DATE: May 8, 2007
TIME: 7 - 9 p.m.
LOCATION: Marie Callendar’s restaurant (Loop 360 & Hwy 183) - view map
SPEAKER: Sharie Kohler (w/a Sophie Jordan)
TOPIC: Multiple Sub-Genres For Multiple Publishers

EDITORS, CONTRACTS, AND DEADLINES— OH, MY!

From landing yourself multiple book contracts to surviving once you do, Sophie Jordan discusses the pros and cons in writing two different sub-genres for two different publishers. Decide for yourself whether such an aggressive career tract is right for you!

Bio:
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History. A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love ANTIGONE, Sophie resigned with the birth of her daughter and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing. In less three years, her first book, ONCE UPON A WEDDING NIGHT, a 2006 RT BOOKReviews Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, TOO WICKED TO TAME, released this March with a bang! — and landed on the USA Today Bestseller’s List.

And as if she’s not busy enough, Sophie is now contracted to write contemporary paranormals for Pocket under the name Sharie Kohler. Sophie resides in Houston with her family. You may visit her at www.sophiejordan.net.

DATE: April 10, 2007
TIME: 7 - 9 p.m.
LOCATION: Marie Callendar’s restaurant (Loop 360 & Hwy 183) - view map
SPEAKER: Victoria Chancellor
TOPIC: Writing a Synopsis That Sells

A synopsis may be the most important writing you will ever compose. It must be complete, thorough yet brief, a true representation of your style, and give an accurate portrayal of the flavor of your story. Sound tough? It is, but a good synopsis will open doors for you. Editors and agents don’t have unlimited time to read the entire manuscript, so they must depend on your synopsis to tell what a wonderful story you have told or will tell. If you are a plotter, your synopsis gives you direction and keeps you focused. If you are a pantser, your synopsis sums up the actions and motivations of our characters so that you may sell your book or win a contest. Learn to embrace the synopsis in this workshop by “The Synopsis Queen.”

Bio:
Victoria Chancellor is the award-winning author of 19 historical, paranormal and contemporary romances for a variety of publishers, including Harper Collins, Dorchester and Harlequin. Her first two sales were accomplished with only a synopsis and three chapters for each book. She is beginning a new series for Harlequin American Romance beginning in July, 2007. The first “Brody’s Crossing” book will be TEMPORARILY TEXAN, the story of a New Hampshire vegetarian, animal-loving, gardening expert who is sent to a Texas cattle ranch in a consultant mix-up. The second book, TEXAN FOR THE HOLIDAYS, will be a December 2007 release. Victoria uses her diverse backgrounds in fine jewelry sales, military security, financial systems and small business administration, plus her hobbies of home improvement, scrapbooking, photography, art and playing with her first grandchild, to ground her books in reality. She and her husband of 35 years live in Richardson, Texas with their very spoiled dog, four cats, a large number of turtles and tortoises, and a few fat toads.

DATE: March 13, 2007
TIME: 7 - 9 p.m.
LOCATION: Marie Callendar’s restaurant (Loop 360 & Hwy 183) - view map
SPEAKER: Lori Wilde
TOPIC: High Concept

High concept is not just a marketing gimmick. It is the very foundation of great commercial fiction. It’s true that publishers love high concept stories, but that’s because catchy ideas and rip-roaring characters are easier to pitch and sell.

Contrary to popular notions, high concepts are not limited to over-the-top suspense or thrillers. High concept is at the heart of every genre — romance, mysteries, horror, comedies, westerns, chick-lit, lad-lit, sci-fi, time travel & women’s fiction.

Today, the literary marketplace is more competitive than ever. Learning to craft an effective high concept idea will increase your chances for long-term career survival. Like it or not, a novice writer with a high concept stands a better chance of selling her book than a mid-list author without a high concept.

The purpose of a high concept is to succinctly deliver your ideas to an editor or agent, but what is it exactly? There are four central components to the high concept.

1) It’s different.
2) It’s universal.
3) It has instant emotional appeal.
4) It can be stated in one sentence and you can immediately visualize the entire story.

This workshop is designed to give you the tools you need to understand and start creating your own dynamic high concept premise.

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Lori Wilde is the author of over thirty-nine books for three major New York publishers. She recently received a two book contract from Warner books based solely on a 25 word “high concept” pitch. When the sale — along with the pitch — was announced on Publisher’s Marketplace, she was approached by eight film production companies — including Paramount and Warner Brothers — interested in optioning her completed novel for a movie.