How will people find this book? To whom should we pitch it? When do we need to launch the campaign? What can small press publicity teams do to amplify their impact? 

These questions are just a few of the many that small press publicity, marketing, and sales teams ask every day. With small budgets and a frequently changing media landscape, getting the right book coverage (whether in trade reviews, articles, excerpts, awards, influencer posts, or author appearances) is more difficult to navigate today than it has ever been. Join this panel to hear from three savvy and experienced local publishing PR experts as they discuss core tenets and fresh insights of book discoverability and help us focus on the most important practices of book publicity planning today. 

The panel discussion will be followed by a brief Q&A.

About the Panelists

Jana Nelson (she/her)
Jana is a strategic communications expert with more than 20 years of experience in publishing, nonprofit development, and public relations. As Publicity Director at Augsburg Fortress Publishers, she leads organization-wide PR strategy, manages a team of publicists, and crafts campaigns that elevate authors and mission-driven narratives. Prior to this, Jana ran her own PR firm and worked as a senior consultant at AmplifyDMC, where she helped nonprofits grow their visibility and fundraising capacity. She has also held a leadership role at Graywolf Press and co-founded the inaugural Twin Cities Book Festival.

Alyssa Miller (she/her)
Alyssa is the Senior Marketing Manager at Amistad Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. Her 15 year marketing career spans corporate retail, small business, and independent press. She has a BA from Howard University in Journalism, Certificate of Digital Editing & Publishing from the University of Chicago, and MFA in Creative Writing from Hamline University. A 2024 Mirrors and Windows Loft Fellow and 2025 recipient of a MN State Arts Board Grant, you can find her active in the broader Twin Cities writing community with Brown Noise, MN BIPOC Kidlit Collective, MN Black Authors Expo, TruArtSpeaks, and The Loft.

Katie Olson (she/her)
Katie Olson is the Marketing and Sales Assistant at the Minnesota Historical Society Press. In this role, she manages publicity outreach, social media, influencer marketing, review and award submissions, event planning, ARC mailings, and more for 5–8 titles per season. Her career has included a variety of roles spanning digital marketing, advertising, project management, and publicity. She has over two years of experience in publishing and has held previous positions at Wise Ink Creative Publishing, Coriolis Company, and Lerner Publishing Group. Katie holds a BA in English and Strategic Communications (Advertising & Public Relations), as well as a Certificate in Editing and Publishing from the University of Minnesota.

Where & When

Open Book (Target Performance Hall)

1011 Washington Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55415

Thursday, September 25, 2025 (**Please note that due to scheduling conflicts, this event is on a Thursday, not a Wednesday as is typical for MBPR panels.**)

Check-in and networking begins at 11:30. The program starts at 12:00 and will run for about an hour.

Tickets

Tickets are $20 for members and students. They are $25 for nonmembers with advanced reservation. If space allows walk-ins, those without reservations will be charged $30 at the door.

Food

Lunch will be provided for preregistered attendees.

Parking and Transit

There is a small side lot next to the Open Book building (just past the building on the right as you are heading east on Washington; for those heading west, turn on 10th or 11th and go down the alley to access the lot). If the Open Book lot is full, other options are:

* Meters along 10th and 11th

* Guthrie ramp. Enter on 9th Ave (between Washington & 2nd Street S)

* Municipal parking ramp across from the Mill City Museum

* Transit information is available at www.metrotransit.org/trip-planner