# Upcoming Programs & Events for Writers
Get help writing, publishing and marketing your own book with FREE Writer's Lab workshops! We've also got a ton of free resources like Pressbooks and Indie Author Project that will help you find new readers and make self-publishing easier.
Indie Author Project's Annual Contest is accepting entries now through May 31, 2025. Along with the $2500 grand prize and other accolades and perks of the award, you work being recognized by librarians creates credibility and visibility as an indie author, setting you apart in a growing marketplace of digital content and indie-published books.
# Upcoming Programs
Authors Roundtable: Managing Marketing, Exploring Author Strategies
Discover how to align your personal story with a captivating marketing approach that resonates with readers. This workshop and author networking opportunity is presented by Authors Roundtable of Northeast Florida - a 501c3 that supports authors reaching their highest potential. Note: All genres are welcome.
10:15 a.m. on Saturday, May 3 | Main Library (Conference Level)
Writer's Lab: Visual Storytelling Workshop with Allison Horner
After this workshop, you'll leave with brainstorming exercises that can help you work through creative blocks in the early stages of visual storytelling, and some tools to break down a large project (like illustrating a 32-page children's book) into smaller, manageable steps. Allison will also share how she develops visuals for a story from thumbnail sketches to finished artwork. Attendees will engage in prompt-driven drawing exercises (stick figures welcomed!).
10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 17 | Pablo Creek Regional Library
Presenter Allison Horner is an artist and illustrator from the Midwest. She spent her early years in Ohio, before earning her BFA in Painting from the Savannah College of Art & Design in 2011. After several years teaching drawing and design as an adjunct at Ivy Tech Community College in Columbus, Indiana, she became the Program Chair of the School of Visual Communications (2022 - 2024).
As an enthusiastic collaborator and visual storyteller, Allison has worked on a variety of creative projects ranging from public artworks to illustrations of legendary fables. Picture books like Turtle Goes to War and Meadowlark & The Rattlesnake are among those she has illustrated for The Language Conservancy, a not-for-profit based in Bloomington, Indiana. Recent public artworks include murals for Morgenstern Books in Bloomington, Indiana.
Check out Allison’s works from the library!
Allison Horner Recommends:
Books:
- The Naming of Aki: From the Minnesota Historical Society Press, an Ojibwe creation story written by author Thomas Peacock (and illustrated by me!) will be available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
- Birds of Maine: One of my favorite graphic novels, written and illustrated by Michael DeForge, Birds of Maine depicts a world where birds have left earth and humankind behind to inhabit a new planet of their own design. DeForge’s illustrations are vibrant, enigmatic, and purposefully ambiguous; as the reader, you are often left with a less-than-concrete grasp of what’s real, as unanswerable questions are playfully considered by a flock of eccentric birds.
- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay: This heartfelt novel by Michael Chabon is a coming-of-age story which follows Jewish cousins Joe Kavalier and Sammy Clay as their careers take off in the 1940s comic book industry. Their creative collaboration produces The Escapist, an anti-fascist superhero, while the second World War rages abroad.
- Just Kids: This memoir is Patti Smith’s depiction of a cherished, life-long friendship between herself and photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Against the backdrop of the Hotel Chelsea and the 1960’s art scene in New York, the two artists grow and create together as they develop their respective crafts. Reading this memoir is motivating; it never fails to give me a creative ‘kick-in-the-pants’.
- God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater: As a Midwesterner, how can I not recommend Vonnegut? This satire about love, money, and the elusive American Dream will make you laugh, cry, then laugh again.
Music & Podcasts:
- Beautiful/Anonymous: ‘One phone call. 1 hour. No names. No holds barred.’ is the premise behind this podcast hosted by comedian Chris Gethard. Callers talk about anything and everything. If you adore surprises and have an adventurous ear and an open heart, this is the podcast for you.
- Wrong Way Up: This one-time collaborative album from studio producer Brian Eno and composer John Cale is pure euphoria. I listened to ‘Spinning Away’ on repeat while drawing hundreds of clouds and celestial bodies for ‘The Naming of Aki’.
- No Dogs in Space: Husband and wife team Marcus Parks and Carolina Hidalgo traverse their favorite periods of modern music history with in-depth research, loving appreciation, and some irreverent humor. Listening to their deep-dives into punk and alternative bands will remind you of how you fell in love with your favorite artists.
Communities:
Saturday Morning Cartooning: Do you want to meet more local creators? If you are new to visual storytelling or currently working in the field, stop by from 9:30 a.m. to noon on select Saturday mornings at the Main Library to make some new art friends! This bi-monthly meet-up is free to attend and is a fantastic opportunity to share your work with other creators. This event is managed by comics artist James Greene, follow @jax_comic_core on IG for updates.
Still Here Still Life: The viral still life drawing challenge is back! Originally born from the isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, this Instagram account provides artists of all disciplines with high-quality photographic inspiration and a platform to share their work. Curated and managed by illustrators Tess Smith-Roberts and Zena Kay (@stillherestilllife).
Looking for more free workshops?
# Cash Prizes for Indie-Published Authors
Are you an indie author looking for a chance to showcase your talent? The Indie Author Project Annual Contest is looking for the best indie-published e-book. Submit your work before May 31, 2025, for your chance to win $2,500 and other amazing prizes!
Each book that is submitted to the contest must be:
- Indie-Published
-
In one of the following genres*:
- Mystery/Thrillers
- Romance
- Sci-Fi
- Fantasy
- Historical Fiction
- General/Contemporary Fiction
- Memoir
- Young Adult
- Geared toward an adult or young adult audience
- Available in either ePUB (strongly recommended) or PDF format
- Also please note: there is no limit on publication date. All publication dates are allowed.
The winners of this contest will receive:
- $2,500 to the 1st place winner and $500 each to two runner-ups in each genre
- Honors at the 2026 Indie Author Day Reception at ALA Annual
- Opportunities to promote your book(s) at public libraries
- Inclusion in a full-page print spread in Library Journal
- Opportunities to earn royalties through the IAP Select collection (ePUB format required for eligibility)
Find out more about how you can participate, get the Author Rubric, and read the Frequently Asked Questions on the Indie Author Project Annual Contest guidelines page.
*Don’t see your genre included? Not a fiction author? Even if your books are in other genres, you can still gain exposure and new readership by submitting your e-book to the Indie Author Project. After submitting, your ebook can be shared with participating libraries throughout your state, and if your title is chosen by the Indie Author Project network of curators, it will also be available alongside other top indie reads in participating libraries all across the U.S. and Canada.
# Jax Library Loves Local Authors
Browse our Local Author Collection
Jacksonville, Florida, is the home of many talented writers. To make their work accessible to the entire community, we created the Local Author Collection. Physical items in this collection are housed at the Main Library and are available for customers to check out through the Library's catalog.
Donate Your Book
Want to see your book on the shelf? For selection criteria and a submission form, click here.
Create Your E-Book or Print-Ready Manuscript
Create, edit, format, and generate print-ready and eBook formats for your book—no matter how where in the writing process you are! Pressbooks Public is a free, online tool that gives you complete control over your content and the ability to collaborate with other authors and editors. It's browser-based, so you don't even have to download software. You can access it from anywhere!
Share Your E-Book with Readers in Florida
Jacksonville Public Library is partnering with Library Journal and the Indie Author Project to help readers discover local authors just like you through the BiblioBoard discovery platform. To get started, just submit your e-book (via the Indie Author Project website) for inclusion in this online collection. For more information, visit Self-Publishing E-Books with the Library.
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