About
Mel Calvert
Mel Calvert is the founder of Authors Symposium, which is not just another publishing company!
First of all, there is no up front money required from the author to get his/her book into print. This opportunity is unique in the world of self- publishing. Another is the ability to even get their manuscript reviewed. None of the “Big Five” publishers will accept an unsolicited manuscript from a new author without the representation of a literary agent. And, today, we find few literary agents who have time for a new, un-published author.
To top it all off, Authors Symposium management is strong!
MEL & SUNNY CALVERT are not just entrepreneurs. They are Visionaries and have entertained tens of thousands of people all over the world, including royalty. Mel is also a licensed pilot with over 3,000 hours as PIC logged.
With his first successful self-published book in 2001, How I Quit Smoking and Lived to Tell About It, Mel Calvert began his distinguished career as an author. Since then, he has written two more books Bertha’s Battle, and A Funny Thing Happened to Me on The Way to My Funeral.
All three received excellent Kirkus reviews. (You can view them here.)
Soon, his latest one – 50 Famous People I Have Known Well or Been Close Enough to Throw a Shoe At – will be available on Amazon.com and, of course, on this website. He has another famous person’s memoir in the wings coming soon!
Two of Mel’s stories about his piloting exploits have been published in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Magazine.
Mel and Sunny have been a team for over 50 years. Their background as international entertainers and business owners has prepared and positioned them as competitive publishers. For one, it has shaped the diverse narrative Mel uses in his books.
They both love helping people – they have trained and sent many musicians to greater heights with big name bands, such as Buddy Rich, Russ Carlyle and Lawrence Welk, and have helped countless numbers of people to quit smoking for good. They have made people laugh and forget their daily worries wherever they have performed.
In fact, wanting people to laugh is so much in Mel’s blood that Sunny teases, “When Mel opens the refrigerator door and the light goes on, he does 20 minutes!”
Along the way, the Calvert’s have met many famous people, celebrities and royalty. They’ve recorded albums in London and the States and have traveled the world together bringing smiles, laughter, good music and magic tricks to millions.
Other successes by Mel include a stint on CBS TV in Minneapolis with the “Mel Calvert Show.” One of his sponsors, Northwest Airlines, was able to solve their shortage of pilots at the time with a company Mel founded, Space-Aero Training Corporation. In less than six months, Mel’s TV commercials provided more than enough pilots trained by local flight schools to end the shortage.
A fiercely loyal family man, Mel has 6 children, (the sixth, Michael, with Sunny), 17 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren – and counting! Though spread across the states, they all remain close with periodic visits, lots of phone calls, emails and biennial reunions.
In 2019, Mel and Sunny were encouraged by friends and family to start a publishing company. AUTHORS SYMPOSIUM, LLC © is the result of this venture which has already published books by authors who had no idea how to get their books into print.
Sunny, with a BA degree and professional teaching experience, is able to take a good manuscript and make it sing with her formatting and editing prowess and graphic expertise for book covers. From “Lackluster to Blockbuster,” we say! She uses the Chicago Style of editing and formatting. Their vision is to be a one-stop publishing company for new and aspiring authors, PLUS experienced writers, by providing copy editing, formatting and book cover designs with NO up-front charges. They remain in constant communication with the author, recording each suggestion with interaction from the writer. Their staff is ready and able to take a manuscript to new heights.
Rubbing Elbows!
From left:
Robert Ludlum, author of the Bourne series;
Sunny and Mel Calvert;
Playwright John Patrick, Pulitzer Prize winner for
“Teahouse of the August Moon”
A Few More Elbows
Mel & Sunny with “Bond, James Bond”
aka Sean Connery
A Royal Welcome
Sunny & Mel greeting King Hussein of Jordan
before their Command Performance later that day.
