here - Writers′ League of Texas

The Writers’ League
of Texas is a nonprofit
professional oganization that is
dedicated to elevating the art
and enterprise of writing and includes 850 members throughout
the United States. For more, visit
the League’s website at www.
writersleague.org.
Board of Directors
Eric Behrens
Laura Castro
Roxanne Evans
David Furlow
Marijean Leipold
Mick Normington
Larry Norwood
Beth Sample
Advisory Board
Sally J. Baker
Sarah Bird
Susan Blount
Mary Margaret Farabee
Robert Flynn
Karleen Koen
Ann McCutchan
Barbara Minton
Debra Monroe
Kathleen Niendorff
John G. Pipkin
Angela Smith
Contents
Meet the Agents .............................1
Meet the Editors .............................3
Meet the Speakers and Panelists.....4
Conference Luncheon .....................6
Conference Program Sessions
Friday ..........................................5
Saturday ...................................5-8
Sunday ........................................8
Conference Fast Facts
Exhibitors.....................................3
Consultations .............................10
General Tips ..............................11
Thank you to our
2012 sponsors!
Staff
Sheila Allee
Interim Executive Director
Jennifer Ziegler
Program Director
Amanda North
Administrative Associate
611 S. Congress Avenue,
Suite 505
Austin, Texas 78704
512-499-8914
writersleague.org
@WritersLeague
Scribe blog:
WritersLeagueofTexas.
wordpress.com
Terry Sherrell | Account Manager
(512) 483-6110 | (512) 454-6874 X302
tsherrell@ginnysprinting.com
www.ginnysprinting.com
SHARPE DESI GN
Cover design by Elizabeth Perez
Greetings
from the WLT
Meet the 2012 Agents
Welcome to one of the premier
agents and editors conferences in the
nation. I have good news and better
news. The good news is that we have 18
agents and editors here for you to meet.
And the better news is that they are all
looking for great books and new writers.
And the best news of all is that 2012
is the greatest time ever to be an
author. Our keynote speaker, noted
editor Alan Rinzler, will talk about how
the balance of power has shifted from
publishers to authors. Along with this
realignment comes more responsibility
for writers to produce quality work as
well as market their own books.
Alan is not the only star we have
on the agenda this year. The Writers’
League has worked hard to bring
topnotch agents and editors to this
conference so that attendees can benefit
from their expertise. We also have
experts in book promotion and film
production and 20 published authors, all
of whom will help you learn the craft of
writing and how to get published.
This year for the first time, we have a
“YA A-to-Z Track” for writers interested in
the Young Adult genre. This is a separate
track for conferees, who will benefit from
more than 10 special sessions.
From our first General Session on
“The Birth of a Book” to the nuts and
bolts of how to get an agent and what
to do after you get one, this conference
is the place to learn the ropes of
becoming a published author.
Our publishing experts may be the
stars this weekend, but don’t overlook
the value you’ll get from networking with
other writers. And if you’re not already a
member of the Writers’ League of Texas,
we hope you’ll join. The agents and
editors conference is just one of many
ways in which we strive to elevate the art
and enterprise of writing.
Have a great time this weekend!
Michelle Brower
Sheila Allee
Before contacting agents, please review each agency’s website for submission guidelines.
Dawn Michelle Hardy
Jud Laghi
Serendipity Literary Agency
The Jud Laghi Agency
Jud Laghi has represented, developed and
launched a number of
trendsetting and bestselling books. He began his
agent career at ICM and, before forming
The Jud Laghi Agency, was a Senior
Agent at Larry Kirshbaum’s LJK Literary
Management. His clients include a diverse range of writers who contribute to
The New York Times, Rolling Stone, New
York, Spin, ESPN The Magazine, Wired,
GQ, Sports Illustrated, The Atlantic
Monthly, The Believer, Slate, Science and
This American Life. Jud lives in his native
Brooklyn with his wife and daughter. He
is looking to represent both fiction and
nonfiction clients.
www.laghiagency.com
submissions@laghiagency.com
www.foliolit.com
michelle@foliolit.com
Since 2004 Dawn Michelle Hardy has planned
effective public relations
campaigns for fiction authors signed to Hachette
Book Group, Simon & Schuster and
Kensington/Dafina, as well as nonfiction
self-published titles on career, health
and empowerment. Quarterly, she lends
her voice to Called Magazine as the
Books & Products editor for the lifestyle
publication for women in ministry. Dawn
Michelle Hardy is actively seeking to
represent a broad range of projects. She
joined Serendipity Literary Agency as
an agent looking to acquire nonfiction
self help, motivational and empowerment, women’s fiction, relationship, pop
culture, leadership and non-denominational spiritual titles.
www.serendipitylit.com
info@serendipitylit.com
Jennifer Laughran
Miriam Goderich
Erin Harris
Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
Irene Skolnick Literary Agency
Miriam Goderich of Dystel & Goderich Literary
Management oversees a
dynamic literary agency
alongside business
partner Jane Dystel. With eight other
talented young agents, DGLM boasts
an impressive client list and offers representation on an eclectic array of both
fiction and nonfiction projects. After 17
years in the business, she still gets a
kick out of holding a finished book and
knowing she played a part in making it
happen. At present Miriam is looking
for the next brilliant novel, fun beach
read, gripping nonfiction narrative,
inspirational memoir or biography, and
instructional self-help title.
Erin joined the Irene
Skolnick Literary Agency
in 2008. A graduate of
the MFA program in
creative writing at The
New School, she was a student of Susan
Cheever, Ann Hood, James Lasdun,
and Sigrid Nunez, among others. She
received her B.A. in Literature from
Trinity College (Hartford, CT), where she
was Presidential Fellow of the English
Department and inducted into Phi Beta
Kappa. She is passionate about the art
of storytelling in books, theater, and film
and is seeking submissions in the following categories: literary fiction, up-market
women’s fiction, noir, thrillers, middle
grade, YA, and narrative nonfiction.
www.dystel.com
miriam@dystel.com
www.skolnickagency.com
submissions@skolnickliterary.com
Folio Literary Management
Michelle Brower began
her career in publishing
in 2004 while studying
for her Master’s degree
in English Literature at
New York University. During that time,
she assisted the agents Wendy Sherman and Joelle Delbourgo, and fell
in love with the process of discovering new writers and helping existing
writers further their careers. After
graduating, she became an agent with
Wendy Sherman Associates. In 2009,
she joined Folio Literary Management,
where she is looking for literary fiction,
thrillers, high-quality commercial fiction
that transcends genre, and narrative
nonfiction. She enjoys working with authors to make their projects as saleable
as possible.
Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Jennifer joined Andrea
Brown Literary Agency
in 2007 after many years
as a children’s bookseller
and buyer. Always on the
lookout for sparkling YA and middle
grade fiction with unusual and unforgettable characters and vivid settings,
she is drawn to all kinds of books,
whether realistic comedies or richly
imagined magical adventures. However, the common thread in her favorite
stories is an offbeat world view. Jennifer loves funny books, thrilling books,
romantic books, books that make her
cry, and all-around un-put-downable
books...and her true favorites are all
of the above.
www.andreabrownlit.com
JennL@andreabrownlit.com
WLT Interim Executive Director
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1
Meet the 2012 Agents
Meet the 2012 Editors
Before contacting agents, please review each agency’s website for submission guidelines.
Laurie McLean
Larsen Pomada Literary Agents
Laurie McLean has been
writing professionally
since high school—first
as a journalist, then as a
public relations agent.
She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the State University of New
York and a Master’s Degree at Syracuse
University’s Newhouse School of Journalism. In 2005 she joined the two agency
founders after a 20-year stint as the CEO
of a successful Silicon Valley public relations agency. Laurie specializes in adult
genre fiction plus middle-grade and
young adult children’s books. Check out
her blog at www.agentsavant.com.
www.larsenpomada.com
queryagentsavant@gmail.com
Elena Mechlin
Pippin Properties
Elena Mechlin joined
the Pippin team in June
of 2009. Having begun
her publishing career in
subsidiary rights, moving
on to children’s book marketing with a
stint in audio, she realized that a position in agenting would allow her to be
involved in all the aspects of publishing.
She is thrilled to be pursuing her love of
children’s literature from her seat at Pippin
and enjoys treaure hunting through the
daily query emails. Elena is looking to represent new authors of children’s literature.
www.pippinproperties.com
info@pippinproperties.com
Kimberly Perel
Wendy Sherman Associates
Kim Perel joined Wendy
Sherman Associates
in January 2009. After
graduating from Syracuse
University’s S.I. Newhouse
School of Communications, Kim worked
at Forbes magazine and later as a free-
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lance journalist. While pursuing a MFA
degree at The New School in New York
City, Kim joined WSA and fell in love with
championing emerging talent and helping
new writers through the publishing process. Kim is drawn to voice-driven fiction,
novels that illuminate an unknown world,
and true-to-life characters. She also loves
memoir and journalistic nonfiction.
by Julia Cameron, Will I ever be Good
Enough by Karyl McBride, Parents Who
Cheat by Ana Nogales, and more. Films
sold include Cocoon, The English Patient,
Holes, and The Color of Money.
www.wsherman.com
submissions@wsherman.com
Full Circle Literary
Rita Rosenkranz
Rita Rosenkranz Literary Agency
A former editor with major
New York houses, Rita
Rosenkranz founded Rita
Rosenkranz Literary Agency
in 1990. Her adult nonfiction spans topics such as health, history,
parenting, music, how-to, popular science,
business, biography, popular reference,
cooking, spirituality, sports and general interest titles. Rita works with major publishers,
as well as regional publishers that handle
niche markets. She looks for authors who are
well-paired with their subjects for personal
or professional reasons and for projects that
present familiar subjects freshly or lesserknown subjects presented commercially.
www.ritarosenkranzliteraryagency.com
rrosenkranz@mindspring.com
Susan Schulman
Susan Schulman Literary Agency
Susan Shulman established her literary and
dramatic agency specializing in contemporary
fiction and nonfiction for
adult readers and picture books and
general fiction and nonfiction books
for children and young adults. The
agency represents film, television, and
allied rights for its own clients as well as
authors published by BenBella Books,
Fairview Press, Mid-List Press, and Academy Chicago Publishers. Properties sold
include The Artists’ Way and other titles
www.schulmanagency.com
schulmanqueries@yahoo.com
Stefanie Von Borstel
Stefanie von Borstel is
co-founder of Full Circle
Literary. Prior to agenting,
she worked in editorial and
marketing positions with
Penguin and Harcourt. Stefanie represents children’s books from baby to teen,
as well as adult nonfiction. On the adult
side, her focus is on parenting and familyinterest, design/lifestyle, narrative nonfiction and how-to. On the children’s side
she is drawn to middle grade fiction and
nonfiction. For younger readers: author/
illustrators, character-driven, humor and
picture books that celebrate all cultures.
www.fullcircleliterary.com
submissions@fullcircleliterary.com
Carlie Webber
Jane Rotrosen Agency
Carlie Webber took her
love of young adult and
genre fiction to the University of Pittsburgh, where
she obtained a Master
of Library and Information Science, and
worked as a YA librarian and reviewer for
publications including Kirkus Reviews.
She then enrolled in the Columbia Publishing Course. Now she is building her
agenting career on her favorite genres:
YA, middle grade, romance, horror,
mystery, thrillers, literary fiction, contemporary fantasy and women’s fiction. Her
partial wishlist includes high-concept YA,
literary suspense, grunge-era nostalgia
and things that go bump in the night.
www.janerotrosen.com
cwebber@janerotrosen.com
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Keynoter Alan Rinzler
Independent Consulting Editor
Alan Rinzler has edited
and published Toni Morrison, Hunter S.Thompson,
Tom Robbins, Shirley
MacLaine, Lorraine Hansberry, Clive Cussler, Andy Warhol, Robert
Ludlum, Jerzy Kosinski, Bob Dylan, and
others. He began at Simon and Schuster
in 1962, then went to Macmillan and
Holt as Senior Editor. He was Director of
Trade Book Publishing at Bantam Books,
Associate Publisher and Vice President
of Rolling Stone Magazine, and President of the Rolling Stone Book Division
Straight Arrow Books. He was also West
Coast Editor for the Grove Press, Editor
of the Berkeley Monthly, and for 19 years
Executive Editor of Jossey-Bass, the San
Francisco imprint of John Wiley & Sons.
Alan@alanrinzler.com
Stephanie Elliott
Working Partners
Stephanie Lane Elliott is
an editor at Working Partners, UK. She has worked
at Spark Entertainment, a
book packager owned by
Sparknotes that specializes in YA fiction.
Previously she worked as a senior editor
for Delacorte Press, acquiring and editing middle grade and YA fiction. She
has also worked for Alloy Entertainment,
the well-known packager of teen fiction,
and Tor/Forge books. She has worked
with several award-winning authors,
including Laura Resau, Donna Gebhart,
Varian Johnson, and Jennifer Ziegler.
StephanieL@workingpartnersltd.co.uk
Beena Kamlani
Viking Press
Beena Kamlani (Viking
Penguin) is interested in
literary fiction, mysteries,
and historical fiction, as
well as narrative nonfiction, history, biography, and essays. She
has worked in book publishing for over
twenty-five years—at Oxford University
Press, Harper & Row, Random House and
both the Viking and Penguin imprints of
the Penguin Group. She has worked with
Saul Bellow, Terry McMillan, Garrison
Keillor, Margaret George, Peter Kramer,
Diane Middlebrook, Bob Shacochis, Sir
Peter Medawar, Maira Kalman, David
Leavitt, and Blanche Weisen Cook.
www.penguin.com
Liese Mayer
Little, Brown and Company
Liese Mayer joined Little, Brown in 2009,
having previously worked
at Grove/Atlantic, The
Overlook Press, and Grupo Santillana in Argentina.
Liese is drawn to character-driven nonfiction with strong narrative
elements, and history with cultural and
social undertones, as well as memoir, investigative journalism, biography, travel,
and pop culture. At Little, Brown she has
had the pleasure of working with a range
of authors who include Jonathan Safran
Foer, Evan Thomas, Mary Gabriel, Jim
Miller, Dean King, James Bradley, Dana
Priest, and Jake Tapper.
Liese.mayer@hbgusa.com
Yaniv Soha
St. Martin’s Press
Yaniv Soha has been
working in book publishing for ten years, at both
literary agencies and
book publishers. He is
an associate editor at St. Martin’s Press,
where he publishes in the areas of narrative nonfiction, science, pop culture,
humor, and fiction. He has published
books by Pulitzer-winning reporters, film
producers, music writers, professors,
and humorists. He was the fiction and
prose editor for the inaugural issue
of 2 Bridges Review, the literary/arts
journal of CUNY City Tech.
Yaniv.Soha@stmartins.com
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Visit Our
Exhibitors
Friday 12:00 noon to 4:45 pm
First floor lobby
Saturday 9:00 am to 4:45 pm
Second floor lobby
Author Media Author websites
and social media coaching
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Books on writing and getting
published as well as books by
conference presenters
Bat City Review University of
Texas Creative Writing Program
Friesens Complete book
manufacturing
Shelton Interactive Digital
marketing, social media and web
design for authors and publishers
The Author’s Assistant Editing/
ghostwriting, independent
publishing, project management
& production, consultation,
social media
Kbuuk Online tools for independent authors to self-publish,
market and track sales of ebooks
Mayborn Literary Nonfiction
Conference Sponsored by the
Graduate Institute of Journalism,
University of North Texas
Tweet All About It!
The WLT Agents
Conference Tweetup
(#WLTCon12): Share
your thoughts on the conference
through Twitter!
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3
Meet the 2012 Speakers and Panelists
Friday, June 22 Conference Sessions
Programs and speakers are subject to change.
Marilyn Atlas
Marilyn Atlas is an awardwinning producer and personal manager. Among her
credits as film producer are
“Real Women Have Curves”
for HBO, which won the Audience Award
at the Sundance Film Festival, “A Certain
Desire,” starring Sam Waterston, and
“Echoes,” which won the Gold Award at
the Texas International Film Festival. Marilyn has been in development on pilots for
Showtime and ABC Family.
Jay Ehret
Jay Ehret founded The
MarketingSpot.com, a
small business marketing and consulting firm in
2001. He is an educationist, blog author, speaker, marketing
coach and consultant. Jay helps entrepreneurs build marketing plans based
on branding, experience, conversation,
and promotion. Jay is the publicist for
Rat’s Tale: A story about a mouse named
Rat. www.themarketingspot.com
Marika Flatt
Marika launched PR by the
Book, LLC in 2002, combining her love of the media,
public relations and books.
Marika led the publicists of
an Austin-based book publicity firm as
Director of Publisher Services, handling
the company’s key publicity campaigns
and serving as the company’s spokesperson. Marika was awarded a Gold
Bulldog Award for a publicity campaign,
which resulted in exposure in over 700
media outlets. www.prbythebook.com
Donna Johnson
Donna Johnson is the
author of the award winning memoir Holy Ghost
Girl. The book chronicles a
4 www.writersleague.org
young girl’s experience traveling with the
last of the big time tent evangelists and
her struggle to leave that life behind.
The New York Times called the book
“enthralling,” People Magazine labeled
it a “divinely taut thriller,” and Texas
Monthly deemed it “compulsively readable.” www.holyghostgirlbook.com
Karleen Koen
Karleen Koen is an author
of historical fiction and an
instructor of writing through
Rice University and The
Writers’ League of Texas.
Her first novel, Now Face to Face, was
a Book of the Month Club main selection, as was her next book Through a
Glass Darkly—which spent 21 weeks on
the New York Times Bestseller List. Her
novel Dark Angels was an Indie Next
bestseller and a Doubleday Book Club
choice. Before Versailles was released
last year. www.karleenkoen.net
Gerald McMillan
in Chicago, San Diego, New Orleans,
and Madrid. She holds an MFA from the
University of New Orleans and has been
the recipient of numerous awards and
residencies. www.lyndarutledge.com
1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Suzy Spencer
• Drop your one-page (250 words max) pitch in the Pitch Box to see if yours
will be drawn at the Final Pitch general session on Sunday morning.
Big Bend A-C (first floor)
ABC’s Primetime Live has
referred to Suzy Spencer as
Austin, Texas’ best-known
true crime writer. She is the
author of Wasted, a New
York Times bestseller; Wages of Sin,
which was reissued in 2010 for its 10th
anniversary; Breaking Point which was
a Book of the Month Club, Doubleday
Book Club, Literary Guild and Mystery Guild selection; and The Fortune
Hunter, which was called “riveting” and
“blockbuster” by the Globe. Secret Sex
Lives: A Year on the Fringes of American
Sexuality, a memoir about her journalistic
research into Americans’ sex practices,
will be published in October 2012.
www.suzyspencer.com
By day, Gerald defends the
innocent as a mild-mannered
state attorney. By night, he
cloaks himself in shadow to
bring justice to the publishing
contracts of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Gerald studied history and classics at the
University of Texas at Austin. He then spent
a year developing and writing film scripts
for a small studio before he graduated from
Columbia Law. Gerald now straddles three
worlds: lawyer, LSAT teacher and misunderstood literary genius. www.emla.com
Additional Consultants
Lynda Rutledge
Additional Panelists
Lynda is the author of Faith
Bass Darling’s Last Garage
Sale. She has been a freelance journalist, travel writer, ghostwriter, restaurant
and film reviewer, copywriter, college
professor, book collaborator, and nonfiction author while living/​writing/​studying
Missy Balusek, Chris Barton, Molly
Blaisdell, Harrison Cheung, Suzette
Conway, Carol Dawson, Michael
Druxman, Samantha Fagan, PJ Hoover,
Jacqueline Kelly, Lindsey Lane, Greg
Levin, Nikki Loftin, John Pipkin, Matt
Schulz, Rusty Shelton, Clay Smith,
Jesse Sublett, and Jo Whittemore.
Stephanie Barko’s award-winning clients
include authors of historical fiction and
nonfiction in the subgenres spirituality,
history, business/career, memoir, and
biography. www.stephaniebarko.com
Cyndi Hughes, previously director of the
Texas Book Festival and executive director of the Writers’ League of Texas, now
runs Cynthia Hughes Literary Consulting,
based in Austin, Texas. www.hughes
literary.wordpress.com
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Registration & Pitch Box
3:30 to 4:45 pm
Pre-Conference Workshops
Get ready for the conference with these pre-conference
sessions. A limited number of tickets may be available Friday
at the Registration Desk from 1 to 3:30 p.m. ($60 onsite).
Pick up your badge and conference materials.The Registration Desk is
also where you can:
• Purchase onsite tickets for the Friday Pre-Conference Workshops
($60 onsite) and the Keynote Luncheon ($40 on-site)
Second-Chance Consultations
$60 per consultation (limit 1 per category person)
Want a second consultation? Stop by the Registration Desk to see
which agents, editors, or publicists have additional slots available on
Saturday and Sunday morning. Tickets will be sold on a first-come,
first-served basis until the open slots are gone.
Registration Desk ( Big Bend A-C, first floor)
Exhibit Hall
We invite you to visit our Conference exhibits (see page 3 for the
full list) and browse their services. Be sure to check out the selection
of books on writing and publishing, as well as books by Conference
authors, at the Barnes & Noble booth. (Note: The Exhibit Hall moves
to the second floor on Saturday.)
First floor lobby
Q is for Query: Taking the Mystery Out of Querying
Jennifer Laughran of Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Hill Country A
Pitch Perfect: A Guide to Prepping Your Pitch
Laurie McLean of Larsen Pomada Literary Agents
Hill Country B-C
Avoiding Common Submission Mistakes
Editor Alan Rinzler
Hill Country D
5:30 to 6:45 pm
Welcome Session & Orientation
Join the WLT staff as we introduce our esteemed faculty and
kick off the conference with a panel discussion on conference
success stories.
Panelists: Jacqueline Kelly, Lindsey Scheibe, Nikki Loftin,
Lynda Rutledge and Harrison Cheung
Texas Ballrooms 1-3 (second floor)
Saturday, June 23 Conference Sessions
Programs and speakers are subject to change.
8:00 am to 12 noon
Registration & Pitch Box
Pick up your badge and conference materials.
The Registration Desk is also where you can:
• Purchase onsite tickets for Keynote Luncheon ($40 per person)
• Drop your one-page (250 words max) pitch in the Pitch Box to see
if yours will be randomly drawn during Sunday’s “Last Pitch”
general session.
Texas Ballroom Foyer (second floor)
Second-Chance Consultations
$60 per consultation (limit 1 per category per person)
Want a second consultation? Stop by the Registration Desk to see
which of our experts have additional slots available on Saturday and
Sunday morning. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served
basis until the open slots are gone.
Texas Ballroom Foyer (second floor)
9:00 am to 4:45 pm
Exhibit Hall
Second floor lobby
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9:00 to 10:00 am
Opening Session:
Welcome and Panel Discussion
Birth of a Book
Join WLT Interim Executive Director Sheila Allee for a quick overview
of the weekend. Afterward, award-winning author and speaker Mary
Gordon Spence will moderate a panel of experts on how books go
from initial concept to finished product.
Panelists: Rita Rosenkrantz, Alan Rinzler, Rusty Shelton, Greg Levin
Texas Ballroom 1-3 (second floor)
10:00 to 10:15 am
Break
Enjoy refreshments while visiting the conference exhibitors.
(continued on next page)
Second floor lobby
You Like Us!
facebook.com/WritersLeagueOfTexas
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5
Saturday, June 23 Conference Sessions, continued
Saturday, June 23 Conference Sessions, continued
Programs and speakers are subject to change.
Programs and speakers are subject to change.
10:15 to 12 noon
Consultations
Your name badge will include tickets for any consultation
scheduled in advance. Bring your ticket and check in at the
Consultations Registration Desk outside the Foothills rooms
on the 17th floor. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before
your scheduled appointment.
Foothills I and II (17th floor)
10:15 to 11:00 am
AGENTS AND EDITORS
Editor Q&A: The View from Inside the Publishing House
Agents Conference
Keynote Luncheon
Panelists: Beena Kamlani, Alan Rinzler, Yaniv Soha, Scott Wiggerman
Moderator: John Pipkin
Texas Ballroom 6
12:15 to 1:30 pm Saturday, June 23
Texas Ballroom 1-3 (second floor)
Know Your Rights: The Ins & Outs of Book Contracts
Breakout Sessions
AGENTS AND EDITORS
Agent Q&A: What We Wish Authors Knew
Panelists: Erin Harris, Kimberly Perel, Elena Mechlin
Moderator: Sean Petrie
Texas Ballroom 5
AGENTS AND EDITORS
Yes, You Do Have to Revise: How Editing Can
Land You or Lose You a Deal
Panelists: Michelle Brower, Carol Dawson, Liese Mayer,
Rita Rosenkranz
Moderator: Clay Smith
Texas Ballroom 6
PUBLISHING 2.0
Brave New Digital World
Panelists: Jesse Sublett, Marika Flatt, Lindsey Lane, PJ Hoover
Moderator: Samantha Clark
Texas Ballroom 7
PR AND MARKETING
Building the New Author Platform
Presented by Alan Rinzler
Emcee Chris Barton
Hill Country C
CRAFT OF WRITING
A One-Way Mirror: The Art of Writing Memoir
Presented by Donna Johnson
Emcee: E. Kristin Anderson
Hill Country D
11:15 am to 12 noon
Breakout Sessions
AGENTS AND EDITORS
How NOT to get an Agent: Common Mistakes Writers Make
Panelists: Miriam Goderich, Dawn Michelle Hardy, Kimberly Perel,
Carlie Weber
Moderator: Sharon O’Neal
Texas Ballroom 5
6 www.writersleague.org
Alan Rinzler
Why This Is the Best Time Ever to Be an Author
The book business is in
a state of turmoil and
change, with the balance
of power shifting from
publishers to authors, who
now have more freedom
and independence but also
more responsibility to write
and market books on their
own. What are the new
roles of literary agents and
traditional book publishers? What are the advantages and disadvantages of
self-publishing? Whether you’re a brand new or veteran
author, now is your time.
Alan Rinzler has edited and published Toni Morrison,
Hunter S.Thompson, Tom Robbins, Shirley MacLaine,
Lorraine Hansberry, Clive Cussler, Andy Warhol, Robert Ludlum, Jerzy Kosinski, Bob Dylan, and others. He
began at Simon and Schuster in 1962, then went to
Macmillan and Holt as Senior Editor. He was Director
of Trade Book Publishing at Bantam Books, Associate
Publisher and Vice President of Rolling Stone Magazine, and President of the Rolling Stone Book Division
Straight Arrow Books. He was also West Coast Editor
for the Grove Press, Editor of the Berkeley Monthly,
and for 19 years Executive Editor of Jossey-Bass, the
San Francisco imprint of John Wiley & Sons.
Advance registration required; a limited number of tickets may
be available at the Registration Desk on Friday and Saturday
morning for $40.
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PUBLISHING 2.0
Presented by Gerald McMillan
Emcee: Sean Petrie
Texas Ballroom 7
PR & MARKETING
Getting the Words Out: Publicity & Promotion
in the Digital Age
Presented by Marika Flatt
Emcee: Beth Sample
Hill Country C
Take your pitch off the shelf
Last Pitch Session: Sunday 10:45 am to 12 noon
Drop your anonymous one-page (250 words max) pitch in the Pitch
Box at registration to see if yours will be drawn at the Last Pitch
general session and evaluated by a panel of experts!
PR & MARKETING
Paparazzi! How to Leverage Publicity for the
Self-Published Author
Presented by Jay Ehret and Missy Balusek
Emcee: Lindsey Lane
Hill Country C
CRAFT OF WRITING
THE CRAFT OF WRITING
Creating 3-Dimensional Characters for Books & Film
A conversation with Suzy Spencer
Moderator: Carol Dawson
Hill Country D
2:45 to 3:00 pm
Q&A: How to Write About Sex Without Turning Off
Your Readers
1:45 to 5:15 pm
Consultations
Your name badge will include tickets for any consultation scheduled
in advance. Bring your ticket and check in at the Consultations
Registration Desk outside the Foothills rooms on the 17th floor.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
Foothills I and II (17th floor)
1:45 to 2:45 pm
Breakout Sessions
AGENTS & EDITORS
Short & Sweet: Writing a Killer Synopsis
Panelists: Kimberly Perel, John Pipkin, Molly Blaisdell
Moderator: Jo Whittemore
Texas Ballroom 5
AGENTS & EDITORS
Literary vs. Genre Fiction: How Should You
Categorize Your Writing?
Panelists: Michelle Brower, Miriam Goderich, Karleen Koen,
Yaniv Soha
Moderator: Brian Yansky
Texas Ballroom 6
PUBLISHING 2.0
Big House, Indie House, My Own House: What Type
of Publisher is Right for You?
Panelists: Chris Barton, Stephanie Elliott, Jud Laghi, Greg Levin
Moderator: Varian Johnson
Texas Ballroom 7
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Presented by film producer Marilyn Atlas
Emcee: Mari Mancusi
Hill Country D
Break
Enjoy refreshments while visiting the conference exhibitors.
Second floor lobby
3:00 to 4:00 pm
Breakout Sessions
AGENTS & EDITORS
Tales From the Trenches: What Happens After
You Land an Agent?
Panelists: Dawn Michelle Hardy, Jud Laghi, Lynda Rutledge,
Harrison Cheung
Moderator: Kathy Whitehead
Texas Ballroom 5
AGENTS & EDITORS
Next Steps: How to Know When You Are Ready
to Submit to Agents
Panelists: Miriam Goderich, Erin Harris, Laurie McLean
Moderator: Vanessa Lee
Texas Ballroom 6
PR & MARKETING
Social Media 101 for Authors: Tips & Tricks
from the Experts
Panelists: Stephanie Barko, Samantha Fagan, Rusty Shelton
Moderator: Kari Anne Roy
Texas Ballroom 7
PUBLISHING 2.0
How a Book Becomes a Film
Presented by Stefanie Von Borstel and Marilyn Atlas
Emcee: Amy Goodwin
Hill Country C
(continued on next page)
www.writersleague.org
7
Saturday, June 23 Conference Sessions, continued
Programs and speakers are subject to change.
CRAFT OF WRITING
PUBLISHING 2.0
Care and Feeding of Your Writer
Self Publishing: DIY Is Still a Team Effort
Presented by Karleen Koen
Emcee: Salima Alikhan
Hill Country D
Panelists: Suzette Conway, Michael Druxmond, Jay Ehret,
Missy Balusek
Moderator: Samantha Clark
Texas Ballroom 7
4:00 to 4:15 pm
Break
Enjoy refreshments while visiting the conference exhibitors.
Second floor lobby
4:15 to 5:15 pm
Breakout Sessions
CRAFT OF WRITING
Laying the Cords in the Art of Narrative
Presented by Beena Kamlani
Emcee: Deb Gonzales
Hill Country A-B
AGENTS & EDITORS
AGENTS & EDITORS
Nonfiction? No Problem: How to Craft an Irresistible
Nonfiction Book Proposal
Panelists: Carol Dawson & Susan Schulman, Diana Lopez & Stefanie
Von Borstel, Jo Whittemore & Jennifer Laughran
Moderator: Cyndi Hughes
Texas Ballroom 5
CRAFT OF WRITING
The Ties That Bind: The Agent/Author Relationship
PR & MARKETING
Websites, Blogs, & Podcasts: Why an Online
Presence Matters
Panelists: Sophie Jordan, Samantha Fagan, Jennifer Hill Robenalt,
Matt Schulz
Moderator: PJ Hoover
Texas Ballroom 6
Presented by Rita Rosenkranz
Emcee: Jeanette Larson
Hill Country C
How’s Your Hook? A Second Look at Your First Page
Presented by Lynda Rutledge
Emcee: Frances Yansky
Hill Country D
Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center • Grapevine, TX
Join us for our 8th annual conference! This year, we’ll explore the fuzzy line between fiction and
nonfiction storytelling and learn how each genre can teach us something about the other. Our
speakers will be our navigators when we begin “Crossing Genres.” Find out more information about
our conference including our other featured speakers, registration guidelines, fees, contests and
opportunities online: journalism.unt.edu/maybornconference
Phone: 940.565.4778
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Luis Alberto Urrea
Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar
Texas Ballroom 1-3
“Wrestling Between Secrets and Exposure”
Reception and Cocktail Party
Sunday, June 24 Conference Sessions
Programs and speakers are subject to change.
Richard Rhodes
9:00 to 10:30 am
10:45 am to 12:00 noon
Please check in at the Consultations Registration Desk in the Foothills
lobby at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
Interim Executive Director Sheila Allee and Programming Director
Jennifer Ziegler will read queries drawn from our Pitch Box,
and our panel of experts will offer a rapid-fire reaction/critique.
You never know who will be selected, so don’t miss out! All pitches
will be anonymous.
Panelists: Michelle Brower of Folio Literary Management, Liese Mayer
of Little, Brown and Company, consulting editor Alan Rinzler, and
Carlie Webber of the Jane Rotrosen Agency
Texas Ballroom 1-3
Agent & Editor Consultations
Foothills I and II (17th floor)
9:30 to 10:30 am
General Session:
Carrying the Momentum Forward: What to Do
When You Leave the Conference
Get tips on how you can best use the knowledge and connections
you have gained at the 2012 Agents Conference.
Panelists: author Stephan Merrill Block, Stephanie Barko, Literary Publicist, Laurie
McLean of Larsen Pomada Literary Agents, and consulting editor Alan Rinzler.
Moderator: Cyndi Hughes
Texas Ballroom 1-3
10:30 to 10:45 am
Closing Session: Last Pitch
Keep in Touch
facebook.com/WritersLeagueOfTexas
#WLTCon12
Break
8 www.writersleague.org
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“Making Verity: Blending the Skills of Journalism and the
Techniques of Fiction to Penetrate the Heart of the World”
Isabel Wilkerson
“The Search for Protagonists: The Art and Importance of Finding
People for Narrative Nonfiction”
Consultations Fast Facts
Where: All consultations will be held in
Foothills 1 and 2 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: If you scheduled consultations
in advance, you should have a received an
email notice before the conference about
the date and time of your appointment(s)
and the name(s) of the consultant(s). A
ticket for each of your consultations with
the consultant’s name, day, and time will be
included with your badge.
Second Chance Consultations: 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 appointment, you will NOT be given
another appointment.
Length of Appointments:
Consultations vary in length:
• Agents: 10 minutes
• Editor Critiques: 20 minutes
• Book Platform Consultation with
Stephanie Barko: 20 minutes
• Query Letter Critique with
Cyndi Hughes: 20 minutes
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.
Agent Consultations
What to Do in Your Consultation: Most
agents want to hear only your 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 is interested in your work,
he or she will tell you how to send it after the
conference. Occasionally agents will update
1 0 www.writersleague.org
General Conference Fast Facts
their categories list without telling us. If the
agent you meet with says he or she does not
represent your type of book, use the time to
get information about why the agent 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 who might be interested.
Editor Critiques
What to Do in Your Consultation: The
session will be an informal critique/
discussion based upon the five pages you
submitted in advance. The format of the
session is up to the editor. Because editors
are in a position to actually buy manuscripts,
be sure to keep an open mind and listen to
his or her comments and ideas.
Other Consultations
• Stephanie Barko’s Book Platform
Consultations: Candidates should arrive
with an upcoming release in mind and
be prepared to discuss their marketing
strengths and challenges. Stephanie Barko,
literary publicist, will help you problem solve
and devise a plan of action.
• Query Letter Critiques with Cyndi Hughes:
The session will be an informal discussion of
your query letter (500 words max; one page,
single spaced). Cyndi Hughes, a literary
consultant and the former executive director of
the Writers’ League, will give you constructive
feedback so you can polish your letter. After
the conference, she will read your revised letter
and offer further feedback by email.
Other Opportunities to Meet
Agents & Editors
Agents and editors will attend the cocktail
reception on Saturday evening. In addition,
many of the agents lead and/or sit on panels
throughout the conference or stop by the
bar or exhibits. 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 oneon-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.
What NOT to do
in Consultations
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 whatever they’ve
requested, 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
they’re 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 rest room or on the elevator.
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The following Conference events require
advance reservations:
Pre-Conference Workshops (Friday)
Conference Luncheon (Saturday)
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 Tips
Badges
Your name badge allows you entrée to all
general conference workshops and panels,
except for the YA A-to-Z panels. Those who
paid extra to add the YA A-to-Z track to their
general ticket will have a different badge
—one that allows access to all break-out
sessions. Door monitors will check badges
to ensure this.
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. Replacement name
badges will cost $10 and may take up to 30
minutes to produce.
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 $6 per
day; check with the hotel about using the
card-access lot. Conference attendees who
are not staying at the hotel will receive
discounted self-parking at $6 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: On Saturday, the parking lot may be
full, and you may be directed to overflow
parking. Please allow extra time if you’re
arriving later on Saturday in case it takes you
longer to park.
Overflow parking options:
• Embassy Suites parking garage across
Barton Springs Road from the Hyatt
• Street meter parking
• The Long Center at Riverside and Barton
Springs Road (parking is $7 per day).
Dining
Restaurants within walking distance of the
hotel include:
SWB/Southwest Bistro (Hyatt, 2nd Floor):
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring
regional and wood-fired cuisine
About the Hyatt
Regency Austin
Perks Coffee & More (Hyatt, 1st Floor):
Breakfast pastries, salads, sandwiches,
desserts, and coffee/tea (5:30 a.m. to 11
p.m.)
ATM
Threadgill’s World Headquarters (301 W.
Riverside Dr.): Home-style Southern cooking,
enormous portions of vegetables, and
occasionally live music
Business Services
Aussie’s Bar & Grill (306 Barton Springs
Rd.): Burgers, beer, and beach volleyball
Zax Pints & Plates (312 Barton Springs Rd.):
Fresh fare with a multitude of beer selections
Hooters (425 W. Riverside Dr.): Burgers,
beers, and… nocturnal birds?
Freebirds World Burrito (515 S. Congress
Ave.): Made-to-order burritos, tacos, and
salads
Sandy’s Hamburgers (603 Barton Springs
Rd.): Old-fashioned locally owned burger/
frozen custard stand
Dominican Joe’s Coffee (515 S. Congress
Ave.): Free trade coffee house and a local
hangout for writers.
Austin Nightlife
Threadgill’s World Headquarters (301 W.
Riverside Dr.): The closest spot for great
Texas music.
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.
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!
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
available via T-Mobile Hotspot Wireless
throughout the hotel for $9.95 per
day. Internet service in guest rooms is
available for $9.95 per day.
Check-out
Check-out time is noon.
Parking
Self-parking is available to Conference
attendees for $6 per day.
Valet parking is $20 per day (discounts
do not apply). For details, see “Parking.”
Restaurants & Bar
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.
Lunch: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dinner: 5 to 10 p.m.
Marker 10 Spirits & Cuisine Bar
(first floor): Bar Hours:
Friday and Saturday, 3:00p.m. to 2:00a.m
Happy Hour: Daily from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Privacy Policy
The Hyatt respects guests’ privacy; calls
will not be forwarded to hotel guests
without the caller knowing the guests’
name and room number.
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.
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www.writersleague.org
11
Conference Connections and Notes
Conference
&
l
a
v
i
t
s
e
F
Austin Film
October 18th –25th , 2012
4 days of panels, 8 nights of films & parties
OVER 200 SPEAKERS AND 100 PANELS ON THE
ART, CRAFT, AND BUSINESS OF SCREENWRITING
INCLUDING:
“Breaking Into the Business”
“Marketing Yourself as a Writer”
“Writing for Television”
“Elements of a Great Screenplay” panel series
AND MUCH MORE!
“A writer’s film festival, that may be the best idea ever.
It’s magical… It’s the best film festival in the world.”
- Lawrence Kasdan
AUSTINFILMFESTIVAL.COM
1.800.310.FEST
Tweet about the Conference with #WLTCon12
www.writersleague.org
13
Are you ready
to take your writing
to the next level?
Get away from it all and head to scenic West
Texas for a week of writing. The 2012 WLT
Summer Writing Retreat at Sul Ross State
University in Alpine is the perfect summer
escape. There’s something about the stunning landscape of mountainous West Texas
— not to mention the refreshing afternoon
showers and cool summer evenings — that
inspires writers to simply write.
Carol Dawson
Joe Nick Patoski
Scott Wiggerman
Intensive writing workshops taught by
four of Texas’ premier authors featuring:
• Intimate classes (20 students maximum)
• Personalized instruction
• Time dedicated for writing
Tuition $299 WLT members /$359 nonmembers
Note: Tuition does not include room and board.
Discounted rates will be available at the SRSU residence
halls and Alpine hotels.
View complete course description and
register online at www.writersleague.org
[
]
Special Offer for 2012 Agents Conference Registrants!
Register online at www.writersleague.org by July 15 and receive $100 OFF the regular price!
Use Coupon code CONFERENCE to sign up at the special rate of $199