The Southwest Florida Writers Conference

From Dona Lee
Florida Writers Association Manatee Group Leader
Sarasota Fiction Writer's editor of "Plotting Success
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The Southwest Florida Writers Conference begins on February 24th. It features a meet/greet dinner on Friday and a Super Saturday filled with workshops, books signings, and the opportunity to pitch your project directly to acquiring editors/agents. The line-up is fantastic. Three bestselling authors, five acquiring editors, and two agents. The first pitch is included for free and additional pitches are $20.00. This is an amazing chance to pitch your book to Whitney Ross (TOR), Leah Hultenschmidt (Sourcebooks), Jhanteigh Kupihea (New American Library), Leslie Wainger (Harlequin), Wanda Ottewell (Harlequin), Nicole Resciniti (The Seymour Agency), and Mary Sue Seymour (The Seymour Agency).
These editors/agents are acquiring across all genres (romance, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy, YA, MG, picture books, nonfiction)
When: Saturday, February 25th, 2012 (Optional dinner party Friday Feb. 24th; One-Day Super Event on Saturday)
Where: THE HYATT PLACE, Coconut Point Mall, Estero, FL.
23120 Villagio Way, Estero, FL 33928
239-495-1395
Cost: $85.00 (includes one pitch; $20.00 each additional pitch). More Info:
www.swfrw.org
Guest Speakers: Linnea Sinclair, Stacy Kade, and Keynote Jennifer St. Giles
Editor/Agent Panel and Open Q & A Session
Below is a listing of what each editor/agent is looking for:
Leah Hultenschmidt is a senior editor at Sourcebooks, acquiring single-title romance (paranormal, historical, romantic suspense, contemporary—and any combination thereof) for the Casablanca imprint and young adult fiction for the Fire imprint. In 2011, New York’s RWA chapter named her Editor of the Year. Leah has worked with a number of best-selling authors across multiple genres and has a particular fondness for kickbutt heroines, ice cream of any kind, and episodes of Bones.
Twitter: @LeahHulten
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Wanda Ottewell has been with Harlequin Enterprises for more than eleven years. During that time she has acquired for many of the company’s series programs. Now as Senior Editor for Harlequin Superromance she focuses her attention on finding those emotional, heartwarming stories readers want.
She is looking for: Contemporary romance stories with a strong, engaging central romance; Complex and well-developed characters with their own individual journeys through the story that weaves with the romance; Layered plots with true obstacles and conflicts, executed in a realistic and believable way
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Leslie Wainger joined Silhouette Books as an editorial assistant in August 1979 and was part of the editorial team that launched the company’s first series, Silhouette Romance, as well as numerous series since.
Her experience has brought her to her current position as Editor-at-Large, Single Titles. Over the years she has worked with a number of MIRA, HQN, Harlequin and Silhouette authors, including Linda Howard, Emilie Richards, Heather Graham, Maggie Shayne, Kathleen Eagle, Beverly Barton, Susan Krinard and Sharon Sala, and she continues to work with many of them today. She is also the author of “Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies” (Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2004), the 2005 recipient of Romance Writers of America’s industry award and a freelance book doctor.
“I’m looking for the strongest single title fiction, including YA, across all genres: romance and all its sub-genres (contemporary and historical, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, etc.); suspense, thriller and mystery; women’s fiction with a popular bent, including “lit lite;” paranormal; fantasy (from high fantasy to urban fantasy and anywhere in between); even science fiction and horror. I’m not specifically interested in chick lit, unless there’s something above and beyond character- and story-wise. The key for me is that the book must appeal strongly to a female readership, though a crossover readership – depending on genre, of course – is always a plus. Strong characters who drive a compelling story are also a must.”
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Whitney Ross is an editor at Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, publisher of Forge, Tor Books, Orb, Starscape, and Tor Teen. In her free time, she’s also a book collector, wannabe jet-setter, and Starbucks junkie, and enjoys competitive sports such as skiing and shopping. She is from Phoenix, Arizona, and is actively seeking science fiction & fantasy, urban fantasy, romance, historical fiction, and young adult novels.
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Jhanteigh Kupihea Associate Editor, New American Library at Penguin Group USA.
Specializes in genre fiction, including historical fiction, women's fiction, romance, and urban fantasy.
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Mary Sue Seymour is listed by Publishers Marketplace as one of the top deal-makers in the country. Mary Sue founded The Seymour Agency in 1992. Mary Sue is a member of the Author's Guild, the AAR, ACFW, WGA, and RWA.
Since opening her agency in 1992, Mary Sue has negotiated three-, four-, and five-book deals. She has launched the careers of many great authors, and she continues to promote the advancement of quality fiction and nonfiction material in both Christian and secular markets. Mary Sue is particularly interested in inspirational fiction and romances.
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- Nicole Resciniti is an agent at The Seymour Agency. In addition to working with Mary Sue to negotiate clients’ domestic and foreign rights, Nicole divides her time between NJ and Naples, FL where she has established The Seymour Agency’s Southwest Florida Office. Nicole has launched 9 debut authors in the last six months. She loves finding new talent and making literary dreams a reality. Nicole holds degrees in biology, psychology, and behavioral neuroscience. She is a member of AAR, RWA, ACFW, SWFRW, and MENSA. Nicole is currently looking for romance (all genres), mysteries/thrillers, sci-fi/fantasy, great YA/MG, and select non-fiction projects.

Nicole Resciniti, AAR
RWA, ACFW and Mensa
The Seymour Agency
www.theseymouragency.com

Twitter: @niclitagent