Monday, September 11, 2017

NJ AuthorPreneur Workshop: Meet the Experts!

Our very next Workshop is just days away in Red Bank, NJ on September 16, 2017. It isn't too late to register and join me on amazing lectures, a lesson on gratitude and giving back, and enjoy the opportunity to pitch reputable and experienced literary agents and editors from top publishing companies, and get your work critiqued. I personally designed these workshops to give a healthy mix of everything you need to know to publish successfully at any level of your writing career. The faculty joining us at this workshop is our best line up yet. I'm proud to say that we have some fantastic literary agents from my Literary Agency as well some of the best agencies in publishing, and a number of super star editors that can take your career to a whole new level. Please take a look at our guest experts. 




​​Alec Shane, Literary Agent at Writers House

Alec began his career at Writers House as an intern in September of 2008 and simply refused to leave, so he was given the wonderful job of Assistant to Jodi Reamer. He is now also in the process of actively building his own list and currently represents a fairly eclectic mix of Children's and Adult fiction and nonfiction. He is eagerly looking for both.
Seeking:

On the fiction side, I love mysteries, thrillers (although I'm experiencing a bit of terrorist fatigue at the moment), bad-ass protagonists with a chip on their shoulders, beautifully told historical fiction (The Vietnam War, the Maccabees, and The American Revolution fascinate me in particular),well-researched adventure stories, and great horror - I haven't been scared to turn off the light in far too long and something needs to be done about it. In terms of children's books, getting boys to read again is especially important to me, and thus I'm particularly on the lookout for a fun middle-grade adventure series, ghost story, or anything else geared toward younger male readers. 
On the nonfiction side, I'm attracted to odd, quirky histories, military history, biographies of people I didn't even know existed (but definitely should have), "guy" reads, humor, narrative nonfiction that sheds light on under-the-radar events and lifestyles, and all things sports. I'm also currently up in the air as to whether or not I believe in ghosts, hauntings, and the supernatural, so if you have something that can convince me one way or the other, I'd love to see it.
Find Alec on Twitter

Alex LoganEditor at Hachette

Alex began her career as a bookseller at Borders in Chicago and was promoted to buyer in Ann Arbor.  She then made the move to NYC and Random House Audio, where she was an acquiring editor. At Hachette, she spent two years at Bulfinch Press before moving to Grand Central Publishing. She now works on women’s fiction of all kinds. She has edited the RITA-nominated Your Roots Are Showing by Elise Chidley among others winning several RITA awards. However, her first love is thrillers (favorites include Daniel Silva and Michael Connelly). She works with many bestselling authors in different genre and is looking forward to finding more talented authors. She does not accept unsolicited nor unrepresented work. 

Ali FisherEditor at Tor/Forge Books

Ali Fisher is an editor in the children’s and young adult division of Tor/Forge Books. She’s been with Tor since September 2013. In the two years preceding her move to Tor, Ali marketed Macmillan's adult trade list to librarians. Ali spent her formative years traveling from Seattle to Sevenwaters to Middle-earth and back. Her current literary expeditions depart from Brooklyn.
Seeking:
I’m actively building a list of speculative and reality-based teen and middle grade fiction. I’m particularly eager to acquire submissions featuring underrepresented and marginalized voices. I’m an armchair adrenaline junkie, so I love thrillers and horror of all types. I’m interested in character-driven science fiction as well as contemporary fiction featuring geek culture, alternative culture, and feminism. I want to see more speculative and secondary-world stories that reflect and extrapolate out from our current political climate and encourage activism, involvement, and resistance. Find Ali on Twitter


Elayne Becker, Editor at Tor/Forge Books

Elayne Becker is a junior associate editor for Forge Books, Tor Teen, and Starscape. She works closely with books across multiple genres of fiction, but her heart lies with tales of history, myth, and magic. When she’s not dreaming of traveling the world, she can usually be found in a bookstore.
Seeking: 
The stories I like best are ones that take me to another world, whether that’s a fantasy realm, Ancient Rome, or London during the Great Exhibition of 1851. To that end, I’m particularly interested in finding good historical fiction and fantasy. A unique twist on a classic fairy tale or a clever retelling of a myth are also up my alley. Gorgeous prose, body diversity, protagonists with disabilities, sibling stories, and good, swoonworthy romances are always pluses, as are animals and stories set in any stretch of wilderness such as the Appalachian Trail or the Rocky Mountains. For anything speculative, I’m acquiring middle grade and young adult only. For contemporary fiction or historicals, I’m open to middle grade, young adult, and adult. Find Elayne on Twitter!


Elizabeth May, Editor at Kensington Books

Elizabeth is an Editorial Assistant at Kensington Publishing Corp. She is a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, and taught English Language abroad for several years before returning to her first love of reading and book publishing. She loves working with authors and being able to work with books is quite literally her dream job. 
Seeking:
Romance in all subgenres except YA. 
Loves historical fiction with strong female protagonists and interesting settings.
Mysteries: cozies, historical, and domestic noir. 
Fantasy/ Sci Fi with great world building and ideally strong female characters. Find Liz on Twitter

Elle KeckEditor at Harper Collins

Growing up in San Diego, Elle Keck thought she’d spend her life in the hallowed halls of academia, churning out papers on nineteenth century Britain. Alas, that was not in the cards, but thankfully, she was able to combine her knowledge of pelisses and petticoats with her passion for historical romances. An avid reader of all things Avon, she was delighted to join the team in 2014 where she edits a fantastic list of smart, gripping, and bestselling romances.
Seeking: 
She’s always on the hunt for high-concept historical romances that make me laugh and make me cry, super sexy contemporary romances that feature rough and ready alpha males, and diverse romances of all kinds.
On my wishlist right now are super hot and sexy contemporary romances, smart, genre-bending historical romances, and diverse romances of any and all kinds. I’m not looking for paranormal, small-town contemporary, inspirational, or American-set historicals. Find Elle on Twitter


Heidi McLaughlin, Self Publishing a Successful Bestseller 

Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling hybrid author.
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland West/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL and her brother, Racicot.
When she isn't writing one of the many stories planned for release, you'll find her sitting court-side during either daughter's basketball games. Heidi is the author of Forever My Girl, a bestseller soon to be released as a major motion picture. Her most recent titles include the Summer Boys Series (Grand Central), Stripped Bare (Penguin RandomHouse), Love Me Tomorrow (Curiosity Quills, releases in 2018), Baker Street Irregulars compilation Edited by Jonathan Maberry and Michael Ventrella (Diversion Books), and the Society X Series co-written with NY Times and USA Today bestselling author LP Dover.  Find Heidi on Twitter

Kelly PetersonLiterary Agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency


A recent graduate of West Chester University, she earned her B.S.Ed. in English and went to pursue a career in teaching. 
When not working as a book nerd, Kelly can be found dancing, hiking, riding horses, perfecting her yoga technique, blogging, and writing her own manuscript. If you're lucky, you might even be able to catch her flying around the world, saving lives. She is superwoman after all!
Though she reads various genres of Middle Grade, Young Adult, and New Adult novels, her true weakness is for YA Fantasy. More recently, Steampunk has quickly crept up the charts in her heart as well. 
With books, there's just something about strong female main characters holding their own against the world, in an environment that Kelly could never, in her wildest dreams, find herself living within. It tears at her heart and pulls at her soul, especially when the main character finds that she never needed another to complete her in the first place.
Seeking: 
MG: Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-fi. YA: Fantasy (all sub genres of fantasy accepted), Steampunk, Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Historical (19th century and earlier with strong heroines), Dystopian (hold the cyborgs, the scorch, and diseases, please), Sword and Sorcery, a very selective few for Contemporary Romance, and any combination of the above with strong, female main characters.  NA: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance (Cowboys, anyone? Sexy and somewhat geeky entrepreneur? Celebrity? Yes?), Historical Romance, or any combination of the above. Adult: Fantasy, Romance. Find Kelly on Twitter

Meg LaTorre, Literary Agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency

Meg likes to think of herself as an avid book nerd with an exceptional taste for mac and cheese. This oxford comma and em dash enthusiast has had her nose plunged into a book before kindergarten and scribbled down her first stories not too long thereafter. Currently, Meg the editor of a magazine and has a background in journalism, medical writing, and website creation. She has written for print and digital publications, such as Writer's Digest and Savvy Authors, on a variety of topics, including novel writing, nutrition, healthy living, startup companies, pharmaceuticals, and more.
Seeking:

Meg is partial to the realm of fiction novels, specifically MGYANA, and adultfantasy, historical fiction, romance, space opera, and steam punkShe loves books written in third-person with multiple POVs, quirky, realistic characters, and rich descriptions. Find Meg on Twitter! 

Nicole Fischer, Editor at Harper Collins

Nicole Fischer joined HarperCollins (Avon/WilliamMorrow) in January 2013 and now oversees Avon’s digital-first line, Avon Impulse. She acquires commercial and genre fiction—primarily romance and thrillers—and currently edits multiple New York TimesUSA Today, and international bestselling authors, as well as a few RITA award nominees. She’s looking for fun, fresh, diverse voices across most subgenres of romance, but is really hoping to see more light-hearted romantic comedies, witty Regency historicals, and sexy sports romance. Nicole is also interested in modern women’s fiction with strong romantic elements, psychological suspense with jaw-dropping twists, atmospheric police procedurals featuring strong female investigators, and espionage thrillers that transport the reader all over the world. Unfortunately, she does not acquire nonfiction, literary fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy or YA/children’s books. Find Nicole on Twitter

Reiko Davis, Literary Agent at DeFiore and Company Literary Management

Before joining DeFiore in early 2016, Reiko Davis was an associate agent at Miriam Altshuler Literary Agency for four years. She grew up in Kansas City, received her BA in Comparative Literature and Art History from Brown University, and is a graduate of the Columbia Publishing Course.
Reiko’s interests are varied, but she is particularly drawn to adult literary and upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, and young adult and middle grade fiction. Above all, she wants to discover books that surprise and move her with their irresistible characters and language.
She loves a strong narrative voice; smart, funny heroines; narrowly located settings (especially towns in the South and Midwest); family sagas; darkly suspenseful novels; and stories of remarkable friendships or that explore the often perilous terrain of human relationships. For children’s books, she is actively looking for young adult and middle grade fiction—whether it be contemporary, historical, fantasy, or simply a story with a timeless quality and vibrant characters. For nonfiction, she is most interested in cultural, social, and literary history; fascinating tours through niche subjects; narrative science; psychology; guides on creativity; and memoir. Find Reiko


If you like what you see, and are ready to take a step forward in your writing career, please register and join us. Seats are still available, and we'll have open registration at the door if there is still room. Check the website or my Facebook or Twitter accounts for updates. I really hope that you decide to join me. I would be honored to share all of my pearls of wisdom, and look forward to the opportunity to meet you! 
http://bit.ly/2o6wOrW
The list includes others among myself, my team, and some of my other Bestselling Authors, Cindy Madsen, Tracey Solheim and Tish Rabe, who will be autographing books for attendees. 

Having so many talented and knowledgeable industry people in such a small workshop is truly the opportunity of a lifetime. I hope you hear the knock at the door. 

JOIN THIS AMAZING LINEUP, and let us help you find the path to success, make connections, get discovered, meet your new best friend! 

Happy Registering! 
~Marisa


















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