Author Nation Conference

Author Nation (formerly 20BooksTo50K Vegas, rebranded 2024) is the largest annual gathering of indie authors in the world, held in Las Vegas each November. Originally founded by Michael Anderle around the 20BooksTo50K philosophy — that authors can achieve financial independence by publishing 20 books at a $50K annual income target — it has grown into the definitive event for the indie author professional community. The 2026 conference runs November 10–13 at Horseshoe Las Vegas, organized by Author Ventures LLC, with 1,400+ attendees expected and 100+ speakers (the event is capped at 1,400 tickets).

The conference covers the full spectrum of self-publishing business: paid advertising (Amazon, Facebook, BookBub), wide distribution strategy, AI tools for authors, business systems, craft, serialization, audiobooks, foreign rights, direct sales, and more. Most speakers are actively publishing indie authors sharing what is currently working in their businesses — not academics or consultants.

What you get:

• 80+ expert-led sessions across multiple tracks (marketing, craft, business, technology)
• Industry Expo with 75+ vendors and service providers
• Networking with thousands of indie authors including major names in the space
• Reader Nation book-signing event
• Virtual after-party and ongoing digital community

Digital ticket option: Authors who cannot travel to Las Vegas can purchase a digital-only ticket for lifetime access to recordings of the 80+ breakout sessions, plus downloadable audio, AI-powered transcript search, interactive transcripts, and live virtual Q&A sessions. At $99 early-bird it is by far the most cost-effective way to access the educational content.

Pricing (2026, varies annually):

• Digital access: $99 early-bird (lifetime access to 80+ recorded sessions)
• In-person Alumni: $500 (returning attendees — sold out for 2026)
• In-person Early Bird: $550
• In-person Standard: $650 (released after Early Bird sells out; total event capped at 1,400 tickets)

Best for: Authors who are serious about self-publishing as a business and want to learn from working seven-figure indie authors in a high-energy networking environment. The digital ticket option makes the educational content accessible to authors who cannot travel. Particularly valuable for authors who want to stay current with a rapidly evolving industry.

Note on frequency: This is an annual event (November). The 2026 edition runs November 10–13 at Horseshoe Las Vegas. Check authornation.live for current year dates, pricing, and digital ticket availability — in-person tiers move by purchase timing (Alumni → Early Bird → Standard) and sell out.