Behind the Pages—What no one tells you about writing, pitching, publishing and promoting a book

Melissa Pateras became a social media content creator in 2020. Since then, she has grown a following of over 2 million people across three platforms. In 2023, after being approached by the publisher, she released her book ‘A Dirty Guide to a Clean Home’ with Random House/Dial Press. 

Melissa will share the challenges and unexpected wins of building a platform, the inside scoop on working with publishers, and her top tips on how to promote and sell books. She will focus on the importance of self-promotion and how building an engaged audience before publication can make all the difference. She’ll also cover how to use social media effectively before, during, and after your book launch, how to turn followers into a potential customer base, and how to create excitement about your book without coming across as pushy. 

You’ll learn why no social media is better than bad social media, how to connect authentically with your readers, and how to build a loyal following based on trust

Schedule
9:00 – Doors open
9:30 – Opening remarks and land acknowledgement
9:35 – Split-second scribble and sharing
9:50 – News and kudos
10:00 – Solution stations (NEW!)
10:20 – Coffee/snack break
10:30 – Guest speaker
11:30 – Networking

Date: November 8, 2025
Time: 9:30 am-12:30 pm