ON THE MORNING OF SATURDAY JUNE 12th WEST VIRGINIA WRITERS, INC. WILL KICK OFF A DAY OF EXTREME OPPORTUNITY WITH AN OPEN DISCUSSION FORUM ENTITLED, “AGENTS, EDITORS, AND YOU.”
THE CEDAR LAKES ASSEMBLY HALL WILL STILL BE BUZZING WITH SATURDAY REGISTRATIONS BUT CENTER STAGE WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE AS WE PROUDLY BRING TO YOU:
- PETER LYNCH, Editorial Manager (trade) at Sourcebooks, Inc., one of the country’s largest and most innovative independent publishers. Peter has worked for Sourcebooks as Editorial Manager, trade for the past ten years. He acquires and develops 20–30 books per year, across a variety of categories. Peter’s nonfiction interests include, but are not limited to, books on parenting, history, memoir, self-help, reference, humor, and college/study aids. He is also interested in historical fiction and commercial women’s fiction. Peter is always interested in hearing from authors who are self-motivated and willing to publicize their books in innovative ways. Sourcebooks, Inc (www.sourcebooks.com) is currently looking for: romance fiction (single title all subgenres, 80,000 words +), YA fiction and non-fiction, historical fiction, Jane Austen sequels/retellings/contemporary romances/etc., commercial women's fiction (must have a really unusual premise), multi-media and digital book projects, non-fiction: memoir, how-to, humor, college guides, study aids, parenting, business, careers, personal finance.
- Christine Witthohn is a literary agent and the founder of Book Cents Literary Agency. She is one of the main sponsors of the International Women’s Fiction Festival held annually in Matera, Italy, and has strong ties to the international market. She is member of AAR, RWA, MWA and is actively building her client list. She is on the hunt for well-written commercial and women’s fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and would love to find some great new YA projects. Christine is looking for: young adult, mystery/suspense, thrillers, romance: contemporary, rom coms, paranormal, light and urban fantasy. She is NOT looking for: inspirational, westerns, sci-fi, horror, erotica, or poetry. Website: www.bookcentsliteraryagency.com
- Kaylan Adair is an associate editor at Candlewick Press, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She works with such authors and illustrators as Mark London Williams, Valeri Gorbachev, Lisa Moser, Jill Murphy, and Lucy Cousins (of Maisy fame). While her interests run the gamut from picture books to young adult, she is particularly keen to add more middle grade and young adult titles to her list. Kaylan is looking for strong, original voices and compelling, engrossing stories. Kaylan will do one-on-one critique sessions (fee required), and workshops. Anyone attending these workshops will receive a validation to submit a full manuscript for Candlewick’s consideration.
- Kelly Mortimer started Mortimer Literary Agency with one thought in mind: there were too many great writers who couldn't get their foot in the door. She's only 5'4”, but she wears a size 8-1/2 shoe, so she thought she could help. And she did, selling manuscripts for her first two clients in the same week. Kelly is a two-time nominee and the 2008 winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers "Agent of the Year" award. In 2008, Kelly made the Top Five on the Publisher’s Marketplace list of “Top 100 Dealmakers” – Romance Category, and with a fraction of the clients most agents represent. (She bested her Top 10 standing from 2007. Boo-Yah!) She’s also a recipient of the Orange County Chapter RWA’s “Volunteer of the Year” award. Mortimer Literary only signs PRE-PUBLISHED writers (those who have yet to snag a contract with a traditional pub house), or haven’t had a book pubbed within the last three years. (Sorry, Nora—still no dice.) Kelly wants to ferret out those pre-published writers whose manuscripts are great as is, but no one'll give ’em a chance, or those whose manuscripts are close, but need some work to catch an editor's eye.
WHAT? You ask how could it get better than this? How about a day of pitches and presentations from these four pros? WILL THAT DO IT?
Each individual pitch session will cost $10 and will be timed to precisely five minutes and we will have an intern on the clock so if you must script and rehearse your pitch to hit this five minute window, by all means do it. While you’re rehearsing, sit tight. Ehe schedule and pitch reservation details will be posted very soon, so don’t wait to pre-register for the conference and your room!
Here’s how it works:
- Pitch sessions will be limited for each of our editor/agents, so early reservation for them is recommended.
- In order to participate in these Pitch Sessions, you must register and pay for at least the day of Saturday, June 12, of the Conference.
- The cost of each session is $10 per FIVE MINUTE PITCH. No allowances will be made for anything longer than five minutes so please rehearse! The cost of these pitches will help offset the agent/editor expense.
- You may pay for the pitch session(s) at the conference.
- You may pitch any or all of those giving pitches or mutiple pitches at a cost of $10 per pitch.
- Reservation contact information will be available NEXT WEEK!!!
And just so you know…… The appearance of Peter Lynch, Kaylan Adair, and Kelly Mortimer is due in great part to the incredible efforts of Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency and WVW Secretary, Teresa Newsome.
Books Cents has become an outstanding advocate to the writing community in West Virginia and Kentucky. Much thanks to our good friend, Christine!
For conference registration information: http://www.wvwriters.org/conference.html
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