Just yesterday self-publishing was not only the path least traveled, but considered the pathway to barely sold and rarely read. Today ePublishing offers authors the opportunity to publish online and get their manuscripts directly to readers within hours of downloading. November's program offers the talents and shared experiences of three self-published authors, Phil Cisneros and the team of Deborah Bayles and Dave Congalton.

Phil Cisneros' topic: "Publishing is a critical piece of the puzzle, but marketing is the key to long term sales."

Cisneros is a singer/guitarist/songwriter, author, and business consultant with a masters degree in Administration/Education from San Jose State University. Based in San Luis Obispo, he self-published and marketed his children’s books before it was fashionable to self-publish and is still receiving royalties from sales. Formerly an educator for 22 years, Cisneros stated, "For many years, I reminded my students to always believe in your dreams and never give up. I started listening to my own advice. I self-published after being rejected over 30 times by publishers! I discovered this: 'If everyone is saying 'no' to my dreams, the one who ultimately says yes is ME!' In 1996 I was awarded the Kellogg Foundation's prestigious award for Excellence in Children's Literature and was deemed "Author Expert-in-Residence" for the Battle Creek, MI School District."

Deborah Bayles' & Dave Congalton's topic: "Transitioning from Traditional to E-publishing: Marketing Strategies for this New and Exciting Frontier."

As established published authors and current radio talk show hosts Bayles and Congalton were inspired by the rapid growth of E-publishing and the impact it was having on traditional publishing. Bayles had assumed the task of coordinating the "Tech, Toys and Tools for Writers in the Digital Age" Pre-Conference Workshop for the 2011 Central Coast Writers' Conference. Congalton, a former co-director with his wife Charlotte Alexander of the Conference, has been continually supportive of the conference on his talk show. After interviewing Mark Coker, an announced presenter for the 2011 conference, they decided to collaborate and test out Coker's Smashwords.com. They co-authored and produced the new e-book The Talk Radio Guest Book: How to Be the Perfect Talk Radio Guest and launched it just before the September conference.

Deborah Bayles is the host of KVEC's Saturday Noon Talk Show The Best Is Yet To Be. She is an e-business pioneer and authored two best selling e-books, numerous papers and articles and has lectured internationally, including at the United Nations. Her textbook, E-commerce Logistics and Fulfillment: Delivering the Goods (Prentice-Hall) is used worldwide. She is currently teaching eCommerce and eMarketing at Cuesta College.

Dave Congalton has been the #1 talk show host on the Central Coast since his popular radio show debuted in January 1992. The former college instructor offers up Hometown Radio weekday afternoons from 3 pm to 7 pm. He is an award-winning author and freelance writer. A native of Chicago, Congalton is married to Charlotte Alexander, who currently serves as executive director of Arts Obispo.

As well, please be aware that many of our members who have published books will have those books available at the meeting for your reading -- and purchasing -- pleasure!

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO THE PG&E CENTER:

1. Heading South on 101: Take San Luis Bay Drive exit (#196); turn right at stop sign, then the first left onto Ontario. It’s a quick left, because Ontario is a frontage road, so keep an eye out. As usual in California, signage isn’t as good as it could be. The PG&E Center is on the right about 1/4 mile from the turn.

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2. Heading North on 101: Take San Luis Bay Drive exit (#196); turn left at the stop sign and go across the bridge over the highway. Just after bridge ends, after the southbound entrance to the 101, turn left onto Ontario, the frontage road. You’ll find PG&E on the right just a little way down the road. Huge parking lot with lots of lighting.