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Part I: One-Day Intensive Sessions
Additional Part II Faculty
2008 Faculty Biographies
Bill Fitzhugh is the award-winning, critically acclaimed
author of seven comic suspense novels. He has written for television on NBC,
Fox, and the BBC, and his novels have been optioned by major movie studios. Born
and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, he currently resides in Los Angeles.
Intensive:
“Satire, humor, and a crime novel walk into a bar...”
There is no rule saying mysteries and thrillers have to be
sober and deadly serious. There is no rule saying you can’t deal with weighty
moral issues in a book featuring, for example, a farm of transgenic baboons and
rumors of testicle transplants. In other words, there is no rule saying you
can’t write a comic crime novel. It may be harder to write than a regular crime
novel, and it may be harder to find a publisher, but there aren’t any rules
against it. The comic crime novel has all the features of the standard novel:
story, plot, characters, all that, but it needs something else. It needs the
funny. Where do you get that? And how do you make it work? From biting satire
to gentle humor. From eccentric characters with outlandish goals in cartoonish
worlds to the sweet romantic comedy set in a quirky small town. From the
farthest-fetched plots to the simple humor mined from everyday life. Award
winning author Bill Fitzhugh will discuss the art of making death funny and the
steps required to producing a comic crime novel.
Part II sessions
-
“Writing Short: The
sitcom” – Three jokes a page and people we want to spend time with every
week, (and every day when it goes into syndication). Got a great idea for a
sitcom? Now what? Wait for CAA to call? Should you write an original
pilot or a standard spec script? How many acts is it supposed to be? How
many scenes per act? Where do I send it? What are the rules? How does it
all work? Is the strike going to end soon? The answers are: take a deep
breath, no, it depends, it varies, the cousin of a friend who knows somebody
at ABC who said he was looking for unknown sitcom writers, and nobody in
Hollywood knows anything, including Bill Fitzhugh but he’s willing to talk
anyway.
-
“Writing Shorter:
Sketch comedy” – The outlet for outrage. Your chance to put a spotlight
on stupidity, to open the spout of grotesque ideas, bizarre situations, and
downright odd thinking you’ve got trapped in the cellar. Take your shot at
spoofing popular culture in sixty seconds or less. Always the runty cousin
of the network sitcom, sketch comedy is alive and well on television,
stage, and even radio. Explore the possibilities of short form wackiness
with the co-creator of “Radio Free Comedy.” (Brought to you by the law firm
of Shaftem, Dickem, Hosem, and Marx.)
-
“Writing
Shortest: Comic haikus”
This one here’s
a joke.
Humorous haikus
don’t sell.
Finish the
novel.
-
“What if…” –
The central idea. The starting point. The germ. The notion that gets the
ball rolling. Where can I get one of those? You can’t start any story
without thinking and answering the question, what if? A smart and funny
‘what if’ can be a veritable blueprint for a successful comic novel. You
just have to ask, What if. Oh, and then you have to answer the question. For
example: What if your mother was being wheeled in for a heart transplant?
And what if someone hijacked the heart? And what if you ran after them? And
what if you found out the heart was intended for the president, who you
didn’t vote for? Then what? Come and find out.
-
"Dialogue, Regional Dialects, and Slang"
– Notwithstanding the homogenization of American language and culture, not
everybody talks the same way. Your characters shouldn't either. The words
that come from your characters' mouths help define them and give them
dimension. The idioms and metaphors they use help tell us who they are. For
some, to die is to kick the bucket, for others it's to peel the garlic, and
yet others have just passed the drop edge of yonder. The vocabulary and
syntax of a nineteen year old California skate board dude are
radically different from those of an 80 year old African American from
Mississippi. An English assassin shouldn't sound like a South American drug
lord. Their dialogue should reflect that. The 'slanguage' of teenagers,
criminals, and cops changes rapidly; how do you keep up? We'll discuss how
to write dialogue in general, how to write regional dialects, and how to
tell if you've overdone it.
-
Friday luncheon speaker: "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Midwest
Writers Workshop
Tasha Alexander attended the University of Notre Dame,
where she signed on as an English major in order to have a legitimate excuse for
spending all her time reading. Following graduation, she played nomad for
several years, eventually settling with her family in Tennessee. She is the
author of three novels of historical suspense, And Only To Deceive, A
Poisoned Season, and A Fatal Waltz as well as Elizabeth: The
Golden Age, the companion novel to the Universal Studios film starring Cate
Blanchett.
Intensive Session: "Writing Historical Fiction"
In this session, we will discuss every stage of crafting an
historical novel, from finding a viable idea, to doing the research, creating
characters true to the time period, and making the reader feel as if he's
dropped into another century. We'll look at the line between authenticity and
literary license and talk about the different approaches necessary for writing a
series and a standalone novel.
Part II Sessions
-
"Writing Dialogue" – Pace, rhythm, style, and
tone are all set by the way your characters speak. Discuss how to write
dialogue that sounds real, reads well, and doesn't drag down your plot.
We'll also talk about the use of dialects and writing dialogue in historical
fiction.
-
“Where Fact and Fiction Overlap: What To Do When
History and Real People Creep Into Your Novel” – How close do you need
to stay to the truth? Can you bring historical figures into your story and
make them say whatever you want? What are strategies for using historical
events as effective backdrops for a novel? We'll discuss everything you need
to know about history and fiction.
-
“The Author-Agent Relationship,” Tasha Alexander
& Anne Hawkins – From revisions to submissions to sales and publication,
we'll discuss all the inside secrets of what goes on between authors and
their agents.
Sally S. Wright, Edgar Finalist author of the Ben Reese
mystery series, has studied rare books, ancient coins, early explorers, painting
restoration, botanical illustrators, WWII tech-teams, the Venona Code, and army
life in WWII in America, England and Europe, in order to write about
a university-archivist-former-WWII-Scout who's based on a real person. Watches
Of The Night, the fifth in the series, will be published in the States in
May 2008. The Book-Breaker's Mission, a prequel to the series, will come
out in late 2008. Sally also wrote biography articles for national magazines
before writing mysteries. She and her husband have two grown children, and live
in northwestern Ohio.
Intensive: “Solving
the Mysteries of Mystery Writing"
How do you: Identify and develop intriguing plot ideas?
Create “real” characters that make readers connect? Research and describe
settings so people think they’re there? Include exposition so it doesn’t
distract from the flow? Write dialogue that deepens character while it
differentiates? Make readers turn pages (and stay up later than they should)?
Recreate earlier ages, if the plot’s historical? Weave-in what’s important to
you, so that when someone’s finished your book something sticks with them that’s
more than a memory of having been amused?
Part II Sessions
-
“Research: The Necessity, Pleasures, and Pitfalls
Thereof” – Research can play a part in: idea identification; plot,
setting and character development; literary style and language choices; as
well as the writing of dialogue. Techniques for doing research, and
organizing the results, will be discussed.
-
“History In Mystery” – Most murderous plots grow
out of back-stories. Many mysteries are placed in ages past. How do you use
real events and people from the past to drive your novels when they’re
placed then, and now?
-
“Professional and Special Knowledge Based Novels” –
How do you use specific expertise (an archivist’s, jockey’s, painter’s,
lawyer’s, photographer’s, chef’s, etc.) in a novel to drive the plot (not
drive it under) by using the right amount of detail?
-
“Mysteries In The British Tradition” – Realities
of writing in a historical genre that includes academic, amateur, private
investigator, and professional sleuths, that’s based on a literate literary
style that doesn’t revolve around in-your-face violence, or an overabundance
of rude words.
-
Buttonhole The Experts topic: “The place of persistence in writing, and
getting published”
Rebecca Kai Dotlich is a poet and picture book author whose
work has been featured on Reading Rainbow, has appeared in magazines such as
Ladybug and Highlights, and in numerous anthologies, textbooks and
collections. She has been a poetry advisor and contributing columnist for
Creative Classroom magazine, and Teaching K-8, gives numerous poetry
workshops, including Highlights Founders workshops in Pennsylvania, and speaks
at national conferences, retreats, libraries and schools to teachers, aspiring
writers and students of all ages. Her books have been chosen as a Junior Library
Guild Selection, 10 Best Books for Babies, IRA Children's Choice, Indiana Best
Read Aloud, and the Gold Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award. Dotlich publishes with
Boyds Mills Press, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Henry Holt.
Intensive: "The (Joyful) Work of Writing for
Children"
What makes a marketable book for children—and once you’ve got one, what
do you do with it? What are editors are looking for, what’s new in the
marketplace? How do you prepare your manuscript for submission, target the right
publisher, find an agent? How does the editorial process work once a book is
sold? How much time is there likely to be between finishing the manuscript and
seeing it in print? This intensive session will answer these questions, and
more! Join Rebecca Kai Dotlich, published poet and picture book author, for a
lively conversation, tips and an inside look at the world of writing and
publishing children’s books.
Part II Sessions
-
“The Magazine Sleuth” – Are you interested in writing for
magazines? Trying to find that way in, that foot in the door, that first
sale? (Or 2nd or 10th.) Rebecca started her career writing for
magazines. She'll share tips for thinking out of the box, researching ideas,
getting an editor to take notice of your poetry, stories and non-fiction
pieces. Detailed ideas using some of her own sales for opening those doors.
-
“The Poetry Project” – How do you get an idea for a collection of
poetry? How are collections put together? What are editors looking for, and
where do you begin? Rebecca has written seven poetry collections with
another few dozen in the progress stage, and yet another few on editors
desks. How many poems do you need for a book? What about rhyme vs. free
verse? Come with any and all questions.
-
“One Writer's Path To Publishing” – Do you ever hear about an
author, see a book published, walk into a lecture, a bookstore, a library,
and think ... exactly when and how and where did this author get their
break, their first publishing success, their first book? Most of us do. It
can be interesting, enlightening and inspirational. So Rebecca will share
the background story to her publishing career, and maybe you'll see yourself
or come away with new hope and determination.
Award-winning New York Times and USA Today
bestselling author Shirley Jump spends her days writing romantic comedies for
Kensington Books (Really Something) as well as Harlequin Romance (Boardroom
Bride and Groom, July 2008) to feed her shoe addiction and avoid
cleaning the toilets. She also written 3,000 articles, two non-fiction books,
hosted two of her own shows on a local cable channel, and co-hosted a late-night
comedy show.
Intensive: “Romance Writing”
-
“Once Upon A
Time…Writing Your First Novel” – Have you ever wanted to write a short
story or novel? Wondered what it took to get from “Once upon a time” to “The
End”? This interactive session teaches you how to take a germ of an
idea and turn it into a story, covering the basics of scene and sequel and
plotting. Shirley will discuss fitting a writing schedule into a busy day
and also what to do with your manuscript once it’s done. This Intensive will:
1.
Discuss
how to decide whether an idea is “big” enough to encompass a novel
2.
How to
create characters
3.
Deciding
on character goals, motivations and conflicts
4.
Developing a story arc
5.
Creating
scenes and sequels
6.
Polishing your manuscript
7.
Resources for getting published
At the end of this session, participants will have a
good basic knowledge of how to write a story, and what encompasses a strong
plot.
Part II Sessions
-
“Time Management” – How do find time to juggle
writing, work and a life? Join New York Times bestselling author
Shirley Jump who writes six books a year, edits a monthly magazine and
freelances for national magazines, and manages to be a fairly sane mom and
wife at the same time, for tips on fitting writing into a busy day and life.
-
“Scene Transitions
and Hooks” – How do you keep the reader turning the pages long into the
night? By building in powerful scene transitions and hooks. Learn how to
work your way through the murky waters of creating a scene with compelling
action that continues to propel the plot forward, and maintains continually
tight pacing. This session will also answer the questions of how Scene and
Sequel work with an easy exercise to show new writers the basics of this
story building block.
-
“Making $1000 A Month As A Freelancer” – If
you're a writer who wants to expand your horizons and learn to make regular,
steady income, this session will show you how to make $1000 a month (or
multiply the tips to make $10,000 a month) as a freelance writer. Learn the
realities of running a work-from-home freelance writing business and gather
tips on how to make it work for you.
-
"Six Steps to More Powerful Characters and Plot" -
Editors love books that are character driven. Learn how to create novels
with plots created by the characters themselves, giving a stronger, more
powerful--and more emotional story. If you're stuck in your writing, needing
inspiration or just want to learn more about developing characters, you'll
get the boost you need for this class with New York Times bestselling
author Shirley Jump!
- Thursday Evening Keynote
Speaker - "Getting the Most Out of a Writer's Workshop"
-
Saturday Buttonhole:
Author of seven poetry collections, two scholarly books,
two poetry anthologies, numerous poems and essays published in journals as well
as anthologies, Kevin Stein has received wide acclaim from reviewers. His newest
collection, History’s Bicep, is forthcoming in fall 2008 from University
of Illinois Press. In 2005 his collection American Ghost Roses
(University of Illinois Press) was praised by David Wojahn for its “impeccable
craft” and by Edward Hirsch for its “particularly American . . . way of fooling
around to get at something deep and necessary.” In addition, American Ghost
Roses garnered the Society of Midland Authors 2006 Poetry Award. Two other
collections, Chance Ransom (2000) and Bruised Paradise (1996),
also appeared in the University of Illinois Press Poetry Series. Earlier, his
first poetry volume, A Circus of Want (University of Missouri Press,
1992), earned the prestigious Devins Award for Poetry. Elsewhere, his poetry has
been honored with the Frederick Bock Prize awarded by Poetry, the 1998 Indiana
Review Poetry Prize, and four Illinois Arts Council Literary Awards – the most
recent awarded in 2007 to his poem “In Human Hands.” In addition, Stein has
been the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship and
three such fellowships granted by the Illinois Arts Council, as well as grant
support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. In December 2003,
Governor Blagojevich named Kevin Stein Illinois Poet Laureate, filling the
position previously held by Gwendolyn Brooks, Carl Sandburg, and Howard Austin. In 2004 he was awarded the Vernon Louis Parrington Medal for Distinguished
Writing. His poems and essays have appeared widely in journals such as
American Poetry Review, Boulevard, Colorado Review, The Kenyon Review, Poetry,
Southern Review, and TriQuarterly.
Intensive:
“Teaching Old
Dogs New Tricks”
One of the most exhilarating writerly experiences is
resuscitating old forms with fresh content. This session will focus on our
workshop poets' doing just that. First, we'll familiarize ourselves with the
nuances of two esteemed but largely out of date forms -- the poetic apostrophe
(a poetic address to some dead or absent person, a natural object, an imaginary
quality or concept) and the pantoum (a highly stylized poetic form involving
rich rhymes and repetition of key lines). We'll study contemporary and earlier
examples of the forms, noting the why and how and wherefore of each. Then we'll
practice our own attempts at making these old forms speak in contemporary terms.
Doing so connects the poet to ancient practice and simultaneously updates the
form.
Part II Sessions
-
“Why Writers Read” – This session will examine
the currently popular obsession with compiling lists of authors' favorite
books, asking the essential questions behind the craze. Why do writers read?
What do writers gain (or hope to gain) from the practice? How do writers'
favorite books shape their work, and to what extent and for what duration?
What, then, do readers gain from reading writers' favorite book lists? Why
do readers care what writers read? What does one's reading reveal about
one's art and one's person?
-
"How to 'Funkify'
Your Prose: Enhancing Poetic Metaphor, Image, and the Musical Phrase in
Your Prose Line" – Poet Ezra Pound famously claimed poetry must be as
well written as prose. Now, fiction and nonfiction writers can turn the
tables, learning to enhance their prose line with poetic elements of
metaphor, image, and the musical phrase. Doing so not only energizes your
prose but also contributes to heightened measures of voice and tone. We'll
discuss examples and results of inserting traditional poetic technique
within prose.
-
Poetry Reading in the Library - Come hear Kevin read a selection
of his poetry.
J. BRENT BILL
Brent Bill is the author and co-author of many books
including Sacred Compass: The Way of Spiritual Discernment, Mind the Light:
Learning to See with Spiritual Eyes, Holy Places: Matching Sacred Space with
Mission and Message, and Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality.
A former writing instructor at Earlham School of Religion and director of the
Ministry of Writing Colloquium, Brent has written more than 100 fiction and
nonfiction articles and is a writing instructor and coach. A Quaker minister,
he and his wife Nancy live on Ploughshares Farm in rural Indiana. Ploughshares
Farm is slightly over 50 acres of former farmland being reclaimed into prairie
and native Indiana hardwoods as a wildlife preserve.
Intensive: “Writing from the Heart: Soulful Creativity”
Do you wish to write in a way
that touches readers and yourself? That’s the kind of writing that makes
Anne
Lamott’s essays, AJ Jacob’s The Year of Living Biblically,
Phil Gulley’s Harmony tales, and Barbara Brown Taylor’s memoirs so
appealing. Brent Bill’s own writing has been described by
Publishers Weekly as being “Like a
neighborly conversation across a kitchen table.” Whether you are writing
fiction or nonfiction, you want to write from the heart and not just from the
head. This session offers tips and techniques for connecting with your
writer's heart and how to put your heart on paper. We’ll spend much of the day
writing, using exercises that will help us uncover the deep themes and concerns
that will bring our writing to life. We’ll also look at the practical side of
getting such writing published.
Part II Sessions
- “Writing a
Winning Proposal: From an Author’s Viewpoint” – A good proposal might
get read; a great one will get noticed. We’ll look at how to craft that
great proposal. Each participant should submit a full proposal—including
overview/purpose/audience/title comparison/bio/marketing strategies/table of
contents—and at least a 10 page sample text to Brent Bill (brentbil@sbcglobal.net)
two weeks prior to the workshop.
- “Blogging, Facebooking, and
Websiting: Getting Noticed in the E-World” – You’ve done the writing,
now it’s on to the business of being a writer, notably marketing your work
in an electronic age. We’ll explore various ways to connect with your
e-public. Bring your suggestions of electronic author stuff that you think
works well to share with the group.
- “The Part-Time Writer” –
Writing is more than a hobby, it’s a vocation. Yet, it’s hard to make living
writing – especially when the kids want to eat! So how do you support your
vocation in an economic world that makes you go to work? An informal
conversation with a writer who makes his living by means other than writing.
JEFF STONE
Writer's Digest Magazine
selected Jeff Stone as one of seven "Breakout Authors of 2005!" Jeff was the
only children's author of the group.
Jeff Stone grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and currently
lives in the American Midwest. He is married and has two children, a daughter
and son. He thinks it's important to 'write what you know.'
The Five Ancestors marks Jeff Stone's fiction debut. The
series is as complex as it is entertaining. Each novel follows the same story
line, but is told from a different main character's point of view. While there
are five "ancestors," there will actually be seven books in the series. Why?
Jeff believes it is important to let the "villains" tell their side of the
story, too.
Like the main characters in his award-winning Five Ancestors series, Jeff was an
orphan. He was adopted as an infant and always had a strong urge to uncover the
secrets of his past. He began searching for his birth mother when he turned
eighteen, and found her fifteen years later. A year after that, he found his
birth father.
Also like his characters, Jeff practices the martial arts. He holds a black belt
in Shaolin Do Kung Fu, and often trains in other styles as part of his research
for his books. In 2005 he traveled to China with the Shaolin Do grandmaster to
take his black belt test inside the legendary Shaolin Temple. Fortunately, he
passed.
Jeff has traveled to China on other occasions, most importantly in 1996 for a
traditional Chinese wedding ceremony to his wife in her native Hong Kong. (He
passed that test, too.) Jeff thinks his English skills are pretty good, but his
Chinese still needs a lot of work.
Jeff says he gets bored easily, and to prove it lists some of the jobs he's held
since graduating from Michigan State University with degrees in English and
Journalism: maintenance man; concert promoter; photographer; editor; technical
writer; graphic designer; industrial filmmaker; web developer; ballroom dance
teacher; college English instructor; and marketing director for architectural
firms that design schools, libraries, and skateboard parks.
These days, Jeff writes and speaks with kids full-time. It's the longest single
job he's ever had.
Perhaps he's finally found where he belongs.Part II Sessions:
- "Come Out Swinging: How to hit hard
and fast with your opening paragraph" – A story's opening lines must
capture a reader's interest and set the tone for everything that follows.
Learn six proven ways to kick off your story with a bang.
-
Session with Jean Dayton, booking agency (Dayton
Bookings: Literary Tours & Promotions)
-
Banquet Keynote Speaker - "From Indiana to China:
Finding Your Voice”
Lee Lofland is the author of Police Procedure and
Investigation, A Guide For Writers from Writer's Digest Books. Lee is a
former police detective with nearly two decades of law-enforcement and
crime-solving experience. He was in charge of major felony cases, including
homicide, narcotics, rape, kidnapping, ritualistic and occult crimes, fraud, and
robbery. Lee is a nationally acclaimed expert on police procedure and
crime-scene investigation and is a popular conference and workshop speaker. He
writes freelance articles for publications, such as The Writer magazine
and for newspapers and newsletters across the country. He is also a consultant
for many bestselling authors and television and film writers. Lee recently
appeared as an expert on a BBC television documentary called “How To Commit The
Perfect Murder.” His current works-in-progress are a mystery novel and a
children’s book about police and CSI that’s scheduled for release in 2008. Lee
and his wife, Dr. Denene Lofland, live in the Boston area, where he proudly
serves on the board of directors for the New England Chapter of Mystery Writers
of America. He’s also a member of Sisters in Crime.
Part II Sessions:
-
“Creating Compelling Villains” -
Learn what motivates real-life villains and how to transform their
psychopathic behaviors to the written page.
-
“Writing a Realistic Crime Scene” –
This session is a journey inside the crime scene. Find out how
detectives uncover and utilize evidence and clues to solve cases. Discover
the sights, sounds, and smells experienced by real-life investigators. Learn
how to activate your reader's senses.
-
“How To Think Like A Detective” –
Learn the characteristics of a good detective. What makes them tick? How do
they differ from their uniformed counterparts? How can they tell when a
suspect is lying? How do they obtain confessions? Do they really have a
sixth sense? Do undercover detectives carry weapons? What's it like to work
undercover? This session delves into the sometimes secretive world of police
detectives and they really solve cases.
-
“Police
Tools and Equipment” – An in-depth look into the procedures, equipment,
and techniques used by police to solve the crimes.
Anne Hawkins has an eclectic list ranging from thrillers to
literary fiction to serious non-fiction. She also has particular interests in
science, history, public policy, medicine and women's issues. One of her first
sales was the delightful novel Eddie's Bastard by William Kowalski, which
has been translated into thirteen languages. The best-selling Reagan: A Life
in Letters reflects Anne's history and policy interests.
Part II Sessions:
-
Agent Panel
-
“Anatomy of a Book Deal:
What Every Author Needs To Know” – Just how does a book deal come
down? Most first time authors are bewildered by both the process and the
unfamiliar terminology. This presentation demystifies the business of
selling a book. It gives authors a toolbox for understanding the procedure
step by step, from initial submissions to editors, offers to purchase, deal
agreements, contract negotiations, and the ongoing sale of subsidiary
rights.
-
“You’ve Been Offered Literary Representation, But Is
The Agent Right For You?”
– For many authors, the process of finding a literary agent is a long,
frustrating experience. When an agent finally does step up to the plate and
offer representation, the author is so thrilled and relieved that she
doesn’t give this prospective relationship the careful consideration it
deserves. That’s a mistake, a big one. Before committing to an agent, you
need to address some important issues that will define your future working
relationship. This presentation will help authors identify and understand
these issues and – hopefully – give them the confidence to initiate the kind
of frank discussion that will lead to a rewarding, long-term professional
partnership.
AMY TIPTON
Amy Tipton joined FinePrint
Literary Management in the Summer of 2006. She graduated from Naropa University
with a B.A. in Writing and Literature and received her MFA from New College of
California in Writing. She comes to the agency after working as a literary
assistant and office manager at several literary agencies including JCA Literary
Agency, Diana Finch Literary Agency, Gina Maccoby Literary Agency, and Liza
Dawson Associates. Amy has also worked as a book scout for Aram Fox, Inc.
dealing with foreign rights. In addition to her agenting experience, Amy also
worked as a freelance editor to Lauren Weisberger, author of The Devil Wears
Prada. Her work is published in the anthology, Controlled Burn, and pieces of
her first and second novel can be found in a variety of literary journals.
Amy is looking for edgy fiction (gritty and urban), women's fiction,
nonfiction/memoir, and YA.
www.fineprintlit.com
Part II Sessions:
JOSH GETZLER
Josh Getzler left Harcourt for business school in 1993
after three years of editing. Then the fun began! After Business School, Josh
spent 11 years owning and operating a minor league baseball team: The Watertown
(NY) Indians, which became the Staten Island Yankees. He sold the team and
rejoined the book world on the agent side a year and a half ago, and is now at
Writers House, apprenticing under Simon Lipskar and Dan Lazar. Josh specializes
in mysteries (particularly but not exclusively period and foreign), thrillers,
literary fiction, sports, business, music and religion (not religious fiction).
He just made his first deal for Writers House, on behalf of Simon Lipskar, for
the first two books in a new mystery series taking place in the world of
classical music. Josh graduated from U Penn and Columbia Business School, and
lives in Manhattan with his wife, three children, and retriever.
Part II Sessions
JANE
FRIEDMAN
Jane Friedman is editorial director at F+W Publications in
Cincinnati, Ohio, where she oversees the publication of more than 50 nonfiction
titles each year, under the imprints of Writer’s Digest Books, HOW Books,
Betterway Books, and TOW Books.
Part II Sessions:
-
“Craft A High-Powered And Salable Nonfiction Book
Concept” - Find out the difference between a nonfiction book concept
that gets an immediate, enthusiastic response from agents/editors -- and one
that gets no response. Learn how to craft a selling-handle with sizzle, and
most importantly, learn the philosophy behind the one golden rule of
nonfiction: Don't sell what you write -- sell what readers will buy!
-
“The Times, They Are A-Changin'” – Major book and
magazine publishers are beginning to transform and even recreate themselves
-- from businesses based on print product to businesses based on content.
Digitization, online and niche communities, and customization -- these are
the buzz words in the industry today. How do these trends affect writers and
authors? What do you need to know – or do differently -- to advance (or
start!) your career? Learn how to navigate the ongoing transformation of
writing and publishing in the digital age.
-
“The World Of Sales (Or: ³It¹s All About the
Numbers²)” – Probably more information than you ever wanted to know
about what happens when a publisher sells your book, across all outlets
(e.g., chain bookstores, specialty accounts, libraries, Amazon). Includes
behind-the-scenes look at wholesaler databases, Bookscan reports, etc.
Immensely helpful for anyone expecting to be published within the next year,
and also useful for writers who are interested in self-publishing and need
to learn the ins-and-outs of book distribution and placement in chain and
retail stores.
Tom Britt is the Online Marketing Director of AuthorHouse,
the world’s largest book publisher with over 28,000 book titles and over
23,500 authors. Britt owned a publishing company for nine years and started an
Internet portal company in 1998 that was deemed the “TV Guide of the
Internet”. His background in offline and online publishing has landed him
several keynote engagements around the world speaking on the topics of
interactive television, search engine marketing, and the future of publishing.
Britt has been instrumental in the development and implementation of several
online initiatives with AuthorHouse, guiding the self-publishing company and the
publishing industry into a new era.
Part II Sessions:
JEAN DAYTON
Dayton Bookings is a full service booking agency
specializing in award-winning authors who write for children, young adults and
adults. The agency is committed to assisting schools, libraries and conference
organizers in planning a successful author visit -- from contracting until
completion.
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