TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING 101

RESEARCH AND EVALUATING AGENTS AND PUBLISHERS
Kate Richards – Decadent Publishing

Researching publishers and agents can be tricky, at best, and expensive and discouraging at worst. In this class, we shall share ideas about how to use available resources to find industry professionals who can assist first-time authors as well as those with more experience in achieving their goals. We shall also discuss how to best avoid the pitfalls in the process. At the end of this workshop, attendees should feel confident in using the skills imparted to identify and reach out to those who can best assist them.

HOW TO HAVE A SMOOTH SAILING EDITORIAL PROCESS WITH YOUR ACQUISITION EDITOR

Leticia Gomez - Kensington Publishing Corp.

It takes a village to publish a successful book. Before your book sees the light of publication, it will go through a rigorous editorial process involving close to a dozen people. No editorial process is ever the same, sometimes it can be smooth sailing from beginning to end and other times not so much. This workshop will walk attendees through the different stages of the editorial process with your acquisition editor, covering the early stages to the days right before the book’s release date and everything in between.

From Meet-Cute to Manuscript Request:

Crafting the Perfect Query Letter for Your Romance Novel

Anna Grace - Author

Are you ready to sweep agents and editors off their feet? Join Anna Grace for a query letter workshop designed for romance writers who are ready to pitch their books with confidence.

In this hands-on course, you will:

• Craft a swoon-worthy elevator pitch that sells your story, highlighting popular hooks and tropes
• Highlight the heart of your characters and conflict
• Avoid common query pitfalls and clichés
• Tailor your letter to agents and editors who want what you write

Whether you're querying for the first time or polishing up your pitch, this course will give you the tools—and the confidence—to stand out in the slush pile.

Come with your story. Leave with a query that gets attention

Reviewing Your Contracts: What Every Author Needs to Know

Maggie Marr, Esq. - Maggie Marr Legal

As an author, you do the most brilliant thing—you create stories that travel through space and time. You place words, pictures, and emotions into readers minds. You are also a business owner and entrepreneur. Your books are your business. At the heart of that business are the contracts that dictate how your work is shared, sold, and protected. Join me as I guide you through how to read, understand, and evaluate the contracts you’ll encounter as an author—so you can confidently protect your rights and your creative work.

WHAT TO KNOW AFTER YOU SIGN
Janel Brown - Macmillan Publishers

When an author self-publishs a book, they set their own schedule based on how long it would take to edit the manuscript, create the cover art, and upload the book for sale. When working with a traditional publisher, an author needs to remember that they are not the only person the company works with. In WHAT TO KNOW AFTER YOU SIGN, a Managing Editor will discuss the various departments that work together to prepare a book for the on-sale date and how schedules are created.