Pitch Your Novel!!!

Savvy Authors website is having a Summer Symposium, and this week only they are having fifteen different chances to pitch an agent.

Savvy Authors Summer Symposium 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012 - Sunday, August 26, 2012
Event	Author/Editor/Agent	Scheduled Day/Time
Workshop - Writing Adult While Writing YA - Navigating Two Worlds	Leanna Renee Hieber	MONDAY - SUNDAY
Workshop - Contest Slut: It’s Not a Dirty Word	Robin Covington	MONDAY - SUNDAY
Workshop - A Writer's Guide to Psychology	Sandy James	MONDAY - SUNDAY
Workshop - Steam Punk Creation	Mary Wine	MONDAY - SUNDAY
Workshop - HELP! MY STORY’S CRASHED! Getting Your Manuscript Rebooted When Your Muse Has a Breakdown	Beth Daniels (aka Beth Henderson, J.B. Dane)	MONDAY - SUNDAY
Workshop - 25 Words from Query to Sales Success	Deborah Riley-Magnus	MONDAY - SUNDAY
Workshop - Harry Potter for Writers: Mystery Plotting, Myths, and Snape	Susan (S.P.) Sipal	MONDAY - SUNDAY
CHAT - How To Take Your Writing Seriously Without Taking It Seriously	Dakota Cassidy	MONDAY 8/20 - 8:00pm EST
BLOG PITCH - Andrea Hurst Literary Agency	Gordon Warnock, Agent	MONDAY 8/20 - ALL DAY
CHAT - Why Category Romance?	Susan Meier	TUESDAY 8/21 - 8:00pm EST
BLOG PITCH - The Seymour Agency	Mary Sue Seymour, Agent	TUESDAY 8/21 - ALL DAY
BLOG PITCH - Soul Mate Publishing	Cindy Brannam, Editor	TUESDAY 8/21 - ALL DAY
BLOG PITCH - Soul Mate Publishing	Char Chaffin, Editor	TUESDAY 8/21 - ALL DAY
CHAT - From the Very First Line: Seducing the Reader into Turning the Page	Darynda Jones	WEDNESDAY 8/22 - 8:00PM EST
BLOG PITCH - Harvey Klinger, Inc.	Andrea Somberg, Agent	WEDNESDAY 8/22 - ALL DAY
BLOG PITCH - Ellora's Cave	April Chapman, Editor	WEDNESDAY 8/22 - ALL DAY
CHAT - Submissions that SELL	Margaret Riley	THURSDAY 8/23 - 7:00pm EST
CHAT PITCH - Changeling Press	Margaret Riley, Editor	THURSDAY, 8/23 8:00-9:00pm (double pitch session)
CHAT PITCH - Razor's Edge Press	Bonnie Riegel, Editor
BLOG PITCH - Kensington	Alicia Condon, Editor	THURSDAY 8/23 - ALL DAY
CHAT - What is a "Brand"?	Kris Tualla	FRIDAY 8/24 - 9:00PM EST
BLOG PITCH - Etopia Press	Jenn Fitzpatrick, Editor	FRIDAY 8/24 - ALL DAY
CHAT - Borrowing the Flying Car - Weaving Alternate Worlds for Teens	Suzanne Lazear	SATURDAY 8/25 - 1:00pm EST
WORKSHOP CHAT - 25 Words from Query to Sales Success	Deborah Riley-Magnus	SATURDAY 8/25 - 2:00pm EST
WORKSHOP CHAT - Steam Punk Creation	Mary Wine	SATURDAY 8/25 - 8:00pm EST
BLOG PITCH - Carina Press	Alison Dasho, Editor	SATURDAY 8/25 - ALL DAY
BLOG PITCH - Carina Press	Mallory Braus, Editor	SATURDAY 8/25 - ALL DAY
BLOG PITCH - Carina Press	Jeff Seymour, Editor	SATURDAY 8/25 - ALL DAY
BLOG PITCH - Carina Press	Rhonda Helms, Editor	SATURDAY 8/25 - ALL DAY
BLOG PITCH - Carina Press	Deb Nemeth, Editor	SATURDAY 8/25 - ALL DAY
BLOG PITCH - Musa Press	Susan Sipal/Ellen Brock, Editors	SATURDAY 8/25 - ALL DAY
CHAT - Adventures in Writing What You Don’t Know (Guys, aliens, and other creatures)	Stacey Kade	SUNDAY 8/26 - 9:00pm EST
BLOG PITCH - Entangled Publishing	Libby Murphy, Editor	SUNDAY 8/26 - ALL DAY
All times are in EST
Blog Pitches listed as "ALL DAY" begin at 9:00am EST and end at 11:59pm EST

Silver Lining Part II

WriteOnCon was an invaluable experience this year. I think that I have been so focused on line edits that I haven’t been able to see the bigger point which is plot issues. And after spending so much time reading editor remarks and agent responses I have come to an agreement that I have edited my books too much. It’s time to free them. Send them out into the world to get rejected or accepted (if fate has it my way).

I signed up for Savvy authors and I will be pitching both novels: KEY OF EDEN and GRIM. I am really excited and I have already received so much great feedback on both. I can’t lose.

Also, I will be attending the Central Ohio’s Writer’s Conference with Becca at the end of September. I’m really excited. Two days of awesomeness.

And, I’ve come to a realization about a few things….I didn’t know what voice was before. But, now I do. And when I read my query for GRIM it has the “it” factor I was looking for. It’s sassy and it’s perfect. A few more edits on it and I will be sending it out.

Currently, I’m reading through Key of Eden. I’m doing a few grammar edits and checking on plot points but other than that I am hoping that I get finished reading it by Sunday or so…depending on the next couple of days. And then I want to do a quick read through of my reapers book which as you’ve noticed I have decided to retitle to GRIM.

I’m a writer. Many days I hate myself for it. It shows my weaknesses. But, it also shows my drive and strengths. I agree with Becca. The silver lining is around the corner, I can feel it.

Looking for the Silver Lining...

I am sad to say that lately I have become a pessimist. I used to always believe in finding the good in everything and thinking that things would get better. My mom always said that bad things happen in three’s. So, after my third unlucky event, I thought I was in the clear. But, I kept collecting the bad!  What happed to my three good in between?

I tried having a good cry. I tried that 20+ times. That didn’t help. I did the only next logical thing I could think of. I started to read my daily horoscope. A lot of my characteristics of being a Virgo are true, but my horoscope has left me feeling more confused. I looked into going to a psychic…but they are expensive! 

After talking on the phone to my oldest brother Troy, he told me that I made him want to hang up the phone and shoot himself because I was so depressing. It hit me, I have to take a hard look at my life and re-evaluate and find the good.

After 6 interviews for teaching jobs, of which I didn’t get. I will be a building sub at Troy High next year. That isn’t the silver lining I was looking for!  Then I thought about my writing. Subbing will give me the time and opportunity to write. Next week I am pitching my books to 13 different editors and agents. Then the end of September I am going to Ohio for a writing conference with Stacey Hays. Subbing will allow me to finish my edits and to move on to the next book I want to start.

I am ready for my three good things. I play the lotto twice a week. You can’t win if you don’t play!  C’mon Karma, I am ready for you!!

Pitching, Writing, Life...etc.

Hello All-

            Just wanted to give everyone a quick rundown about what’s been going on in Stacey Land. I’ve been editing several books at one time, one of them is AGE OF EDEN and the other is THE FIRST 22 (subject to change.) Why am I not working on VENGEANCE? Because, Becca and I have decided to meet in Columbus, Ohio on September 28^th, to attend the Central Ohio Fiction Writer’s conference and I want to pitch a book that I know is ready.

            Who will I be pitching to? Editor Whitney Ross from Forge Publishing, Editor Heather Osborn from Samhain Publishing, Agent Kristin Nelson from Nelson Literary Agency, Carlie Webber from Jane Rotrosen Agency and Emily Keyes from L. Perkins Agency. Am I excited? Hell yes! Am I nervous? Hell yes! This will be my first pitch session with a real agent…needless to say, I’m scared to death. I might even cry.

            Besides that, I’ve been reading lots of other literature lately. Some of which I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the authors and/or becoming close acquaintances with. I was lucky enough to have the chance to read the HEX HALL, three book series by Rachel Hawkins which I met at the Bowling Green Writer’s convention…it was a fantastic YA series that kept me on my toes the entire time. And the more I think about it, maybe I should have a love triangle in one of my books…it seems like the only plot that keeps me at hello. I also read a book called PRETTY AMY by Lisa Burstein. It was a different genre then I’m use to, but it was still good. Lisa and I are twitter buddies, seems like Twitter has been my stepping stone into the literary world.

            Other than that, I’ve been crazy busy at my regular fulltime job and hope that this conference will finally give me a big break. Cross my fingers. Moving forward, besides my strenuous writing efforts, I’ve been hard core dieting and exercising which sounds like a miracle in this heat. I’m hoping that after this Olympic shindig dies down I will no longer be tempted to watch the U.S. rise and win it all, but, be focused on my books and ready to get my name out there. I hope everyone has an awesome week and for more details about the writer’s conference we will be attending, please follow the link below: www.cofw.org/conference.html 

            Hakuna Matata and have a fantastic week!

2012 WriteOnCon!!!! The Final Countdown!

First up is WRITEONCON! If you haven’t registered now, do it! Right now! Do it!

Here is a list of live forum events happening on August 13^th-15th for free!

Live Forum Events Schedule (subject to change):
Monday, August 13:

• Call for queries for literary agent Peter Knapp’s Tuesday event
• Call for submissions for author Gennifer Albin’s Building Better Sentences workshop (Wednesday event)
• Call for submissions PB Queries for Emma Walton Hamilton’s Tuesday event
• Ninja Agent queries can be posted

Tuesday, August 14:

• Tuesday, August 14, 8:30 AM (EDT): Live Picture Book Query Critique event with bestselling author Emma Walton Hamilton (previously submitted)
• Tuesday, August 14, 10 AM (EDT): Live Query Pitch event with literary agent Peter Knapp (previously submitted)
• Tuesday, August 14, 11 AM (EDT): Call for questions on Social Media/Blogging with literary agent Pamela van Hylckma Vlieg
• Tuesday, August 14, 12:15 PM (EDT): Live Picture Book Stanza Critiqes by authors Corey Schwartz and Tiffany Streliz-Haber
• Tuesday, August 14, 4 PM (EDT): Call for questions + Twitter-style pitches for Entangled editors Stacy Abrams, Heather Howland, and Alycia Tornetta

Wednesday, August 15:

• Wednesday, August 15, 11:15 AM (EDT): Live Q&A with literary agent Pamela van Hylckma Vlieg on Social Media/Blogging
• Wednesday, August 15, 1 PM (EDT): Live critiques on Building Better Sentences with author Gennifer Albin (previously submitted)
• Wednesday, August 15, 4 PM (EDT): Live Q&A + Twitter-style pitches for Entangled editors Stacy Abrams, Heather Howland, and Alycia Tornetta (previously submitted)

And then there is the live events that are happening:

LIVE EVENTS Schedule:

Tuesday, August 14:

• 2:00 PM: Author Denise Jaden and literary agent Michelle Humphrey discuss the author/agent relationship
• 4:00 PM: Live chat with editor Liesa Abrams and literary agent Jen Rofe
• 9:00 PM: Live Panel of Professionals — literary agents Mollie Glick, Cheryl Pientka, and Emily Keyes, and editor Sarah Barley

Wednesday, August 15

• 2:00 PM: Author Megan Miranda and literary agent Sarah Davies
• 9:00 PM: Live Panel of Professionals — literary agents Katie Grimm and Sarah LaPolla, and editors Sara Sargent and Alison Weiss

Awesome August for Savvy Authors!

Here is the list of August pitch events from Savvy Authors! It's free and all you have to do is log onto Savvy authors website the day of the event and leave a comment with their required information.

Today is:

Jul 27

Pitch your book to Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency On Friday July 27th, agent Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency will be taking FIRST PAGE pitches from 9 a.m. to midnight EST. Nicole would like to see the first page of your (completed) manuscript. For submissions, she is open to romance, inspirational fiction, mysteries/thrillers, women’s fiction, YA, MG, picture books, sci-fi/fantasy, UF and horror. No poetry, screenplays or erotica. Very select on nonfiction, and only with authors who have an established platform. For more information... {more info} Duration: 1 day. FREE/FREE (Query/Pitch, Editor/Agent)

And here is the list of August Pitch Contest on Savvy Authors too! Get your queries ready, August is going to be a busy month!

August 2012 Pitch Events
Aug 21	Pitch your book to Char Chaffin, Editor at Soul Mate Publishing **New** Editor, Char Chaffin of Soul Mate Publishing will be taking three line pitches on the savvy blog on Tuesday, August 21st, from 9 a.m to midnight EST. ... {more info} Duration: 1 day. FREE (Query/Pitch, Editor/Agent)		(Pitch Your Book)
Aug 21	Pitch your book to Cynthia Brannam, Editor at Soul Mate Publishing **New** Editor, Cynthia Brannam of Soul Mate Publishing will be taking three line pitches on the savvy blog on Tuesday, August 21st, from 9 a.m to midnight EST. ... {more info} Duration: 1 day. FREE (Query/Pitch, Editor/Agent)		(Pitch Your Book)
Aug 21	Pitch your book to Mary Sue Seymour, Agent at The Seymour Agency **New** Literary Agent and Founder Mary Sue Seymour of The Seymour Agency will be taking three line pitches on the savvy blog on Tuesday, August 21st, from 9 a.m to midnight EST. Mary Sue is seeking inspirational romance, secular romance, and inspirational nonfiction.... {more info} Duration: 1 day. FREE (Query/Pitch, Editor/Agent)		(Pitch Your Book)
Aug 22	Pitch your book to April Chapman, Editor at Ellora's Cave **New** Editor, April Chapman of Ellora's Cave will be taking three line pitches on the savvy blog on Wednesday August 22nd from 9 a.m to midnight EST. April wants to see Romance, all sub-genres are welcome.... {more info} Duration: 1 day. FREE (Query/Pitch, Editor/Agent)		(Pitch Your Book)
Aug 22	Pitch your book to Andrea Somberg, Agent at Harvey Klinger Agency **New** Agent Andrea Somberg of Harvey Klinger Agency will be taking three line pitches on the savvy blog on Wednesday, August 22nd, from 9 a.m to midnight EST. Andrea seeks: Fiction- literary, commercial, womens fiction, romance, thrillers, mystery, paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, young adult, middle grade. Nonfiction- memoir, narrative, popular science, pop-culture, humor, how-to, parenting, self-help, lifestyle, travel, interior design, crafts, cookbooks, business, s... {more info} Duration: 1 day. FREE (Query/Pitch, Editor/Agent)		(Pitch Your Book)
Aug 23	Pitch your book to Alicia Condon, Editor at Kensington **New** Editor, Alicia Condon of Kensington Publishing will be taking three line pitches on the savvy blog on Thursday, August 23rd, from 9 a.m to midnight EST. Alicia is looking for smart, fun single title contemporaries, small town romance, and interesting, unusual historical romance. ... {more info} Duration: 1 day. FREE (Query/Pitch, Editor/Agent)		(Pitch Your Book)
Aug 25	Pitch your book to Jeff Seymour, Editor at Carina Press **New** A pitch event like no other! Five Carina Press Editors will be taking three line pitches on the savvy blog on Saturday, August 25th, from 9 a.m to midnight EST. ... {more info} Duration: 1 day. FREE (Query/Pitch, Editor/Agent)		(Pitch Your Book)
Aug 25	Pitch your book to Rhonda Helms, Editor at Carina Press **New** A pitch event like no other! Five Carina Press Editors will be taking three line pitches on the savvy blog on Saturday, August 25th, from 9 a.m to midnight EST. ... {more info} Duration: 1 day. FREE (Query/Pitch, Editor/Agent)		(Pitch Your Book)
Aug 25	Pitch your book to Alison Dasho, Editor at Carina Press **New** A pitch event like no other! Five Carina Press Editors will be taking three line pitches on the savvy blog on Saturday, August 25th, from 9 a.m to midnight EST. ... {more info} Duration: 1 day. FREE (Query/Pitch, Editor/Agent)		(Pitch Your Book)
Aug 25	Pitch your book to Mallory Braus, Editor at Carina Press **New** A pitch event like no other! Five Carina Press Editors will be taking three line pitches on the savvy blog on Saturday, August 25th, from 9 a.m to midnight EST. ... {more info} Duration: 1 day. FREE (Query/Pitch, Editor/Agent)		(Pitch Your Book)
Aug 25	Pitch your book to Deb Nemeth, Editor at Carina Press **New** A pitch event like no other! Five Carina Press Editors will be taking three line pitches on the savvy blog on Saturday, August 25th, from 9 a.m to midnight EST. ... {more info} Duration: 1 day. FREE (Query/Pitch, Editor/Agent)		(Pitch Your Book)

Savvy Authors Pitch Event!

EVERYONE, PLEASE GO NOW AND PITCH YOUR BOOK...here is all of the information straight from the Savvy Authors website!

 

"Trying to catch the eye of an agent? Well, now's your chance! Peter Knapp of the Park Literary Group will be reading one line pitches today.

SUBMISSIONS REQUESTED: Peter will be reading pitches today on behalf of all the agents at Park Literary group. Park Literary Group is looking for upmarket commercial women's fiction, popular science nonfiction and young adult. On our wish list are: multigenerational women's story with epic sweep; a great crime novel in the vein of Tana French or Gillian Flynn; pretty much any great popular science; smart, fresh young adult fantasy and paranormal in the vein of Maggie Stiefvater and Laini Taylor; middle grade with magic realism in the vein of Rebecca Stead. We definitely have a taste for smart, commercial books!

Until midnight EST July 23rd, members will have an opportunity to post their one line pitch (one short sentence) as a comment to this post. Results will be posted within the next two weeks. Check back to see if you've scored a request!

Who can enter?
Contest is open to all registered members of Savvy Authors. Not a member? JOIN TODAY! Basic membership is FREE! All entries must be from registered members. Entries posted anonymously (by non-members) will be removed. If anyone has any questions, please contact our resident pitch wrangler, Jus. JusAccardo@savvyauthors.com

The rules are simple:
1. Post your one line pitch in the comments section of this article after logging into the website, include at the top the Title, Genre, & Word Count.
2. Make sure your manuscript falls within the genres Peter listed above!
3. Only post if your manuscript is ready now!
4. Check back to see who Peter picked. Results posted within the next two weeks. (Minimum of one, no maximum!)
5. Limit two pitches per member.
6. Be sure to include your name, title and word count of your manuscript, and genre.


Please note, all pitches that do not follow the directions chance being removed without notice. This includes posting more than two pitches and pitches that are longer than one short sentence.
Peter Knapp
Peter joined the Park Literary Group in July 2011, where he provides logistical and creative support to staff and clients. He enjoys reading a wide variety of works, with a strong interest in middle-grade and young adult fiction. Prior to joining Park Literary, he served as a story editor at Floren Shieh Productions, where he consulted on book-to-film adaptations for Los Angeles-based film entities. He graduated from New York University with a B. A. in art history.

The Park Literary Group
A full-service literary agency, The Park Literary Group represents fiction and nonfiction with a boutique approach: an emphasis on servicing a relatively small number of clients, with the highest professional standards and focused personal attention. With an in-house foreign rights department—headed by Abigail Koons, our Executive Director of Foreign Rights—the agency takes a global approach to every client’s career. Park Literary also has strong relationships with film and television co-agents in Los Angeles, and benefits from the expertise of Emily Sweet, our Executive Director of Business Affairs and Client Promotions, and Rachel Bressler, our Executive Director of Corporate and Publisher Relations. In whole, our extensive team brings to bear excellent resources and a wealth of experience in exploiting all rights associated with an author’s work and career. For more information about our agency and its authors, please visit www.parkliterary.com."

Past Due Book Review

I recently had the opportunity to read a book that was published by one of my blog followers, Elizabeth Seckman called Past Due.

Jenna Austin has a secret that she’s been keeping for fifteen years and the only person who knows is buried six feet under North Carolina soil and isn’t telling a soul.

But, when Tres Coulter bumps into Jenna at a gas station all of the emotions and feelings that Jenna felt fifteen years earlier are still intact. She loved Tres Coulter when she was sixteen and she loved him now. She tries to avoid Tres as much as possible but when fate (in the form of the towns people) force the two together, neither one of them can resist the physical connection.

Jenna is confused, why had Tres returned after all this time? Did he come back to take away her son Tanner? Or was it just coincidental that he showed up out of nowhere? Jenna, against her better judgment meets with Tres where they make sweet passionate love and he confesses that he has loved her every second of his life and Jenna begins to think that he will understand why she had to do what she did.

When she lets out the secret that had been haunting her for over fifteen years, Tres learns that he has a fifteen-year-old biological son that was raised by another man. But, he wants answers and Jenna can give him none that can satisfy his hunger. When the truth unwinds she realizes that everyone including her father, her dead sister, her deceased husband, and Tres’ mother had a part in keeping the two from their happily-ever-after.

Now, Tres wants to be a part of Tanner and Jenna’s lives even after all the secrets and lies. But, can Jenna give up her stubborn I-don’t-need-a man-attitude long enough to win Tres back? You will have to read and find out.

Past Due is an adult romance novel that I really enjoyed reading. At first it was a little slow for my taste but after the third or so chapter I dived into the tragedy of young Jenna’s life and flew right through the content.

It’s a beautifully written story and I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions. Some agents think less is more and in this case I completely disagree. I loved all of them from the sandy dunes to Jenna’s wretched house. I loved it.

The plot wasn’t as strong as it could be but I really enjoyed the relationship between the characters. It felt so right, so natural and wasn’t repeats of books I’ve read before.

I’m not a huge face on 3^rd Person POV; but Mrs. Seckman pulled it off. Head hopping is a difficult task to master but it seems that she conquered it. It was a great story and from her acknowledgments page I understand that Past Due is her sister’s story. Color me romantic. She did a very good job with Past Due and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read it.

Bared to You

I recently read Bared to You by Sylvia Day. It is an erotic romance novel; think Fifty Shades of Grey meets a porno movie. As if Fifty Shades of Grey was PG13, ha!

It takes place in New York City where twenty four-year-old marketing assistant Eva and Billionaire lover boy Gideon, meet and instead of having any tact at all he comes straight out and ask Eva if he can f**k her. Maybe not quite like that but he wants to know if she is being banged. Like I said, no prelude to love just a wam-bam-thank you mam type of relationship.

But, Eva has a secret that could be unleashed into newspapers at any moment and she is forced to tell Gideon the truth about her life which includes the horrible incident of sexual molestation from her step brother when she was ten years old. Gideon takes the news better than expected but he has a past of his own that he refuses to tell Eva about and when Eva wakes up to him on top of her and straddling her, she knows, that his emotional scars run deeper than hers.

I liked this book because it’s more fantasy than anything, it’s just not realistic to screw in a limo all the time…I mean, wouldn’t you get carpet or leather burn? And as emotionally screwed up as they both are I hate the way Eva always submits to Gideon. She doesn’t argue with him and they pretty much solve every issue in their relationship with sex. Their personal insecurities are annoying and the sex is the only thing that moves the plot forward…I only say this because I kept reading just to see where the next place would be where they would do it. Sad but true.

I liked Fifty Shades of Grey because it had a story line other than sex but it was written poorly. But, this novel was written tastefully well but lacked the emotional connection of the characters. I will be reading the next one in the series that is being released in October called Reflected in You, only to find out what Gideon has hidden in his closet. Other than that, I would give it a 3.5 out of five stars.

Great Expectations!!

I intended to write every day this week but I have been going full blast since Monday. It has been non-stop chaos. Tomorrow is Friday and I only have 1,400 words to show for the week. It’s sad but true. And I have come to a horrible realization that some of us, though our intentions are good, we will never commit the time and effort it takes to become a writer. I can only influence and motivate myself; I can’t influence and motivate the world.

But, I have been doing lots of research about the setting and prior crime wars in the area from the 1900’s and some profiling of the mob members and identifying some key characters in the novel. I’m hell bent on getting some words down and luckily for me I have one more week to do it. And for those of you who don’t know me…the first novel Jennifer and I wrote was finished in less than fourteen days. If I keep pounding away, I will be there in no time.

Okay, I’m off to listen to some Enya music and pound away on the keyboard. Hakuna Matata and I hope everyone is staying cool in this hot weather.