June 13th – Pitch-A-Palooza
Hone your pitching skills by practicing in a safe, friendly, and fun environment! Pitch practice helps writers:
- Define a project’s marketing hooks
- Prepare to write a query letter or synopsis
- Build confidence to pitch a project to an agent or editor (even if you already have one!)
- Make a good idea even stronger
Join four experienced, successful authors as they play the parts of experienced agents and editors (some of whom promise to crack their tiny whips) in what promises to be an exciting event. And if you don’t want to pitch (or model excellent pitching, if you’re a pro), you’re encouraged to observe and learn or just come and help out.
Our participating authors:
Patricia Kay: Patricia Kay is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 48 novels of romance and women’s fiction. A past Rita® nominee, Pat has written for five different publishers and currently writes mostly for Silhouette Special Edition. Her next release is HIS BROTHER’S BRIDE-TO-BE, an SSE that will be published in July. An acclaimed teacher, she formerly taught at The University of Houston but now limits her teaching to online classes.
Sophie Jordan penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History. A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature – teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love ANTIGONE, Sophie resigned to pursue her dream of writing. In less than three years, her first book, ONCE UPON A WEDDING NIGHT, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, TOO WICKED TO TAME, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller’s List. And as if she’s not busy enough, Sophie writes contemporary paranormals for Pocket under the name Sharie Kohler.
Heather MacAllister: Heather MacAllister has worked with a dozen editors during her more than forty books with Harlequin. A three-time Rita nominee and winner of the Golden Heart, Heather a new book out, UNDRESSED, Harlequin Blaze (6/09). Brenda Chin, her editor of fifteen years, bears no resemblance to Madison (see below). For that matter, neither does Heather.
Sharon Mignerey: Sharon Mignerey (www.sharonmignery.com) has written books for Silhouette Intimate Moments, Zebra, and most recently for Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense (another imprint of Harlequin). Her most recent title is THE GOOD NEIGHBOR (11-08). She’s had articles published by The Writer magazine, and she’s a regular contributor to The Rocky Mountain Writer with a column entitled Muse Sings. Sharon is a student of craft, and she is a sought-after speaker who enjoys sharing with other writers. She’s recently returned to school in pursuit of a master’s degree, and will graduate in January 2010.
And their editor/agent personae:
Cruella Dreamcrusher (Pat Kay) is the (we won’t mention her age) owner of AgentsAreUs and all Cruella wants to do is make one more big sale so that she can retire in the manner to which she would like to become accustomed. She is very tired of starry-eyed newbies and thinks nothing of crushing their dreams, just as her name suggests. She advises that you’d better not waste her time. Give her your pitch quickly and you’d better make it good. Otherwise, her “nice lady” face aside, she’ll make mincemeat out of you and enjoy doing it.
Iona A. Besseller (Sophie Jordan/Sharie Kohler) is a hungry junior agent at a large New York based agency, one of many vying to rise in the ranks and acquire as many bestsellers as possible … but she’s picky, dreads a long list of “unsold” authors. Tired of reading too many manuscripts that read like wannabe JR Wards, she wants a completed manuscript that is one-of-a-kind fresh! Give her a to-the-point pitch in ten seconds or less and let her do the rest of talking so she can try to figure out if you’re a diamond in the rough who would actually make a deadline.
Madison McKenzie (Heather MacAllister) is a New Yorker to the core and has a tendency to forget that there is life outside Manhattan . She has a degree from Hideouslyexpensive University , and a lifestyle supplemented by a trust fund. As a Senior Editor with Diamond Romance, she’s experienced and over-worked, and has a stable full of authors. She’s only doing conference pitches because it’s required. If she takes on anyone new, it’ll have to be for a project that’s polished and fresh, from an author who acts professional and has done her homework. She’s not into warm fuzzies and she doesn’t baby authors. Her efficiency sometimes makes her appear abrupt and impatient, but she truly loves publishing and wants her authors to succeed.
Lydia MacBeth (aka Sharon Mignerey) has been an editor for various major publishers for nearly 30 years. She takes credit for discovering several (now) NYT best-selling authors. She has a keen eye for detail and story structure, and she knows what she likes. She’s always on the hunt for that next NYT best-selling author.
Schedule for June 13th:
8:30 - Open doors - sign in/coffee
9:00 to 10:30 - Business meeting, PAL reviews & introductions
10:00 to 10:30 - Break
10:45 to 12:00 – Patricia Kay, Sharie Kohler, Heather MacAllister, and Sharon Mignerey starring in our "Pitch-A-Palooza"
12:00 to 12:30 - Booksigning with various authors
