Tag Archives: Author

Agent Assistant Job: Bradford Literary Agency

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Bradford Literary Agency

The Bradford Literary Agency is hiring a literary agent assistant. This will be 10-15 hours weekly in office, with possible remote working options after training. The office is located in San Diego, California, though they also have offices in New York and Orange County.

Some of their clients include NYT bestselling authors Megan Hart, Lauren Dane, Tessa Bailey and Katee Robert, RITA award-winning authors Jenn Bennett and Clara Kensie as well as debut authors and illustrators in numerous categories.

For complete details and to learn how to apply, go here. And as always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst

Manuscript Academy: 10 Minutes with an Agent

Critiques, Literary, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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If you’ve ever wanted to sit down with an agent or editor? Well now you can! Manuscript Academy has put together a day for authors to chat with the professional’s of the publishing world called 10 Minutes with an Expert. The time can be used to:

  • Pitch your project
  • Get instant feedback on your query or first page
  • Ask about your unique publishing situation
  • Ask any publishing question!

You can book:

  • A ten-minute meeting, with one page (your query or first page) read during the meeting, $49
  • A fifteen-minute meeting, with ten pages and your query read ahead of time, $99
  • An in-depth written critique (line and overall notes), query, synopsis, proposal, first 10-100 pages, $69+

To make the most of your time, have your questions ready. For this months available agents and editors, go here. And have fun learning!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Brenda Drake’s #Pitmad Is Coming!

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Nothing soothes the writerly soul than a good twitter pitch party! This Thursday, March 8, 2018 is Brenda Drake’s infamous #PitMad between the hours of 8am-8pm (EDT). Common age category and genre hashtags are below.
Age Categories:
#PB = Picture Book
#C = Children’s
#CB = Chapter Book
#CL = Children’s Lit
#MG = Middle Grade
#YA = Young Adult
#NA = New Adult
#A = Adult
Genres/Sub-genres:
#AA = African American
#AD = Adventure
#CF = Christian Fiction
#CON = Contemporary
#CR = Contemporary Romance
#DIS = Disabilities
#DV = Diversity
#E = Erotica
#ER = Erotic Romance
#ES = Erotica Suspense
#F = Fantasy
#H = Horror
#HA = Humor
#HF = Historical Fiction
#HR = Historical Romance
#INSP = Inspirational
#IRMC = Interracial/Multicultural
#MR = Magical Realism
#M = Mystery
#Mem = Memoir
#LGBT
#LF = Literary Fiction
#NF = Non-fiction
#R = Romance
#P = Paranormal
#PR = Paranormal Romance
#RS = Romantic Suspense
#S = Suspense
#SF = SciFi
#SPF = Speculative Fiction
#T = Thriller
#UF = Urban Fantasy
#W = Westerns
#WF = Woman’s Fiction
The rules clearly state to only pitch THREE times per manuscript during the contest. Don’t break the rules and clog the feed! Also, please remember anyone can stalk the feed. So, do your research before submitting your manuscript!
As always, good luck!
P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA Fiction.

#FaithPitch Twitter Event For Faith-Based Fiction

Contests, Literary, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Twitter pitch event exclusively for faith-based fiction is being hosted by Little Lamb Books on February 28, 2018 between 8am –  8pm CST. This is for board books, picture books, middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction that fall under the categories of inspirational, faith-based, biblical worldview, or Christian. Different denominations, ethnicities, a POV in this niche are encouraged. Be sure to use the hashtag #FaithPitch and only pitch 4 times per manuscript during the pitch window. (Maximum of 4 manuscripts are permitted.)

As with all pitch events, any agent or editor can troll the feed. Be sure to do you research before sending off your book baby to them! For complete guidelines, go here. And as always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

DC Comics Talent Development Workshop 2018

Literary, Webinar/Workshop, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wow! If you’ve ever dreamed of writing for DC Comics, this is your chance. But please note, this is for writer’s who’ve been published. However, the written work does not have to be a comic. They’ll also accept up to two published fiction works that’ll highlight an authors skill as a possible DC writer. By end of the workshop, the participant(s) may obtain a position writing on one of the DC Comic book series.

Submissions open March 1st, 2018 and ends March 31, 2018. They express on the website that files can be large to upload, so don’t wait until the last minute to try. They will not accept resubmission or changes after the deadline. No exceptions.

For complete information on how to enter and the dates of when the workshop will start, go (Link Removed). As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

2018 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award

Contests, Literary, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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For all lurking contest junkies, Baen Fantasy Adventure Award was brought to my attention a few years back. You only need to create 8000 words. That’s right, a mere eight-thousand! Most thrilling? You have until April 30th, 2018 to create a wonderful story.

  • GRAND PRIZE winner will be published as the featured story on the Baen Books main website and paid at industry-standard rates for professional story submittals. The author will also receive a handsome engraved award and a prize package containing $500 of free Baen Books.
  • SECOND place winner will receive a prize package containing $500 of free Baen Books,
  • THIRD will receive a prize package containing $300 of free Baen Books.

Baen Books will announce the winner of the inaugural Baen Fantasy Adventure Award at this year’s Gen Con to the best of original short fiction capturing the spirit and tradition of great storytellers as Larry Correia, Robert E. Howard, Mercedes Lackey, Elizabeth Moon, Andre Norton, J.R.R. Tolkien, David Weber and Marion Zimmer Bradley.
All the details can be found here.

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Nightmare On Query Street 2017

Contests, Literary, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s getting close to Halloween, which means Nightmare On Query Street is soon! But don’t let the title fool you into thinking you’re manuscript won’t qualify. The title is more about when the contest takes place. You can enter any age category or genre, excluding picture books and erotica.

The submission window opens at 4:00 pm (EST) on October 13th. All entries sent before this time will be deleted. For this years contest, there are 24 agents lined up! TWENTY FOUR! How awesome is that? But you’d better be on your toes if you want to submit. They will close submissions when they reach 250 entries or in two hours, whichever is first.

Participating Agents

Michelle, Mike, and Laura will make 13 picks each. Then a few mentors they’ve selected will help the authors hone their entries before the agent round. Here are all the dates for the event:

  • Submission Window Opens: October 13th 4:00 pm EST
  • Final Picks are Announced: October 20th
  • Mentors Go to Work: October 21th – 26th
  • Revised Entries Due Back: October 26th at 11:59 pm EST
  • Agent round: October 30th – 31th

Some rules to take note of:

  • You are not eligible if you’ve been in an agent round in the last six months. (This does not include open twitter pitches.)
  • You can enter if you have a different manuscript to enter than previous agent round you were in.
  •  Only ONE entry per person. (No using multiple emails or pen names!)

You’ll need to send you query and first 250 words, along with a short paragraph (no more than 100 words) answering this question: What is your main character’s most stressful relationship? Who really makes them sweat?

For complete details and submission formatting, go here. As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

New Visions Award – Middle Grade/Young Adult Manuscripts is Ending Soon

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Lee & Low Books

Tu Books, the middle grade and young adult imprint of  Lee & Low Books will be closing submissions soon for the New Visions Award. Established in 2012, this award is given annually to an unpublished author of color for a middle grade or young adult manuscript. Previous winners include the award-winning Ink and Ashes as well as the forthcoming novels Ahimsa and Rebel Seoul.

Manuscripts may be novels or graphic novels in any fictional genre for children ages 8 to 12 or young adults ages 12 to 18. Manuscripts should address the needs of children and teens of color by providing stories the can identify with and which promote greater understanding of one another. Themes relating to LGBTQ+ topics or disabilities may also be included.

Contestants must meet all of the following criteria to be considered:

  • Self-identify as a person of color or a Native/indigenous person.
  • Be at least 18 years old at the time of entry.
  • Be a resident of the United States.
  • Not have had a middle grade or young adult novel published.

The Award winner receives a cash prize of $1,000 and their standard publication contract, including their basic advance and royalties for a first time author. An Honor Award winner will receive a cash prize of $500.

Please read the submission guidelines before sending. But be quick, all entries must be postmarked by October 31, 2017. As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction

One For Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn

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One For Sorrow BookPublisher: Clarion Books
Sold By: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release Date: July 18, 2018

Okay, I’ll admit the cover drew me to this story! But look at it, soooo spooky! ONE FOR SORROW is set during World War I and the influenza epidemic of 1918, this story unravels the tale of childhood school days gone wrong. Annie is eager to make friends at her new school, but Elsie claims her as her own bestie, refusing to allow Annie to connect with other girls. After Elsie passes from influenza, her ghost returns to torment Annie for befriending others and to make sure Annie is isolated and disliked as much as she had been when alive.

While this was an easy read, Elsie didn’t become a ghost until halfway into the story. This was delayed longer than I’d anticipated, making some of the bullying redundant in order to get to the good stuff–a scary ghost! And even though the historical setting enriched the story, I felt cheated with the lack of generational terms. But make no mistake, author Mary Downing Hahn creates a realistic story of how easy it is to get swept into bullying when a child just wants to be liked. She also paints a cruel tale of how difficult it is to get out of a this horrible situation. So, if you’re looking for a darker read, this is for you!

Mary Downing Hahn

Mary Downing Hahn, a former children’s librarian, is the award-winning author of many popular ghost stories, including Wait Till Helen Comes, which is being adapted for film. An avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Ms. Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her cat, Oscar.

***THE OFFICIAL BLURB***

Against the ominous backdrop of the influenza epidemic of 1918, Annie, a new girl at school, is claimed as best friend by Elsie, a classmate who is a tattletale, a liar, and a thief. Soon Annie makes other friends and finds herself joining them in teasing and tormenting Elsie. Elsie dies from influenza, but then she returns to reclaim Annie’s friendship and punish all the girls who bullied her. Young readers who revel in spooky stories will relish this chilling tale of a girl haunted by a vengeful ghost.

Amazon | BN | Kobo| Google Play | Goodreads | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | Target | BAM! | Audible

And check out these additional reviews:

“Hahn’s story is characteristically steeped in eerie atmosphere, and the novel’s blend of historical drama, the supernatural, and the intricacies of adolescent friendship is a gripping combination.” —PW

“Hahn is a veteran author who clearly knows her apples about writing ghost stories, as this, her latest inventive page-turner, evidences… Shivers aplenty, but also genuine emotion that will invite empathy.” — Booklist

“Another historical and chilling success.” —Kirkus

“Another solid addition to Hahn’s oeuvre, this would also make a spine-chilling pair with Cohen’s The Doll’s Eye.” —Bulletin

Author Links: Website | Facebook

#ShoreIndie Contest

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#ShoreIndie Contest

Thinking about self publishing your manuscript? Have you noticed the contest buzz for #ShoreIndie on twitter? It’s a contest supporting emerging indie authors! Oh yes, you heard me write…I mean right. This new 2017 contest helps by providing quality editing services and book marketing resources, creating a Twitter-based learning community for established as well as emerging indie and hybrid authors, and connecting with existing online communities that share their mission of supporting the development of writing craft as well as the technical and business skill and knowledge needed for a successful indie author career. (Phew! That’s a mouth full.)

GRAND PRIZE PACKAGE (est. value: over $3,465 USD):

  • Up to 100K words of copy editing on one manuscript by Laura Dennison at Book Light Editorial
  • Cover design and interior design/formatting for ebook and print by CardboardMonet
  • A graphic design package of five promo images and cover design consultation by USA Today bestselling author and former graphic designer and marketing director Elise Kova
  • Mentorship from USA Today bestselling indie author Rebecca Syme in the form of two video chats and some email availability
  • One month of New Author Marketing Counsel with Cynthia T. Luna
  • A one-month listing on NetGalley, donated by Weapenry
  • A copy of Write! distraction-free word processing software
  • How to Market a Book (3rd ed., ebook) by Joanna Penn
  • Self-Publisher’s Legal Handbook (ebook) by Helen Sedwick
  • Supercharge your Kindle Sales (ebook) by Nick Stephenson

RUNNER UP PRIZE PACKAGE (est. value: over $1,780 USD):

  • Up to 100K words of copy editing on one manuscript by Tayna Jarvik
  • Cover design by one of Reedsy’s professional cover designers
  • A graphic design package including FB & Twitter headers and two promo post graphics by Balance Less Author Assistant Services
  • Mentorship from indie author Scott Burtness in the form of three 1-hour voice or video chats
  • A copy of Write! distraction-free word processing software
  • How to Market a Book (3rd ed., ebook) by Joanna Penn
  • Self-Publisher’s Legal Handbook (ebook) by Helen Sedwick
  • Supercharge your Kindle Sales (ebook) by Nick Stephenson

ADDITIONAL GIVEAWAYS:

  • 6 authors will win half an hour of marketing brainstorming with Cynthia T. Luna
  • 5 writers will win a copy of Write! distraction-free word processing software
  • 5 lucky winners will receive How to Market a Book (3rd ed., ebook) by Joanna Penn
  • 5 indie authors will win Self-Publisher’s Legal Handbook (ebook) by Helen Sedwick
  • 5 ShoreIndie community members will win Supercharge your Kindle Sales (ebook) by Nick Stephenson
  • We’re also ecstatic to be running giveaways of books written by each of our Featured Authors and our Judges!

 

Submissions begin on June 3rd (9am EST) and end on June 5th (9am EST), 2017. Don’t forget to check out their additional savings to all the ShoreIndie community on Write! software and services from Reedsy. Please note, this is for previously unpublished novels AND novellas (YA, NA, and Adult). As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst

Blogger and author of MG/YA fiction