Winding Up for the Pitch

Heather Cashman

You’ve finished your manuscript, and you’re ready to look for an agent. How do you find an agent and then how do you make your pitch?

You can check out the Write Stuff Pitch Workshop and Pitch Session next month. This is a pre-event for the 2022 Write Stuff Conference.

Part 1 is October 2, a virtual session with agent Heather Cashman of Storm Literary Agency. She’ll lead you through a day-long workshop on finding and querying an agent, and developing and critiquing a pitch.

You’ll then have a week to practice your pitch. Part 2 is October 9, a virtual pitch session with one of four agents: Mark Gottlieb of Trident Media Group; Carrie Howland of Howland Literary; Lawrence Knorr of Sunbury Press, and Paul S. Levine of Paul S. Levine Literary Agency.

Register for the workshop and pitch session here: https://greaterlehighvalleywritersgroup.wildapricot.org/event-4316841

Meet Noah Ballard

Tags

Curtis Brown Literary Agency, Literary Agent, Pitching Agents, Writing, Writing Conferences

Noah Ballard is a good guy. A nice guy. Raised in NJ, Noah traveled to the Midwest to attend the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Upon earning his degree, he returned east to work for the Emma Sweeny Agency. Now, he’s settled close to home and family at the literary agency, Curtis Brown, Ltd. in NYC.

But this good guy will go loco with a few simple words.   Playful – Pleasant – Predictable.

Don’t say these words. Don’t do it. Because he’s a nice guy. We don’t want him to go loco—not yet.

Let him go “good” loco over your amazing manuscript. Noah is looking for thrillers, upmarket fiction, and noir contemporary. He wants provocative authors. He’s in the “now” – so nothing from last season, smarmy, or outdated. Hook him in the opener by a cute little Corgi with bloody paws. Give him characters with bright green hair and tattoos of ancient Sumerian gods. Thrill him with a chase scene, taking him backwards, the wrong way, through the Chunnel – oh wait, that’s been done before. But he’s cool if you do it again; with panache and no – ‘ly’ words. Challenge his intellect with a Kobayashi Maru scenario, then add a few RKO twists and turns.

Look, this isn’t his first rodeo. He’s been all over the country and the world, presenting at conferences, workshops, and generally enthused about writing and publishing. His agency represents bestselling authors and Pulitzer prize winners, so he’s not easily manipulate by trends. He longs for the underserved voice. He particularly dislikes when authors try to school readers. His advice: don’t start any piece of writing with the definition of a word. Give him a good story that’s honest and relatable. Give him vigorous dialogue. Speech, he reminds us, is what characters do to each other. It’s just as interactive as punching a villain in the face. Above all, Noah wants to be different after he reads your powerful book. He’s picky, street-wise, tough.

He’s even quit smoking.

Noah will be taking pitches at the 2020 GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ on Saturday, March 14 (advance registration required).   When you query or pitch to Noah:

• Do … be polite and respectful.
• Don’t … try to shock or disgust him.
• Do … be confident.
• Don’t … stalk him (you won’t get published and it’s illegal).
• Do … provide a query with just enough info about your finished manuscript (and you) that will make him ask for sample pages. Think of queries as a window display and agents as window shoppers. You want the agents to come in and buy from your shop.

And oh yeah, he lives in Brooklyn. You don’t mess with people from Brooklyn. They go bad loco over tepid literature.

 

To read more about Noah Ballard, click on the following links:

https://www.curtisbrown.com/agents/noah-ballard

http://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/noah-ballard

http://pennwriters.org/noah-ballard-interview

 

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Bernadette Sukley, Write Stuff Writers Conference™ Flash Literature Contest Organizer and Chairman of the 2016 GLVWG Anthology, ‘The Write Connections’, has been researching, writing and editing for over 25 years. Her work has been featured in national and international publications. Her focus is human interest, health and lifestyle. She’s also written and edited guides, pamphlets, columns, stories, and novels. She’s published two novels (A Saving Hurricane, Find Me a Woman) and a nonfiction book (Made in Pennsylvania) within the last eight years.

You can find Bernadette on her website: https://www.bernadettewsukley.com/, as well as her Facebook Page, and Twitter.

An Interview with Tia Mele, Agent with Talcott Notch Literary

Tags

Literary Agent, MG & YA, Non-Fiction Sports, Pitching Agents, Romance, Talcott Notch Literary Agency, Women's Fiction

Article by Albert Tucher

 

Tia Mele, agent for Talcott Notch Literary Services, will be at the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ on March 23, 2019, to take pitches from conferees for women’s fiction, romance, YA and MG on a first come, first serve basis.

To sign up for a pitch session, follow the instructions on the registration form. Your actual appointment time will be assigned after registration is closed, and will be attached to conference materials upon signing in.  

GLVWG member, Albert Tucher, had a chance to ask Mele a few questions.

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If I were to meet you at a conference, what is something you would tell me about yourself that would be intriguing?

I love math! I do algebra problems in my free time because I find it really relaxing, and I went up to calculus in high school and took pre-calculus in college. People think it’s strange because I was an English major who took a bunch of math classes throughout my college career, but I just love numbers and solving problems mathematically. It’s probably not surprising that on those “which side of your brain is dominant” tests, the result is always that I use both sides equally. 

What drew you to becoming an agent?

I learned what an agent was when I started writing seriously right after high school, and I was looking into how to get published. I saw agents as being a little like fairy godmothers, and I wanted to be a part of making author dreams come true!

When you get a submission, how far into it do you get before you know this one is not for you?

 Sometimes I only get as far as the query, because the submission will be in a genre I don’t represent. If it is in my wheelhouse, I read the whole query and first ten pages before making a decision.

What are the current trends in publishing that you think we should know about?

I don’t want to call diversity a trend because I think it’s here to stay, but diversity is huge in publishing right now. Diversity is one of those ‘trends’ that you can follow because it isn’t going to disappear by the time you finish your book. I’ve noticed a lot of YA fantasy over the last few years. With the successes of Simon Vs. The Homosapien Agenda (Love, Simon) and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in film, I’ve heard a lot of editors say they’re looking for swoony, sweet YA romances across genders and sexualities, which I have always loved, so I’m especially excited for this trend.

What do aspiring authors do in seeking an agent that drives you crazy? In other words, what should we avoid doing?

 Please don’t send mass queries (putting a hundred different agents in the subject line, or cc/bcc’ing us on the email). Do follow the guidelines on our website for submitting your query. Also, your query should tell me about your book. I get a lot of queries that are mostly about the author or the writing process, and don’t tell me about the characters or plot. I try to emphasize relevant biographical information in queries. Your bio should tell an agent your writing background (if you have one, it’s not a requirement to be published!) and what makes you the best person to write the book. For example, if your book is about a ballerina, you should tell me that you did ballet for ten years, but not that you have twenty-seven dogs.

What is your favorite place in the world to visit? (Mine is the Big Island of Hawaii.)

 Oh, man, this is a hard question. I’ve been so lucky to visit some amazing places. I think I have to go with two: Paris, France and Nashville, Tennessee. 

And finally, tell us what you’re specifically looking for as an agent.

I’m looking to build my list with middle grade and young adult projects in any genre. I’m especially interested in dark middle grade and contemporary YA. Please send me your LGBT+ stories, as well as stories featuring visible and invisible illnesses, especially relating to mental health. I like everything from deep, terrifying thrillers to sweet, heartwarming romances. Sports plots are always interesting to me, especially if they involve baseball or softball. Dogs are a huge part of my life, so I’m all for dog-related stories as well.

I’m seeking limited adult projects in women’s fiction and romance.

In non-fiction, I’m looking for anything sports related, especially baseball, football, or basketball. I’m also open to cookbooks from chefs who have a following from a blog or channel.

 

You can contact Tia at tmele@talcottnotch.net , and follow her Twitter Feed @tiathetiger.

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Article by Albert Tucher

Albert Tucher  came to writing late, after twenty years spent pursuing an operatic singing career. Always busy, Albert could never get to the point where he could give up his day job as a librarian.  So, he started writing novels and sending them out to agents. 

See what Albert is up to on his blog at WritersResidence.com.

An Interview with Stephanie Kehr – Agent with Cyle Young Literary

Tags

Christian Writers, Cyle Young Literary Agency, Literary Agent, Writing, Writing Conferences, YA

Article by Donna Brennan: 

Stephanie Kehr is a Junior Agent for the Cyle Young Literary (C.Y.L.E). She currently lives in Northern Virginia and serves on the publishing board of Illuminate YA Fiction, an imprint of LPC Books. She’s an adventure lover with a special place in her heart for travel and culture. Although she grew up reading books, writing and representing them became an accidental passion.

Stephanie will be taking pitches during the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ March 23, 2019, and is looking for skillfully crafted stories that stir the soul and sharpen the mind. In fiction, she’s seeking young adult, middle grade, historical, children’s picture books, romance, fantasy, inspirational, and authors with strong platform, unique ideas, and diverse characters. She also represents non-fiction, including religious genres.

NOTE: To sign up for a pitch session, follow the instructions on the registration form. Your actual times for your pitch will be assigned after registration is closed, and will be attached to conference materials upon signing in.

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GLVWG veteran member, Donna Brennan, caught up with Stephanie to ask her a few questions.

DONNA: Your agency places a lot of emphasis on platform and discoverability. How important is platform to you versus a well written book with an engrossing story?

Our emphasis on platform does seem to intimidate a lot of authors – but it’s really not as scary as it looks. The publishing industry is changing, and with it, platform has become more and more important for authors to have in order to sell their books. Platform isn’t a request to “be famous,” it’s simply a venue used test your product, and see if people are interested in what you have to say.

For non-fiction authors, I do require some form of platform. However, fiction allows me to be a little more lenient—and I look primarily for solid writing talent and storytelling skills. Across the board, I’m looking to be impressed. It’s hard to turn down a book that’s incredibly done.

DONNA: Many authors have a full-time job and/or family responsibilities; they need to fight their overburdened schedules just to find time to write. What are some tips you can offer regarding what platform building tools they should try to squeeze in, and how could they go about doing that?

I tell most of my authors just to start with Twitter—it’s a great platform with a fantastic writing community. If you’re a non-fiction writer, find creative ways to test your content by posting on blogs or by writing articles for magazines. It’s easy to draw small pieces from your book and rework them into a post, newsletter, or even talk about them in an Instagram story. It’s a lot more productive to find one avenue that works for you, and focus on that. Find the best way to create community.

DONNA: In one of your blog articles you wrote about the importance of authors being confident—both in themselves and in their work. But I know many authors who, although they might have confidence in other areas of their lives, seem very vulnerable where their writing is concerned. What advice can you give to these authors?

Know why you write your story. I see so many authors struggle—bouncing from one piece of writing advice to another, and applying these to their manuscripts, without really taking the time to figure out for themselves why their book isn’t working. Advice from other authors, agents, editors, and professionals is fantastic—but at the end of the day, you know your book better than anyone.

One way you can work to gain confidence in your writing is simply to spend time with it. Save pieces of encouragement people have given you, and read over the chapters or scenes you’re most proud of. Work so hard on your book that you can’t help but be confident in it.

DONNA: What advice or encouragement can you offer to authors whose work has been rejected—not just once, but multiple times?

Keep going! Let rejection motivate you to submit more. There are so many reasons an agent or editor might reject your manuscript—sometimes, simply because it isn’t a good fit. Research the industry, agents, and become your own advocate.

DONNA: I know your faith is an important part of who you are, and one of the types of writing you seek is inspirational—or Christian. Can you give a brief description what is meant by this category? How important is it for authors to mention God or faith for a work to be considered inspirational?

Absolutely! It’s becoming less and less important for Christian authors to mention God or faith in their fiction to be considered “inspirational.” A lot of Christian publishers are looking simply for books that show good morals and character, and aren’t “preachy” or trying to sway readers one way or another. Think about “show” vs. “tell” and apply that to Christian literature. We’d rather be shown how God can impact a story, rather than told.

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Article by Donna Brennan:

 

How to Prepare for that Editor or Agent Appointment

Tags

Editor Interviews, Elevator Pitch, Pitching Agents, Writing, Writing Conferences

A week away from the 2018 Write Stuff Conference™, GLVWG’s Donna Brennan offers some advice for attendees with scheduled agent interviews.

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When you go to a conference, you often have the opportunity to meet with an agent or editor and pitch your work. Depending on the conference, you may get one appointment or you may get several. The duration of the appointment varies too, typically ranging from five to fifteen minutes.

• How do you select which agent or editor to meet and pitch your work?
• How do you prepare for that meeting?
• What should you actually say at the meeting?

Here’s some advice addressing those questions.

 

 How to Select Which Agent or Editor to Meet With

The longer the list of available agents and editors, the more daunting the task may appear. But look at it as an opportunity to find the best fit for you and your work.

First, read the bios listed on the conference website, paying special attention to what their current needs are. Don’t pitch a fantasy to someone who is only interested in contemporary romance. Then, go to their websites (usually listed in the bio) for more information about them and their agency or publishing house, including titles of books they represent or publish. Read reviews and summaries of those books online. If you can, read the first few pages online, too.

Do they have a blog? Read that, too. That often helps you to get a feel for what kind of person they are. You want to make sure they are someone you would enjoy working with.

Pick your top choices, but also have some back-up choices. Appointments usually fill up quickly with folks who register for the conference early, getting first dibs on available time slots. So register as soon as you’re sure you’ll be attending.

A Few Questions with Sheree Bykofsky

Tags

Literary Agent, Sheree Bykofsky Associates, Writing, Writing Conferences

 

In the last of our series to introduce presenters and agents, GLVWG’s Dawn Sooy took a few moments to ask Sheree Bykofsky a few questions. Sheree will be taking pitches at the upcoming 2018 GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™, Saturday March 24 (advance registration required).

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Dawn – As an agent, you work with writers, hopefully, long-term, but who are strangers to you at first. Do you look at more than the work submitted to determine that relationship?

Sheree – Yes, I like to know I’m working with an author who knows what is expected of a professional author, even if this is their first book. I like authors who help me to help them so that each step of the way we both feel like we are on the same team. This professional relationship has made me feel genuine love for many, many of my authors. Ultimately, so many of them feel like they are friends and even family. Mutual appreciation makes this field so rewarding.

Dawn – Writers often say they became writers because they have to write. What drew you to becoming an agent?

Sheree – It is a perfect symbiosis of my skills. It involves my left and right brain in equal measure: assessing manuscripts, being empathetic to people, being the first to read the work of creative and brilliant minds, understanding the needs of publishers and searching for the perfect editor, negotiating contracts in the U.S. and around the world, educating authors. And when the result is a beautiful book and a happy, knowledgeable, appreciative author, what can be more rewarding than that?

Dawn – When you get a submission, how far into it do you get before you know this one is not for you?

Sheree – It varies, but it can be very quick. It isn’t hard to recognize a professional quality submission

Dawn – What trends in the publishing marketplace attract your attention? What genres are hot?

Sheree – For me the old standbys remain my favorite: prescriptive non-fiction: business, health, lifestyle, cooking, etc.

Dawn – I understand you are an exceptional poker player. Tell us a little about that; how did you start? Do you have an engaging story about a competition?

Sheree – I’m very excited that my 4th poker book THE KAIZEN OF POKER will be published in June, 2018. It is about improving your game, something everyone can do in all aspects of their life, at any level. I can’t wait to promote.

Here is a funny story. I was once playing poker at the Borgata. We discussed a rule, and I clearly said I knew the rule and they can trust me on it because I am the author of THE RULES OF POKER (now out of print). The stranger at the table, said, “How interesting that you are an author! Do you do anything else for a living?” I said, yes, I am a literary agent. He said, “Oh! Do you happen to know Sheree Bykofsky? That’s the only agent I know.” I told him I am Sheree Bykofsky and he didn’t believe me. Another man at the table confirmed it. The man said I had rejected his query a while back but had given him some guidance that he appreciated.

Dawn – I really appreciate this, Sheree See you at the conference.

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  Article submitted by Dawn Sooy

Dawn Sooy is a multitasker with the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group, fulfilling the duties of Secretary and Conference Chair for the 2018 GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™.

A native of Eastern Pennsylvania, and too full of energy to even consider a rocking chair, Dawn published six short stories, the most recent, “Love Knows No Boundaries,” featured in the 2016 GLVWG anthology, Write Here – Write Now. She is currently working on a full-length novel titled, “From The Darkness,” scheduled for publication in early 2018, with plans to publish a horror anthology later in the year.

You can find Dawn on her Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/DawnMSooyAuthor/

A Few Questions for Amara Hoshijo

Tags

Crime Fiction, Literary Agent, Soho Press, Writing, Writing Conferences, Young Adult

We introduced Amara Hoshijo, an agent of  Soho Press, with “Meet Amara” on January 31st. Amara will make a return visit to the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ on March 24, 2018, where she will be taking pitches (advanced registration is required).

GLVWG had a few questions for Amara about what she’ll be looking for, with some advice for writers.

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GLVWG: How many authors do you sign in a one-year period?

Amara:  A rough average for me is 6-8 titles per year for the crime list and 1-2 for the literary list. As a company, Soho takes on around 30 crime titles, 10 literary titles, and 10 YA titles annually.

GLVWG:  What are you currently looking for?

Amara:  The Soho Crime mandate is focused on both international and heavily regional US crime fiction. I’m looking for atmospheric, literary mysteries and thrillers with an unusual twist, whether that be in terms of plot or character.

GLVWG:  What is the latest trend in teen books?

Amara:  I don’t edit YA, but I occasionally discuss this with our Soho Teen editorial director, Dan Ehrenhaft. I’ve noticed that realistic, issue-focused teen fiction has made a huge comeback, from work by Jay Asher to Angie Thomas. #OwnVoices writing has also taken strong roots in the genre, although I hope that’s much more than just a trend.

GLVWG:  Do you write?

Amara:  It’s funny—I’m asked this almost every time I tell someone what I do. To be honest, I don’t write much. I really prefer to edit, working with an author on how to refine what’s there in order to best express their ideas. When I do write, it’s more of an exercise just for me.

GLVWG:  Tell us about your life outside the office: family, activities, causes you support.

Amara:  I’m very active in the Japanese American Citizens League, the oldest Asian American social justice nonprofit in the country. As Vice President of the New York chapter, my goal is to bring more young people into the organization. My family is back in Hawaii, where I was born and raised, so I go back to visit every year or two!

GLVWG:  Favorite Manhattan spots?

Amara:  This is a tough one, since there’s so much here! I suppose it depends on my mood. I enjoy a good burger at The Spotted Pig every now and then, and have always found it worth the wait. I also have a borderline-problematic sweet tooth. When I want dessert for breakfast, I stop at my neighborhood Doughnut Plant. For after-dinner dessert (or dessert for dinner), Chikalicious in the East Village is really special.

GLVWG:  Advice to crime writers:

Amara:  Don’t fall into formula! This can be so, so difficult, especially for genre buffs who worship specific crime fiction authors and schools. But it’s not about reinventing the wheel, it’s about taking that literary foundation and going a step further to differentiate your story.

GLVWG:  Advice to YA writers:

Amara:  Write from the heart instead of following trends. YA readers can tell when you’re faking it! Imaginative, thorough world-building is also a thread I’ve noticed in successful YA. This is such a fun, rich genre that seems to always be changing.

You can find Amara at Soho Press, contact her at ahoshijo@sohopress.com, and follow her on Twitter.

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An Interview with Noah Ballard

Tags

Curtis Brown Literary Agency, Literary Agent, Pitching Agents, Writing, Writing Conferences

Noah Ballard is an agent at Curtis Brown, Ltd. He received his BA in English from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and began his career in publishing at Emma Sweeney Agency where he sold foreign rights for the agency in addition to building his own client list.

Noah specializes in literary debuts, upmarket thrillers, and narrative nonfiction, and he is always on the look-out for honest and provocative new writers.

David A. Miller, III had a few questions for Noah on how he works with new writers and speaks about trends in the publishing market.

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David:  As an agent, you work with writers, hopefully, long-term, but who are strangers to you at first. Do you look at more than the work submitted to determine that relationship?

Noah:       When I’m meeting writers in person, I look for a positive rapport and a willingness to collaborate. Once a manuscript is sent off to an agent, it is no longer the writer’s alone, and an interest in working with me (and inevitably a publisher) on making the book as strong as possible is often equally as important as the talent on the page. It is that meeting of the minds that leads to a productive relationship together beyond the debut work.

David:  Writers often say they became writers because they have to write. What drew you to becoming an agent?

Noah:       I became an agent almost accidentally. I was working on a novel at the end of college and had signed with Emma Sweeney Agency. Ultimately nothing came of that novel, but it was my introduction to Emma. When I graduated and returned to the NYC-area, she knew me and my taste, and when a job opened up, she offered it to me. While I still do write from time to time, my passion now is using the experiences I’ve accrued to help other writers accomplish their goals—while keeping in mind what it was like to be on the other end of that relationship.

Meet Amara Hoshijo

Tags

Literary Agent, Soho Press, Writing Conferences, Young Adult

Amara Hoshijo of Soho Press, an independent book publisher based in Manhattan’s Union Square, will make a return visit to the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ on March 24, 2018, where she will be taking pitches (advanced registration is required).

Founded in 1986, Soho publishes 90 books a year across its Soho Press, Soho Crime and Soho Teen lists, and is known for introducing bold new literary voices, award-winning international crime fiction, and compelling young adult mystery and thrillers.

Amara took the time to tell us about herself.

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I was first drawn to New York at the age of five, based on little more than that it was the biggest city I knew. (I’ve always preferred big cities—more specifically regarding the above, I’ve lived in Honolulu, Paris, and LA.) Hawaii remains a special place for me, but growing up, I didn’t see any industries there that I wanted to be a part of. I came to New York the summer after college with no prospects and the sole objective of breaking into publishing. It is certainly a literary epicenter, which was the deciding factor in my cross-country move, but I was lucky in that my personality meshed well with the city itself. New York has the diversity and integration I’ve craved my entire life; I’d say the people there have been brought together by a similar drive.

As an editor at a traditional publisher, I do believe that authors benefit greatly from having an editor and publicist, but I do not consider the self-publishing movement counter to what I do; rather, I feel it’s complementary to it, and has a rightful place in the industry. (The closest comparison I can think of is crowdfunding’s role in general commerce.)

What we read shapes our perspective. This means that agents and editors act not only as “gatekeepers” of their own industry, but of a piece of broader culture. While I initially became an editor simply because I loved to help others express their ideas in a clear, engaging way, I’ve discovered that I also have a penchant for diverse literature. I would love to bring more work by writers of color, women writers, and writers in translation out into the world.

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Amara is a graduate of University of Southern California and has been with Soho Press since August of 2012, first as an intern, then as an editorial assistant, and since May of 2015 as assistant editor.

You can find Amara at Soho Press, contact her at ahoshijo@sohopress.com, and follow her on Twitter.

Meet Sheree Bykofsky

Tags

Literary Agent, Sheree Bykofsky Associates, Writing, Writing Conferences

Sheree Bykofsky founded and is president of Sheree Bykofsky Associates, Inc. A long-standing member of the AAR and the first agent to have a web page, Sheree has represented over a thousand authors in all areas of adult non-fiction as well as literary and commercial fiction. Her non-fiction specialties include popular reference, business, health, psychology, poker, spirituality, self-help, humor, cookbooks, pop culture, biography, women’s issues, decorating; crafts, music, and much more.

From her “LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT.” – “I am a generalist and have eclectic and sometimes eccentric tastes. I represent all areas of non-fiction and commercial and literary fiction. I don’t limit myself to particular genres because I’m always surprised by what appeals to me. If I love it, then I’ll take it on. The only way to know is to try me. If it needs work and I want to represent it, I’ll tell you. If I choose not to agent you, you should know that I’m not judging you or your writing, or even your idea. I am saying that it’s just not right for me. Please also keep in mind that it is my strict policy not to give feedback when I pass on a book. What isn’t right for me may be perfect for another agent.

There are a few areas I particularly like in non-fiction: popular reference, business, self-help/psychology, humor, biography and current affairs, women’s interest, cookbooks, spiritual, multicultural, parenting, anything to do with games, movies, chronologies. In the past year I’ve sold over 15 poker books and authored three, the first of which, Secrets the Pros Won’t Tell You About Winning Hold’Em Poker, was published by Kensington in March 2006.  In fiction, I particularly like mysteries.  I’m always looking for a bestseller in any category.

Some of the genres I generally will not represent include poetry, thrillers, westerns, romances, occult, science fiction, fantasy, children’s and young adult.”

Sheree is the author, co-author, and editor of more than thirty books, including the best-selling The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Getting Published (Pearson), now in its fifth edition. She has written articles for a variety of magazines and newspapers, including The Writer, which featured Sheree’s cover story “The Six Secrets of Getting Published.”

Some of the genres I generally will not represent include poetry, thrillers, westerns, romances, occult, science fiction, fantasy, children’s and young adult. Series of Poker Ladies’ Circuit Event at the Showboat in Atlantic City in December 2005. Sheree won a seat in the famous World Series of Poker two times.

Sheree will be taking pitches at the 2018 GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™, Saturday March 24 (advance registration required).

To read more on Sheree, click on the following links:

• Home:  http://shereebee.com
• Agency Website:  http://users.rcn.com/sheree.interport/

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     Article submitted by Dawn Sooy

A native of Eastern Pennsylvania, Dawn has plenty of experience with the best and worst four seasons have to offer. Armed with a Computer Science degree, she worked in the tech industry until 2012. She’s married to a great guy and between them, have four children, two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. As an animal lover, she volunteers at the local animal shelter, sneaking in treats for the four-legged residents.

Too full of energy to even consider a rocking chair, with an insatiable itch to write, Dawn published six short stories, the most recent, “Love Knows No Boundaries,” featured in the GLVWG anthology, Write Here – Write Now. She is currently working on a full-length novel titled, “From The Darkness,” scheduled for publication in early 2018, with plans to publish a horror anthology later in the year.

Dawn is a multitasker with the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group, fulfilling the duties of Secretary when needed and Conference Chair for the 2018 GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™.

You can find Dawn on:

• Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DawnMSooyAuthor/?pnref=lhc
• Website: http://dwstrange.com/dawns%20world/