July 31, 2012

Las Comadres to Host October Conference for Latino Writers



Day-Long Event to Offer Experts, Insight into Publishing Industry Opportunities


Please join Las Comadres Para Las Americas, the national Latina organization, as we present a day-long conference on October 6 for Latino writers seeking more access into the publishing industry!

Comadres and Compadres Writers Conference will be held at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, Brooklyn.  Joining La Comadres as collaborators are the National Black Writers Conference, the Center for Black Literature, the Foreign Language Department and the Latino American Association, Full Circle Literary, Marcela Landres, and Scholastic, with support from the Association of American Publishers.

Through the workshops, panels and other sessions, writers will gain an insider’s perspective into how to best navigate the challenges and opportunities of the industry. 

A highlight of the day will be a full schedule of one-on-one meetings for writers with agents and editors.  Participants currently include Johanna Castillo, Vice President & Senior Editor/Atria, Simon & Schuster: Jaime de Pablos, Director/Vintage Español, Knopf Doubleday Group; Adriana Dominguez, Agent/Full Circle Literary; Mercedes Fernandez, Assistant Editor/Dafina Books, Kensington Publishing; Sulay Hernandez, Editor/Other Press; Cheryl Klein, Executive Editor/Arthur A. Levine Books; Selina L. McLemore, Senior Editor/Grand Central Publishing; Christina Morgan, Editor/Harcourt Houghton Mifflin; Lukas Ortiz, Managing Director/Philip G. Spitzer Literary Agency, Inc.;  Diane Stockwell, Founder/Globo Libros Literary Management; and Stacy Whitman, Founder and Editorial Director/Tu Books.

Scheduled panels will examine magazines and literary journals, genres, poetry, children’s/young adult writing, fiction, non-fiction, publicity and self-publishing.  There will also be a session for authors to pitch their work and get instant feedback as well as an agents/editors panel.    

Keynote speaker is author and television personality Sonia Manzano.  Having originated the role of “Maria” on Sesame Street, Manzano wrote two children’s books, No Dogs Allowed (Simon and Schuster, 2004) and A Box Full of Kittens (Simon and Schuster, 2007), and will have her first YA novel, The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano, published by Scholastic in Fall 2012.

Registration for writers and vendors is now open for the conference.

Las Comadres is a nationwide grassroots-based group of Latinas launched informally in 2000 in Austin, TX. The national networks, created in 2003, have grown to over 100 US cities. Its 15,000 strong membership keeps Latinas connected via email networks, teleconferences, and monthly potluck events in individual cities.  In conjunction with the Association of American Publishers, it sponsors a national book club promoting the work of Latino authors and encouraging literacy.  The National Latino Book Club is currently celebrating its fourth year.

February 15, 2012

Join Me in Colorado Next Month!


What: 2012 Northern Colorado Writers Conference
When: March 30-31, 2012
Where: Fort Collins Hilton, Fort. Collins, CO.

In its seventh year, the Northern Colorado Writers Conference is the premiere writers conference in the region bringing in agents, editors and presenters from all over the county. The conference will share how you should take risks in your writing and find that path that is unique to you. Writing is an adventure with lots of ups and downs and forks in the road, but in the end, it is a journey to be enjoyed. The conference caters to writers of all level and genres by offering over 25 workshop choices. Plus there will be agent/editor pitch sessions, a bookstore and networking opportunities. Participants will walk away inspired and equipped with the tools needed to ensure writing success. Conference fee includes all meals, workshops, pitch sessions, and a preconference workshop on March 10. Visit http://www.northerncoloradowriters.com for more information.

If you can make it, join me! I would love to meet you in person! I am seeking writing and illustrating talent (Latino and otherwise) to add to my client list, and I don't go to as many conferences as I would like to, so please help me take advantage of this opportunity by coming if you can, or by spreading the word! See you in Colorado!