Here’s the next BAIPA Workshop!
Like our monthly meetings, these events are exclusively on Zoom. The Zoom links will be provided to you via the confirmation email you will get upon completing your registration, as well as via email on the Friday evening before, around 9 PM.
Therefore, all non-members MUST register in advance in order to participate. However, all current BAIPA members will get the Zoom info for this session automatically.
NOTE: We are trying out offering free tickets to current BAIPA members, through April, 2026, and then we will evaluate.
Member tickets are free, Non-Member tickets are $40.
Please scroll down to the bottom of this page for the ticket selection area.
The workshop WILL be recorded and the video will be shared with all current BAIPA members through the Member Only Resources area, as well as with any paid non-member ticket holders within 48-72 hours.
Thinking about self-publishing your book—but not sure where to start or what to do first?
In this intensive two-hour workshop, Ruth Schwartz of Wonderlady Books will walk you through the real-world process of turning your manuscript into a professional, market-ready book—without costly missteps.
Whether you’re a first-time author or already in progress, this session will give you a clear roadmap, current industry insights, and practical next steps you can act on immediately.
What You’ll Learn
The Publishing Landscape—Today
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Key differences between traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing
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How self-publishing has evolved—and what’s changed recently
The Real Self-Publishing Process
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A clear, step-by-step overview from manuscript to finished book
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What actually matters (and what doesn’t)
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Where authors most often get stuck
Production Decisions That Make or Break Your Book
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Why professional editing, formatting, and cover design matter
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What you can do yourself—and what’s worth outsourcing
Platforms & Distribution
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How to use KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital effectively
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When (and why) to use more than one platform
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Key updates and current best practices
Metadata & Visibility Basics
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Categories, keywords, and book descriptions
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How readers actually find your book on Amazon
Live Q&A
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Bring your questions and get direct, practical guidance
What You’ll Walk Away With
By the end of this workshop, you will:
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Understand the full self-publishing roadmap
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Know how to avoid common (and expensive) mistakes
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Be able to make confident decisions about your next steps
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Have a clearer path to getting your book published and into readers’ hands
About Our Speaker: Ruth Schwartz
Ruth Schwartz is the founder and CEO of Wonderlady Books, helping self-publishing authors turn finished manuscripts into finished books, complete with professional cover design, interior layout, and ebook editions—all up online and available for sale around the world. Ruth brings over 50 years of book publishing, design and printing industry experience to every author’s project and has worked on over 200 independently published books since 2012 when print on demand technology enabled the current indie publishing revolution.