First afternoon panel – What makes me want to choose your book? Featuring editors Nick Eliopolis, Claudia Gabel, Brenda Murray, and Jennifer Rees.
I felt an immediate connection to Jennifer Rees. When providing her biography, she mentioned she began her book career working as a bookseller for a Joseph Beth bookstore in Ohio. When in college in Lexington, Kentucky, I spent many a weekend at our local Joseph Beth. It’s a great store and glad to hear it getting some props at a national conference.
Some of the questions posed by the moderator:
Which is more important, voice or plot?
- Jen – voice
- Nick – plot
- Claudia – voice, because it comes organically through the manuscript, but plot can be worked on together between an author and editor
Name two books you wish you were a part of in the last 10 years
- Brenda – the big foot biography (think it was called “In Me Own Words”); the biography of Claudette Colvin
- Nick – The Hungry Games, anything by Jon Green or Scott Westerfeld
- Claudia – What I Saw & How I Lied
- Jen – A Great & Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray; Speak by Laurie Hals Anderson
What are you looking for right now?
- Nick – guy high concept
- Brenda – something that teaches me information I didn’t know before (historical, modern, pop culture, scientific, any areas)
- Jen – asks herself if it has commercial potential; will it have a wide audience?
- Claudia – beautiful prose but also an author who can write fast; tween and teen mysteries
What are your pet peeves in submissions?
- Jen – receiving a submission package that is not professional; cover letter is lacking, not a clear synopsis, all of these pieces are indicative of who you are as a writer
- Brenda – not doing your research ahead of time. Why is your book different? What other books are out like it? What other authors write about this topic? What other publishing houses carry this type of work? You have to be as knowledgeable as possible.
- Claudia – not seeing the author clearly in the cover letter/query letter. You need to put all of yourself into your work. The relationship is such a big part of the job and this is a chance to build it.
And the thing they probably wish they hadn’t told us but they did anyway.
They do (or do have their interns) read their slush. Brenda even mentioned that one of her first published titles came from the slush pile.
And your interesting fact for the day…a lot of the slush pile comes from prison!
Afternoon breakout panel – Writing Age with the extremely talented, personable, funny, and perfectly named Amy Goldman Koss.
I have lots of notes from this one too, so will do a separate post about it. But it was fantastic and I enjoyed her talk so much I bought one of her books and had her sign it at the wine & cheese reception later that night.
Day 1 –
New people met – between lunch and the sessions, about 8
Sessions attended – 4 keynotes and 2 breakouts
Books bought – 4
Ellen Hopkins burned
April Halprin Wayland girl coming in for a landing
Ann Haywood Leal Also known as Harper
Amy Goldman Koss The Girls
Amy Writes 