programs - Writers′ League of Texas

Writers’ League of Texas
Agents
&
Editors
Conference
June 27–29, 2014
Hyatt Regency | Austin, Texas
On behalf of everyone here
at the Writers’ League of Texas,
welcome to the 2014 Agents
& Editors Conference.
This conference, now in its 21st year and arguably one of the very best you’ll
find, is the shining centerpiece of the year-round programming we offer here at
the Writers’ League of Texas, programming that also includes a Summer Writing
Retreat in West Texas, weekend classes, a monthly panel discussion on writerly
topics, author visits to local Austin schools and presentations in rural libraries
across the state.
Time and again, when asked to capture in a few words this varied and vibrant slate of offerings, to
sum the whole thing up neatly and succinctly, I find myself coming back to three simple words: Craft.
Business. Community.
As you make your way through this weekend’s schedule—from panel to presentation to luncheon to
cocktail (with, no doubt, a consultation or two thrown in)—our hope is that those three words guide you
along the way and that you discover new tools and morsels of inspiration that will strengthen your writing
(craft); that you gain insight and perspective on the ever-changing publishing landscape while connecting
with some of the industry’s top players (business); and that you take home with you the contact information for one or more fellow writers, potential new additions to your creative tribe (community).
Of course, just because we’ve been hosting this conference for 20 plus years doesn’t mean we can’t
shake things up every now and again. New to the schedule: We have not one, but two keynote speakers
this year—Jeff Abbott and Joshilyn Jackson, both New York Times bestselling authors, both not to be
missed. And those of you attending the keynote luncheon and Saturday cocktail party will leave with
copies of Jeff and Joshilyn’s latest books, our treat. Also new: We’ve added genre meetings to the Sunday session, a chance for you to gather in small groups to compare notes, trade tips, talk marketing
and promotion, and just generally commiserate and commune. For the shy among you (yes, we know
writers well), we’ve added the perfect ice-breaker: Everyone’s name tag features the title of a recently
read or favorite book . . . Talk amongst yourselves!
And yes, there will be lots and lots of talking, for sure. Three days. Over 300 attendees. More than
twenty-five panels and presentations. A stellar list of visiting agents and editors, not to mention an
impressive line-up of local authors, experts, and exhibitors. We’re not going to lie to you: You will be
tired by the time this is all over. But you will also be inspired. And energized. And informed. And when
you pack your bags and take leave of this weekend, we know those three words will be traveling home
with you, wherever home may be: Craft. Business. Community.
Let’s get to it.
Becka Oliver
Executive Director
Contents
Meet the Agents........................................ 4-6
Meet the Editors.......................................... 6-7
Meet the Presenters................................ 8-9
Meet the Exhibitors .................................... 9
Welcome Cocktail Reception ......... 10
Keynote Luncheon .................................... 12
Keynote Cocktail Reception ............. 13
Friday Program Sessions .................... 10
Saturday Program Sessions ........ 10-14
Sunday Program Sessions .................. 14
Consultation Fast Facts.................... 14-15
Conference Fast Facts ...................... 16-17
Dining, Culture and Nightlife ... 16-17
Hyatt Regency Austin ............................ 17
All programs and presenters are subject to change.
This project is funded and supported in part by a grant
from the Texas Commission on the Arts and in part by
the City of Austin through the Economic Development
Department/Cultural Arts Division believing an investment in the Arts is an investment in Austin’s future.
Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com
The Writers’ League of Texas
is a statewide nonprofit that
supports writers, both published
and not yet published, across
Texas and beyond. With over
1000 members and counting, our
programming includes weekend
classes, a summer writing retreat,
Project WISE (presentations in
public schools) and Texas Writes (workshops
in rural libraries). For more information, visit
the WLT’s website at www.writersleague.org.
Board of Directors
Tony Burnett, President
Damon Moore, Vice President
Rodney Sprott, Treasurer
Annie Brudno, Secretary
Anna Marie Dempsey
David Furlow
Marc Hess
Evelyn Palfrey
Joseph Pluta
Terry Sherrell
Carlotta Stankiewicz
Staff
Becka Oliver, Executive Director
Jennifer Ziegler, Program Director
Noelle O’Donnell, Administrative Assistant
Sara Kocek, Contest Coordinator
Suzy Spencer, Texas Writes Coordinator
Nicol Hurst, Kelsey Peters, Jourden Sander,
Patrice Caldwell, Interns
Volunteers
Pam Arthur, Gloria Bankler, Marcia Bates,
Mary Black, Marjorie Brody, Patrice Caldwell,
Susan Daniels, Marita Heyden, Nicol Hurst,
Mary Long, Alex Loucel, Pat Owens, Evelyn
Palfrey, Morgan Patterson, Kelsey Peters,
Jourden Sander, Terry Sherrell, Bradley Wilson
Writers’ League of Texas
For their generous support of our programming, the
Writers’ League of Texas would also like to thank the
611 S. Congress Avenue
Suite 200 A-3
Austin, Texas 78704
512-499-8914
writersleague.org
@WritersLeague
Scribe blog: WritersLeagueofTexas.wordpress.com
Meet the Agents
Brandi Bowles
Foundry Literary + Media
Brandi specializes in idea- and
platform-driven nonfiction, especially pop culture, cookbooks,
lifestyle, and real-life inspirational stories. From the beginning development stages to
the submission process, she works hand in hand
with each author to find the right strategy and approach for their work, with the ultimate of goal of
landing the ideal publishing partner for each project. Brandi also represents literary and commercial fiction, especially high-concept novels that
feature strong female bonds and psychological or
scientific themes. Rich, fully developed characters
and excellent writing are a must.
Logan Garrison
The Gernert Company
Logan joined the Gernert Company in 2010 after three years as
an English and Musical Theatre
teacher at Northern High School
in Durham, North Carolina. She
is a graduate of both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University. Logan is drawn toward smart, voice-driven
fiction, particularly in the young adult or middle
grade market. She is especially on the lookout for
any of the following written for young adults: a
realistic thriller, a fantasy series, true science fiction, or anything with an interesting and engaging
male narrator.
Leticia Gomez
Savvy Literary Services
As CEO and Founder of Savvy Literary Services, one of the few minority-oriented publishing firms,
Leticia has distinguished herself
as an agent who can communicate effectively with her clients.
Last year, Leticia partnered with Ascendant Group
to offer an even greater level of support to aspiring
authors. As Director of Ascendant Publishing, she
serves as the company’s in-house publishing consultant and literary agent. Blending her experience
as an author, agent, and editor, Leticia is now truly
excited to have recently joined Koehler Books as
one of its Acquisition Editors.
Robert Guinsler
Sterling Lord Literistic
Robert’s primary interests include literary and commercial
fiction (including YA and middle
grade), journalism, narrative
nonfiction with an emphasis on
pop culture, science and current
events, memoirs and biographies. His clients include Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, novelists
and academics. With a journalism background,
Robert is interested in all kinds of nonfiction and
he has represented such writers as New York Times
bestselling author and Harvard Humanist Chaplain
Greg Epstein, New York Times bestselling author
Wendy Lawless, Adam Bradley, and many others.
Additionally, Robert represents the estates of Jack
Kerouac and Anne Sexton.
Scott Hoffman
Folio Literary Management
Scott Hoffman is one of the
founding partners of Folio Literary Management LLC, a New
York City-based literary management company. Mr. Hoffman personally represents #1 New York
Times bestselling author Brendon Burchard; Philip
K. Dick award-winning novelist Chris Moriarty; and
many others. Scott has served as Vice-chairman of
the Board of Directors of SEARAC (the only nationwide advocacy agency for Southeast Asian-Americans), a Board Member of Fill Their Shelves, Inc.
(a charitable foundation that provides books to
children in sub-Saharan Africa), and a member of
the Metropolitan Opera’s Young Associates Steering Committee.
4
Kristyn Keene
Cameron McClure
Kristyn Keene joined ICM in 2006.
Originally from Connecticut, she
studied English and writing at the
University of California in Santa
Barbara. After graduation, she
attended Columbia’s Publishing
Course. Kristyn enjoys good writing on almost any
subject. She specializes in literary and commercial
fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, young adult,
pop culture, and humor.
Cameron joined the Donald
Maass Literary Agency in 2004.
She represents a small and select group of authors and runs
the agency’s Rights Department.
As an agent she represents mostly fiction, and is looking for projects that combine
genre style plotting with literary writing. She’s up
for anything speculative, and is interested in seeing
science-fiction and fantasy, literary fiction, mystery
and suspense, and projects with multi-cultural, international, environmental, and GBLT themes.
ICM Partners
Jonathan Lyons
Curtis Brown LTD
©christywhitney.com
Jonathan Lyons represents a select list of authors of a wide variety of genres, including biography, pop culture, YA fiction, sci-fi,
and more; in addition to serving
as subagent in the United States
for several agencies in the UK. Having previously
run translation rights at McIntosh & Otis and Folio
Literary Management, Jonathan currently oversees
Curtis Brown’s translation rights department. A
licensed publishing attorney with the law firm Savur, Threadgold & Pellecchia LLP, Jonathan has ten
years’ experience handling a variety of publishing
and copyright related transactions on behalf of individuals and corporations.
Donald Maass Literary Agency
Marcy Posner
Folio Literary Management
Marcy straddles the line between
adult and children’s books (middle grade and young adult only).
In the adult world, she is seeking commercial women’s fiction,
historical fiction, mystery, biography, history, health, and lifestyle—and, especially, thoughtfully written commercial novels,
thrillers, and narrative nonfiction. In the children’s
world, she’s looking for smart, contemporary YA
and middle-grade novels. Marcy does not represent genre romance and mysteries, memoirs, traditional fantasy or science fiction.
PJ Mark
Michelle Richter
Janklow & Nesbit Associates
Foreword Literary
PJ Mark moved to NYC in 1990 and
used his student loans to start
a literary journal to publish his
friends. He began his career as an
international book scout in 1993,
has worked as a journalist covering the book beat, and has been a literary agent since
2002. PJ’s fiction interests are eclectic, including short
stories and literary novels. His nonfiction interests include journalism, popular culture, memoir/narrative,
essays and cultural criticism. He is often drawn to writers, in fiction and nonfiction, who are formally inventive
and push boundaries in content, ideas and voice.
Before joining Foreword Literary,
Michelle was at St. Martin’s Press
for eight years, where she edited
Melissa Joan Hart’s Melissa Explains It All, among others, and
worked on a variety of fiction
and nonfiction. Michelle is seeking fiction including
book club reads, literary fiction, well-crafted women’s commercial fiction, thrillers, and mysteries. In
nonfiction, she’s seeking fashion, film, television,
science, medicine, sociology/social trends, and economics. She has a soft spot for stories set in Boston,
Ireland, and Russia.
5
Meet the Agents
John Rudolph
Meg Thompson
After twelve years as a book
editor, John Rudolph joined Dystel & Goderich in 2010. John’s
list is half adult, half children’s
authors—and he’s looking to
maintain that balance. He’s actively looking for narrative nonfiction, but is also
interested in commercial men’s fiction—thrillers,
mysteries and other “boy books.” On the children’s
side, he is keenly interested in middle-grade and
young adult fiction, and would love to find the next
great picture book author/illustrator.
Meg Thompson started in publishing in 2002 working for President
Bill Clinton in his Harlem office as a
researcher and fact checker on his
memoirs, My Life. She then went to
work for Charlie Rose as a writer
and researcher at his legendary PBS show before joining LJK Literary Management, LLC. After six years at
LJK, Meg founded her own agency with her partner,
Susanna Einstein. Meg is interested in memoir, narrative non-fiction, psychology, health, cookbooks, and
books on popular culture and humor.
David Hale Smith
Meet the Editors
David Hale Smith is looking for
the next Lee Child or Gillian Flynn.
Prior to joining InkWell in 2011, he
operated his eponymous literary agency in Texas, beginning in
1994, a few years after receiving his
BA in English. Smith is very active in selling film and
television rights for his clients, which include New York
Times bestselling novelists Michael Koryta and Greg
Rucka, frequent Today Show guest nutritionist Elizabeth Somer, and Texas Monthly writers Skip Hollandsworth and Daniel “BBQSnob” Vaughn, among others.
Susan Barnes
Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
Inkwell Management
Myrsini Stephanides
Carol Mann Agency
Myrsini joined the Carol Mann
Agency in September 2009 after
ten years as a non-fiction editor.
She represents an eclectic list of
books, including the #1 New York
Times bestseller How to Tell if Your
Cat Is Plotting to Kill You by The Oatmeal (aka Matthew
Inman) and Virtually Human: The Promise and the
Peril of Digital Immortality by Martine Rothblatt,
Ph.D, the creator and former CEO of Sirius XM. Myrsini is seeking non-fiction (pop culture, humor, pop
science, narrative), adult fiction (literary, upmarket
women’s, new adult), and young adult fiction (contemporary).
Einstein Thompson Agency
Hachette Book Group/Orbit
Susan Barnes is an associate editor
for Orbit and Redhook at Hachette
Book Group. She acquires all varieties of fantasy, science fiction and
commercial fiction. Stories with
vivid characters or huge plot twists
are her favorite, and she is definitely a sucker for anything with a romance —especially an unconventional
one. Originally a Midwesterner, Barnes hails from Illinois. She graduated from Valparaiso University with
a degree in English, went on to the NYU publishing
course, and has been reading away ever since.
Erin Black
Scholastic Press
Erin is an assistant editor at Scholastic Press, where she works on
books like Victoria Scott’s Fire &
Flood series, Jennifer Ziegler’s
Revenge of the Flower Girls, and
Suzanne Weyn’s The Haunted Museum series. Erin works on young adult and middle
grade fiction, and is always looking for stories that
make her stay up late to read just one more chapter,
questions that resonate beyond the page, and distinctive voices that she can’t forget.
6
Dawn Davis
Jason Pinter
In April 2013, Dawn Davis joined
Simon & Schuster as the VP
and Publisher of 37 INK, an imprint within the Atria Publishing
Group. Her first book, The Butler:
A Witness to History, was a New
York Times Bestseller. For twelve years, Dawn was
at HarperCollins where she published numerous
well-known, highly-acclaimed bestselling authors
including Pulitzer Prize winning author Edward P.
Jones, bestselling author Steve Harvey, and Chris
Gardner, among many others.
Jason Pinter is the Founder and
Publisher of Polis Books, a digital publishing company that
launched in summer 2013 specializing in commercial fiction.
He was previously an editor at
Warner Books, Crown Publishing and St. Martin’s
Press, and was the Senior Marketing Manager for
Grove/Atlantic and Mysterious Press. Jason is also
the bestselling author of five novels in his Henry
Parker thriller series and the Middle Grade book
Zeke Bartholomew: Superspy!, which have nearly
1.5 million copies in print and have been published
in over a dozen languages.
Atria Publishing Group/37 Ink
Michelle Howry
Simon & Schuster/Touchstone
Michelle Howry’s books include
The Girls of Atomic City by Denise
Kiernan, A Little Bit Wicked by
Broadway diva Kristin Chenoweth,
the diet powerhouse The New
Atkins for a New You, and the Bro
Code franchise of pop-culture books. Michelle acquires practical nonfiction in areas such as self-help,
personal finance, psychology, relationships, cookbooks, and health, as well as narrative nonfiction
in categories such as popular history, biography,
science, technology, pop culture, and memoir.
Matt Martz
The Quick Brown Fox & Company
Matt Martz began his publishing
career in 2004 and joined The
Quick Brown Fox & Company in
2014 after 8 years on the editorial staff at Minotaur Books. He
publishes crime fiction ranging
from traditional mysteries to high concept thrillers. The authors with whom he has worked include Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist Kelli
Stanley, Barry Award nominee Tim O’Mara, and
Karin Salvalaggio.
Polis Books
Michael Signorelli
Henry Holt and Company, Inc.
Michael Signorelli edits both fiction and nonfiction, now focusing
on thrillers and crime fiction. Previously, he worked at HarperCollins Publishers, where he helped
launch Johnny Depp’s imprint at
Harper, Infinitum Nihil. Recent and forthcoming publications include The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell,
winner of the Commonwealth Book Prize; House of
Earth by Woody Guthrie, a New York Times bestseller;
and Mother of God by Paul Rosolie, a Barnes & Noble
Discover Great New Writers selection.
Erika Tsang
Harper Collins/Avon
Erika Tsang joined Morrow/Avon
in 2002. Since then she has
developed Avon’s paranormal
romance program with acquisitions including Lynsay Sands,
Kerrelyn Sparks, and Jeaniene
Frost, all New York Times bestselling authors.
She also works with historical romance authors
such as Laura Lee Guhrke and Beverly Jenkins.
Erika’s recent acquisitions include #1 bestselling
authors Sylvia Day and Ilona Andrews.
7
Meet the Presenters
Sandra Bark
Sandra is a New York Times bestselling author and collaborator
whose clients are cultural icons
and subject-matter experts who
want to teach, share and inspire.
Recent clients include Cameron Diaz, Daphne Oz, Lori Goldstein, and Kat von D.
From pop culture and style to travel, food, health
and fitness, Sandra works across subjects, styles and
voices to help her clients write books and develop
their narrative strategies online. Her work is published by a long list of publishers, including Harper
Collins, Hachette, Penguin Random House, and
Simon & Schuster.
Shana Burg
Shana is the award-winning
author of two novels for young
readers. A Thousand Never Evers
(Random House, 2008) was named
one of the Top 10 Middle Readers
by Amazon in 2008 and was the
National Parenting Publications Award Gold Winner.
Laugh with the Moon (Random House, 2012) was on
several state reading lists, including the Texas Bluebonnet master list for grades 3-6. It was named a
Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
by the National Council for Social Studies.
Carol Dawson
Carol is both a novelist and nonfiction author whose books include
the novels The Waking Spell, Body
of Knowledge, Meeting the Minotaur, and The Mother-in-Law
Diaries, all published by Algonquin Books, Simon and Schuster, Viking-Penguin, and
translated overseas. Her award-winning non-fiction
book House of Plenty: The Rise, Fall, and Revival of
Luby’s Cafeterias was published by the University of
Texas Press. Carol has taught creative writing and
literature at the College of Santa Fe, as well as in numerous workshops.
Lance Fitzgerald
Lance has been a rights professional for nearly 20 years. He
joined Simon & Schuster as Rights
Director in 2011, prior to that he
was director at Penguin. He has
sold foreign, UK, and domestic
rights for all genres including business, memoir, history, science, and self-help nonfiction as well as literary, commercial, and paranormal romantic fiction.
The list of best-selling authors he has worked with
includes Mary Higgins Clark, Dale Carnegie & Associates, David McCullough, Walter Isaacson, Kathryn
Stockett,Neale Donald Walsch, and Seth Godin.
Marika Flatt
Marika launched PR by the Book,
LLC in 2002, combining her love
of the media, public relations and
books. She has received a Gold
Bulldog Award for a publicity campaign that resulted in exposure in
over 700 media outlets. Marika is also the recipient
of an Austin Public Relations Society of America Outstanding Mentor Award, the Anne D. Robinson Creative Initiative Award, and a nominee for “Profiles in
Power.” Marika also serves on the selection committee for the Texas Book Festival.
Charlotte Gullick
Charlotte Gullick is a novelist,
essayist, editor, educator and
Chair of the Creative Writing
Department at Austin Community
College. Her first novel, By Way
of Water, was chosen by Jayne
Anne Phillips as the Grand Prize winner of the Santa
Fe Writers Project Literary Awards Program, and a
special author’s edition was reissued by the Santa Fe Writers Project in November of 2013. Other
awards include a Christopher Isherwood Fellowship
for Fiction, a Colorado Council on the Arts Fellowship for Poetry, and a MacDowell Colony Residency,
among others.
8
Meet the Exhibitors
TIM PAYNE
Karleen Koen
Karleen is the author of four novels. Her first, Through a Glass
Darkly, was a New York Times
bestseller and her most recent
novel Before Versailles, was included among the best historical
fiction of 2011 by The Library Journal and RT Book
Reviews. Her books have been Book-of-the-Month
Club and Doubleday Book Club selections as well as
Indie Next bestsellers, Book Sense picks, Border’s
and Barnes and Noble’s New and Notable, and Historical Novels Society’s Editors’ Choices. Karleen
also teaches writing at the University of Houston.
Sima Thakkar
Sima Thakkar joined the PR by the
Book team in 2013 as the Social
Media Publicist. She works closely
with campaign managers to consult with clients on social media
strategy to help form a cohesive
message across all platforms. Sima has several years
of digital marketing experience and has helped both
small and large companies leverage social media to
create brand awareness and grow their business.
She also runs a personal blog called goodindiangirl.com where she has been featured in Refinery29
and TVAsia.
Scott Wiggerman
Scott is the author of Presence
(Pecan Grove Press) and Vegetables and Other Relationships
(Plain View Press), and the editor
of not only Wingbeats but also
the annual Texas Poetry Calendar
and Lifting the Sky: Southwestern Haiku & Haiga.
His hundreds of poems in print include those in the
recent anthologies Forgetting Home: Poems about
Alzheimer’s, The Crafty Poet, and This Assignment
Is So Gay: LGBTIQ Poets on the Art of Teaching, just
nominated for a Lambda Literary Award.
A Strange Object
Austin-based small press focused on literary fiction—
we champion debuts, daring writing, and good design
across all platforms.
www.astrangeobject.com
Austin Community College Creative
Writing Department
A two-year degree program open to all writers in
most genres; online and face-to-face.
www.austincc.edu/crw
The Author’s Assistant
From Ink to iPad: editing, production, and promotional services for the 21st century writer.
www.authorsassistant.com
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Books on writing and getting published as well as
books by conference presenters.
www.barnesandnoble.com
Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference
Sponsored by the Graduate Institute of Journalism,
University of North Texas.
www.themayborn.com
Robyn Conley: Book Doctor
Line and content editor, published writer and writing
consultant with over two decades of experience in
traditional and self-publishing.
www.robynconley.com
Shelton Interactive
Full-service digital agency (websites, publicity, social
media, etc.) for leading books and brands.
www.sheltoninteractive.com
Story & Vision
Handmade cinematic book trailers.
www.storyvisionfilm.com
Texas Association of Authors
A non-profit that brings Texas authors to the world.
www.TxAuthors.com
Violet Crown Publishers
A boutique publishing company in search of quality
books of fiction and nonfiction.
www.violetcrownpublishers.com
Yellow Bird Editors
Manuscript critiques, content editing, developmental
editing, query letter critiques, and more.
www.yellowbirdeditors.com
9
Conference Sessions
Friday, June 27
Saturday, June 28
1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m to 12 noon
Pick up your badge and conference materials.
The Registration Desk is also where you can:
• Purchase tickets for the “Practice Makes Pitch
Perfect” pre-conference workshop ($60 on-site),
private consultations ($60 on-site), and the Keynote
Luncheon ($45 on-site), subject to availability.
• Drop the opening page of your manuscript (one
page only) in the “First Page Box” for the chance to
have your opening critiqued by a panel of experts
at the First Page Panel on Sunday morning.
• Visit the exhibitors in the Big Bend Lobby.
Big Bend B-D (first floor, Hyatt)
Pick up your badge and conference materials.
The Registration Desk is also where you can:
• Purchase tickets for private consultations ($60
on-site) and the Keynote Luncheon ($45 on-site),
subject to availability.
• Drop the opening page of your manuscript (one
page only) in the “First Page Box” for the chance to
have your opening critiqued by a panel of experts
at the First Page Panel on Sunday morning.
Texas Ballroom Foyer (second floor, Hyatt)
Registration & First Page Box
3:30 to 4:45 p.m.
Pre-Conference Workshop
Practice Makes Pitch Perfect
Get ready to present your writing project at the conference and in one-on-one consultations. Sales expert Lance Fitzgerald of Simon & Schuster and literary agent Becka Oliver will help you condense your
project into a brief “pitch” which highlights its most
important aspects, sparks interest, and keeps people wanting more.
Registration & First Page Box
9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Exhibit Hall
Second Floor Lobby and Texas Ballroom 4
9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Opening Session
Welcome and Panel Discussion
with Lance Fitzgerald and Becka Oliver
Hill Country A-D (first floor, Hyatt)
Join WLT staff for a quick overview of the weekend
followed by the panel discussion “Work in Progress:
The State of Publishing Today.”
Panelists: author Chris Barton, editor Dawn Davis,
rights director Lance Fitzgerald, agent Scott Hoffman,
sales rep Gillian Redfearn | Moderator: Becka Oliver
Texas Ballroom 1-3 (second floor)
6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
10:00 to 10:15 a.m.
Join the WLT Staff as we introduce our esteemed
faculty and kick off the conference with snacks and
socializing. Refreshments provided. Cash bar.
Hill Country A-D (first floor, Hyatt)
Enjoy refreshments while visiting the exhibitors.
Second floor lobby and Texas Ballroom 4
Welcome Mixer and Cocktail Reception
Break
Thank you to our Panelists, Moderators, and Emcees
Gale Albright, E. Kirstin Anderson, Jill Bailey, Stephanie Barko, Chris Barton, Robert
Bennett, Joe Bratcher, Elizabeth Buhmann, Frank Campbell, Samantha Clark, Lindsay
Cummings, Shennandoah Diaz, Patricia W. Fischer, Manuel Gonzales, Donna M. Johnson,
Jacqueline Kelly, Janet Kilgore, Sara Kocek, Vanessa Lee, Jill Meyers, Evelyn Palfrey,
Sarah Pitre, Margo Rabb, Gillian Redfearn, Deanna Roy, Laura Cottam Sajbel, Beth
Sample, Patrice Sarath, Rusty Shelton, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Greg Leitich Smith, Suzy
Spencer, Natalia Sylvester, Lee Thomas, Jonathan Wei, Julie Wernersbach, Lisa Wingate, Brian Yansky
10
10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
11:00 to 11:15 a.m.
Your registration materials will include confirmation
slips for any consultations scheduled in advance.
Please bring your consultation slip and check in at
the Consultations Registration Desk in the Foothills
lobby. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. For details, see pages 14-15.
Foothills I & II (17th floor)
Enjoy refreshments while visiting the exhibitors.
Second floor lobby and Texas Ballroom 4
Agent & Editor Consultations
10:15 to 11:00 a.m.
Breakout Sessions
Panel: BUSINESS
Dynamic Duos: The Author-Agent
Relationship
Panelists: Brandi Bowles, Manuel Gonzales, PJ Mark,
Natalia Sylvester | Moderator: Vanessa Lee
Texas Ballroom 5
Panel: CRAFT
Otherworldly: Finding Your Place
in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Landscape
Panelists: Susan Barnes, Robert Bennett, Cameron
McClure, and Brian Yansky | Moderator: Samantha Clark
Texas Ballroom 6
Panel: BUSINESS
Getting the Word Out: Publicity
for Books and Authors
Panelists: Stephanie Barko, Marika Flatt, Rusty
Shelton, and Shennandoah Diaz | Moderator:
Lisa Wingate
Texas Ballroom 7
workshop: CRAFT
Jump-Start Exercises to Get
Writing Flowing
with Scott Wiggerman | Emcee: E. Kristin Anderson
Hill Country Rooms A&B
presentation: BUSINESS
Getting a YES! Writing Successful
Nonfiction Proposals
Break
11:15 am to 12 noon
Breakout Sessions
Panel: BUSINESS
Yes, You Do Have to Edit: How Revision
Can Make or Break a Book Deal
Panelists: Michelle Howry, Sara Kocek, Marcy Posner,
and Shana Burg | Moderator: Vanessa Lee
Texas Ballroom 5
Panel: CRAFT
Thrillers and Mysteries: Distinguishing
Yourself on a Crowded Shelf
Panelists: Michelle Richter, Michael Signorelli,
David Hale Smith, Lee Thomas | Moderator:
Elizabeth Buhmann
Texas Ballroom 6
Panel: Community
Finding Your Creative Tribe:
Beta Readers, Writing Groups,
and Other Literary Partners
Panelists: Jacqueline Kelly, Natalia Sylvester,
Lisa Wingate, Laura Cottam Sajbel | Moderator:
Jennifer Ziegler
Texas Ballroom 7
workshop: CRAFT
Care and Feeding of Your Writer
with Karleen Koen | Emcee: Janet Kilgore
Hill Country Rooms A&B
workshop: CRAFT
Opening Hook: Tying Your Fly
and Casting to the Reader
with Carol Dawson | Emcee: Chris Barton
Hill Country Rooms C&D
with Sandra Bark | Emcee: Suzy Spencer
Hill Country Rooms C&D
11
Saturday, June 28
Conference Sessions
Keynote Luncheon
2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Lessons from the Long Road: Staying
Inspired, Productive, and Published
Panel: BUSINESS
Breakout Sessions
Peering Over the Transom:
A Look Inside a Publishing House
Featuring New York Times Bestselling Author
Jeff Abbott is the New
York Times bestselling,
award-winning author
of many mystery and
suspense novels. He
has been called “one
of the best thriller writers in the business”
(Washington Post). He
is published in many
languages and has been a bestseller in the US, the
UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, Portugal,
and other countries. His next novel, Inside Man, will
be released in July 2014.
Jeff’s novel Adrenaline was a Summer Great
Reads choice by both The Today Show and Good
Morning America. He is a winner of the Thriller
Award (for The Last Minute) and was nominated
for the Thriller Award for Panic. He is a three-time
nominee for the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award and a two-time nominee for the Anthony Award. Jeff’s first novel, Do Unto Others, won
both the Agatha Award and the Macavity Award.
His novels Adrenaline, Panic, and Collision
have been optioned for film and are in script
development.
Jeff graduated from Rice University with a degree in History and English. He lives in Austin
with his wife and two sons.
12:15 to 1:45 pm
Texas Ballroom 1-3 (second floor)
Sponsored by Michael Glasscock
Advance registration required; a limited number
of tickets may be available at the Registration
Desk on Friday and Saturday morning for $45.
Cost of ticket includes complimentary copy of
speaker’s latest book. Jeff Abbott will do a signing soon after the luncheon event.
Leslie Abbott Photography
Jeff Abbott
Panelists: Erin Black, Lance Fitzgerald, Gillian
Redfearn, Matt Martz | Moderator: Becka Oliver
Texas Ballroom 5
Panel: CRAFT
Collect Your Thoughts:
Writing and Publishing Memoirs
Panelists: Dawn Davis, Donna M. Johnson,
Kristyn Keene, PJ Mark | Moderator: Jonathan Wei
Texas Ballroom 6
Panel: CRAFT
Same World, Different Book:
Writing and Selling Sequels or Series
Panelists: Susan Barnes, Cameron McClure,
Lee Thomas, Erika Tsang | Moderator: Brian Yansky
Texas Ballroom 7
presentation: BUSINESS
Publishing 2.0: The New Face
of the Book World
with Jason Pinter | Emcee: Chris Barton
Hill Country Rooms A&B
workshop: CRAFT
How to Write a Winning Protagonist
in a Book for Young Readers
with Shana Burg | Emcee: Samantha Clark
Hill Country Rooms C&D
3:00 to 3:15 p.m.
Break
Enjoy refreshments while visiting the exhibitors.
Second floor lobby and Texas Ballroom 4
Have an Aha! moment?
Jot
down your epiphanies and drop them at
the WLT table. We’ll share some at the
Sunday General Session, 9 a.m.-12 noon.
12
Saturday, June 28
Keynote Cocktail
Reception
3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
Breakout Sessions
Panel: BUSINESS
What Agents Can (and Can’t) Do for You
Panelists: Scott Hoffman, Kristyn Keene, John
Rudolph, Meg Thompson | Moderator: Vanessa Lee
Texas Ballroom 5
Featuring New York Times Bestselling Author
Joshilyn Jackson
Understanding Publishing Contracts
Joshilyn Jackson is
the New York Times
and USA Today bestselling author of
six novels, including
Gods in Alabama
and Someone Else’s
Love Story. Her books
have been translated
into a dozen languages, won SIBA’s novel of the year, and three times
been a #1 Indie Next Pick. Jackson also works as a
voice actor for audiobooks, including her own. Her
work in this field has been nominated for the Audie
Award, appeared on AudioFile Magazine’s best of
the year list, and garnered three Listen Up Awards
from Publishers Weekly. She lives in Decatur,
Georgia with her husband and their two children.
workshop: CRAFT
5:30 p.m.
Texas Ballroom 1-3 (second floor)
Sponsored by Thompson & Knight
Panel: CRAFT
Subject Matters: Truths about Nonfiction
Panelists: Sandra Bark, Carol Dawson, Michelle Howry,
Myrsini Stephanides | Moderator: Laura Cottam Sajbel
Texas Ballroom 6
Panel: COMMUNITY
How to Make Friends and Influence
People: Being a Good Literary Citizen
Panelists: Joshilyn Jackson, Cynthia Leitich Smith, David
Hale Smith, Sima Thakkar | Moderator: Becka Oliver
Texas Ballroom 7
presentation: BUSINESS
with Jonathan Lyons | Emcee: Suzy Spencer
Hill Country Rooms A&B
Drawing from the Hidden Well:
Using Metaphor for Revision
with Charlotte Gullick | Emcee: Jonathan Wei
Hill Country Rooms C&D
4:15 to 4:30 p.m.
Break
Admission included with conference registration. Light refreshments provided. Cash bar. All
attendees of the cocktail reception will receive a
copy of Joshilyn’s latest acclaimed novel (and a
#1 Indie Next Pick), Someone Else’s Love Story.
Joshilyn will sign books after her keynote.
Enjoy refreshments while visiting the exhibitors.
Second floor lobby and Texas Ballroom 4
Panel: CRAFT
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Coming of Age: Writing for Teens
and Tweens
Breakout Sessions
Panel: BUSINESS
Big House, Small House, My Own House:
Which Publishing Path Is Right for You?
Panelists: Erin Black, Lindsey Cummings, Logan
Garrison, Greg Leitich Smith | Moderator: Sarah Pitre
Texas Ballroom 6
Panelists: Jill Meyers, Jason Pinter, Deanna Roy,
Michael Signorelli | Moderator: Vanessa Lee
Texas Ballroom 5
13
Conference Sessions
Consultation Fast Facts
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Where
Panel: BUSINESS
Into Readers Hands: The Role
of Booksellers and Sales Reps
Panelists: Jill Bailey, Joe Bratcher, Frank Campbell,
Julie Wernersbach | Moderator: Gillian Redfearn
Texas Ballroom 7
All consultations will be held in Foothills I & II on
the 17th floor of the Hyatt. Only one elevator goes
right up to the 17th floor. The others take you to
the 16th floor. From there you can take the stairs
up one flight to the Foothills lobby.
Scheduling
with Matt Martz | Emcee: Evelyn Palfrey
Hill Country Rooms A&B
If you scheduled consultations in advance, you
should have received an email notice before the
conference about the date and time of your appointment(s) and the name(s) of the consultant(s).
An appointment slip for each of your consultations
with the consultant’s name, day, and time will be
included with your badge.
presentation: BUSINESS
Second Chance Consultations
presentation: BUSINESS
The Day After Your Book Contract:
Making the Transition from Dream
to Profession
PR’s Trifecta: Traditional, Online
and Social Media
with Marika Flatt and Sima Thakkar | Emcee: Beth
Sample
Hill Country Rooms C&D
Sunday, June 29
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Agent & Editor Consultations
Please check in at the Consultations Registration
Desk in the Foothills lobby at least 15 minutes before
your scheduled appointment.
Foothills I & II (17th Floor)
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
General Session
First Page Critiques and Burning Questions
Join WLT staff and a panel of experts as we answer
burning questions, do first page critiques, and share
aha! moments.
Panelists: Logan Garrison, Leticia Gomez, Marcy
Posner, Meg Thompson | Moderator: Jennifer Ziegler
Texas Ballroom 1-3 (second floor)
Genre Meetings
After the critique session we will meet at tables
designated by genre or category to talk craft, compare notes, and share marketing tips.
Texas Ballroom 1-3 (second floor)
Additional appointments may be available on site
at the conference for $60. Please check at the
Conference Registration Desk for information.
Checking In
Please check in at the Consultations Desk outside the Foothills rooms on the 17th floor at least
15 minutes before your appointment is scheduled to start. IMPORTANT! If you are late and miss
your consultation, you will NOT be given another
appointment.
Length of Appointments
All consultations will be 10 minutes long.
A volunteer will be on hand to time your session
and will cue you as your time nears its end. Once
you receive that cue, please wrap up your meeting
promptly. Because other attendees are scheduled
after you, ending on time is EXTREMELY important.
Occasionally consultants will get off schedule;
please be patient if that is the case.
Follow us
on Twitter @writersleague
Share your tweets as #WLT2014
Like us at facebook.com/
WritersLeagueOfTexas.
14
What Not to Do
in Consultations
Agent/Editor Consultations
Most agents/editors want to hear only a verbal
pitch at your one-on-one meeting. If interested,
they will ask that you submit something to them
after the conference. The best thing to do is practice a short pitch about your book and then be prepared to explain more when asked. Please do NOT
bring a manuscript with you. If the agent/editor is
interested in your work, he or she will tell you how
to send it after the conference.
Occasionally agents and editors will update their
categories list without our being aware. If the person you meet with says he or she does not represent your type of book, use the time to get information about why he/she is not interested and
what you can do to make your idea more saleable.
You can also talk about other ideas you have or
ask for suggestions of other agents or publishers
who might be interested. Finally, this is a great
opportunity to ask about the state of publishing
today, current market trends, and other general
questions you might have. Come prepared with
questions so that you’re able to make full use of
your time.
Networking
Agents, editors, and other special guests will
attend the Welcome Reception event on Friday
evening and the cocktail reception on Saturday
evening. In addition, our faculty will lead workshops or sit on panels throughout the conference.
Agents and editors welcome brief informal pitches
and will be glad to talk with you throughout the
weekend. Remember that pitching in this format
should be more casual than in your one-on-one
consultation.
PLEASE REMEMBER to be respectful of their time;
keep your conversations short and to the point
(we recommend three to five minutes maximum)
and don’t insist if they politely decline. You should
always be willing to talk to agents who aren’t on
your list—you never know who might have a sudden interest in your idea! We also recommend
that you talk to the editors over the weekend to
learn more about how they acquire books and
what happens once a book is purchased.
Do not stress out about making your pitch;
just be prepared to speak intelligently and
engagingly about your book.
Do not take it personally if an agent or editor tells you your book is not right for him or her.
All kinds of reasons may be behind that decision.
Simply thank them for their time and then ask
any other questions you have about your pitch or
working with agents and publishers. You will have
opportunities to meet other agents and editors
throughout the weekend.
Do not try to talk an agent into taking your
book after he or she has said no. Thank him or
her for their time and see what you can learn to
apply to your next pitching opportunity.
Do not argue with an agent or editor. Listen
to what he or she has to say and see what you
can apply to your next pitching opportunity.
Do not keep pitching your book if an agent
says, “I like it! Send me 50 pages.” Say thank you,
get instructions on how to submit, then move on
and be sure to follow up after the conference.
Do not hand your entire manuscript to an
agent or editor.
Do not monopolize an agent’s time outside
the consultations room. Please try to keep your
discussions to three to five minutes maximum,
especially if others are lined up behind you.
Do not pitch an agent or editor when he or
she is taking some time off (such as having a meal
in a restaurant or talking with other agents).
NEVER EVER pitch an agent or editor in the
restroom or on the elevator.
15
Conference Fast Facts
The following Conference events require advance
reservations: Pre-Conference Workshop (Friday),
Keynote Luncheon (Saturday), and Consultations.
If additional consultations become available, tickets will be sold for $60 each at the Conference Registration Desk. Once you purchase a ticket, please
present that at the Consultations Check-In Desk.
General Conference Badges
Your name badge allows you entrance to all general
conference workshops and panels. Please wear your
badge at all times during Conference hours. Door
monitors will be checking badges at each session.
Conference badges will also be checked at all
consultations and general sessions. You cannot
attend any conference-related event without it. If
you lose your name badge, go to the Conference
Registration Desk to request a replacement.
Guests Family or friends staying with you cannot
attend conference sessions. All conference events
require paid registration.
Parking Attendees staying overnight at the Hyatt receive discounted self-parking at $9 per day;
check with the hotel about using the card-access
lot. Conference attendees who are not staying at
the hotel will also receive discounted self-parking
at $9 per day. As you leave the parking lot, tell the
attendant that you were at the Writers’ League
conference, and you will receive the discount.
Valet parking is NOT discounted.
Note Please allow extra time if you’re arriving later
on Saturday in case it takes you longer to park.
Dining
Restaurants within walking distance of the hotel
Aussie’s Bar & Grill, 306 Barton Springs Rd.
Burgers, beer, and beach volleyball.
Dominican Joe Coffee Shop, 515 S. Congress Ave.
Free-trade coffee house and a local hangout for
writers.
Freebirds World Burrito, 515 S. Congress Ave.
Made-to-order burritos, tacos, and salads.
Home Slice Pizza, 1415 S. Congress Ave.
Authentic NY-style pizza by the slice or pie—an
Austin staple with a great patio.
Hooters, 425 W. Riverside Dr.
Burgers, beers, and … nocturnal birds?
Hopdoddy Burger Bar, 1400 S. Congress Ave.
Created to express the perfect union between
burgers and beer—puts the WEIRD in Austin
burgers!
MamboBerry, 801 Barton Springs Road
Frozen yogurt, smoothies, salads, sandwiches.
Paggi House, 200 Lee Barton Drive
Fine patio dining incorporating farm-fresh and
local ingredients.
Sandy’s Hamburgers, 603 Barton Springs Rd.
Old-fashioned, locally owned burger and frozen
custard stand.
Schlotzsky’s, 218 S. Lamar Blvd.
Breakfast, deli, salads, pizza, bakery, ice cream.
Threadgill’s World Headquarters, 301 W. Riverside Dr.
Home-style Southern cooking, enormous portions
of vegetables, and live music on weekends.
Toastie’s Sub Shop, 215 S. Lamar Blvd.
Subs, salads, tacos, pizzas, and wraps.
Thundercloud Subs, 201 E. Riverside Dr.
Fast, fresh and healthy subs, soups, and salads.
Zax Pints & Plates, 312 Barton Springs Rd.
Classic American Bistro fare with Mediterranean
influences and local and seasonal beer selections.
16
Culture and Nightlife
Bat Watching The Congress Avenue Bridge next
to the Hyatt hosts the largest urban bat colony in
North America. Each evening around sunset the
Congress Avenue bats emerge from the crevices of
the bridge. For up-to-date emergence times call
512-327-9721 Ext 16.
Hike and Bike Trail Enter from the back of the Hyatt Regency and stretch your legs on the 10-mile
Roy and Ann Butler trail surrounding Lady Bird
Lake. Make a splash with a choice of rentals including canoes and paddle boards.
Second Street and the Warehouse District Just
across from Lady Bird Lake is one of Austin’s top
entertainment districts with even more dining and
music!
South Congress (SoCo) Walk a few blocks south
on Congress and you’ll be in the heart of funky
shopping, more great restaurants, and live music.
Looking for alternative transportation? Step outside the Hyatt for a ride in a Pedicab! These fit
Austinites work for tips and will take you to whatever destination you desire.
About the Hyatt
Regency Austin
ATM An automated teller machine is in the hotel
lobby near the Perks Coffee Shop.
The Business Center (second floor) has computers, Internet access, and a printer available
to guests 24 hours a day. High-speed wireless
Internet is complimentary. Internet service in
guest rooms is included.
Check-Out Check-out time is 11 a.m.
Parking Self-parking is available to Conference
attendees for $9 per day. Valet parking is $15
per day or $24 overnight (discounts do not apply). For details, see “Parking.”
Restaurants and Bars
Perks Coffee & More
(first floor)
5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
SWB/Southwest Bistro
(second floor)
Breakfast: 6 to 11 a.m.
Saturday 6 a.m. to 12 noon
Sunday 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dinner: 5 to 10 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Marker 10 Spirits & Cuisine Bar
(first floor)
Friday 2 pm to 1 a.m.
Saturday 12 noon to 1 a.m.
Sunday 12 noon to 11 p.m.
Happy Hour: Sunday through Thursday
from 4 to 7 p.m.
17
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AUSTIN INTERNATIONAL
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April 9 – 12, 2015
www.aipf.org
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INPRINT
M A RG A R E T T ROOT B ROW N
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bringing the page to the stage
300 great writers presented since 1980
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21
The Austin Public Library Friends Foundation
is pleased to sponsor the 2014 Agents & Editors Conference
The Austin Public Library Friends Foundation supports the Austin Public Library by
increasing public awareness about the library and its importance to the community, and
by enhancing library collections, programs and facilities.
Join us for a variety of literary events and programs in your local library!
➤ Badgerdog Creative Writing Workshops
bring professional writers into libraries, schools,
and community spaces to lead workshops with
people of all ages and skill levels and provide
opportunities for publication. Workshops
include spring break and summer camp
programs for youth, school-based workshops,
and adult programs held in library branches.
➤ The New Fiction Confab brings several of
America’s most prominent early - and midcareer authors to Austin’s libraries for writing
workshops, readings, and discussions.
➤ The Mayor’s Book Club is a citywide
reading campaign that fosters community
experience through reading and discussion
of shared books. Join us in reading this year’s
selection, Monday, Monday, by Austin author
Elizabeth Crook.
➤ Texas Teen Book Festival, presented in
partnership with the Texas Book Festival, is a
one-day event that celebrates the teen reading
experience by inviting teens to visit with the
most popular and critically acclaimed young
adult authors in the country.
For more information, visit www.austinlibrary.org.
22
21st Annual
Austin
FILM FESTIVAL
and conference
OCTOBER 23 - 30
8 Days of Panels, Films,
Parties, and more!
THE WRITERS FESTIVAL
Register to attend at austinfilmfestival.com or 1-800-310-FEST
Thompson & Knight LLP
i s p leased to s p onsor the
2014 Writers’ League of Texas
Agents & Editors Conference
S a turd a y
K
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y
n
o
t
e
C o c k t a i l
R e c e p t i o n
23