27 South. Travel south approximately 12 miles to Highway
544, turn left (east). Continue east to Route 17 (first stop light), turn
right (south), go 3 miles. Turn left (east) on Highway 542 (Lake Hatchineha
Rd.). There is a green “FFA Training Center” sign. Go 8 miles. Watch for
the next green sign on the right-hand side of Highway 542 (Lake Hatchineha
Rd.), turn right on Firetower Rd. Travel 4.5 miles to FFA Leadership
Training Center. It’s at the end of the road.
From
the Northwest:
Travel south on I-75 to the Florida Turnpike. Exit turnpike at US Highway
27, go south. Travel south approximately 35 miles to Highway 544, turn left
(east). Continue east to Route 17 (1st stop light), turn right (south), go 3
miles. Turn left (east) on Highway 542 (Lake Hatchineha Rd.), go 8 miles.
After green “FFA Training Center” sign on Highway 542 (Lake Hatchineha
Rd.), turn right on Firetower Rd. Travel 4.5 miles to FFA Leadership
Training Center.
From
the Southeast:
Take the Turnpike or I-95 to State Road 60. Travel west on Highway 60 to
U.S. Highway 27, turn right (north). Travel north on U.S. Highway 27 to
Dundee (Approx. 9 miles). Turn right at the stop light in Dundee onto
Highway 542. Travel east to the first stop light, turn left on Route 17.
Travel north for 1.25 miles to Lake Hatchineha Rd. (Highway 542), turn
right. After green “FFA Training Center” sign on Highway 542 (Lake
Hatchineha Rd.), turn right on Firetower Rd. Travel 4.5 miles to FFA
Leadership Training Center.
From
the Southwest:
Take I-75 to State Road 60 East to U.S. Highway 27. Travel east on Highway
60 to U.S. Highway 27, turn left (north). Travel north on U.S. Highway 27 to
Dundee (Approx. 9 miles). Turn right at the stop light in Dundee onto
Highway 542. Travel east to the first stop light, turn left on Route 17.
Travel north for 1.25 miles to Lake Hatchineha Rd. (Highway 542), turn
right. After green “FFA Training Center” sign on Highway 542 (Lake
Hatchineha Rd.), turn right on Firetower Rd. Travel 4.5 miles to FFA
Leadership Training Center.
Florida
FFA Leadership
Training
Center
5000 Firetower Road
Haines City, FL 33844
Phone: (863) 439-7332
Fax: (863) 439-2995
http://www.flaltc.org
