Chanticleer at Author Nation 2025: Connection, Community, and Craft
I’ll say it until my dying day—Authors are the best people to hang out with! – Dena Weigel
This past November, the Chanticleer team attended Author Nation in Las Vegas—and once again, we were reminded why authors are the best people to spend time with.
Author Nation 2025 drew hundreds more attendees than the previous year, filling ballrooms with writers eager to learn, connect, and grow their careers. Over 120 classes, workshops, and panels covered every aspect of the writing life: craft development, the publishing process, advertising and marketing, the business side of authorship, and emerging trends shaping the industry’s future.
For Chanticleer, the week offered valuable opportunities to reconnect with established members of our community and welcome new authors into the fold.
Familiar Faces and New Connections
We kicked off the week at the Vendor Expo. We loved having the chance to catch up with authors who have become valuable members of our Roost community. Authors such as D.D. Black, T.K. Conklin, David Fitz-Gerald, and Terrel of the Once Upon A Dance children books all stopped by to say hello and give us an update on their current projects and writing life.
We also met dozens of new authors curious about Chanticleer’s services and what makes our community different. Many arrived seeking practical support—editorial reviews, award recognition, editing services—but discovered something equally important: a place to ask questions, share milestones, and find encouragement from fellow writers navigating similar paths.
Here are some highlights from Author Nation 2025
Learning From Industry Leaders
Between booth shifts, the Chanticleer team attended sessions led by publishing professionals with decades of experience. The presentations covered essential topics for author-entrepreneurs: building effective marketing strategies, assembling professional support teams (legal, financial, editorial), and establishing sustainable business foundations.
One recurring message stood out: successful authors don’t work in isolation. They build teams of advisors and professionals who help them reach their goals of getting stories into readers’ hands.
The Value of Industry Connections
Author Nation brings together some of the best service providers working with authors today, and being part of that group means more than just visibility. Connecting with other industry professionals offered insights into current publishing trends and emerging challenges facing authors. These conversations help Chanticleer stay sharp and responsive to what writers actually need.
Looking Ahead
Another Author Nation conference is in the books! We’re already looking forward to working with the many authors we met who see value in Chanticleer’s approach to author support. We expect to see many of them again, whether at next year’s Author Nation or at our own gathering in Bellingham this spring.
Viva Las Vegas!
Join us at the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference &
the 2025 Chanticleer International Book Awards Ceremony
Thursday – Sunday, April 16 – 19, 2026
Master Classes, Conference Sessions & Panels, Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards Ceremony and Banquet, and the BOOKS BY THE BAY BOOKFAIR at Village Books Bookstore, Fairhaven, Bellingham, Wash.
Register Today!
Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.
