Archive for the ‘Speakers’ Category

Louise Fury, agent at L. Perkins Agency

Louise Fury, literary agent at the L. Perkins Agency, has confirmed she will attend the 2011 DFW Writers’ Conference.

Bio

Louise believes in the power of marketing and is constantly on the lookout for authors who know how to promote themselves.

She is seeking high-concept Young Adult fiction and fun, imaginative, and engaging Middle Grade fiction–think humor, adventure and mystery. The characters must be authentic and original.

Louise really loves historical (especially Regency and Victorian), paranormal, steampunk romance, mystery and epic horror.

She’s passionate about connecting with South African authors–anything about South Africa, or by a South African author is on her wish list.

In non-fiction she is looking for pop culture, humor, gift books and witty memoirs.

For more information on Louise or to take a peek at her client list, visit her blog, or follow her on Twitter @louisefury.

Dawn Frederick, literary agent and owner at Red Sofa Literary

Dawn Frederick, literary agent and owner at Red Sofa Literary, has confirmed she will attend the 2011 DFW Writers’ Conference.

Bio

Red Sofa Literary was established by Dawn Frederick in 2008.  Dawn brings a broad knowledge of the book business to the table—with over 10 years of experience as a bookseller in the independent, chain, and specialty stores; an editor for a YA publisher, a published nonfiction author, and her experience as an Associate Literary Agent at Sebastian Literary Agency from 2002 – 2007. She carries a B.S. in Human Ecology, and a M.S. in Information Sciences from an ALA accredited institution.

“Not only do I know what people like to read and are currently  reading;  I also have the experience of  working one-on-one with authors, book distribution centers, and literary organizations.”

Previous books sold include: I Love Rock & Roll (Except When I Hate It) by Brian Boone (Perigee), The Secrets of Skinny Chicks by Karen Bridson (McGraw-Hill), Finding Betty Crocker by Susan Marks (Simon & Schuster), Train to Nowhere by Colleen Bradford-Krantz (Ice Cube Press), and No Mercy: Roller Derby Life on the Flat-Track by Jules Doyle (Schiffer Publilshing).

Dawn is looking for nonfiction, and will be doing one-on-one consultations, a panel, and teaching a class during the 2011 DFW Writers’ Conference.

By Jeff Posey, Director of the 2011 DFW Writers’ Conference

Agent Jessica Sinsheimer, with the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, has confirmed that she will attend the 2011 DFW Writers’ Conference and will take book proposals and teach at least one class.

Bio

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 Associate Agent 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.

Always on the lookout for new writers, she is most excited about finding literary, women’s, and Young Adult fiction, and—on the nonfiction side—psychology, parenting, self-help, cookbooks, memoirs, and works that speak to life in the twenty-first century.

Send queries to her here: Jessica Sinsheimer

Class: “It’s a Matter of Taste: How to increase the odds of an agent falling in love with your project.”

It’s more likely you’ll get hit by lightning while starring in a Broadway play than get a book deal, some say, and the economy has only made it worse. But from my own experience, and from objective data I’ve assembled, I know that 33 percent of your competition disqualifies themselves immediately—and that another 32 percent make preventable mistakes.

I’ll use pie charts, line graphs, and months of data, to help you learn how to keep yourself out of the bottom 65 percent—and how to make yourself immediately likable to an agent; how to increase the odds of your work getting pushed to the top of the reading pile—and how to increase the chances of an agent falling in love with your work.

You’ll also learn strategies agents use when submitting work to editors, and how to apply those same strategies to your own submission process.

Publishing is a very subjective industry, based on timing, intuition, taste, impressions, synchronicity and luck—but when you use the objective data to your advantage, your odds can’t help but improve.

By Jeff Posey, Director of the 2011 DFW Writers Conference

Last week I thanked the writers who attended the 2010 conference. This week, I want to thank those of you who have already signed up or are planning to attend the 2011 conference.

Big things are in store for next year’s conference, and the all-volunteer team from the DFW Writers’ Workshop is hard at work getting everything organized. What can you expect to see on this blog in the next few weeks and months?

• A firm list of agents and assigning editors who will be at the conference in greater numbers than any previous conference (you’ll be able to sign up for ten-minute sessions to speak with your agent/editor of choice)
• A list of speakers, teachers, and panelists who will share their expertise to help us become better writers
• A class schedule (probably in the early fall)
• Instructions on making hotel and flight reservations at discounted rates
• Questions to you about how you’d like to see certain events and activities handled
• Updates on agents/editors/speakers in the news
• Special and (hopefully) fun activities planned for the conference
• Introductions to the behind-the-scenes conference volunteers
• Explanations of decisions we’ve made, especially the hard ones (there are more than you can imagine)
• Anything else my brain can kick up

Meanwhile, I encourage you to follow this blog: DFW Writers Conference Blog RSS Feed. Then you’ll always be in the know of what’s going on with the DFWcon (our shorthand for the conference).

Also, if you do Twitter at all, follow our news here: DFWcon on Twitter.

Until next week, take care and I wish you good writing.

Here’s the list you’ve been waiting for, the writers and experts who will be presenting breakout sessions! You might recognize some of the names!

A schedule of workshops including session titles and descriptions will be published very soon. We are still collecting information from some of our speakers.

Jodi Thomas
A. Lee Martinez
Rosemary Clement-Moore
Candace Havens
Betsy & Jim Haynes
Victoria Chancellor
Sandy Blair
Shelley Bradley
Wendy Watson
Diane O’Brien Kelly
Dakota Cassidy
Michele Bardsley
Charlotte Huff
Kristen Lamb
Tricia Allen
Russell Connor
Rusty Shelton
Laurie Moore
Misa Ramirez
Peter J. Salicco
Jenni Holbrook
Beatriz Terrazas
Paul Larocque
Paula Larocque
George Goldthwaite
Tim Rogers
Fred Campos
Harry Hall
Stephen Neal Manning

Several of the literary agents attending will also be presenting breakout sessions.