University Press of Florida invites you to attend its Fall 2026 Publishing Symposium. This free virtual event is open to anyone interested in learning about book publishing. This year’s sessions will especially appeal to prospective authors or current authors who are publishing with a university press. To register for one or more of the sessions, click the registration links below.
The Making of Your Book
October 29 | 1:00pm–2:00pm
This panel explores the production side of publishing, from physical books to electronic versions. Designers will discuss the cover design process, how interiors are related to covers, and how ebooks impact design decisions. We’ll also discuss production decisions related to printing and the various electronic formats, making books accessible, and how authors are involved along the way.
Panelists:
- Marthe Walters (moderator) is a project editor and manager of the Editorial, Design, and Production Department at the University Press of Florida.
- Kelly Gray is senior designer at the University of Tennessee Press.
- Mindy Basinger Hill is book designer at the University Press of Florida.
- Alex Ramos is managing editor and head of the Editorial, Design, and Production Department at Penn State University Press.
Marketing Your Book
October 29 | 2:30pm–3:30pm
Are you a prospective or published author who is curious about what happens behind the scenes in a publisher’s marketing department? Are you a student who wants to learn what a career in book marketing might look like? This panel brings together publishing professionals who will discuss different areas of marketing—publicity and social media, metadata and digital marketing, and sales and distribution—from a university press perspective. Panelists will also highlight how authors can be involved in each of these areas.
Panelists:
- Rachel Doll (moderator) is marketing and sales manager at the University Press of Florida.
- Sam Anselmo is digital information and data services manager at Louisiana State University Press.
- Danielle Coty-Fattal is publicity manager at the University of Michigan Press.
- Rachel Watkins is marketing and sales director at the University of Georgia Press. She spent over thirteen years managing an independent bookstore with a concentration on marketing and author events.
Meet the Press
October 29 | 4:00pm–4:30pm
All Publishing Symposium attendees are invited to participate in this informal networking and Q&A session. University press staff members representing acquisitions, editorial, design, production, marketing, and journals will be available to chat with attendees about their areas of publishing, the day-to-day activities of their roles, and advice for authors related to the stages of the book life cycle that they represent. Please join us and bring your questions!