About Our Panelists |
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Virginia Kantra - USA Today bestselling author Virginia Kantra credits her love for strong heroes and courageous heroines to a childhood spent devouring fairy tales. A six-time Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist, Virginia is the winner of numerous writing awards, including the Golden Heart, Golden Leaf, Holt Medallion, Maggie Award of Excellence and two National Readers’ Choice Awards. |
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F. Paul Wilson - Paul was born and raised in New Jersey. He is the author of more than forty books: science fiction , horror thrillers, contemporary thrillers ), novels that defy categorization, and a number of collaborations. In 1998 he resurrected his popular antihero, Repairman Jack, and has chronicled his adventures. He has written for stage, screen, and interactive media as well. Paul’s books have appeared on the New York Times Bestsellers List. His story WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS won the first Prometheus Award in 1979; he’s also been the receipient of the Porgie Award from The West Coast Review of Books and the 1999 Bram Stoker Award for short fiction. DYDEETOWN WORLD was on the young adult recommended reading lists of the American Library Association and the New York Public Library, among others. He was awarded the prestigious Inkpot Award from the San Diego ComiCon and the Pioneer Award from the RT Booklovers Convention. He is listed in the 50th anniversary edition of Who’s Who in America. His novel THE KEEP was made into a visually striking but otherwise incomprehensible movie (screenplay and direction by Michael Mann) by Paramount in 1983. THE TOMB is in development as Repairman Jack by Beacon Films and (we hope) will not suffer a similar fate. His original teleplay “Glim-Glim” aired on Monsters in 1989. An adaptation of his short story “Menage a Trois” was part of the pilot for The Hunger series that debuted on Showtime in July 1997. “Pelts” was adapted by Dario Argento for Masters of Horror. |
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Sarah Langan - Sarah grew up on Long Island and went to college in Waterville, Maine, where she published her first story, “Sick People”. She got her MFA in creative writing from Columbia University, and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to writing novels, she is also pursuing her Master’s in Environmental Health Science/Toxicology at New York University. |
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Caridad Pineiro - New York Times and USA Today bestseller Caridad Pineiro wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project – to write a book for a class lending library. Bitten by the writing bug, Caridad continued with her passion for the written word through high school, college and law school. Shortly after the birth of her daughter, Caridad’s passion for writing led to a determination to become published and share the stories she loved with others. In 1999, Caridad’s first novel was released and a decade later, Caridad is the author of over twenty novels and novellas. Caridad hopes to continue to share her stories with readers all over the world for years to come. When not writing, Caridad is an attorney, wife and mother to an aspiring writer and fashionista. For more information on Caridad, please visit www.caridad.com or www.thecallingvampirenovels.com. |
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Mary Kennedy - Mary Kennedy is a multi-published author, and a clinical psychologist in private practice on the east coast. She specializes in forensic work, and her clients have included murderers, psychopaths and convicted felons. She writes young adult novels, middle grade fiction and mysteries. She has sold 33 novels, and has made both the Waldenbooks and Publishers Weekly best-seller lists. Her books have sold twelve million copies in several countries. In addition to her doctorate in psychology, she has a Master’s degree in Dramatic Arts and has studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan. In her quest for a ”real job,” she once worked as a television news writer for a CBS affiliate and as a copywriter for a rock radio station. When not traveling to exotic locales, she lives with her husband and five neurotic cats. The cats have resisted all her efforts to psychoanalyze them, but she remains optimistic. |
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Jonathan Maberry - Jonathan Maberry is the multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author of novels (PATIENT ZERO, THE WOLFMAN, etc.), nonfiction books (ZOMBIE CSU, THE BITE, etc.), short stories (“Family Business”, “Pegleg and Paddy Save the World”, etc.), comics (BLACK PANTHER, PUNISHER, WOLVERINE, DEADPOOL), and over 1200 magazine articles. His Joe Ledger novels have been optioned for TV by Sony and are being published all over the world. In 2010 Simon & Schuster will release ROT & RUIN, Jonathan’s first Young Adult novel. He’s a member of SFWA, ITW, MWA, and HWA. Visit his website at www.jonathanmaberry.com and find him on Facebook and Twitter. |
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Sarah Wendell - From discussions of the popularity and market reach of romance novels to written essays explaining the heuristic value of blog commenting communities, Sarah’s media exposure is varied and somewhat spicy. Sarah Wendell is the co-founder and current host of Smart Bitches, as well as the co-author of Beyond Heaving Bosoms: the Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels, published in April 2009 by Touchstone Fireside. |
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Lois Winston - Award-winning author Lois Winston writes humorous, cross-genre, contemporary novels and romantic suspense. She often draws upon her extensive experience as an artist and crafts designer for much of her source material. Her first book, TALK GERTIE TO ME, was the recipient of the Readers and Bookbuyers Best Award, took second place in both the Beacon Awards and Laurel Wreath Awards, and was nominated for a Reviewers’ Choice Award and a Golden Leaf Award. Her second novel, LOVE, LIES & A DOUBLE SHOT OF DECEPTION, was the winner of the Winter Rose Award for Excellence in Romantic Fiction, the More Than Magic Award, and the Laurie Award. When not writing or designing, you can find Lois trudging through stacks of manuscripts as she hunts for diamonds in the slush piles for the Ashley Grayson Literary Agency. Visit Lois at www.loiswinston.com. |
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Laura Anne Gilman went straight from college into the murky world of commercial publishing, working days as an editor while spending nights and weekends getting her writing career started, so she knows both sides of the publishing desk. In 2004, after 15 years as an editor, Laura Anne became a full-time freelancer, and never looked back. She is the author of the Cosa Nostradamus books for Luna (the “Retrievers” and “Paranormal Scene Investigations” series), a YA trilogy for HarperCollins, and FLESH AND FIRE: Book One of The Vineart War from Pocket, and continues to write and sell short fiction. She lives in New York City, where she also runs d.y.m.k. productions, an editorial consulting service. Find out more at www. lauraannegilman.net |
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Anna DeStefano is the nationally best selling author of classic romance for Harlequin and Silhouette, and contemporary paranormal romantic suspense for Dorchester publishing. She’s a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award winner, a Cataromance.com’s reviewers choice award winner, and a Golden Heart winner. She’s won the Gale Wilson Award of Excellence, the Maggie Award for Excellence, and been a finalist in numerous other awards, including the National Readers Choice awards, the Holt Medallian, and the Book Buyers Best Award.Anna has successfully channeled her skills as a Senior Tech Writer into the more creative field of writing contemporary fiction. A GA Tech honors graduate with 10 years of experience working in Corporate IT, Anna applies the more analytical side of her personality to studying the craft of storytelling. But her imagination rules when it’s time to let the planning go and write. The result—eleven award-winning novels published since 2004, three more scheduled for released in 2009 and 2010, and nearly half a million copies of her books in print in over 5 different languages. Anna has taught for years in adult education both professionally, as a technical trainer, and in the fields of grief recovery and crisis care teaching team coordinators and volunteers. She’s presented her writing workshops to over 60 groups and conferences. |
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Nisha Sharma - Nisha Sharma graduated from Muhlenberg College with a B.A. in English in 2006 and she currently attends law school in New York. She is a YA remote reader for two literary agencies, a YA freelance editor, and the national young adult book reviewer on Examiner.com. Her first novel, ‘The Betwitched Cowboy’ will be released by The Wild Rose Press in 2010. You can find her at www.nisha-sharma.com or at www.tessquinn.com. |
| Erin D. Galloway - Erin Galloway is the Marketing and Publicity Coordinator for Dorchester Publishing. She has a master of science in publishing from Pace University and is a member of New York Women in Communication, Inc. After a decade of reading romance, Erin is delighted to be able to work with the authors whose work she has enjoyed for so many years. | |
| Judy Spagnola- Judy Spagnola’s career in the book industry began as a bookseller for an independent bookstore. She soon became a store manager, an area manager, and finally the national buyer for Literature, Poetry, and Romance at Waldenbooks, where she was responsible for purchasing for over 1400 stores. When Waldenbooks moved to Ann Arbor, Judy formed her PR company, Book Trends, on the advice of author Andrea Kane, who became Judy’s first client. Judy uses her many contacts among booksellers, buyers, distributors, merchandisers, and reviewers, along with her in-depth knowledge of the book industry, to help promote and sell her clients’ books. On her website, www.book-trends.com, you’ll find a list of authors she has worked with. | |
| Erienne Rojas - Erienne Rojas is a first year graduate student in the MFA Poetry Program at the City College of New York, where she also received her BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a minor in Jewish Studies. She was awarded the Bear River Writers’ Conference Scholarship in 2006 and served as a featured poet at the annual CCNY Spring Poetry Festival and most recently, the Polestar Poetry Series. Her poetry has appeared in print sources such as Poetry in Performance and Slice, including several online premises like LiterateNubian.org and The Write Place at the Write Time. She is a freelance writer and works as a publicist for Grand Central Publishing . | |
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Judi Fennell - Judi Fennel hit the ocean swimming in 2009 with her Mer-themed trilogy and is following it up with a high-flying genie trilogy from Sourcebooks in Fall 2010. Her award-winning, tongue-in-cheek, light-hearted paranormals have been lauded for the world-building, and her debut novel, In Over Her Head, placed second in Publishers’ Weekly’s Beyond Her Book Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Book of 2009. Come dive in to the romance at www.JudiFennell.com. |
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Stephanie Julian - Stephanie Julian remembers the day she fell in love with the paranormal. She was five and she watched The Wolf Man with Lon Chaney Jr. with her mom on TV. Now she is the author of the Magical Seduction and Lucani Lovers series from Ellora’s Cave. Her paranormal romances are filled with magic, danger and romance. She loves anything to do with the fantastic and you can find her on the web at www.stephaniejulian.com |
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Michelle Grajkowski - From the moment Michelle Grajkowski first opened her doors to the 3 Seas Literary Agency in August of 2000, she has been living her dream. (What could be better than surrounding yourself with great authors and their exciting and imaginative books?) Since then, she’s successfully sold into major publishing houses including Harlequin, NAL, Berkley, Dorchester, Kensington, Avon, Pocket, Random House (both here and in the UK), Knopf, Andrews McMeel, Warner, St. Martin’s and HarperCollins. |
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Angela James - Executive editor of Carina Press, Harlequin’s digital-only press, and veteran of the digital publishing industry, Angela James is a well-known advocate for digital publishing. James has enjoyed a long and varied publishing career that has included ownership of an independent editorial services business, work as a copy editor for electronic book and small press publisher, Ellora’s Cave, and executive editor for Samhain Publishing. James frequently travels to regional, national and international writing conferences to meet with authors and readers, and present workshops on digital publishing for both authors and readers of all genres of fiction. |
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Editors and Agents Attending the Conference |
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Agents:Michelle Grajkowski - 3 Seas Literary Agency
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Multi- Author Book SigningMeet Your Favorite Authors. Check out Their Latest Releases.
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Tentative ScheduleSee a detailed conference schedule.*schedule is subject to change* |
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9:30 a.m. First workshops begin 10:30 a.m. Editor/Agent appointments begin (will run until 12:00 pm) 12:30 p.m. Lunch and Keynote Speaker 2:00 p.m. Panels & Afternoon workshops begin 4:00 p.m. Networking reception begins 5:00 p.m. Multi-author book signing(open to the public) For authors wishing to participate in the signing you will need to bring your own stock. |
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Location and Directions
When: March 13, 2010
Where: Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel
515 Route 1 South & Gill Lane
Iselin, New Jersey 08830
Phone: 732-634-3600 Fax: 732-634-0258
Click here for more info on the hotel.
Click Here to Get More Directions Using Mapquest
To stay advised about conference details, editors and agents, attending and other conference related information, please click here to join the conference loop or cut and paste this link:
http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/lsfwritersconf
For questions about the conference please click here to contact Rayna Vause or Michele Richter.
Cancellation policy - Cancellations prior to February 27, 2010 are subject to a $50 fee. No refunds will be issued after February 27, 2010.
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