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.
The 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:
- A feature article about The Black Lens in the May/June 2017 issue of Writer’s Digest
- My name on the front cover of Writer’s Digest magazine
- A paid trip to the national Writer’s Digest Conference
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:
- Watch the hit Broadway show 1984
- Eat at famous local restaurants like Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer
- Enjoy some hand-crafted coffee at places like Ninth Street Espresso
My actual panel presentation took place on Saturday. The session was titled, “Is Self-Publishing the Path for You?” Here’s the description:
“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.