Learn about the market and the craft of writing.

Make contact with editors, agents, and other writers.

Socialize with people who care about the same things you do in an inspiring and enjoyable environment.

As you prepare for the conference, think of questions you’d like answered during the 90 minute panel. Write them down and be prepared to take the microphone and ask them.

Take advantage of the opportunity to network with other writers, teachers, agents and editors at breaks and during lunch. Move around from table to table and engage in the conversations.

Check out the book table, not only for books written by the participants, but for additional books on the craft of writing in your genre, whether it be historical fiction or poetry or memoir.

Follow-up: Accept business cards and take the time to jot a note on the back of the card about the person who gave you the card, in case you decide to follow up with a new connection.

Most writers are nervous. Remember editors and agents are human, they have as much invested in finding a great new writer as you have in being that writer. Be clear, precise, and prepared. Outline the premise of your project.

Fiction: Three things will get the agent or editor hooked on your project: Setting, protagonist, and problem. Deliver those briefly, and with punch, and you have a basic pitch. Be brief and focus on the elements that give your story plausibility, inherent conflict, originality, and gut emotional appeal.

If your project is nonfiction, talk about the subject, your unique slant on it, your research, and your qualifications.

Publishing credentials are helpful to include: Prior novel publication, short stories in recognized magazines, journalistic experience, professional articles, and writing all indicate you have professional experience as a writer.

Bring a two-page, single-spaced synopsis and be prepared to give it to agents, editors, and other writers as the opportunity presents itself and seems appropriate. Do not bring your manuscript to the conference.

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8:30-9:00 Conference Registration and Check-In

9:00-9:05 Welcome to UNM’s Thirteenth Annual Writers Conference Marie McGhee, Program Supervisor

9:05-9:15 Let SouthWest Writers Help You Sarah Baker, President

9:15-9:30 Introduction of Faculty Sandra Toro, Conference Coordinator

Instructors: Melody Groves, Jeanne Shannon, Chris Eboch, Sue Boggio and Mare Pearl

9:30-10:30 Leila Meacham, New York Times Best-Selling author of Roses, Tumbleweeds, Somerset, and Titans

10:30-10:45 Break

10:45-12:00 Publishing Today: Q & A Panel of Editors and Agents Editors: Maxim Brown, Grace Menary- Winefield, John Byram Agents: Elizabeth Trupin-Pulli, Grace Ross, and Kira Watson

12:00-1:00 Lunch with Editors, Agents and Instructors

1:00-2:00 Featured Speaker: Michael McGarrity, best-selling author of Western mystery and adventure novels including the trilogy Hard Country, Back Lands, and The Last Ranch. His novels are also published in Japan, France, Germany, Croatia, England and Norway.

2:00-2:15 Break

2:15-3:15 Jeanne Shannon, Poetry Melody Groves, Magazine Writing

3:15-4:15 Sue Boggio and Mare Pearl, Literary Fiction Chris Eboch, Young Adult and Children’s Fiction

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CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE

From Start to Sales XIIISaturday, April 8, 2017

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Grace Ross is an agent at Regal Hoffman & Associates, an agency that represents quality literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, biography, journalism, politics and social history. She is interested in literary fiction that speaks to the current cultural climate; historical fiction; international narratives; and dynamic plots that bridge genres. Grace is drawn to popular science, biography, cultural theory and memoir.

Kira Watson is an agent with the Emma Sweeney Agency in New York. She is particularly interested in young adult and middle grade books with a strong narrative voice, well-crafted storylines, and memorable characters. Kira is seeking realistic fiction, speculative fiction, magic realism, thriller/mystery, horror, fantasy, and historical fiction. Stories with folklore elements, complex villains, morally enigmatic protagonist, medieval literature influences, and taboo subjects are bound to catch her attention.

Jeanne Shannon has published three full-length collections of her poetry and several chapbooks. Her poetry, short fiction, and essays have appeared in numerous publications in the US, Canada, and Japan. She has conducted poetry workshops for SouthWest Writers and the New Mexico State Poetry Society.

Melody Groves, the winner of six first-place writing awards, is a member of Western Writers of America,SouthWest Writers and the New Mexico Press Women. She is the author of the Colton Family Saga series, Border Ambush, Sonoran Rage, Arizona War and Kansas Bleeds. She teaches workshops on magazine writing for SouthWest Writers.

Sue Boggio and Mare Pearl grew up together in Iowa and have been writing together ever since. They have coauthored two published novels from UNM Press, Sunlight and Shadows and A Growing Season. The latter has been honored as a finalist in the 2013 Zia book awards, the 2013 Willa Award for Contemporary Fiction, and the 2013 Tony Hillerman Award for Best Fiction at the New Mexico/Arizona book awards.

Chris Eboch is the author of the Haunted series for ages 9-12 which includes The Ghost on the Stairs, The Riverboat Phantom and The Knight in the Shadows. Her other books include The Well of Sacrifice,a middle-grade Mayan adventure used in many schools. She has also written biographies of Jesse Owens and Milton Hershey.

Leila Meacham is a writer and former teacher who lives in San Antonio, Texas. She is the author of the best selling Roses, Tumbleweeds, Somerset, and Titans. Her books have been translated and sold in more than twenty countries.

Michael McGarrity is the author of fifteen Western mystery and adventure novels including the recently published trilogy Hard Country, Back Lands, and The Last Ranch. His books are published in Japan, France, Germany, Croatia, England, and Norway. Previous to becoming an author, he was a Santa Fe County deputy sheriff. He has received numerous awards in both of his careers.

Maxim Brown is an editor at Skyhorse Publishing working with a range of fiction and literary nonfiction. He is looking for strong literary or upmarket fiction with a compelling narrative and vivid characters whose minds he can get into. His tastes run toward the literary, but he’s open to well-written commercial fiction so long as it offers something new. Narrative nonfiction in science/technology, history, pop culture is also welcome.

Grace Menary-Winefield is an Associate Editor at Source Books Inc. Since moving to the USA from London’s Little, Brown Book Group, Grace has worked with the non-fiction list on quirky gift books, self-help, and history. She also acquires commercial fiction, and accessible science fiction/fantasy. She values diverse voices from across the community.

John Byram spent the first twelve years of his publishing career with W.W. Norton & Company in New York. He joined the University Press of Florida’s acquisitions department in 2002, where he was the press’s associate director and editor-in-chief for eight years, and eventually added director of development to his list of UPF managerial responsibilities. John has been the director of the UNM Press since August, 2010, where in addition to his administrative duties he is a sponsoring editor for twenty books each year.

Elizabeth Trupin-Pulli, a former editor at Fawcett’s Premier Books, founded Jet Literary Associates, Inc. in New York with her then husband Jim Trupin. Jet represents adult nonfiction and fiction, except sci-fi and fantasy. Her office is in Santa Fe. Her client list includes Anne Hillerman, Karima Alavi, and Sue Boggio and Mare Pearl.

Phone it in: Complete the registration form, then phone in your registration using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover to 505-277-0077.

Online: Register online at ce.unm.edu/WritersConference.

Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be given after April 1; however, registration for the conference may be transferred to another person.

UNM Tuition Remission EligibleFor more information contact Marie McGhee at 505-277-6320.

Writing: From Start to Sales XIIICourse #: 14899 SPA Cost: $150

Date: April 8, Saturday Time: 8:30am-4:30pm

Course # and Title 14899 Writing: From Start to Sales

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The conference will be held at the UNM CE Conference Center. The Conference Center is located on the North East corner of Indian School and University Blvd. 1634 University Blvd. NE. Parking is free and available on the East and West side of the building.

REGISTRATION FORM

505-277-0077 ce.unm.edu/WritersConference

Conference TopicsWhat You Should Know About Publishing Today:Maxim Brown, Editor with Skyhorse PublishingGrace Menary-Winefield, Editor with SourcebooksJohn Byram, Director, UNM PressElizabeth Trupin-Pulli, agent at Jet Literary AgencyGrace Ross, agent at Regal Hoffman & AssociatesKira Watson, agent at Emma Sweeney Agency

Upscale Women’s Fiction That Really Sells Leila Meacham, Keynote Speaker, author of four major best sellers including Roses, Tumbleweeds, Somerset, and Titans. Leila’s novels are published world-wide with sales in the tens of millions.

Western Mysteries and Adventures Michael McGarrity, Featured Speaker is famous for his novels set primarily in New Mexico which explore the history of the development of New Mexico, creating memorable characters of Native Americans, Hispanics, and Anglos—three groups who make New Mexico the amazing state it is.

Workshop LeadersJeanne Shannon: Seven Ways to Build A Poem. Through writing exercises and prompts, participants will have the opportunity to explore several—surely more than seven—ways to jump-start their creativity and create lively and memorable poems. We will look at the elements that make the difference between a memorable poem, a poem that “sings”, and one that is ho-hum or downright boring.

Chris Eboch: Writing Kid-Friendly Children’s Literature. Chris will discuss the basic criteria for writing good children’s stories, articles, and books for kids and teen agers, as well as advanced plotting.

Sue Boggio and Mare Pearl: Using Practical Magic in Fiction Writing. They will cover the practical nuts and bolts of fiction writing, but also address the challenge of creating magic on the page for the reader. This includes tips on how to access one’s own creative magic via “the muse.”

Melody Groves will cover the pros and cons of magazine work. Did you know you get paid per word? That’s right. The word “the” brings in the same amount that “plethora” does.We’ll look at choosing the right topic, ways to nail the magazine’s style, the query letter, and the article itself. Plus many more tips. With over 9,000 magazines published annually, there is at least ONE magazine that fits your article!

Do you know a young writer? Young people, ages 11-17, are invited to register for the UNM Young Writer’s Conference (course 17180), which will run concurrently with the Writers Conference: From Start to Sales on April 8.

For more information and a schedule of activities, visit our website at ce.unm.edu/YoungWriters or contact

Amy Greene at akgreene@unm.edu or 505-277-0698.

UNM Young Writers Conference

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Attendees who enroll by March 20 will get a FREE one-on-one ten minute meeting with the editor or agent of their choice to “pitch” their writing project! YOU MUST CONTACT SANDRA TORO BY EMAIL TO SCHEDULE THIS PITCH MEETING. You may only choose one person, but may ask questions of other speakers throughout the day. These meetings will take place during concurrent workshops. After you register, contact Sandra Toro at storo32567@aol.com to sign up for your ten minute pitch.

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