|
||||||||||||||||
Special Speaker Event
The
Greater Los Angeles Writers Society
is proud to presents its
Annual
Agents Roundtable
Paradigms for the publishing world are changing faster than ever. But the basic questions remain the same: Do you need an agent to get published and succeed? If so, what's the best time to find one? What can an agent do for you? What can you do to find and establish a positive relationship with an agent? What is the state of the publishing industry and how can you still achieve success with a moving target?
These and many other issues of importance to you as an author will be discussed as GLAWS presents its Annual Literary Agents Roundtable. And you will have a chance to ask questions of this panel of industry professional and meet them, as well. If you are serious about pursuing a career as an author, you must attend this important event.
This roundtable is free and
open to all writers. The Guest of
Honor dinner afterwards is open only to GLAWS members in good standing.
Palms-Rancho Park Library, Ray Bradbury Room, Second Floor.
FREE. Come early for best seating.
GUESTS PANELISTS (in alphabetical order) include: Charlotte Gusay, Paul S. Levine, Dana Newman, Angela Rinaldi, Sally van Haitsma, Jeff Silberman, and Marla Miller (M)
|
She has come to be known as the "Diane Keaton" of agents - eclectic, quality, and very careful in choosing projects to represent. Founded on the basis of that twelve years in the book business, The Charlotte Gusay Literary Agency represents both fiction and nonfiction books, selected children's books with movie potential, entertainment rights, books to film, selected screenplays and screenwriters. The Agency is a signatory to the Writers Guild. GENRES & SPECIALTIES: Adventure, Contemporary Fiction, Feminist Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mainstream Fiction, Military/War Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Regional Fiction, Suspense, Agriculture/Horticulture, Alternative Lifestyles, Anthropology/Archaelogy, Art/Architecture, Biography, Communications, Cooking/Foods/Nutrition, Ethnic, Feminism, Film/Cinema/Stage, Gardening, Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Gift Book, Government/Politics, Health/Medicine, History, House and Home, Humanities, Humorous Nonfiction, Language and Literature, Literary Criticism, Multicultural Nonfiction, Music and Dance, Nature and Environment, Philosophy, Popular Science, Psychology, Reference, Regional Nonfiction, Religion, Sports, Travel and Script. |
|
The vast majority of Paul S. Levine’s clients come to him as new, previously unpublished, or self-published authors. Levine has a keen understanding of industry strategy and has the editorial contacts required to ensure his success as both a literary agent and entertainment law attorney, and is thus able to offer his clients a comprehensive range of publishing or literary attorney services. His unique combination of publishing industry savvy and entertainment legal services makes Levine a dynamic choice for both new and published authors alike. Leaning toward socially and politically important literature, he will consider fiction, non-fiction, children’s, and young adult manuscripts and proposals for non-fiction books. Highly aware of market trends and editors’ prefSpecialerences, Levine limits himself to projects which he believes in and feels certain he can sell. The two main keys to success as a literary agent are: knowing many different editors and knowing what they are “buying” for their publishing houses. When he opened The Paul S. Levine Literary Agency in 1996, Levine had less than 200 editors in his private database; in his database he now has over 1,600 editors, to whom he has sold over 150 fiction and non-fiction books. As an entertainment lawyer, Levine has written the legal contracts for several books adapted as movies-for-television. With over a quarter of a century of experience in the entertainment and book industries, Levine is one of the few lawyers on the West coast who also understands the world of book publishing; as such, he is able to act as both literary agent and publishing attorney for his clients. GENRES & SPECIALTIES General fiction Mystery Romance Reference Biography Computers/technology Business/investing/finance History Mind/body/spirit Health Travel Lifestyle Cookbooks Sports African-American Science |
|
Toni Lopopolo Literary Management was founded in 1991 by Toni Lopopolo who boasts an impressive 30+ years in the book publishing business. This former executive editor at Macmillan and then St. Martin’s Press, combines her many years in publishing with her unique editing skills to provide a full service literary agency to new and seasoned authors. Toni Lopopolo Literary Management partners with authors for the duration of their literary careers and includes development of fiction projects, creation of nonfiction book proposals, and editing when needed. Toni has helped bring many first-time and published authors to print including Sol Stein, Lee Silber, Lillian Glass, Steve Duno, Nancy Baer, Flo Fitzgerald, Judith Smith-Levin, Howard Olgin, Jeanette Baker, Larry Seeley, and many others. Publishers include St. Martin’s Press, Simon and Schuster, Crown, Dell, HarperCollins, Kensington, and many others. Toni Lopopolo Literary Management provides a high level of service by limiting the number of clients represented but always searching for select new talent and established authors who seek a more personalized relationship with an agent. For writers seeking workshops, read more about Toni’s Fiction Boot Camp. Literary Agent, Toni Lopopolo, brings book publishing resume that began in 1970 in the publicity dept of Bantam Books, where she helped publicize authors such as Philip Roth, Barbara Cartland, Isaac Asimov, and Louis L’Amour. She next served as Library Promotion Director at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, and visited almost every major library in the USA, until Houghton Mlfflin offered her a position in Boston as Marketing Manager, Paperback Books. Her big campaigns included Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins. When Macmillan offered Toni the title of Executive Editor, she moved back to New York City and published Judy Mazel’s Beverly Hills Diet, Elvis 56 by Al Wertheimer among other hits. When St. Martin’s Press made an offer she couldn’t refuse, Toni became Executive Editor there from 1981 to 1990 and published Hot Flashes by Barbara Raskin and Rich and Famous by Kate Coscarelli plus Elsa Lanchester, Herself, by Elsa Lanchester, On The Other Hand by Fay Wray and many other titles. In l991, Toni opened Literary Management and has sold books for authors Sol Stein, Lee Silber, Lillian Glass, Steve Duno, Nancy Baer, Flo Fitzgerald, Judith Smith-Levin, Howard Olgin, Jeanette Baker, Larry Seeley, and many others. Toni is also known for her Fiction Bootcamp workshops where she uses a unique method that helps first-time novelists to master the skills needed to successfully write book-length fiction, and she aids nonfiction writers to produce compelling narrative nonfiction, using fiction techniques. |
|
With years of experience working in the entertainment industry during the digital revolution in film editing and audio recording, Dana is excited about the changes happening in publishing and enthusiastically embraces new technologies and ideas about how books will be created, distributed and experienced in the future. Dana combines her professional insight, educational background (B.A. in Comparative Literature from U.C. Berkeley, J.D. from University of San Francisco), and a lifelong love of reading to provide a sophisticated, innovative approach to her role as a literary agent. A believer in the power of books to shape our culture and impact lives, she enjoys working with authors who are passionate about their work and have something meaningful to share. From crafting proposals and polishing manuscripts through negotiating and managing contracts and rights, Dana strives to be a trusted advisor and create a holistic, long-term working relationship with her clients. GENRES & SPECIALTIES Biography, Computers/technology, Business/investing/finance, Mind/body/spirit, Health, Travel, Lifestyle, Cookbooks, Memoir, Upmarket Women's Fiction |
|
We offer service in four broad areas: Editorial Development, Business Representation, Collaborating Writers, Publicity & Marketing Strategy. Member AAR No reading fee Foreign, film and TV rights for clients only through subagents. Fiction: I’m passionate for fiction and look for engaging characters, a strong plot, good storytelling and lovely writing with a distinct voice. My dream fiction client would be able to write a commercial novel with literary sensibility. I am actively looking for upmarket contemporary fiction, mainstream women’s fiction, thrillers, mysteries, suspense, literary historical thrillers, gothic suspense, women’s book club fiction – novels where the story lends itself to discussion; literary fiction, ethnic fiction. Non-fiction: An author with an original idea who has a national platform will always get my attention as will authors who have big ideas and can spot trends; authors who can explain the way we live or have life transforming messages; authors who have a brands; authors who having strong media contacts and are able to get endorsements. My dream non fiction client would be an author like Malcolm Gladwell who takes the mystery out of everday occurrences. I continue to look for narrative non-fiction, memoir, women’s issues/studies, current issues, biography, psychology, health/medical/wellness, business, career, cookbooks/food narratives/wine, personal finance and books written by established journalists, academics, doctors and therapists, love/relationships. Children’s, Young Adult. Would love to find the next crossover novel. GENRES & SPECIALTIES General fiction, Mystery, Juvenile fiction, Reference, Biography, Business/investing/finance, Mind/body/spirit, Health, Travel, Lifestyle, Cookbooks, Children's books, Commercial and Literary Fiction |
|
van Haitsma Literary, a boutique agency on the West Coast, was founded by Sally van Haitsma in 2010. Sally previously agented six years at the Castiglia Literary Agency and prior to that, apprenticed at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, both located in Del Mar, California. Sally regularly attends writers’ conferences throughout the country, meeting accomplished clients through these events, and travels periodically to New York City, where she enjoys relationships with editors at both major and indy publishers. She has retained agent Taryn Fagerness to handle clients’ foreign rights. Some of the titles Sally has represented include the New York Times bestseller Wesley the Owl by Stacey O’Brien (Simon & Schuster); Silverstein & Me by Marv Gold (Red Hen Press); America Libre and House Divided by Raul Ramos y Sanchez (Grand Central); Hick by Andrea Portes (Unbridled Books, optioned for film); Big Brown by Greg Niemann (Wiley); NATO 2.0 by Sarwar Kashmeri (Potomac Books); Does this Mean You’ll See Me Naked? by Robert Webster (Sourcebooks); Illuminations by Mark Tompkins (Ten Speed/Random House); The Five Year Party by Craig Brandon (BenBella Books) and The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian (HarperCollins, optioned for film). van Haitsma Literary is looking for projects with great writing, a compelling narrative arc, and an “aha!” moment of emotional truth. Reflecting her influences as a West Coast girl with Midwestern roots, Sally gravitates toward stories and topics that explore the American experience in an ethical, pragmatic and independent spirit. Across all categories, she is on the quest for books with literary ambitions and mainstream appeal. GENRES & SPECIALTIES: Commercial and literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, pop culture, education, business and current affairs. We do not represent genre fiction (historical, romance, horror, fantasy, sci-fi), young adult, screenplays or poetry. Please refer to our Submission Guidelines for specific details about how to approach us. We are looking for you! |
|
LGI is proud to represent a wide range of authors, from bestselling novelists to celebrities to Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, across a diverse and comprehensive range of fiction and nonfiction. LGI forms a traditional relationship with its authors, working closely with them on editorial and project development, yet takes a progressive stance in the competitive landscape of both print and electronic publishing. The Literary Group International stands at the forefront of the industry by offering the work of its clients across a broad spectrum of platforms, both traditional and emergent, to reach the widest readership possible. LGI has represented more than 50 best selling works over the last six years and has enjoyed considerable success in selling a wide variety of projects to both the domestic and international markets, as well as to studios and networks for feature film and television production. The Literary Group International welcomes the opportunity to consider serious new voices. The best way for you to represent your manuscript once it is on our desks is to present us with a polished, professional submission by following these guidelines exactly. Submission Policy Review and Notification |
|
Ms. Miller was Assistant Director of Santa Barbara Writers Conference, where she established the Young Writers Program and MC'ed many literary agent panels. Marla Miller’s Marketing the Muse Quick Query Critique video mini-workshops, offered FREE at www.MarlaMiller.com, www.TheWriterMag.com and www.100memoirs.wordpress.com, receive high marks from authors on the road to publication. She’s a Simon & Schuster published author and wrote for Orange County Register’s lifestyle magazine for 16 years before becoming founding editor-in-chief of a quarterly Southern California coastal lifestyle magazine. In addition to The Writer, Miller has written for More Magazine, Writer’s Digest, Los Angeles Times & Oxygen.com. For eight years, she co-hosted a radio talk show on an NPR affiliate and interviewed many notable writers and public personalities. Miller teaches MarketingtheMuse workshops at several writers’ conferences around the country. Miller’s first ebook, co-authored with a noted fitness celebrity, debuts in spring/summer 2011. Also in Spring 2011, Marla Miller launches a video driven blog aimed at women over 45 and titled Me Quiet? You’re Kidding, Right? Marla Miller’s social media sites
include: Contact her through: |
The Greater Los Angeles Writers Society is a non-profit organization that provides a forum for writers of all disciplines to meet and discuss the craft and the business of writing. GLAWS accomplishes this through monthly meetings, discussion forums, critique groups, special writer appearances, conferences, and other events conducted for the purpose of educating and mentoring writers of all levels of expertise. GLAWS Special Speaker Events are open to the public, and a great venue to meet other writers and expand your expertise.