Crime Writers' Week 2024 Premium Day recap

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of launching your author career? Do you find yourself lost in a sea of conflicting advice from various sources? Do you want to arrange a meeting with a CPA but don't even know what you need to ask them to get the most out of your billable conversation?

Unlock the roadmap to entrepreneurial success in the literary world. From a quick breakdown of tax structures to simplifying bookkeeping essentials, we'll set you on the "write" path. :-)

Discover the key distinctions between hobby and self-employment income, and gain clarity on whether you need an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Delve into fundamental tax concepts like income and estimated taxes, issuing 1099s, and other surprise requirements, empowering you to make informed decisions with confidence because, in the eyes of the government, ignorance is no excuse.

Understand the implications of self-employment taxes for you and your family's financial landscape, along with basic knowledge of sales tax obligations as a business owner.

With expert information and practical wisdom, you'll establish a rock-solid foundation for your author journey. Bid farewell to confusion and overwhelm, and embark on the path to a thriving and sustainable author business.

Ashley Guion is a seasoned Certified Public Accountant with a Master's degree in accounting. With extensive experience in public accounting, she specialized in supporting small business owners in the US with tax preparation, planning, and expert bookkeeping assistance, including QuickBooks Online setup. Prioritizing family time, Ashley transitioned from public accounting to be with her two young boys while pursuing an unexpected passion for writing. Recognizing a lack of accounting resources for authors, Ashley decided to utilize her expertise to support fellow writers. Now, between diaper changes and bedtime stories, Ashley's committed to making financial literacy a breeze for authors. 

Jasmine Wallace is a fantasy romance author, writing about besotted men and powerful women. Growing up in Australia, she now lives in Wales with her husband and daughter with their wolfish-lurcher. When she's not writing, she works as a solicitor advising private clients on tax matters and estate planning.

Special links:

• Free year-end tax prep checklist for US authors:  https://dl.bookfunnel.com/rpw69b1ei4

• Website: https://novelnumbers.wordpress.com/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NovelNumbers

• Teachable content: https://novelnumbers.teachable.com/

• Author's business and tax handbook: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1956865527?maas=maas_adg_D3E4582D08A533D93FB5EBDF2A9DD3EF_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas (US-based)

• Paper income and expense tracking journal: https://amzn.to/442u7MI

• Learn more about Jasmine Wallace: https://jasminewallace.co.uk/

Book coach and MTS expert Samantha Skal will live-coach three writers' first pages in this 50-minute session, followed by an AMA session for anything MTS related.

Samantha Skal (she/her) is an Author Accelerator certified book coach and agented author who specializes in coaching mystery, thriller, and (romantic) suspense authors from novel planning all the way through agent pitching, and especially loves twist brainstorming, figuring out pacing issues, and the hell that is revision. She is the Co-Executive Director of ThrillerFest, International Thriller Writers (ITW)'s annual writing conference, and a frequent volunteer mentor for the Women's Fiction Writers Association (WFWA). An enthusiast of homemade sourdough and cheese of all kinds, she also adores (scary) stories that keep her up at night and good red wine.

Special links:

• Learn more about Samantha Skal: https://www.samanthaskal.com

• She is a huge fan of #bookstagram and talks about her favorite books on @authorsamanthaskal

• Download the "17 Thriller Twist Ideas" resource from Samantha Skal: https://www.samanthaskal.com/prowritingaid-resources

Session resources:

• Click to view and download slides

Former top cop and now bestselling crime writer, Graham Bartlett will take you through why you don't have to sacrifice drama for authenticity. He will show you how good research and understanding build brilliant stories and characters your readers will love. With time for your questions, this is a session you don't want to miss.

Graham Bartlett rose to become chief superintendent and the divisional commander of Brighton and Hove police. His first nonfiction book, Death Comes Knocking, was a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller, which he then followed with Babes in the Wood. He co-wrote these books with bestselling author Peter James and has since turned to fiction and published Bad for Good, Force of Hate, and City on Fire, all starring Chief Superintendent Jo Howe. Graham is also a police procedural and crime adviser helping scores of authors and TV writers inject authenticity into their work.

Special links:

• Learn more about Graham Bartlett: https://policeadvisor.co.uk/

• Follow Graham on X and Instagram @gbpoliceadvisor

• Check out Graham's books: https://policeadvisor.co.uk/books/

• Learn about Graham's Professional Writing Academy: https://www.profwritingacademy.com/team/graham_bartlett

Additional session resource:

• Excerpt from The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson; interview scene

**Please note, due to copyright restrictions, we have had to remove a clip from Happy Valley Season 3, Episode 1 from the recorded replay of this presentation, which occurred at the time stamp 46:38.

During this networking session, you will be placed into small breakout rooms to get to know each other and discuss your takeaways from the week.