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Since I first started working on The Black Lens novel, my wife has always been my strongest supporter.

And this week we both got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the annual Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City, where I talked on a panel about self-publishing The Black Lens.

IMG_0562The invitation came after my debut novel won Grand Prize in the 2016 Writer’s Digest Self-Published e-Book Awards.

The Black Lens beat out more than 600 other books in this national contest, which “spotlights today’s self-published works and honors self-published authors.” The Grand Prize included books for sale at the actual conference and:

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My wife and I decided to arrive a few days early so we could tour the city,  dine at some local restaurants and catch a show on Broadway.

This was the first time away from our kids for such an extended period of time (thanks to Natalie’s parents!), so we had a wonderful time experiencing the city together. We got to:

 

My actual panel presentation took place on Saturday. The session was titled, “Is Self-Publishing the Path for You?” Here’s the description:

IMG_0576 (1)“Independent publishing is no longer a path of last resort. For many authors, it’s a business decision, and an exciting one at that.

What makes a successful indie? For whom is this a viable choice? Let’s talk about the pros and cons with a diverse panel of writers who’ve blazed an indie trail.”

In case you haven’t read it yet, here is the official book review of The Black Lens from Writer’s Digest:

“Gritty, unforgiving and in some places downright shocking, THE BLACK LENS is nevertheless a stunning read, from the first page to the last … This book rivals — if not surpasses — its commercially published brethren. It may indeed raise awareness of human trafficking and exploitation of women in the same manner as UNCLE TOM’S CABIN and TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE did for slavery.”

To read more reviews of The Black Lens, please visit the Reviews page or go to Amazon.