It was a full day of conversation, teaching, sharing, creating relationships and learning, learning, learning about the world of publishing that we writers need to understand if we're to succeed as part of it!
KATHARINE SANDS and PAUL S. LEVINE were incredibly generous and approachable, covering topics from queries to contract negotiations and everything in between. A gathering of more than 50 Vermont writers asked probing questions, braved the "hot seat" and gave sample pitches for critique, and contributed their enthusiasm and energy to the day's events.
Thank you to everyone who took part in this day, and double thanks to our two presenters, Katharine and Paul.
With all best regards,
The League of Vermont Writers
The Program:
NYC Agent Katharine Sands: The Sarah Jane Freymann AgencyA literary agent with the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, Katharine Sands has worked with a varied list of authors who publish a diverse array of books.
Highlights include Dating the Devil (producer: Vast Entertainment) by Lia Romeo; XTC: SongStories; Chasing Zebras: The Unofficial Guide to House, MD; Make Up, Don't Break Up with Oprah guest Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil; playwright Robert Patrick's novel, Temple Slave; The New Rules of Attraction by Arden Leigh; The Complete Book on International Adoption: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Your Child; Hands Off My Belly: The Pregnant Woman's Survival Guide to Myths, Mothers, and Moods.
Under the Hula Moon; The Gay Vacation Guide; CityTripping: a Guide for Foodies, Fashionistas and the Generally Style-Obsessed; Writers on Directors; Ford model Helen Lee's The Tao of Beauty; Elvis and You: Your Guide to the Pleasures of Being an Elvis Fan; New York: Songs of the City; Talk to Strangers: How Random Everyday Encounters Can Supercharge Your Business, Your Career, Your Income and Your Life.
Taxpertise: Dirty Little Secrets the IRS Doesn't Want You to Know; The SAT Word Slam; Divorce After 50; The Complete Book of Bone Health; The Safe and Sane Guide to Teenage Plastic Surgery, to name a few.
She is the agent provocateur of Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent's Eye, a collection of pitching wisdom from leading literary agents.
Actively building her client list, she likes books that have a clear benefit for readers' lives in categories of food, travel, lifestyle, home arts, beauty, wisdom, relationships, parenting, and fresh looks, which might be at issues, life challenges or popular culture. When reading fiction she wants to be compelled and propelled by urgent storytelling and hooked by characters. For memoir and femoir, she likes to be transported to a world rarely or newly observed.
"Katharine Sands is a dynamic speaker. A day with her is a writing event you don’t want to miss!"
LA Attorney and Literary Agent Paul S. Levine: The Paul S. Levine AgencyPaul S. Levine ”wears two hats”–he is a lawyer (www.paulslevine.com) and a literary agent (www.paulslevinelit.com).
Mr. Levine has practiced entertainment law for over 30 years, specializing in the representation of writers, producers, actors, directors, composers, musicians, artists, authors, photographers, galleries, publishers, developers, production companies and theatre companies in the fields of motion pictures, television, interactive multimedia, live stage, recorded music, concerts, the visual arts, publishing, and advertising.
In 1998, Mr. Levine opened the Paul S. Levine Literary Agency, specializing in the representation of book authors and the sale of motion picture and television rights in and to books. Since starting his literary agency, Mr. Levine has sold over 100 fiction and non-fiction books to at least 40 different publishers and has had many books developed as movies-for-television and feature films.
"Paul is a writer’s resource of epic stature, and a terrific speaker and presenter."
Publishing A - Z: The Fiction and Non-fiction writers' Guide
Writers gathered at Town & Country Resort in Stowe to spend a full day with literary agents Katharine Sands and Paul S. Levine, Esq., learning about query letters, book proposals, the writer-agent relationship, understanding contracts and protecting intellectual property, working with editors, navigating the publishing process, and so much more!
Our people took advantage of ample opportunities to talk and share their writing challenges and experiences, gaining insight into the creative process and business practices of writing and publishing as it evolves in the Internet age.
Participants' book ideas and works-in-progress were discussed and critiqued during the course of the day, so thank you to the brave writers who stepped up and shared! We all learned from this real-world conversation.
The Day's Schedule:
Arrival, Meet & Greet
8:30 am – 9:15 am
Greetings and Announcements
9:15 am – 9:30 am
Plenary Session: Introductions to Katharine Sands and Paul S. Levine, Esq.
9:30 am – 10:00 am
Breakout Sessions
Katharine Sands: Getting Ready, Getting Read, and Getting Readers
Paul S. Levine, Esq.: Rights and Overview of Copyright Law
10:00 am – 11:00 am
11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Plenary Session: Morning Wrap
12:15 – 12:30
LUNCH
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Plenary Session: Submissions
Katharine Sands
1:30 – 2:30 pm
Plenary Session: Acquisitions
& Project Discussions
Sands and Levine
2:40 – 4:00 pm
Plenary Session:
Publishing Agreements and Beyond
Paul S Levine
4:15 pm – 4:45 pm
End of the Day Wrap
4:45 pm – 5:00 pm
Registration includes Continental Breakfast of fruit, yogurt, danish, beverage; Lunch; and Full Day of Programming.
League of Vermont Writers Members: $80
Non-Members: $90
For more information and the League and our annual programs, see our current newsletter, League Lines, here.
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