Agents & Editors Day
SBWC’s Agents & Editors Day is an opportunity for conference participants to meet one-on-one for 10 minutes with an agent or editor. In 2008, the cost for each meeting will be $35, and you will be able to sign up for meetings online in early June. The list of participating agents and editors is below. Watch this space for more details in coming weeks. Once you have signed up with an agent or editor, there will be no refunds given for any reason, so consider your choices carefully.
Most Agents & Editors Day participants bring a synopsis or portion of a novel or short story, or a nonfiction book proposal to show the agent or editor. Many of the agents and editors who have participated in the past return because they enjoy meeting with writers and hearing about their work. They know SBWC attendees consistently offer high-quality writing. Many of our students have been offered representation based on work the agents saw during Agents & Editors Day. The following list is available as a pdf [last update June 12, 2008].
Agents and Editors Day is not open to the public. You must be a registered for the conference to participate.
If you have registered for the conference and did not receive an e-mail with instructions about how to register for Agents and Editors Day, please contact us.
Agents & Editors Confirmed for 2008:
Elfrieda Abbe
The Writer Magazine – Fiction/Nonfiction
Elfrieda Abbe is the editor of The Writer magazine, which received the Folio Award for editorial excellence. She has been a freelance writer, staff writer and editor at newspapers and magazines, and was editor of the award-winning arts and entertainment section of The Milwaukee Sentinel and editor of publications at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee College of Arts and Science, and has written for numerous periodicals. Bring a query letter and outline of an article you want to propose to a magazine editor. She will also look at article leads and can answer general questions about nonfiction and fiction publishing.
Jamie Weiss Chilton
Associate Agent, Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Jamie represents children's books exclusively: teen novels, middle grade fiction, chapter books, picture books, and narrative nonfiction. Her specific interests include literary fiction with intense emotional content and character driven plots; smart thrillers and mysteries; science fiction; surreal stories and magical realism; sweet, funny, quirky chapter books and picture books. Jamie's career in children's books began in 1998, with an editorial internship at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, followed by positions as an Editorial Assistant and Assistant Editor at Bantam Delacorte Dell, Wendy Lamb Books, and Knopf & Crown Books for Young Readers, all divisions of Random House Children's Books. She was Conference Manager and Golden Kite Award Director at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) before joining the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. http://www.andreabrownlit.com/
David Cole
Bay Tree Publishing, Pt. Richmond, CA — Nonfiction
David Cole has spent almost 30 years in book publishing with stints in editing, production, publicity, marketing, and management. He is owner and principal of Bay Tree Publishing, which focuses on nonfiction works in the areas of business, personal finance, psychology, health, and current affairs. He is the author of three nonfiction works, including The Complete Guide to Book Marketing. The Founder and first President of the San Francisco Bay Area Book Festival, he also served as an instructor in the University of California Extension certificate program in publishing. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of PMA/The Independent Book Publishers Association. http://www.baytreepublish.com
Greg Daniel
Daniel Literary Group, Nashville TN – Fiction/Nonfiction
Greg Daniel founded Daniel Literary Group in April 2007 after more than ten years in publishing, six of which were at the executive level at Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest Christian publisher in the world. Most recently Greg was Vice President and Associate Publisher for W Publishing Group (formerly Word Publishing), a trade book division of Thomas Nelson. Throughout his publishing career, Greg has worked closely with such authors as Max Lucado, Phyllis Tickle, and Brian McLaren, and has published books by a number of celebrity personalities, including Bono and George Foreman. Greg specializes in nonfiction (religion, history, memoir, humor, current affairs, politics, business, sports, and self-help) but is also interested in commercial fiction in the following areas: thriller, mystery/suspense, and inspirational/religious. http://www.danielliterarygroup.com/
Lindsay Davis
Writers House, West Coast Office
Lindsay Davis is a junior agent in the West Coast office of Writers House, where she has worked with Steven Malk since April of 2006. Prior to joining Writers House, Lindsay worked in the children's marketing department at Harcourt, and taught fourth grade as a member of Teach for America. While actively building her own list, she has had the pleasure of working with such well-known authors for children and young adults as Jon Scieszka, Lane Smith, Cynthia Rylant, Jennifer Donnelly, Kadir Nelson, and Sara Pennypacker. Address: Lindsay Davis Junior Agent Writers House 3368 Governor Drive, #224F San Diego, CA 92122
April Eberhardt
Literary Agent, Reece Halsey North
April Eberhardt joined Reece Halsey North as a Literary Agent in 2008 after five years of editorial work with a major literary magazine and another agency. Her specialty is adult literary fiction, particularly ironic family dramas and realistic midlife tales, often with a twist, preferably involving strong female characters. She is attracted to collections of interlinked stories with a common character or theme. An original voice and smart, speedy delivery are critical, as is a subtle sense of the absurd. She enjoys working with new authors to edit and streamline their manuscripts before submitting them to publishers. April does not represent mysteries or murders, thrillers, historical fiction or fantasy, nor does she represent children's titles. April earned an MBA from Boston University a BA in Anthropology and French from Hamilton College, and a CPLF degree from the University of Paris. Her prior careers in banking and management consulting honed her strategic, marketing and presentation skills and serve her well in her literary endeavors.
Paul Fedorko
Trident Media Group, New York – Fiction
Having built his career in the publishing industry, Paul Fedorko is now a literary agent with Trident Media Group of New York City. As a publishing executive he has worked with hundreds of authors including John Grisham, Danielle Steel, Nicholas Evans, Elmore Leonard and Maeve Binchy. There are two areas Paul doesn’t feel comfortable representing: science fiction and fantasy, and children’s/young adult – all others are open. He will talk to writers with either complete or incomplete manuscripts. http://www.tridentmediagroup.com
Charlotte Gusay
The Charlotte Gusay Literary Agency – Fiction/Nonfiction
Charlotte Gusay knows the book business from the trenches. She founded the prestigious bookshop, George Sand Books, in West Hollywood. In 1988, she started her literary agency armed with a powerful Rolodex filled with names from her book shop patrons: directors, producers, screenwriters and novelists. She is eclectic and very careful in choosing projects to represent. The Charlotte Gusay Literary Agency represents fiction and nonfiction books, entertainment rights, and books to film. The agency is a signatory to the Writers Guild. The Charlotte Gusay Literary Agency 10532 Blythe Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90064 Tel: 310/559-0831 Fax: 310/559-2639
Alana Lennie
Lennie Literary – Fiction/Nonfiction
Alana Lennie is a literary agent with Lennie Literary in San Diego. Alana worked with her husband, Michael, for many years during his practice of law. When he decided to merge his law practice with a literary agency, she managed the office, then moved into the position of literary agent. On the fiction side, Alana enjoys literary fiction, mysteries (cozies), and short stories. She always is thrilled to receive queries from young people. As for nonfiction, her interests range from business books, child care, and anything involving travel (guidebooks to memoirs). "I believe it’s as important for an agent to work at assisting the publisher and the author market their published book as it is to market the unpublished book to an editor," Alana says. http://lennieliterary.com
Michael R. Lennie
Lennie Literary
Michael R. Lennie, of Lennie Literary in San Diego, is a longtime literary agent and author’s attorney holding licenses in California and New York. For the last 19 years his practice has focused on the representation of authors, highlighted by the historic settlement of Buffington v. Macmillan and hundreds of successful contract negotiations. Lennie’s knowledge of publishing practices, contract negotiations, licensing, and author/publisher rights gives him a unique advantage representing authors as both a literary agent and attorney. His literary agency and law office represents both trade and textbook authors in a variety of genres, and includes both published and unpublished authors, fiction and non-fiction Michael R. Lennie Lennie Literary Agency 2255 Avenida de la Playa, Ste. 7B2 La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 456-0138 michael@lennieliterary.com http://lennieliterary.com
Paul S. Levine
Paul S. Levine Literary Agency, Los Angeles – Fiction/Nonfiction
Paul S. Levine is a lawyer and a literary agent who has practiced entertainment law for 25 years, specializing in the representation of writers, producers, actors, directors, composers, musicians, artists, authors, photographers, galleries, publishers, developers, production companies and theatre companies. Levine opened the Paul S. Levine Literary Agency in 1998, and has since sold more than 80 fiction and nonfiction books to at least 30 different publishers and has had many books developed as movies-for-television and feature films.
Laurie McLean
Larsen Pomada Agency, San Francisco — Adult Genre Fiction
Laurie McLean is an agent at Larsen Pomada Literary Agents in San Francisco. She represents adult genre fiction (romance, fantasy, science fiction, horror, westerns, mysteries, suspense, thrillers, etc.), as well as children's middle grade and young adult books. She looks for great writing, first and foremost, followed by memorable characters, a searing storyline and solid world building. For more than 20 years Laurie ran a multi-million dollar eponymous public relations agency in California's Silicon Valley. She is wise in the ways of marketing and publicity, negotiation, editing and a host of other business-critical areas. She is also a writer herself, so she can empathize with the author's journey to and through publication. She prefers emailed submissions of the first ten pages and 2-page synopsis to laurie@agentsavant.com. Check out her blog at the link below for tales of the agenting life. http://www.agentsavant.com/
Stephen Blake Mettee
Quill Driver Books, California – Nonfiction
Stephen Blake Mettee, publisher of Quill Driver Books, is the author of The Fast-Track Course on How to Write a Nonfiction Book Proposal. Quill Driver Books publishes nonfiction books including books on writing. QDB’s authors include, Irving Stone, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, and America’s most popular medical columnist Peter H. Gott, M.D. QDB has been recognized as one of the "Top 101 Independent Book Publishers" and by Writer’s Digest as one the 100 most new-writer friendly book publishers in the United States. Mettee is always in the market for exceptional nonfiction books.
Stuart M. Miller
The Stuart M. Miller Co., Los Angeles – Fiction/Nonfiction
Stu Miller of The Stuart M. Miller Co. has been a successful literary and packaging agent in Hollywood and New York for more than 40 years, representing fiction and nonfiction authors, screen and television writers, producers, directors, interactive multimedia creators and a broad range of intellectual property. His clients have included multiple winners of Oscar, Emmy, WGA, DGA, CableAce, People’s Choice, Golden Globe, and many other national and international awards. His greatest pleasure is finding and nurturing previously undiscovered talented writers and helping them to develop satisfying, rewarding careers.
Bonnie Nadell
Fred Hill Bonnie Nadell Agency – Fiction/Nonfiction
Bonnie Nadell is president of the Frederick Hill Bonnie Nadell literary agency with offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. She represents both fiction and nonfiction writers and among her clients are Gioconda Belli, Davida Wills Hurwin, Antonya Nelson, Rebecca Solnit and David Foster Wallace.
Jennifer Repo
Agent/Editor, Jennifer Repo Editorial Services, Los Angeles, CA — Nonfiction
Jennifer Repo’s publishing career began as an editor at Riverhead Books, a division of the Penguin Group, where she developed an interest in non-fiction and worked on such bestsellers as The Art of Happiness by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Eat Right 4 Your Type by Peter D’Adamo, About a Boy by Nick Hornby, and Women’s Journey to God by Joan Borysenko. After a few years, she moved over to Putnam/Perigee Books, another imprint within the Penguin Group. There, she focused on acquiring and editing non-fiction in the areas of women’s issues, business, self-help, and spirituality. Some of these books appeared on Oprah (What’s Next? and Hard Won Wisdom), became bestsellers, and three were nominated for a Books For A Better Life Award. She then moved to Los Angeles determined to establish a book presence in the film and television capital of the world. Her previous experience as an editor in a large publishing house helps her clients navigate the world of book making. As well, her hands-on approach to editing, developing excellent proposals, and understanding the writing process helps many writers publish their works. Most recently, Jennifer was an editor for McGraw-Hill, but she has now opened her own company, Jennifer Repo Editorial Services.
Angela Rinaldi
Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency, Los Angeles – Fiction/Nonfiction
Angela Rinaldi of Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency of Los Angeles represents an eclectic mix of nonfiction and fiction titles and includes The New York Times bestseller, Who Moved My Cheese? by SBWC alumnus Dr. Spencer Johnson. She is looking for commercial and literary fiction, narrative nonfiction and practical and proactive nonfiction. Angela would like to meet with novelists who have completed, or are very close to completing, their novels. For nonfiction authors, she would like to talk with writers who have a proposal or have written an outline.
Katharine Sands
Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency – Fiction/Nonfiction
Katharine Sands is a literary agent with the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency in New York City. She represents a wide range of authors in a broad range of categories: From fiction and faction to nonfiction (popular culture, personal growth, leisure activities) to home arts (lifestyle, cookbooks, home design) to the more eclectic (travel, humor, spirituality). She has handled projects for the literary estate of Norman Wexler, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter for Saturday Night Fever; and has represented XTC: SongStories; Under the Hula Moon (as co-agent); The Tao of Beauty: Chinese Herbal Secrets to Looking Good and Feeling Great by Ford model Helen Lee; Make Up. Don’t Break Up by five-time Oprah guest Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil, Give Me That Online Religion by Dr. Brenda Brasher; Elvis and You: Your Guide to the Pleasures of Being an Elvis Fan; The New Low-Country Cooking by Chef Marvin Woods, The Indigo Cookbook by Chef Glenn Chu, CityTripping: a Guide for Nighthawks, Foodies, Culture Vultures, Fashion Fetishist, and the Generally Style-Obsessed, among many others. Katharine has been guest speaker on writing and publishing topics for The American Society of Journalists and Authors and The New York State Council on the Arts. Her book reviews have appeared in The New York Times and Publishers Weekly.
Jessica Sinsheimer
Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, New York, NY — Fiction/Non-fiction
Jessica Sinsheimer has been reading and campaigning for her favorite queries since 2004. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she went east for Sarah Lawrence College and stayed for the opportunity to read soon-to-be books for a living. Now an assistant at the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, she's developed a reputation for fighting office members to see incoming manuscripts first—and for drinking far too much tea. Her favorite slushpile finds include Wisdom 2.0 (Harper Collins, 2010), How to Say It With New Media (Perigee, 2009) and Birth: The Wonders and Oddities of Life's First Day (Ballantine, 2008). Always on the lookout for new writers, she is most excited about finding memoirs, psychology, parenting, literary fiction and works that speak to life in the twenty-first century. http://www.sarahjanefreymann.com
Victoria Skurnick
Levine Greenberg Literary Agency
Victoria Skurnick came to the Levine Greenberg Literary Agency in 2007. Before that, she was Editor-in-Chief of The Book-of-the-Month Club. Her other jobs in trade publishing include both editorial and marketing stints at Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Avon Books, Pocket Books and St. Martin's Press. Since she became an agent, she has sold books as diverse as The Dangerous Book for Dogs to Random House, Old City Hall, a legal thriller, to Farrar, Straus & Giroux, and Critical, a look at health care, by former Senator Tom Daschle. Thrillers, literary fiction, mysteries, narrative nonfiction, biography and memoir are among her favorites, but she has also sold books on everything from exercises for the soul to sumptuous recipes for the gastrointestinally challenged. She does not handle children's books, but will look at young adult. http://www.levinegreenberg.com/
Michelle Theall
Women‘s Adventure Magazine and Fiction/Nonfiction Books
Michelle Theall started Women’s Adventure magazine in 2003 as the only women’s specific adventure sports and travel title on newsstands worldwide. The magazine quickly won accolades garnering the prestigious Folio Award for editorial excellence and was named one of the top 30 best launches by Mr. Magazine. In 2008, Theall sold the title to Big Earth Publishing, owners of several book houses including Bleak House mysteries, Trails Books, Westcliffe Publishers, Intrigue Press and others. Theall continues to run the magazine division for Big Earth publishing and will consider magazine queries and book proposals for Women’s Adventure and other book publishing houses included under the Big Earth umbrella. Theall began her career in publishing in the 1990’s with Women’s Sports + Fitness magazine where she helped launch the first ever high school and college women’s sports magazines. When the titles sold to and were absorbed by CondeNast, Theall did consulting work for niche magazines including VeloNews, Inside Triathlon, Freeskier, Blue, Elevation, and Alternative Medicine. In 2006, she landed a multi-book contract with Fulcrum Publishing and a syndicated column on health and fitness with McClatchy-Tribune. Her Little Kick in the Butt book series remains one of Fulcrum Publishing’s best selling titles. Theall has appeared on NBC, The Travel Channel, The Montel Williams Show, and Fox Sports Network as part of her writer / author platform in health and fitness. http://www.bigearthpublishing.com