Agent Appointments
The opportunity to have personal appointments with Editors and Agents, is a valuable highlight of the conference. These provide a great way to learn first-hand about the writing industry, to pitch your manuscript or work-in-progress, and to brainstorm ideas, get encouragement, and benefit from industry professionals.
All appointments are available on a first pay, first slotted basis. Appointments will be scheduled by the Conference Appointment Coordinator, Casey Miller. Appointments will be scheduled the week prior to conference, up until conference, so if you want an appointment, please register before August 1st! You will select multiple choices for your appointment needs when you register for the conference. You will receive your appointment information in your registration packet.
Title: Literary Agent
Web Site: http://www.gardner-literary.com
Kristy Cambron is a literary agent with Gardner Literary, representing fiction and nonfiction in the Christian market. She is a Christy Award-winning author with a diverse background in published works including historical fiction, Bible studies, Bibles, a Bible study journal, and a gift book anthology. She's also served as a Women's Ministry Leader for one of the nation's largest churches and prior to the decade of experience she has in publishing, spent fifteen years in leadership development for a Fortune 100 corporation, partnering with such companies as the Disney Institute, IBM/Kenexa, and Gallup. Kristy has a background in art and design, with an undergraduate degree in art history and research writing. She has a heart to help the aspiring author and is looking for strong writers whose stories fall at the intersection of faith, art, and history. She's a wife and a mom of boys living in the Hoosier state, and loves talking all things sports, travel, art, history, and classic books.
Contemporary women's fiction
Romance
Suspense and romantic suspense
Historical and historical romance
YA and YA fantasy (including steampunk and fairy tale retellings with a unique approach)
NOT looking at children's or middle grade, poetry, cookbooks, memoir (except WWII focus), adult fantasy, sci-fi, or literary fiction
*Also looking at nonfiction for the Christian market.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
If you're a debut author, your manuscript should be complete if you're seeking representation. In our meeting, I'd like to see a one-sheet with your author platform and a story summary, 5-10 pages of your completed manuscript, and marketing information that shows you've researched the market for your genre. I'd like for us to have a conversation about your story instead of hearing a prepared pitch. (You'll wow me if your one-sheet is an infographic and the first pages of your manuscript really shine!)
If you're not yet ready to seek representation, I'd still be happy to talk about where you are in your author journey.
Guidelines:
Title: Literary Agent/Owner
Web Site:
Linda is an author and agent with Hartline Literary Agency. Having served in the Air Force at a time when it wasn’t exactly politically correct for a woman, she blazed many firsts for women in the military. She has taught karate and self-defense for thirty years and was a National instructor and referee for the largest soccer youth group in the US for twenty-five years. She isn’t afraid to try something new. Before joining Hartline, Linda was a reviewer for online romance sites, a final proofreader for a publisher, and organized and ran two separate writers’ groups. She worked for two years as an editorial assistant to Terry Burns at Hartline. Linda is also an author, so she understands authors.
She’s a member of ACFW, AWSA, and numerous other writers’ groups. She presents nationally each year at conferences, teas, churches, workshops, and various other venues. She’s also active on social media. Linda loves to laugh and make other people laugh. There is definitely healing and joy in laughter.
Not seeking children's or speculative fiction.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
A manuscript must be complete before submitting to me for consideration if you are a new author. At the meeting, all you need is a smile and well thought out pitch that will hook and pull me in. If your work isn't finished, feel free to make the appointment and maybe we can brainstorm!
If you are scheduled an appointment with Linda, please bring the first page of your novel.
Guidelines:
Title: Agent
Web Site: http://www.spencerhillassociates.com/
Ali Herring is an agent with Spencerhill Associates. Formerly a non-profit magazine associate editor and communications specialist, she got her start in publishing at an agency in the greater NYC metro area before joining Spencerhill in 2017. She's a graduate of Berry College with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and was honored to serve as valedictorian of her graduating class. Ali lives in metro Atlanta with her husband, three children, two dogs and four rescue cats (most of whom were adopted during the pandemic, with no regrets!). She represents authors of fiction in both the Christian and secular markets, and, much to her delight, those authors have dubbed themselves the "Spencerhill Ali-ens." This quirky moniker was the inspiration of Sharon Mondragon, whom Ali met and signed via an ACFW conference! You can find her on Twitter at @HerringAli.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
I will be happy to look at complete and nearly complete manuscripts at the pitch sessions. However, to be considered for representation or to receive a request, the work must be complete. Please bring a copy of your query and the first three pages of chapter 1. If you wrote a prologue, please bring that in addition. (These are for us to reference only and not for me to keep.)
Guidelines: http://spencerhillassociates.com/index.php/Submissions/
Title: Literary Agent and President
Web Site: http://www.stevelaube.com/
Steve Laube, president and founder of The Steve Laube Agency, is a 35 year veteran of the bookselling industry. He began his career in the bookselling arena and his store in Phoenix was named the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) store of the year in 1989. He then spent 11 years with Bethany House Publishers rising to the position of an editorial director. In 2002 he was named the AWSA Golden Scroll Editor of the Year. The next year he became a literary agent and in 2004 formed The Steve Laube Agency. In 2009 he was named the ACFW Agent of the Year. In 2013 he was inducted into the Grand Canyon University Hall-of-Fame by their College of Theology.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
I would like to see writing sample and a proposal during an appointment. A “one sheet” is not sufficient because it doesn’t show me you can write
Guidelines: http://www.stevelaube.com/guidelines/
Title: Literary Agent
Web Site: http://www.stevelaube.com/
Tamela Hancock Murray has been a literary agent since 2001. She was named Agent of the Year in 2017 by ACFW. She is a bestselling author of over thirty novels, novellas, and nonfiction books, and won an RWA Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Because of her experience, Tamela brings the perspective of a working writer to her role as a literary agent. She represents many top authors and continues to develop new talent. She earned her BA with honors in Journalism from Lynchburg College (now University) in Virginia. Today she enjoys living in Northern Virginia with her own knight in shining armor. They are the parents of two lovely, all-grown-up princesses. When not focused on her passion for being a literary agent, Tamela enjoys cooking, particularly with her mother's vintage 1970s harvest gold crockpot. She's always on the lookout for new recipes. As the aromas of dinner waft through the castle, Tamela loves reading all sorts of amazing books.
NOT SEEKING: Children's, YA, Fantasy, Science Fiction
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
Tamela enjoys talking with writers at all levels, so feel free to meet with her regardless of where you are in your publishing career.
Guidelines: http://www.stevelaube.com/guidelines/
Title: Agent
Web Site: Books & Such Literary Management
Books and Such Literary agent Barb Roose loves partnering with aspiring and established authors to achieve their publishing career goals in Christian publishing. With experience as an award-winning pharmaceutical sales representative and executive leader in the megachurch environment, Barb embraces the challenges and opportunities that agenting offers. As an author, Barb understands the tensions and triumphs embedded in the publishing process. Her heartbeat is helping others achieve their goals as well as increasing representation and publishing opportunities for people of color. She lives in NW Ohio and is the proud mother of three strong adult daughters, including an army commander, pre-school teacher and soon-to-be nurse. Barb loves reading, taking long walks and whenever possible, Barb prefers to eat dessert first.
Currently Seeking: Currently Seeking:NON-FICTION: Women’s Issues, Christian Living Issues, Devotionals, Race & Culture, Memoirs, Narrative Nonfiction. (CBA only)
FICTION: Women’s, Romantic Suspense, Suspense/Thriller, Historical, Romance, Legal and Family Issues. (CBA only)
Not seeking: Fantasy, cookbooks, sci-fi, YA books, poetry, children’s or picture books.
Guidelines: https://www.booksandsuch.com/submissions