Marketing & Social Media Labs

Writing a great book is just the beginning. To land an agent, attract publishers, and reach readers, you need to make sure the right people know about you. That’s where positioning (how you’re seen) and visibility (who sees you) come in. In this practical and engaging session, book coach and marketing expert Allison Lane will break down how to get noticed without feeling like you’re "building a brand" or selling yourself. Instead, you’ll learn simple, effective ways to put yourself and your work in front of the right audience—without the overwhelm. Bonus: Attendees will receive a Visibility Action Checklist so you can start making an impact right away. You don’t need a big following to get noticed—you just need the right approach. Let’s make sure your work reaches the people who matter!

In today's fast-paced digital world, it can be challenging for children's book authors and illustrators to stand out in an overcrowded market. Many find it difficult to forge genuine connections with their audience, often getting lost in the complexities of online marketing and the ever-changing algorithms of social media platforms. Traditional publishing and promotional routes frequently fail to provide the personalized engagement that today's audiences demand. During the session, Ayanna will explore the numerous ways an effective website can address these common issues and serve as a cornerstone of your long-term marketing strategy. She will provide detailed insights on how to maximize your site's potential, ensuring it becomes a powerful ally in your publishing journey.

Pinterest is more than a platform for pretty pins and boards—it’s a dynamic tool authors can use to amplify their books and programs. In this session, Deb Gonzales will guide you beyond the surface, revealing strategies to make Pinterest work for your goals. You’ll learn how to leverage SEO and keywords to create content that search engines categorize, classify, and magnify. Discover how to craft an authentic, engaging strategy that boosts visibility without feeling pushy. Whether you’re promoting books, building connections, or exploring new opportunities, this session will give you actionable insights to make Pinterest an integral part of your marketing efforts.

Allison Lane is a nonfiction book coach and host of the Author's Edge: the go-to marketing podcast for authors. She helps women get their books published, build their platforms, and launch their books ... academics, medical practitioners, industry experts and memoirists -- boosting their visibility, attracting media, and growing their influence. Her bestselling clients include Tracy Otsuka, author - ADHD for Smart Ass Women, Jessica Waite, author - The Widow's Guide to Dead Bastards: a Memoir, and many others. Get her free resources on author positioning, marketing, and publishing here: LaneLit.com

Ayanna Coleman is a high-level marketing and creative concept strategist. As founder of Quill Shift, a boutique marketing agency, she helps thought leaders, experts, and creative thinkers expand on, clarify, and crystalize their next big ideas for programs, movements, or life-changing experiences so they (and their team) can make them a reality. Trained as a youth services librarian, she started her career at Hachette Book Group in digital marketing, moved into the nonprofit space and led programming and diversity initiatives at the Children’s Book Council, and over the last eight years has partnered with and led marketing initiatives on behalf of publishers, distributors, literary agencies, and startups across three continents. You can find more information about her and her business at https://quillshift.com.

Debbie Gonzales, founder of Pin Lit Marketing, is a children’s author, career educator, and marketing strategist specializing in boosting book visibility and engagement through Pinterest. The award-winning author of GIRLS WITH GUTS, Deb also created Guides by Deb, a resource hub featuring 400+ standards-aligned educator guides. With an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, Deb combines literary expertise with proven marketing strategies to help book creators shine. Learn more at pinlitmarketing.com.

Unlock the full potential of your author or illustrator brand (or easily create one) with this introductory workshop on using Canva's dynamic design tools. Canva offers an extensive library of customizable templates tailored for various needs, including social media graphics, #kidlitart postcards, art prints, physical merch, and promotional flyers. With access to a vast array of fonts, clip art, photography, and AI tools, you can craft visually compelling materials that resonate with editors and art directors, schools and bookstores, and most importantly, your readers. In this workshop, you'll discover how to utilize Canva's user-friendly interface to maintain brand consistency across all platforms. Learn to create a cohesive visual identity by employing the Brand Kit feature, which allows you to save your brand’s colors, logos, and fonts for easy access. Whether you're designing eye-catching social media posts or printed event invitations, this workshop will equip you with skills to streamline your design process and more effectively market your work. Download the app for free and start familiarizing yourself with the interface now to maximize this workshop!

In this presentation, members will learn how to make easy and professional videos using Canva. Members will receive hands-on training to create essential media assets like Animated Cover Reveals, Character Intros, Countdowns, Theme Slides, and more. Participants will walk away with template suggestions they can implement into their promotional posts right away. This session is great for authors, illustrators, bloggers, any member who wants to learn how to create video posts.

In this session you’ll learn what a book trailer is and why you need one. You’ll also learn my five-step process and you’ll receive a free guide to help you create a book trailer that gets attention!

Kate Garchinsky is a professional illustrator and painter with roots in the tidal marshes of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. She is the illustrator of seven children’s books and an Eckelberry Fellow at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia. For seven years, she illustrated the award-winning The Secret Life series of narrative nonfiction picture books, written by Laurence Pringle (Boyds Mills Press, 2017–2023). Her atmospheric, realistic depictions of mammals in these books have received recognition from the National Science Teachers Association, the California and New Jersey reading associations, School Library Journal, and the Animal Behavior Society, among others. While researching extinct bird species such as the Passenger Pigeon and the Carolina Parakeet for future projects, she met ornithologist and author Dr. Rob Bierregaard, which led to her illustrating his nonfiction chapter book, Belle’s Journey: An Osprey Takes Flight (Charlesbridge, 2018). When she’s not teaching, birding, or making art, Kate enjoys live music, native gardening, hiking, and traveling with her husband and best friend, Brian. Together, they live with their two indoor kitties, Julia and Spenser, and their rescue pit-mutt, Ruby Roo, in a little blue house in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania. Visit her website at kategarchinsky.com, and find her on social media as @kategarchinsky

Nadia Salomon is a #Pitmad Success Story and author of GOODNIGHT GANESHA, a Bank Street Best and ALSC DÍA Selection. Her second title, A VOICE OF HOPE, won the 2025 Children & Youth Literacy Award for Non-fiction and is also a 2025 Notable Social Studies Trade Book. Her third title, A RAKHI FOR RAKESH, releases in July. Nadia works closely with SCBWI, 12x12 Challenge, Kids Comics Unite, and Storyteller Academy. When she’s not spinning yarns, you’ll find her blogging about her favorite reads on her Nadia’s Nook platform. Visit her website NadiaSalomon.com or follow her on Instagram @NadiaSalomon.Author and @nadias.nook.

Amy Nielsen spent nearly twenty amazing years as a children's and youth librarian. She's now a literary agent at The Purcell Agency and developmental editor at Wild Ink Publishing. She is also the author of the picture book Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder, It Takes a Village: How to Build a Support System for Your Exceptional Needs Family and the YA novel Worth It. When not reading or writing, Amy and her family can be found boating the waters of Tampa Bay with two canine co-captains in mermaid life vests.