​Hire Bernadette Marie to speak at your next writers' event

​Bernadette Marie is an International Bestselling Author who has published over fifty of her own novels and has helped launch the careers of other bestselling authors. She is the owner of 5 Prince Publishing. Her expertise are in writing, publishing, marketing, and promotion on a small budget. Bernadette is available to present as a keynote speaker or present workshops upon request for writing organizations and conferences.  Please contact her at info@bernadettemarie.com as there may be a nominal fee and travel expenses.

​*Publicity for the Pre-Published Author (1 or 2 hour workshop)
Learn how to publicize yourself as an author before you are published to maximize your exposure for publishers and future readers. 

*Writing Romance From Concept to Completion (2 hour workshop)
Explore the process of writing in the romance genre. Learn the difference between its subgenres and how a romance story line may differ from other genres. Gain insight on the importance of POV, open and closed doors, and heat levels.

*Successfully Writing a Series (1 or 2 hour workshop)
 Explore the best strategies for planning, organizing, and writing a series in different genres. 

*Getting Your Manuscript Finished and Submission Ready (2 hour workshop)
Finishing your manuscript is only the first step. In this workshop we will go through a fine checklist of making your manuscript ready for submission to a publisher, editor, or agent.

*Intimate Details Without Following Your Characters into the Bedroom (1 or 2 hour workshop)
Romance can be hot and spicy without going into explicit detail. Learn how to close the door on sex, but create heat and passion. 

*How to Host or Participate in an Online Takeover Event (1 hour workshop)
Online takeovers on social media are a great way to build your readership. Learn effective time management and marketing skills to give you maximum exposure in this quick paced environment.

*HOW TO HOST YOUR OWN FACEBOOK TAKEOVER (or multi-author event) Can be combined with above workshop.
Facebook is one of the critical social media networks used to reach new readers and interact with them. Hosting a Facebook Takeover Event is key to putting yourself out in front of book lovers and engaging them in conversation. Learn how to set up an event, invite current and new readers, and what kind of content to fill your event with. Explore new ways to have your message received and hook new readers without having to leave your computer.

*Author Networking 101 - Building Your Likeminded Tribe (45min Panel)
From plotting to celebrating a release, every author needs a tribe of like-minded individuals to help them bounce ideas off of, share strategies, help with marketing, and to celebrate successes no matter how big or small. This panel will look at networking and building a like-minded tribe, where to find other authors who are looking to connect, and how to keep in touch so that you can offer each other needed support. 

*Building Your Author Platform (2 Hour workshop)
Aspiring authors, those with finished manuscripts, and published authors all need a platform to promote their books and their brand. In this workshop, Bernadette Marie, will cover the basics of what is needed for an author platform and where to begin--including website development, newsletter curation, and online marketing. Learn what options are available to you as an aspiring author, and which avenues you will want to venture into as a published author.

*Building Your Online Presence and Platform
Having and online presence is crucial in today's literary market. Explore the best practices for being front and center on social media platforms as well as using a platform to gain readership.
This workshop will explore and expand on ways to set up an author's online presence through social media and websites. We will discuss methods of getting in front of readers, such as interviews, vlogs, blogs, etc. We will also talk about securing a platform in which the author can speak to their like minded readers. For example, not only writing about domestic violence in their books, authors might educate their readers on the subject and be part of a proactive movement.

*Marketing - Thinking Outside the Industry (2 Hours)
Are you looking for new and fresh marketing strategies? Consider thinking outside the literary industry to gather ideas that will make your marketing stand out.
This workshop will detail ideas on gathering marketing strategies from outside the literary industry. We will explore different methods of marketing, as well as strategies from other industries which have worked to make an author’s marketing stand out. The class will be interactive, taking suggestions from attendees to create a new marketing strategy to get started with.

*Writing Series Workshop (1 hours)
Explore the adventure that is writing a series and learn the key elements to your series success. We will discuss the necessity of plotting out your series and creating a series "Bible." What genres are best suited for a series and how does the passage of time affect the series? Cover art, character arcs, pitching and marketing your series will also be discussed.

*Introduction into Independent Publishing (1-2 hours)
Explore the process of publishing your own books and taking control of your publishing career. This workshop will give you the basics to create the to-do list that dreams are made of. You will learn about pre-publicity, the tools you'll need, how to choose an editor, what to consider when formatting, and different publishing models. Come prepared to take in a lot of information and all of the possibilities that independently publishing offers you.
​
*Diving into Independent Publishing (Advanced) (2 hours)
Once you have a basic knowledge of what to expect when independently publishing your work, take a deep dive into actually publishing your books. In this workshop, you will go behind the scenes and see what it looks like to push that publish button. We will explore different formatting tools, and dive deeper into wide and exclusive distribution.​

*Romancing the Book (1 hour)
Take a deeper look into what elements and tropes are expected in a romance novel. We will discuss heat waves, closed doors, and romantic elements that will keep your readers turning pages and picking up your books.

*Time Management (1-2 hours)
Come explore the many models of time management and learn how you can incorporate them into your publishing schedule. We will also discuss how you might choose to use more than one method to keep your creative mind in check.

*Author Branding (1-2 hours)
If your book is your product than you, as and author, are the brand. In this workshop we will explore the ways to market you, as an author, so that your "product" flies off the shelves and people come back wanting more.

*Story Arc Mapping for the Recovering Pantser (1 hour workshop)
A trip is always better when you have a road map, and a story isn’t much different. In this workshop we will walk through different visual methods of plotting, from brain dumps to plotting graphs that will help you plan out your next manuscript. By mapping out your story arc, you’re giving yourself a map to a better story, easily dissected points to create a blurb, and a tidy list to create a synopsis—not to mention a map to make sure you stay on track while creating your masterpiece. In this workshop we will learn how to map out a story without giving up that free for all pantser attitude.
​
*Book Signing Sales Tables - How to Set Up and Stand Out in the Crowd (1 hour)
Set up a display that will have them stopping in their tracks! We all want to be noticed when doing vendor fairs and book signings. Learn the basics to making any size table work in under 1 hour of setup, and what you need to know to have success at your signing.

*Talk it Out - Using Dialogue to Let Your Characters Tell the Story (1-2 hours)
Characters drive the story, so let them tell it. Learn how dialogue can help move your story, grow your readers connection to the characters, and drop backstory all without bogging down your book with unnecessary information.

*Martial Arts and Self Defense for Writers (1-2 hours)
Get first hand knowledge of moves in which you can add to your characters for realistic fight scenes or get away scenes. What works? What doesn't? What would a martial artist think? Walk away with some self defense moves that will help you in the real world as well. Bernadette Marie has been training in Tang Soo Do since 2006. She is a certified instructor and 2nd Degree Black Belt.


​​Bernadette Marie is skilled and knowledgable in the following areas and can be a great asset on a panel or group discussion:

*Independent Publishing
*Online/Social Media Marketing
*Setting up and using Social Media
*Book Formatting using Word or Vellum
*Romance and the Sub-Romance Genre

Workshops have been presented to the following organizations.

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
Writing Heights Writers Association
Pikes Peak Writers
Lost State Writers Guild
Lighthouse Writers Workshop
Romance Writers of America
Wyoming Writers Inc.