2007
(Previous Year) Agents and Editors Conference ProgramLast
year's conference, held June 15 - 17, 2007, was a sell-out, so register early
for the 2008 Conference. View the 2008 Conference
Information. Annoucements about this year's schedule and speakers will be
posted soon. Meanwhile, you can review these pages to see examples of what to
expect.
| Friday, June 15 |
Time | Program | Location | | 3:00-6:00
| Registration
| Main
Hallway | | 3:30-5:30
| Pre-Conference
Workshops
| Bonnell,
Bickler, Creekside I & II | | 3:00-6:00 | Exhibition
Hall | Capitol
View Terrace | 3:00-6:00
| WLT
and Barnes & Noble Bookstores | Capitol
View Terrace | | 5:30-7:00 | Reception
- Cash Bar | Sheraton
Rojo Red Restaurant and Patio | | 8:00-10:00 | Special
Event: Salute to African-American Writers
- Readings and Dessert Featuring Femme Fantastik Nina
Foxx
Lori Bryant-Woolridge
Carmen Green
Trisha Thomas
Reshonda Tate-Billingsley | Creekside
I & II | | Saturday,
June 16 | | 8:30-12:00 | Registration | Main
Hallway | | 8:30-6:00
| Exhibits
| Capitol
View Terrace | | 8:30-6:00
| WLT and Barnes &
Noble Bookstores | Capitol
View Terrace | | 9:00-10:00 | Welcome
/ Manuscript Contest Winners / Agent & Editor Introductions | Main
Ballroom | | 10:00-10:15 | Break | | | 10:15-11:45 | Agent
Consultations | Tannehille,
Bickler, Barton Rooms | | 10:15-11:45
| ER for Writers:
Avoiding the Most Common Mistakes Writers Make
Jerry
Gross (Editor and Book Doctor, Gerald Gross Associates LLC)
This lecture
will show you how to eliminate the most common errors in structure, characterization,
description, credibility, motivation, dialogue, pacing, plotting, style, etc.
Jerry Gross has over 40 years of experience as a fiction and nonfiction acquisition,
developmental, and line editor. | Salon
A | | 10:15-11:45
| Humor
and Journalism
Chair: Mary Gordon
Spence
(Austin American-Statesman columnist, humorist, and NPR
commentator)
Panelists: John Kelso (Austin American-Statesman columnist)
Liz Carpenter (Speechwriter and Political Satirist, Presidential Humor
2006)
Julie Tereshchuk (AustinWoman columnist, freelance
writer and editor) | Salon
F | | 10:15-11:45 | Writing
Romance
Chair: Evelyn Palfrey
(Everything
in its Place 2006, Three Perfect Men, The Price of Passion,
Dangerous Dilemmas, and many more)
Panelists: Julie Ortolon
(Pearl Island Trilogy, Perfect Trilogy, Dear Cupid, Drive
Me Wild, Unforgettable Forthcoming 2007)
Jodi Thomas (2006
Romance Writer's Hall of Fame, 2005 NationalReaders' Choice Award, Texas Rain
2006, The Secrets of Rosa Lee 2005, Finding Mary Blaine 2004, The
Widows of Wichita County 2003, The McLain Series, The Wife Lottery
Series, and many more)
Jean Brashear (Return to West Texas 2007,
Love is Lovelier 2006, Sweet Mercy 2006, Mercy 2005, and
many more...)
Julia London (The Hazards of Hunting a Duke (2006) The
Perils of Pursuing a Prince (2007), American Diva (2007) The Dangers of Decieving
a Viscount (2007), Guiding Light: Jonathan's Story (2007) and many more...) | Salon
C | | 10:15-11:45 | Promoting
and Marketing Fiction with a Non-fiction Writer's Platform Chair:
Cyndi Hughes
Panelists: Joe O'Connell (Evacuation Plan 2007)
Kat Candler (filmmaker, Jumping Off Bridges)
Molly Barton
(Publishing Coordinator, Penguin Group)
BJ Robbins (BJ Robbins
Literary Agency)
Rusty Shelton (Senior Project
Consultant, Phenix & Phenix)
This panel looks
at how you can use your real-world experience as a marketing tool for promoting
your work of fiction. | Bonnell | | 10:15-11:45 | Lecture:
The Young Adult Market Scott Treimel
(Scott Treimel NY Agency)
| Barton | | 12:00
- 1:30 | Luncheon
Keynote
Address
Lee Gutkind
"Creative Nonfiction - A Movement Not a Moment" | Main
Ballroom | | 1:45
- 3:15 | Agent Consultations | Tannehille,
Bickler, Barton Rooms | | 1:45
- 3:15 | Writing
About Sex, Love, Relationships, and Other Nasty Things
Chair:
Greg Garrett (Crossing Myself 2006, Cycling 2003, Freebird
2002)
Panelists: Suzy Spencer (Sex In America forthcoming, Breaking
Point 2002, The Fortune Hunter, Wages of Sin 2000, Wasted
1998)
Marsha Moyer (Heartbreak Town 2007, The Last of the
Honky-tonk Angels, The Second Coming of Lucy Hatch)
Spike Gillespie
(Pissed Off: On Women and Anger 2006, Surrender (But
Don't
Give Yourself Away) 2003, All the Wrong Men and One Perfect Boy 1999,
The Bell Jar 2000)
Lindsey Moore (Associate Editor, Crown Books)
Stefanie Von Borstel (Full Circle Literary)
Brooke Warner
(Senior Editor, Seal Press) | Salon
A | | 1:45
- 3:15 | The
Mystery Market
Chair:
Karen MacInerney (Dead and Berried 2007, Murder on the Rocks
2006, Beads of Doubt)
Panelists: Jay Brandon (Running with
the Dead 2005, Silver Moon 2004, Grudge Match 2004, After-Image
2000, Angel of Death 1998, Defiance County 1996, Local Rules 1995,
Loose Among The Lambs 1993, Rules Of Evidence 1992, Fade The
Heat 1990, Predator's Waltz 1989, Tripwire 1987, Deadbolt
1985.)
Toni Plummer (Assistant Editor, Thomas Dunne Books)
Cameron
McClure (Donald Maas Literary Agency) | Salon
C | | 1:45-3:15 |
Preparing to Promote Your Book
Milton Kahn (Milton
Kahn Associates, Santa Barbara, CA)
This lecture will introduce you to the
basic concepts of book promotion and building a platform, and will show you what
you need to begin doing right now to get ready to promote your book. | Salon
F | | 1:45-3:15 | The
Writer's Toolbox: Novel development systems for fiction
Linda
Rohrbough (With more than 5,000 articles and seven books to her credit, Linda
Rohrbough has received awards in fiction and nonfiction, including three national
awards.)
This lecture will give a detailed overview of the various "tools"
writers use for developing a novel including various plotting grids, story line
development tracking tools, character arc development worksheets, character development
grids, subplot development utensils, and strategies for revision. | Salon
H | 1:45-3:15
| The
Survival Guide for Short Story and Freelance Writers
Chair:
Ric Williams (The Secret Book of God, Editor of the "Litera"
listings of The Austin Chronicle)
Panelists: Katherine Tanney
(Carousel of Progress 2001, essayist, freelance writer and editor)
Melanie Moore (Executive Director, Badgerdog Literary Publishing/American
Short Fiction)
Elise Capron (Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency) | Bonnell | | 3:30-5:00 | Agent
Consultations | Tannehill,
Bickler, Barton Rooms | | 3:30-5:00 | Birth
of a Book: From Idea to Bookshelf
Chair:
Jerry Gross (Editor and Book Doctor, Gerald Gross Associates LLC)
Panelists:
Patrick Lobrutto (Editor and book doctor)
Peggy Hailey (Head Buyer,
BookPeople Bookstore)
Susan Post (BookWoman Bookstore)
Elaine
Rathgeber (Publisher's Representative, George Scheer Associates)
Greg
Garrett (Crossing Myself 2006, Cycling 2003, Freebird 2002)
Jonathan
Lyons (Lawyer/Agent, Lyons Literary LLC)
Milton Kahn (Milton Kahn
Associates, Santa Barbara, CA)
This panel traces
the path of a book from conception to bookstore and examines the challenges of
finding an agent, developing a marketing strategy, finding an editor, negotiating
contracts, and appealing to sales reps and bookstore buyers.
Daniel
Conaway (Writer House) | Salon
A | | 3:30-5:00 |
The Multicultural Marketplace
Chair:
Evelyn Palfrey (Everything in its Place 2006, Three Perfect Men,
The Price of Passion, Dangerous Dilemmas, and many more)
Panelists:
Diane Gonzales Bertrand (Alicia's Treasure 1996, Family, Familia
1999, Lessons of the Game 1998, Sip, Slurp, Soup, Soup, Caldo, Caldo,
Caldo 1996, Trino's Choice 1999)
Lila Guzman (Kichi
in Jungle Jeopardy 2006, Lorenzo and the Turncoat 2006, Lorenzo's
Secret Mission 2001, Lorenzo's Revolutionary Quest 2003, Famous
Hispanics Series)
Stacey Barney (Editor, Putnam Books for Young
Readers)
Lindsey Moore (Associate Editor, HarperCollins)
Stefanie
Von Borstel (Full Circle Literary) | Salon
C | | 3:30-5:00 |
Researching and Writing the Historical Novel
Chair:
John Pipkin (Executive Director, Writers' League of Texas)
Panelists:
David Marion Wilkinson (Winner of the 1997 Violet Crown Award and the 2003
Spur Award, One Ranger: A Memoir 2005, Oblivion's Altar 2002,
Empty Quarter 1998, Not Between Brothers 1996)
Dominic Smith
(The Mercury Visions of Louis Daguerre 2006,The Beautiful Miscellaneous
2007)
David Liss (2001 Edgar Award Winner, A Conspiracy of Paper
2000, The Coffee Trader 2003, A Spectacle of Corruption 2004,
The Ethical Assassin 2006) | Salon
F | | 3:30-5:00 |
Creating Works for Children and Young Adults
Chair:
Katthi Appelt (2005 Teddy Children's Book Award Winner, Miss Lady Bird's
Wildflowers 2004, My Father's Summers 2004, Poems from Homeroom:
A Writer's Place to Start 2002, Alley Cat's Meow 2002, Down
Cut Shin Creek 2001, Bat Jamboree 1996, and many more.)
Panelists:
Julie Lake (Galveston's Summer of the Storm 2003)
Greg Leitich-Smith
(2004 Teddy Award Winner, Ninjas, Pirhanas,and Galileo 2003, Tofu
and T. Rex 2005, Santa Knows 2006)
Cynthia Leitich-Smith
(Jingle Dancer 2000, Rain Is Not My Indian Name 2001, Indian
Shoes 2002, Santa Knows 2006, Tantalize 2007)
Andrea Brown
(Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc.)
Scott Treimel (Scott Treimel
New York) | Salon
H | | 3:30-5:00 | Dealing
with Contracts and Rights: Legal Issues in Writing
Chair:
Ric Guzman
Panelists: Abigail Koons (Park Literary Group)
Ginger
Clark (Curtis Brown LTD, Secretary of the Contracts Committee of the AAR.)
Diane Gedymin (VP and Editorial Director, iUniverse) | Bonnell | 5:00-7:00
| Reception -
Cash Bar | Sheraton
Rojo Red Restaurant and Patio |
| Sunday, June 17 |
9:00-1:00 |
Exhibits | Capitol
View Terrace | | 9:00-9:30
| Coffee and Breakfast
Snacks | Capitol View
Terrace | | 9:00-4:00 |
WLT and Barnes & Noble Bookstores | Capitol
View Terrace | | 9:00-10:15 |
Agent Consultations | Tannehill,
Bickler, Barton Rooms | 9:00-10:15 |
Understanding How Publicity Sells Your Book
Milton
Kahn (Milton Kahn Associates, Santa Barbara, CA)
You've got a platform
and you know your potential audience. Why do you need a publicist? This lecture
will explain what a publicist does and why working with one is a necessity in
today's publishing world. | Salon
A | | 9:00-10:15 |
Make Your Manuscript a Winner Marsha
Moyer (Heartbreak Town 2007, The Last of the Honky-tonk Angels,
The Second Coming of Lucy Hatch)
Novelist
and former WLT manuscript contest judge (and winner) Marsha Moyer will discuss
the elements that go into creating a winning manuscript, be it contest entry or
submission to an agent, including: synopsis, hook, structure, characters, conflict,
dialogue, setting, plotting, technique, and mechanics. Learn how to avoid common
missteps and improve your odds of success! | Salon
C | | 9:00-10:15 |
Is It Done Yet? Revising, Editing, and Polishing the Non-fiction Book
Chair: Mindy Reed (Editor, The Authors' Assistant)
Panelists:
Carol Roberts (Roberts Indexing Services)
Howard Yoon (Gail Ross
Literary Agency)
Jerry Gross (Editor and Book Doctor, Gerald Gross
Associates LLC) Patrick Lobrutto (Editor and Book Doctor)
Toni Plummer
(Assistant Editor, Thomas Dunne Books)
Stacey Barney (Putnam Books
for Young Readers) | Salon
F |
9:00-10:15 |
Where Do I Go from Here?
Karen MacInerney (Dead
and Berried 2007, Murder on the Rocks 2006, Beads of Doubt)
Now
that the conference is almost over, what should you do next? How do you make the
most of what you've learned and the contacts you've made? Karen MacInerney walks
you through the next steps you should take to bring your manuscript to the printed
page. | Salon H | | 9:00-10:15 |
Writing the Perfect Query Letter Daniel
Conaway (Writer House) | Bonnell | | 10:30-11:30 |
Coffee Pitch
One last opportunity for conversation and mingling
with the authors, panelists, agents and editors in a relaxed, informal setting. | Main
Ballroom | | 11:30-12:30 | Lunch
Break (On your Own) | |
| Sunday, June 17, Self-Publishing Forum |
12:30-1:45
| The Self-Publishing
Process
Chair: Tammy Dever (TLC Graphics)
Panelists: Diane Gedymin (VP & Editorial Director, iUniverse)
Tom
Britt (Author House)
Clint Greenleaf (CEO Greenleaf Book Group)
John F. Harnish (Special Projects Director, Infinity Publishing) | Main
Ballroom | 12:30-1:45
| Writers
Who Have Done It! - Part I
Chair:
Julie Anderson
Panelists: Austin
Writer Grrls (Grrl Talk)
Kimberly Cockrill Pflaum
E.S. Carlson
Christie
Smith
Anne Marie Turner
Carolyn Scarborough | Salon
A | | 2:00-3:00 |
Writers Who Have Done It! - Part II
Chair:
Winston Williams (Now That I've Told You All
That, Would You?)
Panelists: Pat Smith
Mike Kearby
(The Road to a Hanging, Ride the Desperate Trail)
Bob Harvey
(Me & You too - Catalyst)
Denny
Bolton (Hippie Hollow: Murder on a Nude Beach)
Anne Isham
(Eat Chocolate-Lose Weight)
Mae Durden-Nelson (When Saints
Go Marching, 2006; Genesis-Beginning Again 1866, 2005; Son of Defiance,
2004; I Just Called Her Mama, 2003) | Main
Ballroom | | 2:00-3:00
| Get Published!
Traditional Publishing, On-Your-Own Self-Publishing, or Supported Self-Publishing-Which
is the Right Choice for You?
Diane
Gedymin (VP & Editorial Director, iUniverse)
Should
you knock on every door trying to find an agent or publisher-or go it on your
own? Learn about the exciting options available to authors today from Diane Gedymin
who has over thirty years of traditional book publishing experience. | Salon
C | | 2:00-3:00 |
Books: Designed to Sell
Tammy
Dever (TLC Graphics)
Learn
about the influence of your book's design - inside and out - on buyers and industry
professionals. Why and how to hire a design team for this all-important aspect
of publishing as well as how to find and work with your designer. | Salon
F | | 2:00-3:00
| Leveraging
the Internet to Market Your Book
Tom
Britt (Author House)
Every author needs to know
how to use the Internet to market themselves and their books and I take them through
a primer on the Internet and then dive into the various online methods they can
utilize. | Salon
H | | 2:00-3:00
| Preparing for
Success: The Five Steps to Manuscript Preparation Mindy
Reed (Editor, The Authors' Assistant) | Salon
A | | 3:15-4:15 | Self-Publishing
Demystified
Terry Sherrill (Morgan Printing)
Linda Berdoll (The Bar Sinister: Pride and Prejudice Continues) | Salon
C | | 3:15-4:15
| Marketing and
Publicizing the Self-Published Book
Stephanie Barko (Literary
Publicist, The Authors' Assistant) | Salon
A | | 3:15-4:15
| Greenleaf
Book Group
Clint Greenleaf (CEO Greenleaf
Book Group)
Meg La Borde (VP Greenleaf
Book Group) | Salon
F | | 3:15-4:15
| Infinity
Publishing
John
F. Harnish (Special Projects Director, Infinity Publishing) | Salon
H |
|
