Pitch Agents in Michigan, NYC, and Philadelphia: GLA News 1-11-2017

[Guide to Literary Agents 2017] [2017 Guide to Literary Agents] [2017 Writer's Market Books] [Become a VIP?] [Subscribe] Editor's Letter: Win a Free Copy of the 2017 GLA PLUS NEWS OF CONFERENCES IN MICHIGAN, NYC, PHILADELPHIA, AND MORE Hello, 2017. A brand new year full of possibilities. Exciting! So let's get right to it. There is a ton of stuff to discuss. First of all, I'm celebrating the new year with a new giveaway contest. Check out my new blog post, ["81 Dawn Good Reasons to Read the GLA Blog in 2017,"] and comment on the post for your chance to win a copy of any of my books, including the [2017 Guide to Literary Agents] and the 2017 CWIM. Secondly, are you writing middle grade? If so, enter your work in the [30th ]. The agent judge is Caitie Flum of Liza Dawson Associates, and it's free to enter. You just submit your first page to her, and she picks three winners who all get a critique and writing prizes. Easy peasy. And there's more. Keep reading below for news of agents seeking submissions now as well as some great articles to read before you send your work out in 2017. Hope your year is a fantastic one! And like I always mention, I'm speaking at some writing events in 2017 that I'm excited about. These events include [Minneapolis] (Feb. 11), [Alabama] (Feb. 24), [Atlanta] (Feb. 25), [Detroit] (March 25), [Philadelphia] (April 8), [Seattle] (May 6), and [Chicago] (June 24). There are also plenty more conferences (with attending agents) listed at the end of this newsletter. And I know it's way ahead, but WD just set dates for its huge 2017 conference in New York. The conference happens again [August 18-20, 2017], and we hope to again bring you 60+ agents for our gigantic pitch slam. Until next time, good luck writing, agent hunting, and building your writer platform! [Chuck Sambuchino] Chuck Sambuchino Editor, [2017 Guide to Literary Agents] Editor, [2017 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market] [2014 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market ] Author, [How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack] Author, [When Clowns Attack: A Survival Guide] Author, [Create Your Writer Platform ] [www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog] [Twitter: @chucksambuchino] [Chuck on Facebook] Email: [chuck.sambuchino@fwmedia.com] 2 New Agents Seeking Submissions NOW Click on any name below to see the full mini-profile on the GLA Blog (with submission instructions). Good luck querying! (Please note that agents frequently close to submissions from mid-December through mid-January. So please check their individual websites and Twitter to make sure if this is the case. If these agents below [or any others you're pursuing] are currently closed to submissions, simply wait a few weeks until they open, then query away.) [1. Aimee Ashcraft of Brower Literary] He is seeking: Aimee is specifically interested in literary and upmarket fiction, historical and women's fiction, and young adult fiction (all genres). [2. Shana Kelly of Einstein Literary] She is seeking: Shana is looking for novels with great writing and surprising plots; her favorite books fall between commercial and literary. She has a soft spot for well written thrillers and psychological suspense. Getting Ready to Query in 2017? Here are 3 Articles You Must Read Are you getting ready to query agents at the start of this year? If so, WAIT! Hold your horses. I have some important articles for you to read before you send out another query. I went on Twitter and found dozens and dozens of good submissions tips for you to peek at it before you submit your work. Reading these articles will prevent you from making any submission no-nos or agent pet peeves. Here they are: [1. What To Know Before You Submit: 28 Great Tips from Literary Agents] [2. 38 Query Letter Tips from Literary Agents] [3. Agent Pet Peeves: Review These 34 Submission No-No's Before You Query] "Let's Begin: Write Captivating Opening Pages that Grab Readers' (and Agents') Attention" -- Let Agent Victoria Marini Teach You How on Jan. 10 Strong opening pages are essential to getting your novel noticed by an agent. First pages often dictate whether an agent requests a manuscript or rejects the query, and first chapters can mean the difference between capturing and sustaining a readers' attention or losing it entirely. As an agent with Irene Goodman Literary Agency, Victoria Marini has been selling Adult and Young Adult Fiction for years. She'll share her first-hand knowledge of what she looks for in the opening pages of fiction, and what she lets go. During this live webinar, ["Let's Begin: Write Captivating Opening Pages that Grab Readers' (and Agents') Attention,"] you will learn how to create opening pages that capture attention, sustain interest, and ultimately compel readers to keep turning the pages. Develop authentic characters readers will care about, set pacing and plotting that will streamline your storytelling, and avoid the common mistakes that downgrade your craft. It all happens at 1 p.m., EST, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, and lasts 90 minutes. ABOUT THE CRITIQUE All registrants are invited to submit the first 1,500 words of your manuscript for critique. All submissions are guaranteed a written critique by Victoria Marini. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - How to pique interest - The importance of demonstrating your authorial voice - Ways to set a foundation for your narrative - How to build the narrative on that foundation - How to stay focused and keep the storytelling streamlined - The various elements of conflicts and inciting events - The difference between Action and Action! - Pitfalls that will bore, tire, irritate, and generally put off readers INSTRUCTOR Victoria Marini began her career as a literary agent at Gelfman Schneider and ICM Partners before joining the Irene Goodman Agency in 2016. She is interested in both literary and commercial middle grade, young adult and adult fiction. From contemporary to magical realism to sci-fi/fantasy and dramatic suspense, she is always looking for unforgettable off-the-page characters, compulsive stories, and unique voices. She is a sucker for weirdness, atmosphere, secrets, things that go bump in the night, a bit of whimsy, a twist of magic, or a dash of humor. ( [Sign up for the webinar here].) 7 Agents Seeking Women's Fiction NOW -- a New 2017 List Sometimes it's difficult to pinpoint which agents are open to submissions at any given time. So with that in mind, I'm creating some new vertical lists of agents seeking queries right now, as of early 2017. This list is for women's fiction. All the agents listed below personally confirmed to me as of early 2017 that they are actively seeking women's fiction novel submissions NOW. Some gave personal notes about their tastes while some did not. Good luck querying! 1. Katie Grimm (Don Congdon Associates) Notes : "Looking for women's fiction with a literary bent, ideally with a social/cultural issue that necessitates a conversation. Unusual structures or concepts are welcome, and I'm open to a wide range of styles - with the intensity of feeling of Elena Ferrante or the irreverence of Maria Semple." How to Submit: Take a look at the agency's full [submission guidelines]. 2. Tamar Rydzinski (Laura Dail Literary Agency) Notes: Seeking upmarket commercial women's fiction. How to Submit : Send queries to queries [at] ldlainc.com, and take a look at the agency's full [submission guidelines]. [See the entire list of 7 agents online at the GLA Blog.] "How to Get a Literary Agent" -- Agent Carly Watters' Jan. 12 Webinar Teaches You Everything You Need to Know Many writers think getting a literary agent is the hardest thing they'll have to do as a writer. They think agents are looking to turn away writers, when actually many agents are actively looking to sign new talent. How do you find these agents that have open doors? Literary Agent Carly Watters works with many debut writers she's signed from the slush pile who have become successful multi-published authors. She'll share the industry expectations of debut writers, how to find agents that are actively looking for new writers, and what questions to ask to make sure you find the right agent for you. In this new webinar, ["How to Get an Agent,"] learn what agents are being told by the industry and how that shapes the debut projects they sign, why you need an agent, and where to find agents that represent what you write. Do you want know how to hook an agent? Carly will make sure you're fishing in the right pond. It all happens at 1 p.m. EST ABOUT THE CRITIQUE All registrants are invited to submit your one-page query letter. All submitted pages are guaranteed a written critique by Literary Agent Carly Watters. Carly reserves the right to request more writing from attendees by e-mail following the event if she deems the writing excellent. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - What an author/agent relationship looks like - How to find an agent that's right for you - How to show agents you're a 'career author' - How to stand out among other querying writers - What the state of the industry looks like for new authors - How agents approach the slush pile and writers conferences - The important steps to writing a successful query letter - Why you must query an agent with what they ask for INSTRUCTOR Carly Watters is a VP and senior literary agent with the P.S. Literary Agency. Clients include Globe and Mail bestseller Jay Onrait, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Karen Katchur, Rebecca Phillips, Colin Mochrie, Julianna Scott, Danny Appleby, Paulette Lambert and more. Carly's blog has been named one of 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writer's Digest magazine. You can find Carly online at carlywatters.com and on Twitter @carlywatters. [Sign up for Carly's Jan. 12 webinar here.] [Learn everything on the official sign-up page here.] Agent-Conference Opportunities There are plenty of opportunities for writers to meet agents face to face at writers' conferences and pitch their work in 2017. Remember: Meeting agents in person is a great way to get past the slush pile. If an agent is interested in your work and requests a sample or book proposal, you can write "Requested Material" on your submission, making sure it gets a fair read and consideration. Know that there are two types of conferences. There are general writers' conferences, that address a variety of subjects, and then there are specialized conferences, which usually tend to focus on a single genre-such as western, romance, or mystery. You will find all kinds in this list below. [Minnesota Writing Conference], February 11, 2017, St. Paul, MN Attending Agents: Laura Zats (Red Sofa Literary), Gemma Cooper (The Bent Agency), Kaylee Davis (Dee Mura Literary), Mary Cummings (Betsy Amster Literary), Jennie Goloboy (Red Sofa Literary), Abby Saul (The Lark Group), Samantha Fountain (Corvisiero Literary), Dawn Frederick (Red Sofa Literary), Lauren Kukla (editor Mighty Media Press Children's Books), Kimiko Nakamura (Dee Mura Literary), Erik Hane (Red Sofa Literary), and more. [San Francisco Writers Conference], Feb. 16-19, 2017, San Francisco, CA Attending Agents: Peter Beren (Peter Beren Literary), Jennifer Chen Tran (Fuse Literary), Amy Cloughley (Kimberley Cameron & Assoc), Mark Gottlieb (Trident Media Group), Sarah Levitt (Zachary Shuster Harmsworth), Laurie McLean (Fuse Literary), Paula Munier (Talcott Notch), Andy Ross (Andy Ross Literary), and more. [Alabama Writing Workshop], Feb. 24, 2017, Birmingham, AL Attending Agents: Latoya C. Smith (L. Perkins Agency), Eric Smith (P.S. Literary), Cate Hart (Corvisiero Literary), editor Elizabeth May (Kensington Publishing). Marisa Corvisiero (Corvisiero Literary), Mark Gottlieb (Trident Media), editor Misty Williams (Fiery Seas Publishing). [Atlanta Writing Workshop], February 25, 2017, Atlanta, GA Attending Agents: Cherry Weiner (Weiner Literary), Sally Apokedak (Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency), Latoya C. Smith (L. Perkins Agency), Vanessa Eccles (Golden Wheat Literary), Marisa Corvisiero (Corvisiero Literary), Janell Walden Agyeman (Marie Brown Associates), Eric Smith (P.S. Literary), Elizabeth Copps (Maria Carvainis Agency, Inc.), Elizabeth May (Kensington Publishing), Kristy Hunter (The Knight Agency), Mark Gottlieb (Trident Media), and more to be announced. [Writers Winter Escape Cruise], Feb. 26 - March 3, 2017, cruise departs Miami FL Attending Agents: The attending agents are from The Seymour Agency and The Tobias Agency. Additional attending publishers companies include Sourcebooks, Tor/Forge, Doubleday, and Entangled Publishing. [Michigan Writers Conference], March 25, 2017, Detroit, MI Attending Agents: Elana Roth Parker (Laura Dail Literary Agency), Paul Stevens (Donald Maass Literary). Sara Megibow (KT Literary), Jennifer Wills (The Seymour Agency), Janna Bonikowski (The Knight Agency), Kirsten Carleton (Prospect Agency), Elizabeth May (Kensington Publishing), Alice Speilburg (Speilburg Literary), Michael Caligaris (Holloway Literary Agency), Lesley Sabga (The Seymour Agency). [Kansas Writing Workshop], March 25, 2017, Kansas City, KS Attending Agents: Rebecca Bugger (Serendipity Literary Agency), Justin Wells (Corvisiero Literary Agency), Reiko Davis (DeFiore & Company), Stephanie Hansen (Metamorphosis Literary), Whitley Abell (Inklings Literary), Tricia Skinner (Fuse Literary). [\], April 22, 2017, Louisville, KY Attending Agents: Brent Taylor (TriadaUS Literary), Brandi Bowles (Foundry Literary + Media), Alice Speilburg (Speilburg Literary), Lesley Sabga (The Seymour Agency), Julie Gwinn (The Seymour Agency), Victoria Lea (Aponte Literary), and Jennifer Wills (The Seymour Agency). [New Orleans Writing Workshop], April 22 2017, New Orleans, LA Attending Agents: Rebecca Bugger (Serendipity Literary Agency), Amanda Leuck (SpencerHill Associates), Whitley Abell (Inklings Literary), Tricia Skinner (Fuse Literary Agency), Alex Franks (Donaghy Literary), Johnnie Bernhard (Loiacono Literary), and Jennifer Haskin (Metamorphosis Literary Agency). [Writers Conference of Seattle], May 6, 2017, Seattle, WA Attending Agents: Carlie Webber (CK Webber Associates), Mandy Hubbard (Emerald City Literary), Thao Le (Sandra Dijkstra Literary), Clelia Gore (Martin Literary Management), Nephele Tempest (The Knight Agency), Paul S. Levine (Paul S. Levine Literary), Amy Levenson (Blue Heron Literary), Eve Porinchak (Jill Corcoran Literary), Scott Eagan (Greyhaus Literary), Elizabeth Wales (Wales Literary Agency), Lindsay Mealing (Emerald City Literary), Valerie Noble (Donaghy Literary), and Adria Olson (Martin Literary Management). [Conference Name], May 19-21, 2017, Pittsburgh, PA Attending Agents: Noah Ballard (Curtis Brown, Ltd.), Mark Gottlieb (Trident Media Group), Eric Myers (Dystel and Goderich Literary), Roseanne Wells (Jennifer De Chiara Literary); and possibly more to come. [Writers Conference of San Diego], May 21, 2017, San Diego, CA Attending Agents: Thao Le (Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency), Valerie Noble (Donaghy Literary Group), Annie Bomke (Annie Bomke Literary), Taylor Martindale (Full Circle Literary), Elise Capron (Sandra Dijsktra Literary Agency), Patricia Nelson (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency), Courtney Miller-Callihan (Handspun Literary), Natalie Lakosil (Bradford Literary Agency), Jill Marr (Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency), Kelly Sonnack (Andrea Brown Literary Agency), Jennifer Azantian (Jennifer Azantian Literary Agency), Jennifer Kim (Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency). [The Writing Workshop of Chicago], June 24, 2017, Chicago, IL Attending Agents: Gemma Cooper (The Bent Agency), Michael Caligaris (Holloway Literary Agency), Alexandra Weiss (Jennifer De Chiara Literary), Marcy Posner (Folio Literary), Laura Crockett (Triada US Literary), Loretta Caravette (LR Children's Literary), Jen Karsbaek (Fuse Literary), Lesley Sabga (The Seymour Agency), and more to come. [Cleveland Writing Workshop], July 8, 2017, Cleveland, OH Attending Agents: Jennifer Wills (The Seymour Agency), Michael Caligaris (Holloway Literary Agency), Ella Marie Shupe (Belcastro Agency), Vicki Selvaggio (Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency), Moe Ferrara (BookEnds Literary), Fred Tribuzzo (The Rudy Agency). [Tennessee Writing Workshop,] July 22, 2017, Nashville, TN Attending Agents: Lauren MacLeod (The Strothman Agency), Elizabeth Copps (Maria Carvainis Agency, Inc.), Julie Gwinn (The Seymour Agency), Michael Caligaris (Holloway Literary Agency), Alice Speilburg (Speilburg Literary), Cate Hart (Corvisiero Literary), Laura Crockett (Triada US Literary), Lesley Sabga (The Seymour Agency), Mark Gottlieb (Trident Media), Beth Phelan (The Bent Agency), and Kimberly Brower (Brower Literary). [Writer's Digest Conference], August 18-20, 2017, New York, NY Attending Agents: Last year in 2016, we had more than 60 attending agents there to take pitches and meet with writers. We hope to again bring you 60+ in 2017. 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