Toronto Indie Author Con 2026

Join us for an exciting gathering of indie authors in the heart of Toronto! This in-person event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow writers, learn from industry experts, and gain valuable insights into the world of independent publishing.

Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting out, the Toronto Indie Author Conference 2026 offers a range of informative and engaging presentations, workshops and panel discussions. Discover new strategies for marketing your books, explore innovative self-publishing techniques, and get insider tips on building your author brand.

Expand your network and make lasting connections with like-minded authors who share your passion for storytelling. Connect with professionals from our faculty for small group mentor sessions to take your writing career to the next level.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant indie author community of Toronto and beyond. Join us at the Toronto Indie Author Conference 2026 and take your writing journey to new heights!

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Date:

April 18 & 19, 2026

9am – 5pm

Location:

Appel Salon

Toronto Reference Library

789 Yonge St, Toronto, Ontario (M4W 2G8)

Refund Policy:

Refunds may be processed on a case-by-case basis. Payment platform fees are not refundable. We will not issue refunds within 30 days of the event.

2026 Sessions:

Author Branding: How Not to Be a Spy (from a Former Intelligence Insider)
Tikiri Herath
Drawing on her professional background, thriller author Tikiri Herath flips traditional marketing on its head. While intelligence operatives survive by blending in, authors thrive by standing out. Using Inversion Thinking, this session helps you cut through the noise of superficial trends and identify the signal of your unique voice and values. Attendees will leave with a practical roadmap using the Author Business Model Canvas and Ikigai philosophy to clarify their brand and build a sustainable author career supported by 1,000 true fans.

Selling In Person: Tips & Tricks
Tao Wong & Mark Leslie Lefebvre
Fantasy author Tao Wong and horror author Mark Leslie Lefebvre break down direct sales for authors, including signings and other in-person opportunities. You’ll learn practical tips, get a chance to look at ideal and starter booth-setups, common pitfalls, and sales strategies to get the most out of their next event.

Get Fluent in Facebook Ads
Malorie Cooper
In this class, sci-fi author and ads expert Malorie Cooper discusses some of the key changes Facebook has undergone in the past year and how those changes affect the way we advertise our books. You’ll learn key steps for building ads, getting them in front of the right readers, and setting up both your ads and your brand for ongoing sales.

In It for the Long Haul: Reflections on Creativity and Longevity After a Dozen Years of Publishing Success
Zoe York
USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author Zoe York shares insights from over a dozen years of publishing, helping you discover how to keep your creativity alive and your career sustainable. You’ll learn how to find fresh paths within your existing brand, embrace the core story that defines your work, and reignite your excitement for writing genre fiction.

Beyond the Book: Working with Influencers to Boost Your Reach
Jessica Rampersad
In this session, bookfluencer Jessica Rampersad (@jessbeyondthepages) breaks down how authors can leverage influencer marketing to grow visibility, build genuine reader connections, and support book launches. You’ll leave with practical strategies you can apply immediately.

2026 Panels

Building Secondary Income Streams and Extending Your IP
This panel examines how authors can leverage their intellectual property beyond primary book sales. Discussions will cover wide distribution strategies, direct sales, product and format expansion, licensing opportunities, and creative ways to extend IP into new revenue streams.

AI in Publishing: Navigating a Shifting Industry
This moderated discussion brings together authors with differing approaches to AI, including those who intentionally avoid AI and those who use it selectively (excluding fiction writing). The panel will explore how AI is affecting the publishing ecosystem, where authors are drawing ethical and practical boundaries, and what long-term implications may lie ahead. There will be no live audience Q&A, so please submit your questions in advance to this form.

Marketing Wide and Reaching Readers Beyond the US
This panel focuses on selling books widely and effectively marketing to readers outside the US. Topics include (but are not limited to) platform differences, discoverability challenges, ads versus organic reach, and what actually moves the needle in international markets.

Ask the Editors: Craft, Clarity, and What Really Makes a Manuscript Shine
In partnership with Editors Canada, join a panel of experienced editors for an interactive Q&A session where you can get your burning questions answered. From polishing your prose and refining your plot to navigating revisions and understanding what readers really look for, this session offers insider insight into the editing process.

2026 Workshops

Hooking Your Audience from Scene One
Andy Peloquin
A great opening line will only work so well if the rest of the opening is slow, boring, or lacking tension. In this workshop, fantasy author Andy Peloquin will provide actionable, practical insights on how to craft opening scenes that will have readers blazing through the book, movie, comic book, or graphic novel to find out what comes next. The session may include LIVE readings from submitted manuscripts. Submit your first chapters for selection to this form.

Marketing by the Numbers
Michael Chatfield
LitRPG author Michael Chatfield breaks down the key numbers you need to track to know whether your marketing is working. It wasn’t until he mastered these metrics that he was able to make over five figures a month. The session also includes a hands-on workshop where you’ll review advertising ideas, validate them, and build on them. Come with your questions, come with your ideas! Lets build your marketing powers.

Author Speed Dating Session
JF Garrard
Speculative fiction author, editor and publisher JF Garrard leads a fast-paced, interactive networking session connecting writers in similar genres for collaboration, support, and creative inspiration. After a brief introduction with practical tips on networking and breaking the ice, you’ll rotate through timed one-on-one conversations to exchange ideas, share projects, and build lasting connections within the writing community.

Bucket of Bones: Building the Skeleton of Your Mystery
Charlotte Morganti
Mystery writer Charlotte Morganti leads a highly interactive session where you’ll help build the skeleton of a murder mystery. Using prompts from the audience, you’ll choose the sleuth, brainstorm the victim, setting, and sidekicks, and suggest clues, red herrings, character traits, and plot twists to heighten suspense. By the end, you’ll help create a list of suspects, each with a motive and opportunity.

Contracts: Work Your Way Through the Worst
Tao Wong
Fantasy author Tao Wong guides you through the contracts every author will eventually face. Whether it’s for a small press, short story, audiobook, or distribution, contracts are part of author life. You’ll review real-life terms and conditions, discuss common pitfalls, and explore key considerations when signing a contract.

The Four Crucial Elements of Packaging a Book
Andy Peloquin
Your book is written, but it won’t sell itself—at least not without the right packaging. In this workshop, Andy Peloquin will show you the four crucial elements you need to get right to set your book up for sales success. He’ll also provide practical examples of books that get it right and what you can do to make yours stand out on the shelf and online.

Beyond the Algorithm: Creative, Data-Driven Marketing for Indie Authors
Eve Silver
Not every author wants—or needs—to live in Facebook Ads Manager. In this session, romance author Eve Silver explores high-ROI marketing alternatives, including newsletter promos, BookBub and other deal sites, Kobo’s promotion dashboard, Google Play and Smashwords campaigns, reader magnets, BookFunnel promos, podcast and influencer outreach, and strategic price stacking. You’ll learn how to layer diverse marketing tools, track results, and reach new readers without relying solely on Amazon or Meta platforms.

Book Blurbs Don’t Have to be Scary
Malorie Cooper
While blurbs can be written in a thousand different ways, there are a few key elements that every blurb needs. In this class, sci-fi author Malorie Cooper helps you tease those elements out of your book. You’ll learn how to craft a compelling blurb that hooks readers while conveying key genre and trope information, so they’ll be saying, “This book is for me!”

Writing to Market? Write to Your Fans!
Michael Chatfield
Writing to your fans is about learning how your audience and your genre is changing and writing series to meet your audience expectations in an ever evolving marketplace without losing the excitement to write those stories.

Roundtable Sessions

The roundtable sessions offer an engaging platform for interactive discussions and knowledge-sharing. Attendees gather around designated tables, each facilitated by an expert in the field. Within a half-hour timeframe, authors have the opportunity to pose questions, seek advice, and engage in lively conversation with both the table expert and fellow writers. After the time is up, all attendees will move to a different table.