BookPlan 2027: How to Launch, Market & Sell Your Nonfiction Book

A three-day online workshop to help you engage your existing network, reach new readers, earn media attention, and reach thousands of people with your book. Get the Super Early Bird discount between now and Oct 31!

Looking for BookPlan 2026 recordings? Buy access here, or if you were a 2026 attendee, access the recordings portal here.

You are here because you want to change the world.

You’ve written (or are writing) a book to share your message—a message that will affect countless lives.

There’s just a few problems:

Books don’t sell themselves.
The rules that sold books twenty years ago no longer apply.
You don’t have unlimited time or budget to figure out what actually works on your own.

You’re looking for current, practical, vetted strategies to increase your reach, sales, and impact.

In short, you’re looking for a plan to sell you book . . . a BookPlan!

BookPlan 2027: The Details

What: Live online workshop over Zoom

When: Wednesday–Friday, April 7–9

Time: 9 am–3:30 pm Pacific Time (12 pm–6:30 pm Eastern Time)

Recordings for all sessions will be available through August 31, 2027.

What Makes BookPlan Different

Most online book marketing workshops . . .

Focus on fiction or memoir
Present one bestselling author’s “secret formula” (that worked 20 years ago when the rules were different)
Cost $1,000 or more because they’re done for profit
Show you a bunch of pre-recorded videos with no genuine Q&A or interaction

BookPlan charts a different path:

We’re a volunteer-led nonprofit. Our speakers present for free. With the exception of a part-time operations manager, our committee are all volunteers. This allows us to keep the cost to a minimum.
We focus on marketing nonfiction: We’ll focus on how to sell business and leadership, social impact, current affairs, how-to, and personal development titles
We’re interactive. All sessions are presented live, and our workshop is packed with interactive time to discuss ideas in small groups, brainstorm, receive feedback, and ask questions.
We provide breadth of expertise. You’ll hear from a wide range of experts, including bestselling authors, publishing professionals, publicity agents, marketing strategists, and social media managers.
We offer a network of support. You’ll develop friendships with other authors who can help hold you accountable and actively support your book marketing efforts. Then you can keep connecting with those authors at the events we host throughout the rest of the year.

Three Days of Expert Sessions

We are still in the process of planning our 2027 session lineup. (If you’re on our email list, look for a topic interest survey in fall 2026.)

Sessions will likely cover most or all of these topics:

Starting and growing an email list to reach your readers directly
Using articles, podcast guesting, and other outlets to share your ideas more broadly
Sustainably using social media to build connections and spread your book
Getting preorders and building momentum around your book launch
Engaging your personal network to support and cheer on your book
Running a publicity campaign to get appearances on traditional media
Getting bulk sales through organizations and training events
Navigating what’s new in book marketing, including AI and the increasing saturation of the media landscape
Forming real and lasting connections with your readers

And more!

Plus, the agenda will be packed with live Q&As, dedicated space to practice and apply what you’re learning, and time to connect with and learn from other attendees.

Registration includes access to recordings of all the sessions for four months after the workshop (through August 31, 2027).

What Past Attendees Are Saying

“The value of these sessions and networking was 1,000x the price of admission. I would have easily attended a Day 4.”
—2024 attendee

“I was engaged every moment, furiously taking notes. I have so many takeaways and to-dos from this, I’ll be busy for months!”
—2025 attendee

“I am blown away by how relevant and timely the information was this year. Book marketing is a moving target, and BK is leading the pack!”
—2025 attendee

“This is one of the best conferences I have attended, and I have attended a lot!”
—2024 attendee

Registration & Pricing

Super Early Bird: $199
Through November 30, 2026

Early Bird: $249
December 1, 2026 – January 31, 2027

Still Time: $299
February 1 – March 15, 2027

Regular: $349
March 16 – April 7, 2027

Frequently Asked Questions

Still in the writing and publishing stages of your book?

BookPlan focuses on demand-building — visibility, audience growth, preorders, partnerships, and turning your book into talks, media, and scalable opportunities.

Author Roadmap (our companion workshop) focuses on editorial clarity — positioning, publishing paths, and the decisions that shape your book before the manuscript is complete.

These are complementary disciplines. Author RoadMap shapes the book. BookPlan shapes how the book reaches readers.

Attending both events allows your editorial and marketing strategies to move forward together. Waiting until the book is finished often means missing opportunities to build audience and visibility while you write.

Stay Tuned for our 2027 Author RoadMap dates
Most likely to be held mid-July, 2027

Frequently Asked Questions

BookPlan

I’m still writing my book. Is BookPlan relevant for me?

Yes.

Marketing conversations are often postponed until the manuscript is nearly complete or already entering production. By that stage, positioning, audience focus, category placement, and core framing have largely been set.

Understanding how books reach readers earlier in the process can influence how you structure, emphasize, and position your ideas while you are still writing.

Does BookPlan registration include recordings access?

Yes! All sessions will be recorded, and you’ll be given access to the recordings for four months after the workshop (through the end of August 2027).

I can’t attend the BookPlan workshop. Can I purchase just the recordings?

Yes! An option to purchase the recordings will be made available in April 2027.

Do you have a refund policy?

Yes! You can cancel for a full refund up until the night before the event. Email us at [email protected] to request a refund.

What does the $50 “12 Best Sessions from BookPlan 2023–2025” add-on include?

A curated package of the 12 best BookPlan session recordings from 2023–2025, focused on specific marketing skills that our 2026 BookPlan event doesn’t have time to cover comprehensively.

You’ll get instant access to these recordings when you register, and will keep access through August 31, 2027.

See a list of the included sessions here.

How can my company become an event sponsor?

Becoming a platinum, gold, or silver sponsor is a tremendous way to reach our authors and find new clients. See sponsorship details here.

What is BK Authors, Inc.?

We are a group of authors who know how hard it is to market our books.

BK Authors, Inc. represents all the authors published with Berrett-Koehler Publishers—the leading independent publisher of business, leadership, and personal development books. In recent years, we have opened up our membership to include any nonfiction author of books that seek to create a world that works for all.

In the last 30 years, Berrett-Koehler (BK) has published more than 2,000 titles, including bestsellers like Eat That Frog; Leadership and Self-Deception; The Anatomy of Peace; Change Your Questions, Change Your Life; and Confessions of an Economic Hit Man.

But we know, more than anyone, how hard it can be to market nonfiction. For every BK bestseller, there are many more BK books that have struggled to get traction in the overcrowded book market.

We know the power of authors banding together to help authors. So we created a book marketing workshop, BookPlan, where bestselling BK authors and marketing experts from Berrett-Koehler Publishers could teach new authors the skills they need to be successful.

This workshop has been running annually for over 15 years now, and we have helped hundreds of authors step up their marketing game.

We’re a nonprofit. We’re not in it for the money. Most of us are volunteering our time. We’re doing this because we want to help you change the world.

Are there financial-aid scholarships for Berrett-Koehler authors?

Yes. Financial-need scholarships covering part or all of the event cost are available to Berrett-Koehler authors who have limited resources. Learn more here.

Author RoadMap and the Complete Author Pathway

Are Author Roadmap and BookPlan separate events?

Yes. They are distinct programs serving different stages of the author journey.

Author Roadmap focuses on editorial positioning, publishing paths, and the structural decisions that shape a book before the manuscript is complete.

BookPlan focuses on demand-building, visibility, and how books reach readers in today’s marketplace.

When taken together, they create a strategic advantage: your editorial decisions are informed by market realities, and your marketing strategy is grounded in a clearly positioned book. Rather than treating writing and reach as separate phases, the two programs allow them to develop in parallel—strengthening both.

Can I attend just one event?

Absolutely. Each event stands on its own and delivers substantial value independently.

Is Author RoadMap a writing workshop?

No. Writing ability is assumed. This workshop focuses on the editorial, strategic, and publishing decisions that authors face while drafting their manuscript and preparing it for publication.

Is Author RoadMap only for authors pursuing traditional publishing?

No. Insights apply across traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing paths.

What is included in The Complete Author Pathway?

The Complete Author Pathway bundle includes:
– BookPlan 2027 (Live April 7–9 + recordings)
– Author RoadMap 2027 (Date TBD + recordings)
– The 12 Best Sessions from BookPlan 2023–2025

The Complete Author Pathway bundle will be available starting spring 2027.

Additional questions? Email us at [email protected].

About BK Authors, Inc.

Attendees at the 2022 BK Retreat pose for a picture outdoors.

BookPlan is presented by BK Authors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to authors helping authors to create a world that works for all.

We believe that well-positioned nonfiction books can meaningfully influence individuals, businesses, and nations, creating positive change at all levels of society.

Ready to Make Smarter Marketing Decisions?

If you are serious about reaching thousands of readers and making a real impact with your ideas, this workshop will give you the skills and insights you need to know how to best commit your time and resources.