Thinking about self-publishing but not sure where to start? In this practical, presentation-style workshop, 2025 debut author Ellie Ash shares the real-life steps she took to self-publish—from the ground up. This session is designed for aspiring authors looking for a beginner-friendly, detail-rich overview of the process—especially those who want a behind-the-scenes look from someone who's just been through it.

Sunday, 1 February, 2pm Eastern on Zoom.

Get your ticket on Eventbrite.

We'll cover:

1) Author Presence

• Choosing a pen name
• Creating a logo
• Social media (and Canva)
• Building an author website, domain, and professional email

2) The Book

• Writing software
• Editing and beta reading
• Cover design
• Formatting

3) Publishing the Book

• Copyright and ISBNs
• KDP (setting up a preorder)
• Claiming your books and author profile

4) Promoting the Book

• ARC reviews
• Newsletters, reader magnets, and Bookfunnel
• Facebook group posts, newsletter swaps, and other promo tips

5) Resources

• Services I use & access to my guides

Please note: This workshop reflects one author’s experience—based in Canada and publishing MM romance through Kindle Unlimited—with insights gathered from fellow authors. It does not cover topics like LLCs, direct sales through your own website, or paid advertising. The goal is to offer a clear, honest look at one path to self-publishing, complete with screenshare documents and a customizable checklist (Excel format) you can adapt to your own journey.

There will be time for Q&A at the end—bring your questions!

Sunday, 1 February, 2pm Eastern on Zoom.

Get your ticket on Eventbrite.

About the speaker

Ellie has had a life-long love affair with books. A proud Canadian, she graduated from university with an English Literature Bachelors and Masters—as well as an avid appreciation for MM romance thanks to all the slash fanfiction she read and wrote.
 

Around 2021, she realized that the kind of MM romance she enjoys was now being traditionally and indie published, and she has not looked back. From devouring ARCs to betaing and editing while writing in her spare time, Ellie was inspired by a reader and writer conference in 2024 to take the plunge and put some of her own stories out in the world. In her spare time, she reads, writes, plays D&D, and pursues other geeky interests.