Faculty

 Faculty for 2012!

 

Kirt Hickman


 

Kirt Hickman, author of the award-winning science-fiction thrillers Worlds Asunder and Venus Rain, epic fantasy novel Fabler’s Legend, and the comprehensive and practical self-editing guide Revising Fiction: Making Sense of the Madness was a technical writer for fourteen years before branching into fiction. He teaches self-editing classes through Southwest Writers and the University of New Mexico, and has contributed a monthly column titled “Revising Fiction” to the SouthWest Sage.

Visit his website at www.kirthickman.com.


Eva Shaw

  Eva Shaw, Ph.D., is a best-selling author and ghostwriter of over 70 published books, many which have won awards. A vivacious and inspirational speaker, prolific ghostwriter, and successful magazine freelancer, she teaches six popular online writing courses, www.ed2go.com, and helps writers launch the careers of their dreams. Contact Eva @ www.evashaw.com.

Visit her website at www.evashaw.com.

 

Mary Kole


 

Mary came to literature from a writer's perspective and started reading at Andrea Brown Literary Agency to see what it was like "on the other side of the desk." She quickly found her passion there and, after a year of working behind the scenes, officially joined the agency in August 2009. In her quest to learn all sides of publishing, she has also worked at Chronicle Books and earned her MFA in creative writing at the University of San Francisco. At this time, Mary is only considering food books, food memoirs, cookbooks, adult literary fiction, and, for the children's market, young adult and middle grade fiction and truly exceptional picture books from authors, illustrators, and author/illustrators. She prefers upmarket premises with literary spark and commercial appeal. Her favorite genres are character-driven fantasy, paranormal, dystopian, thriller, horror, adventure, humor, contemporary/realistic, romance and mystery. She operates the Andrea Brown East office from Brooklyn, NY, and blogs at http://www.kidlit.com, which has been named one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writer's Digest Magazine for two years running.

Visit her website at www.kidlit.com.

Lauren Ruth


 

Lauren Ruth, the newest agent at BookEnds Literary Agency, started her publishing career as an intern at Simon & Schuster's Touchstone/Fireside imprint while earning her B.A. in English language and literature from Pace University. Shortly thereafter, she switched to the agency side of book publishing, where she found her niche. She will soon have her master's degree in book publishing from Pace University. In fiction, Lauren is looking for literary fiction (the love of her life), romance, women's fiction, chick lit, young adult, middle grade, mystery, urban fantasy, historical fiction, and steampunk. On the nonfiction side, she's looking for memoir, parenting and family, relationships, food and lifestyle, business, popular science, popular culture, and popular psychology. Lauren keeps a blog at www.slushpiletales.wordpress.com, where she frequently critiques queries and appreciates open discussion from her readers. She can also be found on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/literarylauren), Twitter (@LiteraryLauren) and LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/literarylauren).

Visit her blog at www.slushpiletales.wordpress.com.


 Chuck Sambuchino



Chuck Sambuchino is an editor for Writer’s Digest Books (an imprint of F+W Media). He is the editor of Guide to Literary Agents as well as Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market. He also recently helmed the third edition of Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript (a WD trade book).

He is the author of the humor book, How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack (Amazon link), due out in Sept. 2010 (Ten Speed Press / Random House).
 
Chuck is a former staffer of several newspapers and magazines—most notably Writer’s Digest. During his tenure as a newspaper reporter, he won awards from both the Kentucky Press Association and the Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists.
 
He is a produced playwright, with both original and commissioned works produced. His work has appeared in national and regional magazines, with recent articles in Watercolor Artist, Pennsylvania Magazine, The Pastel Journal, Cincinnati Magazine, Romance Writers Report and New Mexico Magazine. During the past decade, more than 600 of his articles have appeared in newspapers, magazines and books.

Visit his website at www.chucksambuchino.com.



Rita Rosenkranz

Rita Rosenkranz founded Rita Rosenkranz Literary Agency in 1990 after a career as an editor with major New York houses.

She represents health, history, parenting, music, how-to, popular science, business, biography, sports, popular reference, cooking, writing, spirituality, and general interest titles. Rita works with major publishing houses, as well as regional publishers that handle niche markets. She looks for projects that present familiar subjects freshly or lesser-known subjects presented commercially.

Her adult non-fiction list stretches from the decorative--FLOWERS, WHITE HOUSE STYLE: More Than 125 Arrangements by the Former White House Chief Floral Decorator by Dottie Temple and Stan Finegold (Simon & Schuster) to the dark--SAVING BEAUTY FROM THE BEAST: How to Protect Your Daughter from an Unhealthy Relationship by Vicki Crompton and Ellen Zelda Kessner (Little, Brown; Books for a Better Life Award, 2003).

Other titles include FORBIDDEN FRUIT: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad by Betty DeRamus (Atria Books, essence.com bestseller); OLIVE TREES AND HONEY: A Treasury of Vegetarian Recipes from Jewish Communities Around the World (Wiley, 2005 James Beard Award winner) and ENCYCLOPEDIA OF JEWISH FOOD (James Beard Award nominee, 2011) by Gil Marks; GET KNOWN BEFORE THE BOOK DEAL: Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform by Christina Katz (Writer's Digest Books); STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT COSMETIC SURGERY by Arthur W. Perry, M.D., FACS (Yale University Press, Gold Award winner for best health book of 2007 by Foreword magazine); BERT SUGAR'S NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM by Bert Sugar with photos by Bruce Curtis (Running Press); TWENTY STRENGTHS ADOPTIVE PARENTS NEED TO SUCCEED by Sherrie Eldridge (Bantam Dell); ROLL AROUND HEAVEN: An All-true Accidental Spiritual Adventure by Jessica Maxwell (Beyond Words/Atria) winner of the 2010 Nautilus Book Award, Gold Winner, Memoir/Personal Growth; COVR awards (Coalition of Visionary Retailers), Best Spiritual Memoir; and 29 GIFTS: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Walker (DaCapo Press, New York Times bestseller, MS Awareness Award Winner, Books for a Better Life).

She is a member of the Association of Authors' Representatives (AAR), The Authors Guild and IWWG.

Visit her agency website at www.ritarosenkranzliteraryagency.com.

Marcy Posner

I have spent a lifetime in books. I started out with a brief stint as a librarian, but found it a bit too staid, so moved on to publishing. My first job was at Pinnacle Books where as assistant to the President I was given a book to edit the third week of my employment. I then moved on to Rodale Press and then Salem House where I helped bring British books to the US, finally moving up the publishing ladder to Pantheon’s Associate Publisher, where I worked with some of the major cultural icons of our time, including Noam Chomsky, Studs Terkel, Matt Groening and Art Spiegelman. After fifteen years on the editorial side of the business, I made the jump to agenting – spending twelve years as at the William Morris Agency as an agent and as Vice President and Director of Foreign Rights; five years as president of my own agency; five years at Sterling Lord Literistic as an agent and Director of Foreign Rights; and I’m now here – and very happy – at Folio.

Editorial skill and a deep knowledge of the publishing industry sets me apart from many of my colleagues. When I work with my authors, I’ll focus editorially on how to make the book as strong as it could be – whether that book be terrific women’s fiction or an extraordinary YA debut (or any of the other categories I represent). During that process, I’m able to bring to bear all the institutional memory I possess, knowing which editors and which publishing houses have a penchant for a certain subject, or a different voice, or a particular kind of author.

My clients include Newbery Honor winner and New York Times bestseller Jacqueline Kelly, other New York Times bestsellers, Sheri Reynolds and Jill Barnett, along with Kristi Cook, Christopher Grant, Georgia Bockoven and Jerri Corgiat.

Mark Cull

Mark E. Cull is the publisher of Red Hen Press, which he founded in 1994 with poet Kate Gale. His background is in aerospace/defense which he left in 2001 in order to dedicate his time to literature. He has co-edited three anthologies of contemporary short fiction; Anyone Is Possible, Blue Cathedral and The Crucifix is Down, and is the author of the short fiction collection, One Way Donkey Ride. He serves on the advisory board of WriteGirl. He was the Founding Editor of the Los Angeles Review. 

Visit his website at www.redhen.org.
 

Annette Rogers

Annette Rogers became addicted to reading during dark childhood winters in Juneau, Alaska, when she read the city library from one side to the other. Now as Acquisitions Editor of the Poisoned Pen Press, she searches for new, unpublished mystery writers. Recent successes include Dennis Palumbo MIRROR IMAGE, Reavis Z. Wortham THE ROCK HOLE, Angela Gerst A CRACK IN EVERYTHING, Jeffrey Siger MURDER ON MYKONOS, Mitchell Lewis MURDER IN THE 11TH HOUSE, and Bernadette Pajer A SPARK OF DEATH. In addition she evaluates and edits manuscripts for publication, corresponds with writers and agents, and brings her soft-coated wheaten terrier Griffin to work each day. Rogers published a bestselling history/travel book on Egypt that was translated into six languages, wrote for O, the Oprah Magazine, and reported on court hearings for Time/Life about the Mormon Bomber case. She has a Masters Degree in History and English.

Visit her website at www.poisonedpenpress.com.


Maxwell Alexander Drake

Maxwell Alexander Drake, or Drake as he prefers to be called, is an award-winning Science Fiction/Fantasy author and Graphic Novelist.

He teaches Creative Writing all around the country at writers’ conferences and fan events such as Comic-Con International in San Diego and Gen-Con in Indianapolis.

He is the author of the Genesis of Oblivion Saga.

You can learn more about his writing lessons, as well as keep up to date on his upcoming projects at his official website, www.maxwellalexanderdrake.com.

Danny Manus



Daniel Manus is an in-demand script consultant and founder of No BullScript Consulting, which can be found at www.nobullscript.net and is the author of the E-Book “No B.S. for Screenwriters: Advice from the Executive Perspective.” He has previously worked as a script consultant at ScriptShark and Script Coach. He was the Director of Development for Clifford Werber Productions (Cinderella Story, Sydney White) and is attached to produce several projects independently. Daniel was previously a Development Consultant for Eclectic Pictures and the DOD at Sandstorm Films, which had a first look deal at Screen Gems and a development deal with Top Cow Comics. He is also a columnist for The Business of Show Institute and teaches seminars to writers all across the country.

Visit his website at www.nobullscript.net

Visit his website at www.bancroftpress.com.

Jo Wilkins




Jo Wilkins is president of the Henderson Writers Group and CEO of Mystic Publishers. She co-authored the Tyranny series, and has essays at KNPR’s A Making Nevada Home @ www.knpr.org. Her work is published in anthologies and she has two solo novels in production. She teaches writing for the City of Henderson and does private coaching.

Her email address is marga614@mysticpublishers.com

Chris Roerden





Chris Roerden has edited thousands of manuscripts in 45 years in publishing, including authors published by St. Martin's, Berkley, Harlequin, Rodale, Viking, Walker & Co., Forge, Midnight Ink, and more. She's past president of a Midwest trade association of 250 commercial and university presses, and she wrote a game and 11 books, 7 as ghost. To help writers get published she wrote the Agatha Award-winning Don't Murder Your Mystery (shortlisted for 3 other national awards), and Don't Sabotage Your Submission, winner of the 21st annual Benjamin Franklin Award, ForeWord Review's Bronze Medal for 2009 Writing Book of the Year, and the Florida Writers Assn. Book of the Year. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Maine, Chris holds a Master's in English and taught writing at 3 universities, communication in S. Korea, and more than 300 workshops throughout the US and Canada.

Visit her website at www.writersinfo.info


Malaga Baldi

Malaga Baldi has worked as independent literary agent since 1986. The Baldi Agency is an independent and eclectic agency specializing in literary fiction, memoir and cultural history.

Visit her website at www.baldibooks.com.

 
 
Randall Platt

Randall Platt is an award-winning writer of fiction for adults and young adults and for those who don’t own up to being either; a generally genial person with a rabid dedication to character and story

Visit her website at www.plattbooks.com.

 

 
Kathleen Shaputis

 
Kathleen Shaputis is well experienced in the headline lifestyles of the baby boomer generation. Kathleen balances her day job at Gorham Printing with a additional careers in writing, ghostwriting and professional speaking.

Visit her website at www.shaputis.com.
 


Angie Rasmussen

Angie Rasmussen is the Contracts and Royalties Manager at Nelson Literary Agency and an instructor for Writer’s Digest University. A 2002 graduate of the Denver Publishing Institute, she also holds an MA in English from Colorado State University and a BA in English Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Both writer and industry professional, Angie moderates a weekly critique group for members of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and loves helping aspiring writers find success.

Visit her agency website at www.nelsonagency.com.

Judy Logan



Judy Logan is a member of the Henderson Writers Group and is an accomplished writer, public speaker, and Masters level educator.

She has been writing training curricula for healthcare for over 20 years, and before moving to Las Vegas, Judy wrote and delivered a Pre-GED Preparation curriculum for a New Hampshire school system for five years.

Judy’s recent fiction credits include two short stories published in WildflowerMagazine (2011), a short story scheduled for publication in a women’s anthology in the spring (2012), and a novel, which has been picked up by Ink and Quill Publishing.



Meredith Allard

Meredith Allard is the author of the paranormal/historical novel Her Dear & Loving Husband (Copperfield Press, 2011). She is the executive editor of The Copperfield Review, a literary journal for readers and writers of historical fiction. Her writing has appeared in journals such as Muse Apprentice Guild, The Paumanok Review, Writer's Weekly, and Moondance. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Meredith Allard is the author of the paranormal/historical novel Her Dear & Loving Husband (Copperfield Press, 2011). She is the executive editor of The Copperfield Review, a journal for readers and writers of historical fiction. The Copperfield Review was named one of the top websites for new writers in 2002 by Writer's Digest and it has won the Books and Authors Award for Literary Excellence. Copperfield can also be found in the Novel and Short Story Writer's Market, Killer Start-ups, and Duotrope. Meredith's short fiction and articles have appeared in journals such as The Paumanok Review, Muse Apprentice Guild, Moondance, Writer's Weekly, CarbLite, and ViewsHound. She has taught writing to students aged 10 to 60, and she has taught creative writing and writing historical fiction at Learning Tree University and UNLV's extension program. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Visit Meredith online at www.meredithallard.com.

Lee Emory


 

Lee Emory, long time author and owner of Treble Heart Books and it’s divisions, lives in Arizona with her husband and two pussycats who run the household. Her publishing company keeps her hopping on a daily basis. She has been a tech writer, fiction writer and professional editor for over 44 years. Lee enjoys presenting interactive workshops at conferences and looks forward to meeting new and established writers.