Friday, February 13, 2015

2015 Agent Conferences

Following is a list a agent conferences happening this year across to country. If your in the area of one check it out.

Agent-Conference Opportunities

There are plenty of opportunities for writers to meet agents face to face at writers' conferences and pitch their work in 2015. 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 both kinds in this list below.

Portland Writers Workshop, Feb. 20, 2015, Portland, OR
Attending agents: Sandra Bishop (Transatlantic Agency); Adam O'Connor Rodriguez (editor, Hawthorne Books); Natasha Kern (Natasha Kern Literary); Mary C. Moore (Kimberley Cameron & Associates); Scott Eagan (Greyhaus Literary); Cait Spivey (Corvisiero Literary); and Jodi Dahlke (Fuse Literary). 

The Writing Workshop of SeattleFeb. 21, 2015, Seattle, WA
Attending agents: Kathleen Ortiz (New Leaf Literary); Kristin Vincent (D4EO Literary); Genevieve Nine (Andrea Hurst & Associates); Adria Olson (Martin Literary Management); Scott Eagan (Greyhaus Literary); Fleetwood Robbins (Waxman Leavell Literary); and Adam O'Connor Rodriguez (editor, Hawthorne Books).

The Chesapeake Writing Conferences, Baltimore (March 27) and Washington DC (March 28)
Attending agents: Jeff Kleinman (Folio Literary); Ella Kennen (Corvisiero Literary); Jamie Bodnar Drowley (Inklings Literary); Laura Strachan (The Strachan Literary Agency); Marisa Corvisiero (Corvisiero Literary); Jordy Albert (Booker Albert Literary); Lauren Sharp (Kuhn Projects); Cynthia Kane (Capital Talent Agency); and Leon Husick (L. Perkins Associates).

Carolina Writing Conferences, Columbia, SC (April 17) and Charlotte, NC (April 18)
Attending agents: Sam Morgan (Jabberwocky Literary); Melissa Jeglinski (The Knight Agency); Diana Flegal (Hartline Literary); Cherry Weiner (Cherry Weiner Literary); and Robin Mizell (Robin Mizell Literary Representation).

Northeast Texas Writers ConferenceApril 24-25, 2015, Mt. Pleasant, TX
Attending agents: Cherry Weiner (Cherry Weiner Literary).

Milwaukee Writing Conference, May 15, 2015, Milwaukee, WI
Attending agents: Jennie Goloboy (Red Sofa Literary); Laura Crockett (Triada US Literary); Abby Saul (Browne & Miller Literary); Elizabeth Evans (Jean V. Naggar Literary); Jodell Sadler (Sadler Children's Literary); and Dawn Frederick (Red Sofa Literary).

Chicago Writing WorkshopMay 16, 2015, Chicago, IL
Attending agents: Marcy Posner (Folio Literary); Jen Karsbaek (Fuse Literary); Jennifer Mattson (Andrea Brown Literary); Tina Schwartz (The Purcell Agency); Dan Balow (Steve Laube Literary); Jodell Sadler (The Sadler Agency); and Laura Crockett (Triada US Literary).

Jackson Hole Writers ConferenceJune 25-27, 2015, Jackson Hole, WY 
Attending agents: Sarah Levitt (Zoƫ Pagnamenta Agency); Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein (McIntosh & Otis); and more to be announced.

Writer's Digest Conference East, July 31 - Aug. 2, 2015, New York, NY
The website will be updated/live soon, but this conference usually happens somewhere in late July or early August over the course of one weekend. The conference's Pitch Slam features more than 50 literary agents to pitch. 

Happy Friday! New Literary Agents to Query

Happy Friday,

I got an email telling of new literary agents. I want to share their names with you in case you're looking for an agent.


2 New Agents Seeking New Clients 

Click on any name below to see the full mini-profile on the GLA Blog (with submission instructions). Good luck querying!  

1. Heather Flaherty of The Bent Agency

She is seeking: authors who write children's, middle grade, and young adult fiction and nonfiction, as well as select new adult fiction, and pop-culture or humorous nonfiction. "Currently I'm looking for YA fiction across-the-board, though my heart does sway towards issue-related YA with humor and heart - not depressing, or mopey. I also love love love hard, punchy, contemporary YA that's got no hesitations when it comes to crazy. I'm also always up for seeing contemporary stories with sci-fi or fantasy elements, as well as a clever respin of an old or classic tale. And then, lastly, really good horror and ghost stories... not gory-for-gory's sake or overly disgusting, but cringing, dark, bloody twisted, and even lovely. That said, the one thing I love above all else in a YA novel, regardless of sub-genre, is a strong and specific character voice. A real person, not another 'everygirl.' As for the middle grade I'm looking for, I want it stark, honest, and even dark; either contemporary or period, as long as it's accessible. Coming-of-age stories, dealing-with-difficulty stories, witness stories (adult issues seen through the child's p.o.v kinda thing), anything that makes you want to hold the narrator's hand... for your own comfort, as well as their's. I am also ok with these stories having slight magical or fantasy elements as well - as long as they're subtle. In new adult, I like to see story... not just romance and/or erotica. For me, it should pretty much be a great YA novel for an older audience. On the nonfiction side, I'm looking for strong teen memoirs about overcoming crushing situations. "

2. Sarah Nagel of Writers House

She is seeking: Sarah is looking for psychological thrillers (those that mess with your head rather than high speed cross-country chases), horror, mystery, suspense and literary fiction. Sarah is especially interested in strong character-driven fiction and stories that explore the dynamics of a dysfunctional family unit / relationships. Sarah also represents realistic Young Adult and Middle Grade with a hint of magical realism. On the nonfiction side, Sarah is interested in medical ethics, true crime, humor books and memoir with a distinctive narrative voice with a universal resonance. Sarah is not looking for straight sci-fi, high fantasy, romance or picture books.