BUILD YOUR AUTHOR EMPIRE

If you’re overwhelmed with the business side of writing and always wanted a roadmap, here’s what you wished for.

We don’t just write books— we build empires.

In today’s world, most writers hoping to craft a full time living from their words must understand the business of books. Build Your Author Empire aims to provide a baseline for author entrepreneurs who take their creative businesses seriously. From contracts to understanding fandom, this June, prepare to dive deep into what you need to create the life you dream of.

WHAT IS BUILD YOUR AUTHOR EMPIRE?

Build Your Author Empire is a one day virtual conference devoted to providing writers with essential tools to run their author businesses.

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COURSES

  • The Author Funnel: Turning Strangers into Superfans on Autopilot

    Leslye Penelope

    Discover how to build an email marketing system that consistently sells your books—without relying on social media or constant hustle. In this practical, beginner-friendly workshop, author and web developer Leslye Penelope breaks down what an author funnel actually is, how it works, and how to start building one without tech overwhelm. You’ll learn how readers move from discovering your work to joining your email list, buying your books, and becoming long-term fans—all through simple, automated systems.

  • Steering the Ship: A Masterclass in Paving Your Own Publishing Way

    Sheila Masterson

    In this course, attendees will learn from USA Today Bestselling author Sheila Masterson about essentials for publishing in the indie and hybrid spaces while producing work and content that aligns with their core values. Covering core topics like production planning, timelines, street teams, and more, attendees will leave with an understanding of the nitty gritty on making their author dreams happen.

  • The Authorpreneur Path

    Leslye Penelope

    A passion for the written world is not the only thing necessary for a successful author career. Navigating today’s publishing landscape requires authors to also be entrepreneurs. Regardless of your publishing path, whether traditional, indie, or hybrid, understanding the basic fundamentals of running a business is essential. Learn tips for running your author business from entrepreneur L. Penelope.

  • Spotting Issues in Publishing Contracts

    Ken Liu

    This workshop aims to give you practical tools in evaluating publishing contracts. While it’s impossible to teach you everything there is to know about the legal side of publishing in a single class, it is possible to gain a general understanding of the rights involved and the practical mindset needed to protect your interests. After a brief lecture on common publishing contractual terms, instructor Ken Liu (a lawyer and an author) will lead participants on interactive exercises to spot potential issues in language taken from actual contracts. Whether you’re looking at your first pro short story sale or an offer to adapt your novel into a TV show, the exercises in this class will help you. Note: This class is provided for educational purposes only, and none of the content should be construed as professional legal, tax, or financial advice.

  • The Business of Writing: What I Wish Every Writer Knew

    Jane Friedman

    Publishing veteran Jane Friedman draws on decades of industry experience to share what most writers learn too late, if at all: how status anxiety sabotages career decision-making, what platform actually means (and why agents and publishers may steer you wrong), and why the business side of the writing life requires your imagination and creative problem-solving skills. Successful writers carry a unique vision and mission that helps them navigate the market without being ruled by it, and build a sustainable livelihood that looks beyond book sales. 

  • Stop Struggling to Start: Game Your Brain into Writing Productively with Neuroscience and Psychology

    Ghabiba Weston & Courtney Shack

    In this course, Ghabiba Weston (PhD Neuroscience) and Courtney Shack (MA Art Therapy) teach you how to hit flow state in minutes every time you sit down to write. Together, we’ll explore methods such as behavior design, gamification, and brain priming. You'll leave with an understanding of your creative brain and a plan for how to get your unique mind to find the muse and momentum that make story magic.

PANEL

THIS IS HOW LEGENDS ARE MADE: ON INSPIRATION AND GRIT

Legends aren’t born—they’re made.

Join us for this hour long panel with faculty who have built their own incredible, author empires.

Hosted by the STORYBEAST duo, Courtney Shack and Ghabiba, this panel with highlight experiences, advice and more from bestselling authors Emily Rath, Sheila Masterson, and more.

We will discuss the balance of grit and inspiration, their unique author journeys, and answer your burning questions about their writer practices.

FACULTY

  • Romantasy Summit Ken Liu

    KEN LIU

    INSTRUCTOR

    COURSE: SPOTTING ISSUES IN PUBLISHING CONTRACTS

    Ken Liu is an American author of speculative fiction. A winner of the Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy awards, he wrote the Dandelion Dynasty, a silkpunk epic fantasy series (starting with The Grace of Kings), as well as short story collections The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories and The Hidden Girl and Other Stories. He also penned the Star Wars novel The Legends of Luke Skywalker.

    Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Liu worked as a software engineer, corporate lawyer, and litigation consultant. Liu frequently speaks at conferences and universities on a variety of topics, including futurism, cryptocurrency, history of technology, bookmaking, narrative futures, and the mathematics of origami.

  • Romantasy Summit L. Penelope

    L. PENELOPE

    INSTRUCTOR

    COURSE I: THE AUTHOR FUNNEL: TURNING STRANGERS INTO SUPERFANS

    COURSE II: THE AUTHORPRENEUR PATH

    Leslye Penelope’s debut novel Song of Blood & Stone was chosen as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. The novel also won the inaugural award for Best Self-Published Fiction from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association before it was picked up for publication by St. Martin’s Press. Her novel The Monsters We Defy won the 2023 Audie Award for Best Fantasy Audiobook.

    Equally left and right-brained, she graduated from Howard University, where she studied film production and computer science, and sometimes dreams in HTML. Leslye is also an alumna of VONA/Voices and Hurston/Wright Writers Workshop. She has spoken, taught, and given keynotes at conferences and festivals around the country, including the National Book Festival, PEN/Faulkner Foundation, Writer's Digest Annual & Novel Writing Conferences, and the Historical Novel Society to name a few.

    She hosts the My Imaginary Friends podcast, co-hosts the Ink & Magic podcast, and lives in Maryland with her feline dependents. Visit her online at http://www.lpenelope.com.

  • SHEILA MASTERSON

    INSTRUCTOR AND PANELIST

    COURSE: STEERING THE SHIP: A MASTERCLASS IN PAVING YOUR OWN PUBLISHING WAY

    PANEL: THIS IS HOW LEGENDS ARE MADE: ON INSPIRATION AND GRIT

    Sheila Masterson is the USA Today Bestselling author of The Poison Daughter, a dark enemies to lovers romantasy standalone about a vigilante who uses her poison kiss to take revenge on abusive men in her community, until she’s unwittingly thrust into an arranged marriage with the only man immune to her magic. 

    Her other works include the gothic fairytale fantasy romance, Song of the Dark Wood, the angsty epic romantasy quartet, The Lost God Series, as well as its next-generation standalone spinoff, A Legacy of Stars.

    When Sheila’s not busy stabbing beloved side characters and dreaming up new ways to make her readers cry, you can find her browsing the shelves at local indie bookstores, drinking fancy cocktails with friends, or curled up reading books and tarot. She lives outside Philadelphia with a small army of underwatered houseplants that survive out of spite.

  • JANE FRIEDMAN

    INSTRUCTOR

    COURSE: THE BUSINESS OF WRITING: WHAT I WISH EVERY WRITER KNEW

    Jane Friedman has spent her entire career in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry. Her latest book is The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal. In addition to serving on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund, she works with organizations such as The Authors Guild to bring transparency to the business of publishing. Learn more at JaneFriedman.com.

  • EMILY RATH

    PANELIST

    PANEL: THIS IS HOW LEGENDS ARE MADE: ON INSPIRATION AND GRIT

    Emily Rath is a New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of romance and fantasy. Some of her works include the chart-topping Jacksonville Rays hockey romance series, the Second Sons regency romance series, and the Tuonela dark fantasy duet. Her books have big casts of characters, lots of drama, lots of kissing, and unpredictable magic.

  • GHABIBA WESTON

    INSTRUCTOR & HOST

    COURSE: STOP STRUGGLING TO START: GAME YOUR BRAIN INTO WRITING PRODUCTIVELY WITH NEUROSCIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGY

    Ghabiba Weston is a South African novelist and poet. She has a PhD in neuroscience but the most interesting thing she uses her brain for is dreaming up fantastical tales full of wicked characters and invented snacks. She was a recipient of the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture Writers Residency in A'lula, and her short works have been published in several anthologies. When she's not binge-reading, you can find her hiking with her pup Zuko, studying obscure topics, or kickboxing. Find her on Instagram @ghabibaweston.

  • COURTNEY SHACK

    INSTRUCTOR & HOST

    COURSE: STOP STRUGGLING TO START: GAME YOUR BRAIN INTO WRITING PRODUCTIVELY WITH NEUROSCIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGY

    Courtney Shack spends her time reading and writing about darkness, swoon-worthy heroes, scorching kisses, and magical lands. Currently, she is working on her Empire of Wolves series in the company of her beloved canine, Sweet P, and patient family in southern Virginia. She loves snacks, a sexy villain, and has likely had too much coffee. She’s represented by Kimberly Brower at Park, Fine, and Brower. Find Courtney on Instagram @cshackwrites.

Stay tuned for more faculty and course announcements coming soon

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Stay tuned for more faculty and course announcements coming soon *

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What others are saying about STORYBEAST conferences:

  • "I had the incredible opportunity to participate as a faculty member at the Romantasy Summit, hosted by the Storybeast Podcast, where I taught two sword yoga fusion classes between sessions. The summit was masterfully organized and thoughtfully curated, providing a perfect balance of learning, movement, and fun. It was such a joy to get participants moving and energized during their breaks, and their enthusiasm was truly contagious! Beyond teaching, I gained invaluable insights into the world of writing and the romantasy genre from the phenomenal panelists. The depth of knowledge and passion they brought to every session was inspiring. If you have any interest in romantasy, I wholeheartedly recommend attending future summits by the Storybeast Podcast Team. They excel at creating an engaging, enriching experience you won’t want to miss!"

    Sabina Storberg, founder of WeaponUP.

    Romantasy Summit 2024 Faculty

  • "I had such a wonderful time participating in the Romantasy Summit! As a faculty member and panelist, I was able to share my love of writing romance and fantasy and (hopefully) provide some helpful insights. I also got to learn so much as a participant, watching other sessions live and following up with some of the recorded sessions. I loved how flexible everything felt. I could really make it work for me."

    Emily Rath, NYT, USA Today, Amazon, and international bestselling author.

    Romantasy Summit 2024 Faculty and Panelist

  • "Being part of the Romantasy Summit was so much fun! It was great to have the opportunity to talk world building and connect with other writers. I feel like I learned a lot, both through getting my thoughts together to teach my own class and through those I attended."

    Hannah Whitten, bestselling author of the Wilderwood series and the Nightshade Crown series.

    Romantasy Summit 2024 Faculty and Panelist

  • “I LOVED this conference. It was absolutely packed with brilliant speakers, insightful classes, and interesting topics. My brain is on fire right now, ready to tackle all of the things I want to add to my books. I am so glad I signed up for this conference. I cannot recommend it enough!”

    Romantasy Summit 2024 attendee

  • "The Romantasy Summit 2024 was well run, with a friendly, professional vibe and an amazing array of speakers. I learned so much more than I was expecting and came away with so many actionable points - and new books to hunt down! The summit left me feeling so motivated and enthusiastic for my own writing; I can't wait to dive back into my book."

    Amy Laurens, Romantasy Summit 2024 attendee

  • “Romantasy Summit 2024 was full of entertaining and informative courses covering a wide-range of topics helpful for all writers. The atmosphere was fun and casual while at the same time informative and professional. I learned a lot from every course, and I left the Summit feeling energized and inspired to continue working on my book. Hosts Ghabiba and Courtney were a joy to be around, and it was obvious they were just as passionate about the topics as the attendees were. I would recommend Romantasy Summit by STORYBEAST for writers at any stage in their writing journey, as there is something for everyone. I plan on attending again next year!”

    Samantha Andersen, Romantasy Summit 2024 attendee

  • “The Romantasy Summit 2024 went above and beyond my expectations! I came away with pages of notes, inspiration, practical tools to elevate my writing, and a better understanding of story crafting and creating these magical worlds as a whole. I can't wait for future Summits!”

    Romantasy Summit 2024 attendee

  • “Romantasy Summit covered a variety of topics across the spectrum of the genre in an incredibly accessible format. I enjoyed how deep each speaker was willing to go during their course, the Q&As and how they expanded on the topics, and the invigorating panel discussions at the end of each day. Ghabiba and Courtney fostered a sense of curiosity while keeping the mood light and the energy high. Their sincere desire to encourage other writers and aspiring authors was at the core of this conference, and it made all the difference. I would absolutely attend another STORYBEAST conference if given the opportunity!”

    Romantasy Summit 2024 attendee

  • “The Romantasy Summit is truly a feast for all writers! A jam-packed weekend with so much shared wisdom that will guide me and my storytelling moving forward. Every author was incredibly generous in their teachings and in taking the time to answer our burning questions. And the team at Storybeast have created a truly magical space for writers all over the world to connect, learn, and grow from experts in the field. I can't wait to do it again next year!”

    Nav, Romantasy Summit 2024 attendee

  • “As a plotter, the courses and panels offered gave me tools to build a story bible for consistency, deepen my morally grey hotties, and perfect spice on the page. Not only did it give me affirmation to trust my instincts, but the learning built my confidence in writing key aspects of the genre.”

    Romantasy Summit 2024 attendee

  • “The collection of speakers, and the quality of their classes, was outstanding. If you're wanting to build more skill, or looking for perspective on how successful writers approach the craft, then this was exactly the place you needed to be. Honestly, no matter where you are in your writing journey, there was an incredible amount of value present the entire weekend. I'm looking forward to the next one! And I will be bringing friends!”

    Romantasy Summit 2024 attendee

  • “The Romantasy Summit 2024 was a brilliant journey that taught me more about how to write and connect to my story in ways I will not soon forget. Totally recommend for anyone who has believed they were capable of telling the story inside them, because after this event… you will be.”

    Romantasy Summit 2024 attendee