Tag Archives: Authors

San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival

January 23, 2017Literary, Writing Conferences & GetawaysAuthors, Billy Collins, Canada, Conference, David Ebershoff, Europe, February, Fiction, Industry Experts, Journalists, Judy Collins, Learning, Lisa Moore, Literary Festival, Marketing, Mexico, Naomi Klein, Networking, Non-Fiction, Oscar Winners, Pedor Angel Palou, Poets, Readers, Robert Moor, San Miguel, Scholars, United States, Vacations, Writer's Conference, Writerspdpabst

The best thing about writing conferences and literary festivals is the luxury of learning while on vacation! If you have an itch to get away but want to keep your writing skills tuned, escape to San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival.

San Miguel de Allende, Guanajurato, Mexico

As the largest and most prestigious co-cultural, bi-lingual literary gathering in the Americas, each February the San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival attracts distinguished authors, established and emerging writers, industry experts, teaching professionals, and avid readers from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Judy Collins: Legendary folk singer and memoirist.
Naomi Klein: Award winning journalist and author.
Billy Collins: U.S. Poet Leareate.
Mary Karr: Award winning author.
David Ebershoff: Author of the Oscar winning story The Danish Girl.
Lisa Moore: Award-winning Canadian novelist and short story writer.
Pedor Angel Palou: Celebrated Mexican journalist and scholar.
Robert Moor: Narrative nonfiction author.

And don’t forget, conferences are tax deductible! Get you seat fast because the conference is February 15-19, 2017. Have fun!

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

Sun vs Snow #Contest for #Writers

January 20, 2017Literary200 Entries, Adult Books, Amy Trueblood, Authors, Blog Contest, Feedback, Fiction, Finding Agents, January, Literary Agents, Manuscripts, Marketing, Michelle Hauck, Middle Grade Books, Official Rules, Polished Works, Sun vs Snow, Unpublished, WIPs, Young Adult Bookspdpabst

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It’s that time of year again when Amy Trueblood and Michelle Hauck host Sun vs Snow! This is not a twitter contest, but a blog contest for unpublished writers. This year they have 21 agents participating (half shown here and the other half shown here). Make sure you get your submission ready via email and submit when the window opens on January 23, 2017 at 4pm EST. They only take the first 200 entries, so don’t wait to long. Get your query and first 250 words polished now!

This is only for completed manuscripts, so please don’t send WIPs. Go here for complete guidelines.

As always, good luck!

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

@WriteOnCon #Conference Is Coming!

January 18, 2017Literary, Writing Conferences & GetawaysAgented, Agents, Authors, Children's Fiction, Conference, Editing, Editors, Feedback, Fiction, Illustrators, Kidlit, Literary Agents, Live Pitch Sessions, Manuscripts, Middle Grade Books, Ninja Agents, Ninja Editors, Non-Fiction, Published, Publishing, Q&A, Register, Schedule, Stories, Unagented, Unpublished, WriteOnCon, Writers, Young Adult Bookspdpabst

WriteOnCon

WriteOnCon is “A writing conference you don’t even have to wear pants to. (Please wear pants, though.)” This isn’t just an opportunity to attend a writing workshop, but it’ll be the cheapest and closet conference you’ve ever attend (aside of being free, of course). Seriously, you can participate from your home! And while you might have missed the raffles and perks to buy, there is still time to sign up to join. Admission is either $5 (General Admission), $10 (General + Live Events), or $15 (General + Live Events + Extended Access). You can’t wrong with any choice!

WriteOnCon is an online conference for kidlit writers and illustrators. Connect with writers, authors, and agents in this event. There will even be Ninja Agents & Editors and live pitch sessions (check the schedule for all 3 days)! But hurry to get registered because it’ll take place Thursday-Saturday, February 2nd-4th, 2017.

As always, good luck!

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

Who Can You Trust…A Charles Cumming Contest

January 15, 2017LiteraryA Divided Spy, Authors, Book, Charles Cumming, Creativity, Distrust, Monetary Prize, New York TImes Bestseller List, Official Rules, Published, Short Story, Spy, St. Martin's Press, Thomas Kell, Trust, Who Can You Trust, Writing, Writing Contestpdpabst

St. Martin’s Press is giving 5 lucky winners the opportunity to be published in A DIVIDED SPY by New York Times Bestselling author Charles Cumming. Each winner will also receive $250.

A Divided Spy

The theme of trust looms large in A Divided Spy. Throughout the book, new and old confidants surround ex-spy Thomas Kell, providing him with sensitive information, and he (and the reader) don’t know whom he can trust until the very end of the book.

How has trusting a family member, friend, or stranger affected your life? To enter Who Can You Trust, write up to 1,000 words on how trust (or distrust) has changed your outlook.
Entries will be judged on originality, creativity, style, and integrity.
The deadline is January 17, 2017 at 11:59 ET.

Be sure to check the official rules in the small box at the bottom of the contest page! As always, good luck!

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

Writing With The Stars

January 14, 2017Contests, Literary, Mentor ProgramArtists, Authors, BeckyTara Books, Childrens Books, Critiques, Feedback, Fiction, Illustrators, Industry Knowledge, Manascripts, Published Authors, Stories, Writers, Writing, Writing With The Starspdpabst

BeckyTara Books is hosting Writing With The Stars, a mentorship opportunity for picture book writers and illustrators. The industry stars who have generously agreed to donate their time and knowledge to this program can be found here. Applicants who are selected will be paired with one of these amazing author/illustrators for a three-month mentorship. Wowza!

Be sure to check their complete submission rules and application. Deadline to enter is January 16, 2017. As always, good luck!

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

The Masters Review Short Story Award for New Writers

January 10, 2017Contests, Literary7000 Words, Amy Williams, Authors, Digital Publishing, Fiction, Irene Goodman Literary Agency, Jean V. Nagger Literary, Laura Biagi, Manuscript, Monetary Prize, Publication, Short Story, Short Story Award For New Writers, Stories, Style, The Masters Review, The Williams Agency, Victoria Marini, Writingpdpabst

The winning story will be awarded $2000 and publication online. Second and third place stories will be awarded publication and $200 and $100 respectively. All winners and honorable mentions will receive agency review by: Amy Williams of The Williams Agency, Victoria Marini from Irene Goodman, and Laura Biagi from Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, Inc. We want you to succeed, and we want your writing to be read. It’s been our mission to support emerging writers since day one.

They say they don’t have any preferences topically or in terms of style. They’re simply looking for the best. Also, they don’t define, nor are we interested in, stories identified by their genre. However, they consider themselves a publication that focuses on literary fiction and are looking for stories that dazzle, take chances, are bold — and do so by focusing on more than plot.

You can check out the complete guidelines for submissions and previous winners here. Please note the deadline to enter is January 15, 2017.

Little, Brown Emerging Artist Award

January 8, 2017Awards, Contests, LiteraryAmerican Express, Art Director, Artist Mentor, Artists, Authors, Book Idea, Children's Book Professionals, Children's Stories, Fiction, Illustrator, Little Brown Books, Little Brown Emerging Artist Award, Manuscript, Monetary Prize, New York, Picture Books, Publishing, Publishing Deal, Rountr-trip, Unpublished, Writerspdpabst

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers announces the LITTLE, BROWN EMERGING ARTIST AWARD for an unpublished artist with a great picture book idea. This new initiative seeks promising new talent and encourages the development of high-quality picture books that resonate with readers of diverse backgrounds and experience, while also providing valuable mentorship by an acclaimed illustrator and children’s book professionals.

Only one award will be given:

American Express® gift cards totaling $2,500;
Round-trip travel for the winner to New York City;
A day at LBYR’s offices in New York, including lunch with an editor, an art director, and the Artist Mentor, an in-person portfolio review by the Artist Mentor and the LBYR publishing staff, and a tour of the office; and
An opportunity for the winning submission to be reviewed by LBYR’s editorial team for possible future publication. (**A subsequent book publishing deal, if any, would be separately negotiated, and is not considered part of the Award).

Submissions must be received by January 15, 2017. Be sure and check out the complete official rules. As always, good luck!

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

Dear Lucky Agent Contest: Middle Grade Fiction

January 3, 2017Contests, Critiques, LiteraryAuthors, Catie Flum, Chuck Sambuchino, Dear Lucky Agent Contest, Feedback, Fiction, Guide to Literary Agents 2017, Literary Agent, Liza Dawson Associates, Manuscripts, Middle Grade Fiction, Opportunity, Publishing, Submission, Writer's Digest, Writerspdpabst

Chuck Sambuchino announced Writer’s Digest is hosting the 30th “Dear Lucky Agent Contest“. The agent judge is Caitie Flum from Liza Dawson Associates.

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She is now building her own list of clients. She graduated from Hofstra University in 2009 with a B.A. in English with a concentration in publishing studies. She interned at Hachette Book Group and Writers House. Caitie is looking for commercial and upmarket fiction with great characters and superb writing, especially historical fiction, mysteries/thrillers of all kinds, romance, and book club fiction. She is open to science fiction and fantasy that crosses over to a young adult market. She is also looking for middle grade and young adult projects. In nonfiction, she is looking for narrative nonfiction, especially history that’s impossible to put down, books on pop culture, theater, current events, women’s issues, and humor. But remember, this contest is for Middle Grade fiction only.

The contest is now live and runs through the end of January 31, 2017 (PST). There will be three winners! According to the website, they all get the same prize (which is different than prior contest). Top 3 winners each get: 1) A critique of the first 10 double-spaced pages of your work by your agent judge. 2) Their choice of any of Chuck’s two new books that came out in fall (the Guide to Literary Agents 2017 or the Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market 2017).

Be sure to check out the submission guidelines and pay close attention to a few things you need to do in order to be eligible. And as always, good luck!

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

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers & Illustrators of the Future

December 28, 2016LiteraryAmateurs, Animation, Artists, Authors, Contest Rules, Entrants, Fantasy, Illustrations, Illustrators of the Future, L. Ron Hubbard, Manuscripts, Monetary Prize, Pictures, Science Fiction, Stories, Submissions, Visual Art, Words, Worldwide, Writers, Writers of the Futurepdpabst

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers and Illustrators of the Future contest entries end at 5pm on December 31, 2016. So, hurry and get your submissions in.

Writers

L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new and amateur writers of new short stories or novelettes of science fiction or fantasy. No entry fee is required. Entrants retain all publication rights. All awards are adjudicated by professional writers only. Prizes every three months: $1,000, $750, $500, Annual Grand Prize: $5,000 additional! If you have not read the contest rules, please click here before submitting. To enter, go here.

Illustrators

L. Ron Hubbard’s Illustrators of the Future Contest is an opportunity for new science fiction and fantasy artists worldwide. No entry fee is required. Entrants retain all publication rights. All judging by professional artists only. $1,500 in prizes each quarter. Quarterly winners compete for $5,000 additional annual prize! If you have not read the contest rules, please click here before submitting. To enter, go here.

As always, good luck!

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

Digital Book World 2017 + Expo

December 26, 2016LiteraryAbrams, Agents, Amazon, Authors, Authors Guild, books, Conference, Curtis Brown Literary, DBW, DeFiore and Company, Digital Book World, eBooks, Editors, Expo, F+W Media, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Independent Publishers Group, Industry, IPG, Laura Dail Literary Group, Learning, LIttle Brown and Company, Manuscripts, Marketing, New York Hilton Midtown, Penguin Random House, Publishers, Publishing, Readers, Serendipity Literary Agency, Simon and Schuster, Skyhorse Publishing, The New York TImes, United Talent Agency, Writers, Writers Housepdpabst

With the boom of digital publishing, it’s no wonder conferences are covering the topic. After all, as much as I love holding a book, I download a LOT of books to my Kindle app to read and keep up with market trends. As publishing evolves, so has Digital Book World (a conference for anyone in publishing). They say they will now be known as simply DBW. And that’s not all they’ve changed for the conference January 17-19, 2017:

More Real-World Solutions | Your team needs tactical, actionable solutions to the challenges facing publishing—DBW’s speakers have them.

Fresh Content | Experience targeted programming across a host of four brand-new DBW focus areas.

More Choices | A new program means new pricing and registration options. Now you can bring your whole team—executive, editorial, production and marketing.

Some of the publishers and agents attending are:

With over two hundred publishers and agencies in attendance, there are too many to name! For a complete list of those currently registered, go here. And as for the speakers list, go here. You won’t be disappointed! So be sure to register to attend and make your reservations at the New York Hilton Midtown.

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

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