Events


I am available for local and national speaking engagements and workshops!

Contact me to discuss your next event.


Areas of Expertise

 

  • Crafting a Marketable Manuscript
  • Navigating the Book Publishing Process
  • Hiring and Working with Editors
  • Choose Your Best Book Publishing Path
  • Why Am I Doing This?: Gaining Clarity of Purpose for Your Writing
  • Making the Most Out of Beta Readers and Manuscript Assessments
  • Building Your Client Base with Self-Publishers
  • Launching Your Own Editorial Business

 

Featured Events

Find the Right Editor for You, Gaithersburg Book Festival, Gaithersburg, MD

Saturday, May 17, 2025. Join me at 1 p.m. in the Activity Tent as I discuss the five steps you need to take to ensure you're hiring the right editor for you and your book. Free and open to the public. While you're there, be sure to stop by my table and chat, grab a free postcard and candy, and purchase books.

Debra Lee Won't Break launch party, Kensington Row Bookshop, Kensington, MD

Sunday, June 1, 2025. 7-8:30 p.m. It's time to celebrate! After three years of hard work, I have published my first novel. Join me at Kensington Row Bookshop for light refreshments, readings, and an all-around good time. No tickets necessary but please RSVP here.

How Authoring Improves Editing, Georgia EFA chapter, on Zoom

Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 1-2 p.m. I'm honored to speak to the Georgia chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association about my path to publication and how writing and publishing fiction has made me a better editor. Register to receive the Zoom link.

Craft a More Marketable Manuscript, Frederick MWA chapter, on Zoom

Saturday, July 19, 2025, 1-2:30 p.m. Tune in from the comfort of your beach house as I present one of my most popular workshops for the Frederick County chapter of the Maryland Writers Association. We'll discuss three steps you can take to improve your manuscript to make it more marketable to agents, publishers, and readers. Check the MWA website for details.

Previous Engagements

 

  • Is Self-Publishing Right for You? The Writer's Center. October 2024
  • Is Traditional Publishing Right for You? The Writer's Center. September 2024
  • 2024 Maryland Writers Association Conference, Publish That Book! October 2024
  • 2024 Women in Publishing Summit, Make the Most out of Beta Readers and Manuscript Evaluations, March 2024
  • 2023 Editorial Freelancers Association Conference, Beyond Editing: Advanced Skills for Working with Self-Publishers; and Authors as Editors (panel), August 2023
  • 2023 Washington Writers Conference, Which Editor Do You Need? (panel), May 2023
  • 2023 Red Pencil Conference, Northwest Editors Guild, Launch Your Editorial Business Now, May 2023
  • 2022 Maryland Writers' Association Conference, Launch Your Writing Business Now, October 2022
  • 2021 Maryland Writers' Association Conference, 5 Steps to Finding the Right Freelance Editor for You, October 2021
  • The Writer's Center, Choose Your Best Book-Publishing Path (2-week class), June 2021
  • The Writer's Center, Launch Your Writing or Editing Business Now (4-week class), May-June 2021
  • Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association (UPPAA), Navigate the Book Publishing Process, April 2021
  • Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association (CAPA), Craft a More Marketable Manuscript, March 2021
  • Maryland Writers' Association, Frederick Chapter, Is Your Writing Mojo MIA?, February 2021
  • Midwest Publishers Association (MiPA), Choose Your Best Book-Publishing Path, February 2021
  • Maryland Writers' Association, Howard County Chapter, Nonfiction Authors panel discussion, January 21, 2021. 
  • Maryland Writers' Association, South Baltimore Chapter, Making the Most out of Beta Readers and Manuscript Assessments, November 2020. Invited speaker.
  • 2020 Communication Central conference, Success in Working with Self-Publishing Authors, October 2020. Invited speaker.
  • Maryland Writers' Association, Montgomery County Chapter, Making the Most out of Beta Readers and Manuscript Assessments, July 2020
  • National Press Club, Navigating the Book Publishing Process, March 2020. Invited speaker.
  • The Writer's Center, Choose Your Best Book-Publishing Path (2-week class), February 2020
  • 2019 Washington Writers Conference, Making the Most out of Beta Readers and Manuscript Assessments, May 2019
  • 2017 Editorial Freelancers Association Conference, Mentoring Roundtable; Working with Self-Publishers, August 2017
  • 2017 ACES Annual Conference, Beyond Editing: First and Last Steps When Working with Self-Publishers, March 2017
  • Editorial Freelancers Association, Maryland Chapter, Building Your Client Base with Self-Publishers, March 2016
  • Copyediting, Launching Your Freelance Editing Business (audio conference), March 2016. Invited speaker.
  • 2015 Beyond the Red Pencil conference, Northwest Independent Editors Guild, Client Profile: The Self-Publisher, October 2015
  • 2015 Communication Central conference, Client Profile: The Self-Publisher, September 2015. Invited speaker.
  • Association for Women in Science, Navigating the Book Publishing Process (webinar), October 2014
  • Association for Women in Science, Writing to Get Published (webinar), September 2014
  • Maryland Writers’ Association, Carroll County Chapter, Working with Editors: Where to Find Them, How to Hire Them, and How You Can Save Time and Money Throughout the Editing Process, May 2014
  • Maryland Writers’ Association, Montgomery County Chapter, Working with Editors: Who They Are, What They Do, and How They Can Help You, February 2014
  • St. Louis Publishers Association, Building Your Publishing Team (panel), February 2012
  • St. Louis Publishers Association, Prepare Your Manuscript: Writing and Editing Tips, January 2011