The Unconference for Dummies Authors
November 3 through 5, 2006 at the
San Francisco Hilton Hotel

Check out our new map or the area with recommended restaurants, shops, art galleries, and more!

tentative agenda

Friday, November 3

8-9:30 p.m. Welcome reception

Saturday, November 4th

9-10:00 a.m. Wiley Overview and Publishing Process

Wiley executives lead this session on plans for new titles and more. (Authors only)

Wiley Representatives include,

Kathy Nebenhaus, V.P. and Executive Publisher, Wiley Publishing

Andy Cummings, VP and Publisher, Wiley Publishing

Diane Steele, VP. and Publisher, Wiley Publishing

10:00-10:30 a.m. Tea and coffee break

10:30-11:30 Wiley Marketing Plans

Melisa Duffy, Associate Director, Marketing, shares promotional and marketing plans with Wiley authors. (Authors only)

11:45 -12:15 Illustrator Rich Tennant, creator of the cartoons that are featured in the For Dummies series will share stories about his inspiration for creating the For Dummies cartoons.

12:15 to 1:45 Lunch on the town (see our list of recommended restaurants in the area.)

1:45-2:45 p.m. A panel of agents will lead a session for authors on how to choose an agent, what agents offer, and tips for making the best book deals.

Participating agents include:

Carole McClendon, Waterside Productions, www.waterside.com

Matt Wagner, Fresh Books, www.fresh-books.com

3:00-4:00 p.m. Marketing Roundtable

Authors gather to share best practices, marketing strategies, and great ways to promote your books, services, and more!

4:00-4:15 p.m. Tea and coffee break

4:15-5:15 p.m. The Executive Director of the Authors Guild

Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild (www.authorsguild.org) leads a session on understanding royalty statements, negotiating contracts, copyright and other legal issues, and marketing best practices. Bring your questions for this nationally-recognized expert. (Authors only)

Concurrently, some authors will make bookstore appearances Saturday afternoon (see details below)

6:45-7:30 p.m. No-host cocktail reception

7:30 p.m. Author dinner hosted and sponsored by Wiley Publishing

Sunday, November 5th

9-10:00 a.m. Marketing Yourself as a Professional Speaker

Professional speaker and National Speaker's Association member Kare Anderson will lead a session on what it takes to market yourself as a speaker, how to work with speaker's bureaus, and more.

10:00 -10:15 p.m. Break

10:15 to 11:15 Bird's of a Feather Author Roundtables

In these final sessions of the unconference, we'll break into groups around general topics in three different rooms to share our expertise.

Session topics include:

New Media, Web design, digital photography and editing, podcasting, and blogging authors gather to talk about new media
Facilitator, Janine Warner

Lifestyle Rountable, Relationships, dating, and recreation authors gather for this session

Medical and Health Roundtable, Authors of the many medical titles share their ideas, experiences, and best practices
Facilitator, Alan L. Rubin, M. D.

11:30 to 12:30 Bird's of a Feather Author Roundtables 2

In these final sessions of the unconference, we'll break into groups around general topics in three different rooms to share our expertise.

Session topics include:

Science and Math Roundtable, Authors of science and math titles share their experiences and best practices

Marketing, Finance, and BusinessAuthors Roundtable, Authors of marketing, branding, and other business books share their best practices.
Facilitators, Karen Fredricks and Barbara Schenck

Living the Tech Life, Authors of home theater and other technology titles share the latest about the future of technology.
Facilitators, Danny Briere and Patrick Hurley

12:30 Unconference Debriefing

Join us at the Author's Unconference!
Follow this link to the registration form (PDF).

Saturday, November 4th Bookstore Appearances

Cody’s Bookstore, 2 Stockton Street, SF

2:30-3:30 p.m. Web Design Panel with Authors

Barry Burd, Java 2
Susannah Gardner, Buzz Marketing With Blogs
Barbara Obermeier, Photoshop CS2 All-In-One
Janine Warner, Creating Family Web Sites

3:30-4:30 p.m. Health Panel with Authors

Walter Bortz, M. D., Living Longer
Michael Sinel, M. D.- Back Pain Remedies
Alison Acerra- Diabetes Cookbook
Alan L. Rubin, M. D.- Diabetes

4:30-5:30 p.m. Business Panel with Authors

Barbara Schenck, Small Business Marketing
Jim Schell, Small Business
Erica Olsen, Strategic Planning
Marty Nemko, Cool Careers

Border’s Bookstore, 400 Post Street, SF            

2:30 p.m. Business Panel with Authors

N. Brian Caverly, Estate Planning
Joe Duarte, M. D., Futures and Options
John Tracy, Accounting

3:30 p.m. Business Panel with Authors

Wendy Abraham, PhD, Chinese
Jack Hungelmann, Insurance
Lita Epstein, Trading

4:30 Science Panel with Authors

John D. Cox, Weather
Stephen P. Maran, PhD, Astronomy
Tara Rodden Robinson, PhD, Genetics
Mary Jane Sterling, Algebra

Stacey’s Bookstore, 581 Market, SF

2:30 Author Panel

Kate Wachs, PhD, Relationships
Bjoern-Erik Hartsfvang, GURPS
Richard Harroch, Poker
Deanna Sclar, Buying a Car

3:30 Author Panel

Marty Brounstein, Coaching and Mentoring
Sue Fox, Business Etiquette
Jan Sauders Meresh, Sewing
Peter Gregory. Computer Viruses FD

Book Passage, Ferry Building, SF                 

2:30 Author Panel
Andy Rathbone, Windows XP
Karen Fredricks, Act! 2007
J. David Markham, Napoleon

3:30 Author Panel
Herb Goodheart, M. D., Acne
Lynn Fischer, Lowfat Cooking
Judi Strada, Sushi
Nina Paul, Living With Hepatitis C

4:30 Author Panel
Danny Briere, Smart Homes
Patrick Hurley, Home Theater
Mark Ryan, Calculus

Agenda ~ Authors ~ Appearances ~ Guests

Press, Contact, & Registration Information ~ Home