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BEA Conference

The BookExpo America / Writer's Digest Books Writer's Conference
An exclusive insider's perspective on the business, as well as the art of authorship

Registration is now open for the
2008 BookExpo America/Writer's Digest Books Writers Conference

Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 S Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Admission is $199, which includes lunch and the 2008 edition of Writer's Market!
Register at: http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/en-us/writersconference.cfm

The conference is an all-day event (including lunch), with workshops and panels throughout the morning and afternoon. The day concludes with a unique 2-hour pitch slam session, featuring the largest gathering of agents and editors of any conference.

Please e-mail us at wdbooks@fwpubs.com if you have any questions about the sessions or the pitch slam. On-site registration starts at 8:00 a.m.

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Updated 5/13/08 — Click here to download a portion of our conference program, in PDF form, which includes:

• Full descriptions of each breakout session
  
• Pitch slam bios (what each agent/editor is looking for)
• Speaker bios

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8:30 a.m. Keynote by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Keynote address by New York Times best-selling author Jacquelyn Mitchard

9:30 Morning Breakout Sessions

• Fire in Fiction (literary agent Donald Maass)
• Putting Thrills in Your Mystery Novel (author Hallie Ephron)
• Book in a Month (author Victoria Schmidt)
• Finding a Home for Your Personal Essay (author Victoria Zackheim)
• Get Known While You Sleep—A Platform Primer (author Christina Katz)
• Screenwriting: Exploring Genres (screenwriter-author John Truby)
• Getting Started in Writing for Television (TBA)

10:30 Mid-Morning Breakout Sessions

• Plotting a Novel They Can't Put Down (author James Scott Bell)
• Fictional Seeds (author Lisa Lenard-Cook)
• Panel: Creating and Contributing to Anthologies (Victoria Zackheim, Jane Ganahl, Aimee Liu, Aviva Layton)
• Effective Use of the Internet for Authors (author Bill O’Hanlon)
• Panel: Ask the Editors: A publishing Q&A with WD experts
• Panel: Meet the Script Agents and Managers

LUNCH

Speaker: Blake Snyder, screenwriter and producer

1:30 Afternoon Breakout Sessions

• Revising a Novel They Can't Put Down (author James Scott Bell)
• Panel: Ask the Literary Agents (moderated by GLA's Chuck Sambuchino)
  
• The Times They Are A-Changin’: Being a Successful Author Amidst Transformational Change in Book Publishing  (WDB Editorial Director Jane Friedman)
• Panel: From Book to Film/TV: How Your Work Comes Alive
• Practice Your Pitch (WD's Lauren Mosko, attendance limited to room capacity)

Pitch Slam Session
The BEA/Writer's Digest Books Writers Conference once again presents the original Pitch Slam session, featuring the largest gathering of agents and editors who want to hear your story ideas and give you immediate feedback!

Confirmed Editors and Agents (updated 5/12/08)
Michelle Andelman , Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Bernadette Baker-Baughman, Baker’s Mark Literary Agency
Jamie Brenner, Artists and Artisans, Inc.
Andrea Brown, Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Adam Chromy, Artists and Artisans, Inc.
Greg Daniel, Daniel Literary Group
Tom Dark, Heacock Literary Agency
Verna Dreisbach, Andrea Hurst & Associates Literary Management
Spencer Ellsworth, L. Perkins Associates
Taryn Fagerness, Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
Sorche Fairbank, Fairbank Literary Representation
Matt Frederick, Fairbank Literary
David Fugate, LaunchBooks Literary Agency
Lilly Gharamendi, Full Circle Literary
Ronnie Gramazio, Sharlene Martin Literary Management
Jacqueline S. Hackett, Literary Works
Miriam Hees, Blooming Tree Press
Garrett Hicks, Will Entertainment
Julie Hill, Hill Media
Andrea Hurst, Andrea Hurst & Associates Literary Management
Sammie and Dee Justesen, Northern Lights Literary Services
Jim Kellum, JKA Talent and Literary Agency
Catt LeBaigue, Heacock Literary Agency, Inc.
Michael Larsen, Larsen/Pomada, Literary Agents
Paul S. Levine, Paul S. Levine Literary Agency
Donald Maass, Donald Maass Literary Agency
Sharlene Martin, Martin Literary Management
Peter Miller, PMA Literary and Film Management
Stu Miller, The Stuart M. Miller Co.: Talent & Literary Agency
Michael Murphy, Max and Co., a Literary Agency and Social Club
Lori Perkins, L. Perkins Associates
Elizabeth Pomada, Larsen/Pomada, Literary Agents
Jenny Rappaport, L. Perkins Associates
Janet Reid, FinePrint Literary Management
Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Angela Rinaldi, Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency
Katharine Sands, Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency
Kate Schafer, KT Literary
Becky Scoggins, Bressler Scoggins Literary
Ken Sherman, Ken Sherman and Associates
Kelly Skillen, PMA Literary Management
Madeline Smoot, Blooming Tree Press/CBAY Books
Gretchen Stelter, Baker's Mark Literary Agency
Stefanie Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary
Margery Walshaw, Evatopia
Deborah Warren, East/West Agency
Irene Webb, Irene Webb Literary
Jamie Weiss Chilton, Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Ginny Weissman, Martin Literary Management
John Willig, Literary Services, Inc.
Caryn Wiseman. Andrea Brown Literary Agency

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2007 BookExpo America/Writer's Digest Books Writers Conference Sessions Online

Missed the 2007 BEA/Writer's Digest Books Writers Conference?

Writer's Digest, Booksurge and Write Bros. proudly present video webcasts of some of the most popular sessions, viewable on your own schedule for a fraction of the cost of the attending the conference itself.

VIDEO WEBCASTS

Keynote Speech: Jodi Picoult (FREE)
View the enlightening and inspirational keynote address delivered by none other than best-selling author Jodi Picoult as she offers tips on research and candid, behind-the-scenes anecdotes about three of her novels, including Nineteen Minutes.
Click here to view the video.

Writing the Breakout Novel: Characters ($20)
Superstar agent Donald Maass, president of the Donald Maass Literary Agency, provides you with powerful techniques for creating realistic and memorable characters
Click here to view the video.

The Six Usual Suspects: Fiction Writing Conundrums ($20)
Peter Selgin, award-winning fiction writer, shows you how to correct the top six fundamental writing errors related to structure, form, style and story conception.
Click here to view the video.

How to Write an Irresistible Nonfiction Book Proposal ($20)
Rita Rosenkranz, founder of the Rita Rosenkranz Literary Agency, breaks down the process of writing a salable nonfiction proposal to help you get an agent and get published!
Click here to view the video.

Once you purchase a webcast you can come back to watch the webcast as many times as you want. Just click the link for the video above and login with your email address and the password sent to you in your confirmation email. Need help? Click here. If you have further questions contact us at writersdig@fwpubs.com