BookCon 2026: The Authors Doing It Their Own Way

What does it actually take to get a story out into the world?Beyond Fulfillment hits the floor at BookCon to find out, talking with authors, indie publishers, and creative entrepreneurs who refused to let the traditional gatekeepers have the final word.This episode is a montage of seven conversations recorded live at BookCon, each one a different angle on the same question: how do you take something you made and put it into the hands of people who need it?In this episode, Dave Gulas talks with:Livy Yvonne — 27 rejection letters before she chose the indie publishing path. What happened after she stopped waiting for permission is the story worth hearing.Carmen Rosales — 44 published books, a doctorate, and a dark romance catalog that built its own audience from scratch. High output, high standards, no apologies.Natassja Charrise — From surviving domestic violence to becoming an author and entrepreneur. A pivot built on purpose and a story that reframes what it means to find your voice.Takisha / Pie in the Sky — A passion project years in the making. A reminder that the best creative work often starts with the simplest motivation: you needed it to exist.F.R. Moore / Bloodbound Books — A publishing trailblazer operating at the intersection of author and industry builder. What it looks like to create infrastructure for other voices, not just your own.Tim Roberts / Critical Kit — The accidental entrepreneur. An RPG creator who stumbled into building a company around the game system he couldn't find anywhere else. Different creative lane, same founder instinct.Jasmine Baker / IDW Publishing — Closing with one of the most recognized names in traditional publishing for contrast, context, and credibility. What the industry looks like from the inside of a major house.Every guest in this episode made a choice, to keep going, to pivot, to self-publish, to build the infrastructure that didn't exist, or to find a different door entirely when the main one stayed closed.If you're a writer, a creative entrepreneur, an indie publisher, or anyone who's ever wondered whether the thing you're building is worth finishing this one's for you.#beyondfulfillment #bookcon #selfpublishing #indieauthor #authorlife #publishing #entrepreneurship #creativeentrepreneur #writingcommunity #indypublishing