Meet J.D. Webb
Who is J.D. Webb?
He’s a board member, an ornery go-getter filled with ideas about how to reach, instruct, and grow the writing community, and an absolute crack-up. At previous MWW events, he has shared his knowledge about tapping into libraries and bookstores and we knew we needed to have him give this presentation for our first-ever self-publishing conference, “Me Publishing Me” Saturday April 26, 9:00am – 6:00pm EST.
Fun Fact: J.D. is the one who came up with the name for the conference!
Let’s hear about J.D. from the man himself…
Well I’ll tell you a bit about me
I am a lifelong Decatur, Il resident–until I moved last December to Tennessee–who served in the Air Force in Viet Nam and the Philippines as a Chinese linguist before working as a manager at A. E. Staley Mfg. for twenty-five years.
When I was no longer needed, I owned a shoe repair and sales shop for eleven years, until that business succumbed to the economy.
I’ve been writing since I could hold a pencil. For most of my 75+ years, I wrote short stories, having a few published in magazines before they went the way of the dinosaurs.
When I ‘retired’ in 2002 my wife urged me to write a novel. I didn’t know if I could, so my only goal as an author was to finish a novel. I’ve been blessed to have had publishers who wanted to publish my work.
Six novels and many short stories have been published. The latest, Uncial, agreed to publish two of my short stories and one of them, Nine One One, won first place in the Electronic Publishing International Organization (EPIC) annual contest. My most recent publication is bayou Chase, a thriller where revenge is rewarded with multiple assaults.
True joy is having someone say they couldn’t put down something I’ve written until they finished. Unless my words are read, they languish astride the page. The ultimate goal is to intrigue and entertain readers.
Be prepared to laugh and learn in his session, “Getting Your Books–and You–into Libraries and Bookstores.”
As an author, you’re automatically a small businessperson. You quickly discover the hardest part of this writing stuff is selling and marketing your books. Networking with other authors is a great way to help, but you’ll also want to network with your libraries and bookstores.
Think about it, they have books. Think of yourself as a source. Book seller to libraries and bookstores. This session will tell you how to do it.
***
Me Publishing Me is stocked with well-established and award-winning indie authors who have been through the trenches. They want to equip you with the tips, tricks, information and inspiration you’ll need to get you on track to producing your own books. Join us for this one-day, virtual event on Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 9:00am to 6:00pm EST.
All attendees will receive available session materials and have access to the recordings for 90 days following the event
Learn More and Register
Have You Checked out MWW25?
Join us this July 10 – 12, 2024 at the Ball State Alumni Center in Muncie, Indiana—or virtually, from the comfort of your own computer—and see for yourself the wonderful things MWW has to offer! Scholarships available
All attendees will receive available session materials and have access to the recordings for 90 days following the event.
Learn More and Register!
Are You in a Writing Slump? Write With Us!
The “Wednesday Write-In with MWW” is a 30-minute Zoom session, first Wednesday of the month, where we get together and WRITE.
It might seem weird to have the Brady-Bunch Zoom screen filled with people not talking to each other, but please trust me: It works. It creates an accountability; it creates a space where your sole purpose is to get words down on paper. I might allow for a *little* chit-chat 🙂
To accommodate people’s availability, we will alternate morning sessions and evening sessions. Let’s dedicate 30 minutes of our day, once a month, to generating words and developing our craft!
Join us next Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00pm EST for a thirty-minute writing sprint–subscribe to our newsletter for the monthly link!
Success Stories
Finish an essay, a book, a paragraph? Have something published? Tell us about something exciting you’ve done with writing and/or publishing in the past year. Bonus points if you can tell us how MWW has made an impact on your writing.
Send your success stories to midwestwritersworkshop@gmail.com and we’ll post it on our website!
MWW is dedicated to building a community where writers can network with others and grow.
ADVERTISE WITH US!
This ad space could be yours! MWW publishes four digital newsletters a month. With a 42+% open rate, we offer an excellent venue for reaching your target audience.
You can also be featured in our event programs!
Check out our advertising opportunities.
SEE WHAT ELSE MWW HAS TO OFFER
- MWW Writing Service: Receive manuscript evaluations from our experts
- Midwest Writers Workshop Facebook Group: Join our community to network, support, celebrate, and commiserate with other writers
