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• Ink & Income: Mastering the Lifecycle of a Book, Module 2 - Production and Platform (Andi Cumbo)

  • Start
    May 20, 2026
  •  
  • End
    June 24, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    6 sessions
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    9

  Register

  This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for six sessions (May 20, May 27, June 3, June 10, June 17, & June 24) on Wednesdays, from 10:00 AM-12:30 PM. 

  This course is designed as a series of four distinct modules following the chronological lifecycle of a book. Students may register for the full 20-week intensive or select/combine individual modules on Foundations, Production, Launch Strategy, or Sustainability.

  Description:

  You have typed "The End," but for the professional writer, the work is just beginning. Ink & Income is a comprehensive roadmap designed to bridge the gap between literary craft and sustainable business. Guided by hybrid author and editor Andi Cumbo, this course walks students through the complete lifecycle of a book—from the initial decision between traditional and independent publishing to the complex machinery of book launches, marketing, and financial management. Whether you are a debut writer holding your first manuscript or an established author looking to professionalize your career, this course offers the practical tools to turn your art into a business. 

  Module 2: Production & Platform (6 Weeks)
  Focus: Turning a draft into a product and building the stage for its arrival.

  Weeks 1–3: Project Management
  

  • • The mechanics of producing a book. How to hire and vet editors, working with cover designers, understanding ISBNs and metadata, and managing production timelines.

  Weeks 4–6: Platform Building
  

  • • Establishing your digital footprint before the release. We will cover author websites, setting up newsletter landing pages, and the "tech stack" required to capture readers.

  About the Instructor:

  Andi Cumbo is a former creative writing professor, a professional editor, and a publisher who is the author of over 30 books that each incorporate real-life places, people, and events in their pages.  She writes cozy mysteries, romantic comedies, YA fantasy, and creative nonfiction and holds and MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Antioch University. She has taught at Santa Clara University, Stevenson University, and George Mason University. When she’s not writing, she and her young son name his toys odd things like “Blech-agh-bah” and try to figure out Lego Fortnite together. She lives in Charlottesville.

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• Ink & Income: Mastering the Lifecycle of a Book, Module 3 - Launch & Promotion (Andi Cumbo)

  • Start
    September 09, 2026
  •  
  • End
    October 14, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    6 sessions
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for 6 sessions (Sept. 9, Sept. 16, Sept. 23, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, Oct. 14) on Wednesdays, from 10:00 AM-12:30 PM. 

  This course is designed as a series of four distinct modules following the chronological lifecycle of a book. Students may register for the full 20-week intensive or select/combine individual modules on Foundations, Production, Launch Strategy, or Sustainability.

  Description:

  You have typed "The End," but for the professional writer, the work is just beginning. Ink & Income is a comprehensive roadmap designed to bridge the gap between literary craft and sustainable business. Guided by hybrid author and editor Andi Cumbo, this course walks students through the complete lifecycle of a book—from the initial decision between traditional and independent publishing to the complex machinery of book launches, marketing, and financial management. Whether you are a debut writer holding your first manuscript or an established author looking to professionalize your career, this course offers the practical tools to turn your art into a business. 

  Module 3: Launch & Promotion (6 Weeks)
  Focus: Getting the book into readers' hands.

  Weeks 1–2: The Launch Strategy
  

  • • Planning the launch window, organizing launch teams (street teams), ARC distribution, and working with retailers.

    • Guest Spotlight: Flannery Buchanan (Working with Bookstores) & Dave Hirschman (Live Events).

  Weeks 3–6: Ongoing Marketing
  

  • • Moving beyond the launch. Strategies for social media engagement, an introduction to advertising, and public appearances.

    • Guest Spotlight: Marijean Oldham (Marketing) & Jeffrey Lofton (Public Speaking).

  About the Instructor:

  Andi Cumbo is a former creative writing professor, a professional editor, and a publisher who is the author of over 30 books that each incorporate real-life places, people, and events in their pages.  She writes cozy mysteries, romantic comedies, YA fantasy, and creative nonfiction and holds and MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Antioch University. She has taught at Santa Clara University, Stevenson University, and George Mason University. When she’s not writing, she and her young son name his toys odd things like “Blech-agh-bah” and try to figure out Lego Fortnite together. She lives in Charlottesville.

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• Ink & Income: Mastering the Lifecycle of a Book, Module 4 - Sustainability & The Long Game (Andi Cumbo)

  • Start
    October 21, 2026
  •  
  • End
    November 11, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    WriterHouse
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  This class will meet in person at WriterHouse for 4 sessions (Oct. 21, Oct. 28, Nov. 4, Nov. 11) on Wednesdays, from 10:00 AM-12:30 PM. 

  This course is designed as a series of four distinct modules following the chronological lifecycle of a book. Students may register for the full 20-week intensive or select/combine individual modules on Foundations, Production, Launch Strategy, or Sustainability.

  Description:

  You have typed "The End," but for the professional writer, the work is just beginning. Ink & Income is a comprehensive roadmap designed to bridge the gap between literary craft and sustainable business. Guided by hybrid author and editor Andi Cumbo, this course walks students through the complete lifecycle of a book—from the initial decision between traditional and independent publishing to the complex machinery of book launches, marketing, and financial management. Whether you are a debut writer holding your first manuscript or an established author looking to professionalize your career, this course offers the practical tools to turn your art into a business. 

  Module 4: Sustainability & The Long Game (4 Weeks)
  Focus: Keeping the business—and the author—healthy.

  Weeks 1–2: Financial Maintenance
  

  • • Understanding royalties, tracking expenses, profit & loss (P&L) statements, and tax basics for authors.

    • Guest Spotlight: Jen Poteet (Multiple Lines of Income).

  Weeks 3–4: Career Longevity
  

  • • Preventing creative burnout, managing time, and planning the "next book" while marketing the current one.

    • Guest Spotlight: Anne Carley (Creative Balance).

  About the Instructor:

  Andi Cumbo is a former creative writing professor, a professional editor, and a publisher who is the author of over 30 books that each incorporate real-life places, people, and events in their pages.  She writes cozy mysteries, romantic comedies, YA fantasy, and creative nonfiction and holds and MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Antioch University. She has taught at Santa Clara University, Stevenson University, and George Mason University. When she’s not writing, she and her young son name his toys odd things like “Blech-agh-bah” and try to figure out Lego Fortnite together. She lives in Charlottesville.

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