She had The Write Stuff: Kieryn Nicolas

This is the last in a series of interviews conference chair Kathryn Craft conducted with former conferees that made successful publishing connections at The Write Stuff conference.


Kathryn Craft: You met your publisher, Karen Syed, at The Write Stuff conference last year. Tell us how your pitch session went. Were you nervous? Any advice for people pitching for the first time this year?

Kieryn Nicolas: My pitch session went great. I was nervous, because I’d never done a story pitch before. The concept and structure was completely foreign. But Karen was extremely nice, and I felt comfortable, because I was talking about writing…my problem was the time limit, because I could talk about writing for hours! My advice is to relax, and be yourself. It’s not a bad idea to make a good impression with your personality, and not just your story!

KC: How did it feel to be offered a contract? I see this is for both eBook and print. How do you like the cover?

KN: So not to be spending my summer biting my nails, I tried to focus on other things after submitting my manuscript, like more writing. When I got the news I was chatting with my good friend, and I was so surprised I just said, “Whoa. I’m going to be published.” Then it hit me, and I started screaming.

I’m a big fan of the cover. I met my friend (the same one I was talking to when I got my contract) at our old middle school and we had a “photo shoot” where I took pictures of her to put on the promo cover. I later was discussing my favorite pictures and cover ideas with my cousin. He asked me to send them to him, and within a few hours he’d come up with the layout and effects of the cover picture. I loved it, and my publisher agreed, so it became the official cover!

KC: How did the editing process go? Tell us about your experience.

KN: I’d heard that the editing process was tough, and it hasn’t disappointed me. I’ve been through content and technical edits, and I could probably recite my story by now—or I’ve at least memorized how it looks. When my editor sent me back a version where she had made some edits, I was able to see where words had been switched around or punctuation interchanged without indicators! But even though it got tedious at times, I was glad to do it.

KC: As concerns the powering up of your PR machine--blog, website, social networking, etc.--did Echelon help you at all in its development? If not, how have you figured out what to do?


KN: Echelon definitely helped me out. I was given suggestions as to what to do—such as sites to join, facebooking, blogging, etc.—and there are always emails circulating from Echelon and Echelon authors with ideas and tips for PR. Other than that I’ve been spreading the word in person and scheduling author events.

A member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group, Kieryn Nicolas, 15, resides in central Pennsylvania with her parents, younger sister, their lovable yellow lab, black cat, and ten hens. Kieryn was a competitive figure skater for nine years and is currently working hard to advance in taekwondo. She loves school and spending time with her close friends. She also loves to read, write, eat chocolate, and travel, with hopes of someday seeing Brisbane, Australia—a setting in her book—herself. Echelon Press released Rain in e-book format in January 2010 will publish the novel in print later this year.


Write Stuff registration will be open through March 12. Space still remains in keynote James Frey's two-full-day pre-conference workshop, "How to Plot Like the Pros."

He had The Write Stuff: Ralph Hieb

The third in a series of interviews conference chair Kathryn Craft conducted with former conferees that made successful publishing connections at The Write Stuff conference.

Kathryn: You met Karen Syed, publisher at Echelon Press, last year at The Write Stuff conference. Any advice for people pitching for the first time this year?

Ralph: The best advice I can give is be yourself and stay on topic. A good short summary of your work will get you closer to your goal than straying around what is actually in your work. I practiced delivering what I was going to say a week before the conference. Speaking out loud what you wish to say and doing it in front of a mirror seemed to help me set the timing of my delivery. I received this advice from attending a number of conferences and I believe it paid off.

K: How did the submission process go from there?

R: It took until October to get an answer, and it was a rejection. About one month later the senior editor notified me that one of the editors had read it and liked it. If I was still interested they would offer me a contract. Of course I was interested.

K: How did it feel to be offered a contract—especially following as it did on the heels of a rejection from the same publisher?

R: Is the term walking on air still being used? Because that is exactly how I felt, and still do.

K: Your contract is for publishing an eBook, right? Tell us how the relatively new eBook might factor into an author's plan for career growth.

R: Yes, my contract is for an eBook. I think that it is a good vehicle to get noticed. A recent report on the radio said that eBooks outsold traditionally published books for the holiday season. So it is a market that has a lot of potential. As you know, the more exposure an author gets the better the chances for more contracts.

Ralph Hieb, a former Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group president, lives in Bethlehem PA with his wife Nancy. Ralph is also a member of the Bethlehem Writers Group. Their book, A Christmas Sampler: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Holiday Tales, contains his story, “Walter and Stella.” Ralph enjoys reading and watching vampire movies. He hopes to someday visit a lot of European castles.

Write Stuff registration ALERT: Only 5 days of early bird registration remain! Your registration must be postmarked by Feb. 25 to receive the discounted rate. The hotel group rate of $85 will disappear on that same day. If you can't make your conference decision by then do not fear: we will accept mail-in registrations at the full registration rate of $135 up until a March 12 postmark.

Days to the conference: 34!

He had The Write Stuff: Steven Walker

The second in a series of interviews conference chair Kathryn Craft conducted with former conferees that made successful publishing connections at The Write Stuff conference.

1. You first met an editor from Kensington Books, Michaela Hamilton, at The Write Stuff conference. Tell us how your pitch session went. Any advice for people pitching for the first time this year?

I actually pitched a different book to Michaela at the 2004 conference. She was very nice and open to several ideas. I was there to learn what she was interested in receiving more than anything else, so I asked her a lot of questions and took her contact information. I later sent her a book proposal for Blood Trail, and she sent me a contract and an advance of several thousand dollars to get started.

The most important opportunity for me was getting to know the agents and editors in a more social atmosphere over drinks on Friday night before the actual conference. In fact, Michaela and I ended up going out to a country and western bar in West Allentown with some other people. She said she wanted to dance. Getting to know an agent or editor makes them seem more human and takes away much of the anxiety when you approach them on a professional level.

2. You did not have an agent at that time, correct? Have you continued to negotiate your contracts without an agent? What advice do you have for others in this regard?

I acted on my own behalf to negotiate my contracts. I knew there wouldn’t be much negotiating room for my first contract with Kensington and I believe that I did as well as any agent would have done for me—better, because I didn't have to give up a percentage to an agent. I did the same thing again with my second contract. The pitch was much easier because I had already built a relationship with the publisher and with Michaela. I didn't even have to send a book proposal, just a page about what I was planning and what sources I would use. I did ask for a bit larger of an advance and I got it without much haggling.

With all that said, I do think that an agent is useful for writers of fiction and those who expect to negotiate a six-figure deal or more. If the subject of a book is going to cause publishers to fight to secure a contract with you (we can dream) then an agent is almost a necessity. A good agent is also great for submitting multiple proposals to various publishers simultaneously and keeping track of all the tedious business side of things that takes away from time writing.

3. How did the editing process go?

The editing process for Blood Trail was a nightmare. I had envisioned a true-crime book that read like a novel—sort of like Capote's In Cold Blood. Kensington wanted something more on the lines of a dry police report—just the facts. The worst part was that I agreed to let the lead investigator on the case become my co-author. He was a cop, not a writer. He was supposed to send everything to me to edit before I would pass it along to Kensington. He sent some stuff to me, some to them—pretty soon everyone was confused. I won't go down that route again but it was a learning process that certainly was enlightening.

Things went a bit smoother while I was working on Predator. The editing process took much longer than the actual investigation and writing of the books. I worked most closely with Mike Shohl on Predator. He did a good job of kicking me in the ass to get the book completed. His objective set of eyes picked up simple mistakes I overlooked and he asked for more in-depth explanations about things I understood clearly but my readers might not. Unfortunately, he is no longer working at Kensington. I still keep in contact with him, because in this industry it’s all who you know.

4. You'll be selling/signing copies of Predator at the conference book fair. Your first book, Blood Trail, was also about a serial murderer. How did you hook up with these guys? And what do you keep in mind when structuring true events into a story people will want to buy? 

Believe it or not, I am not a huge fan of most true-crime books because many of them are not written well. Predator is the exception of course.

Joe Brown, the subject of Blood Trail, is my father-in-law's second cousin. During a trip to Indiana to visit my wife's relatives, they all told me about the life of Joe Brown and how he ended up hacking his girlfriend into little pieces and burying the remains in three different counties. They all knew I wrote horror and that I also worked as a reporter at the time, so they suggested I write a book about Brown.

As far as Predator is concerned, I had just returned from a year in England and touched base with Michaela. She told me she would like to get another book out of me. I spent a month writing about a local teenage boy who started his own religious cult in order to seduce and murder young girls, but Michaela said she wanted something truly devastating—a mass murderer who killed with conscious intent on a larger scale. I read about Timothy Krajcir, who was brought up in the Lehigh Valley. He fit the bill perfectly. His name was current in national headlines and the body count he left behind doubled that of the Son of Sam. I pitched the idea and Kensington gobbled it up. More than just a murder story, Predator delves into the lives of his victims. I wanted readers to get to know the victims so they could be remembered for who they were instead of how they died.

A member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group, Steven Walker was born in Heidelberg, Germany and started freelancing professionally in 1989. Since then he has amassed 1,500 publishing credits. In 1996 his first horror novel, Desmodus, was published. Previously a leader in the Bucks County writing community, Steven founded the Lehigh Valley Writers Academy. While writing true crime books in recent years he has also received several awards for his macabre style of poetry.

Write Stuff registration is now open! Sign up now to save money on registration and hotel costs. Days to Early Bird deadline: 11!

The Inside Scoop on The Write Stuff: Part II

In our last post, GLVWG president Tori Bond interviewed Conference Chair Kathryn Craft about this year's Write Stuff conference. Read on for the rest of that interview, including comments from Co-Chair Tammy Burke. All three of these women are pictured at the end of this post—please come up to any one of them at the conference if you have any questions, or just to say hello!

Tori Bond: What advice do you have for first-time attendees?

Kathryn Craft: Plan ahead. Once you get on site time will seem to fly. You might want to print up simple business cards to cement introductions (some people write their project title or a brief synopsis on the back).

If you want to pitch a project, research the agents and editors who will be present to find out if they have published any similar projects—they'll be impressed that you went to this length—then choose the right one to pitch to. Practice your pitch at home (what else are dogs for?), because you have only 10 minutes to tell about the project, yourself, and any marketing ideas you might have.

Writing a 100-word flash piece to enter into our contest is a great exercise in concise writing, and it's fun! Spend some time with the conference schedule at our website and decide which sessions you'll attend. Then, use every spare conference moment you've freed up with this preparation to browse the giveaway table, talk to other writers and publishing professionals, and read the flash entries--because once you're at the conference, the "write stuff" will be there, everywhere you turn.

Tori: What are some of the most common comments received from past conferees?

Kathryn: How organized the event is, how stimulating, how friendly everyone was, how they can't wait to get back to their computers and start writing, and how the dishes didn't get cleared from the tables fast enough. (Just keeping it honest.)

Tori: What is your favorite part of the conference?

Kathryn: This may sound foolishly sentimental, but for those who know me, at least I am remaining true to character: my favorite moment is early the first day of the conference, at breakfast, when the GLVWG members start filtering into the room. I am well aware that since the last conference each of them has dealt with the rejection, frustration, idea-scrapping, and confidence restoration issues common to all writers, but today they are spit-shined and showing their best game face. They have come back to this conference better writers than they were the year before. In their faces I see the very definition of hope. They help me believe. And they make volunteering for this conference a meaningful and highly rewarding experience.

**
Tori Bond: As conference co-chair, you were responsible for inviting agents and editors to this year’s conference. What opportunities do the conferees have to interact with these professionals?

Tammy Burke: Agents and editors are people first and foremost and if you approach them as human beings, they are likely to talk with you. One of the agents/editors I talked to last year was in the lunch line. We talked about what genres her agency represents and why she decided to become an agent in the first place. A friend and I spoke with another over drinks at the end of the day about different techniques writers use to tell their stories such as ‘seeing internal movies’ but we also chatted about universal truths and quantum physics. A third talked with me and others about business plans and how writers need to promote their own work.

So I would say the opportunities that the conferees have are really what they make of them. Yes, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for an appointment to pitch your idea with one of them but that doesn’t mean you can’t speak with the rest and find out more about the wonderful world of writing, business side and all.

Tori: What tips do you have for the conferees when talking with agents and editors about their publishing projects?

Tammy: Here are five tips. There are more tips about pitching at our conference website.

Tip one: Have a pitch developed that has a strong hook, in fact, have a 30-second pitch, a two-minute pitch, and then perhaps a five-minute pitch. You will have ten minutes when it comes to the appointment and who knows how long you’ll get to talk with an agent or editor in the lunch line, at Friday night’s reception or in the hallway between classes. Also, try to think of reasonable and logical questions that they could ask you and have an idea of how you’ll respond. Of course, no one has a crystal ball to anticipate everything but prepare as best as you can.

Tip two: Relax. Anticipation and excitement can help you express the passion you have in your work while you are presenting but you don’t want that nervous quaver in your voice. Breathe.

Tip three: Do not bring your whole manuscript for the appointment. You can bring your business cards and your pitch. You could bring your synopsis also, if you have it, but it’s generally a good idea to ask the agent or editor if he or she wants it before you hand it over.

Tip four: Dress comfortably but nice.

Tip five: Smile. And have fun with it.

Tori: What is your favorite part of The Write Stuff conference?

Tammy: This year’s Write Stuff conference will be the second one that I’ve attended but it will not be the last. I am utterly hooked. What is my favorite part of the conference? That’s like asking what part of the sky I like best. I suppose it would have to be the opportunity to talk with other writers, agents and editors; of being able to spend hours with people “who get it” instead of getting those blank stares from non-writing friends and family when I talk about my writing projects; of being with other people who share that same excitement and enjoyment for writing. It is so wonderful to talk to people who understand the concept of these adult invisible friends i.e. characters you’re currently writing about; who understand that pendulum between “this is great” to “this stinks” and it may be the same writing just a different day. I am looking forward to interacting and learning with everyone. The people, that’s my favorite part.

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Besides her responsibilities as Conference Chair, Kathryn Craft is also a developmental editor at Writing-Partner.com, and writes literary women's fiction and memoir.

Tammy Burke, Conference Co-Chair, is a GLVWG Member Representative and a freelance writer working on a young adult fantasy adventure series.

Tori Bond is the President of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group and writes humorous women’s fiction.

The Inside Scoop on The Write Stuff: Part I

The 2010 Write Stuff Conference is coming up fast. Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group President Tori Bond caught up with Kathryn Craft, Conference Chair, and Tammy Burke, Conference Co-Chair, for some insider information about what’s new this year, tips about making the most of the conference, and some advice about networking with agents and editors at the conference.

Tori Bond: The Write Stuff conference usually runs Friday and Saturday but this year it starts on Thursday, March 25th and runs through Saturday the 27th. Can you tell us what’s happening on Thursday? What else is new this year?

Kathryn Craft: Expanded pre-conference activities this year required that we tack on Thursday as well. Our keynote, James N. Frey (HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD NOVEL) actually proposed it: we will offer a two-day workshop with James, "How to Plot Like the Pros," in which he will lead us through the collective plotting of a story in two 8 a.m.–5 p.m. sessions. We hear that former participants have loved it. Since the first conference activities on Friday begin at 6:30 p.m., conferees who choose to do so can participate in both without conflict. This will be a rare opportunity for East Coast writers to interact James, who lives in California, and has a reputation as one of the finest creative writing teachers in the country.

On Thursday night, we'll offer a special conference edition of The Writer's Cafe. This informal networking event will encourage conferees to get to know one another while talking about our favorite subject—writing. The 7:30-9:30 p.m. event is free, open to all conferees, and, if we're pitching work to agents or editors at the conference, we can practice our pitches on one another and gain feedback.

T: How many years has The Write Stuff conference been going on? Why do you feel it has been so successful for so many years?

K: This is the 17th year for GLVWG, which has held a conference in one form or another every year but one, I believe. There are so many reasons for its success—the opportunity to gain valuable face time with agents and editors, to learn more about the craft, to gain insight into the world of publishing, to keep up-to-date on new trends, to network, to refuel the muse—that maybe its very diversity of opportunity is the answer. There's something for everyone. We continue to find new ways to reach out to writers and meet their needs.

T: You’ve attended, and helped organize other writers conferences in the area. What do you feel makes The Write Stuff unique?

K: It's size—small enough for good interaction yet large enough to attract good speakers and agents—and the fact that rather than support a set agenda, we actually listen to the evolving needs of the writing community. A GLVWG member once told me that she had been coming to the conference for ten years and that it held nothing new for her (remember, Joan?). She may not realize it, but I took that comment on as a challenge. Yes, there are some topics we always see requested, like the agent panel or how to write a query letter. But in the years I've been involved with programming we've tried to find fresh approaches and new topics so that conferees both old and new will be stimulated. This is now my 10th Write Stuff conference and I have to admit, I'm going to have a devil of a time deciding which sessions to go to, which makes me glad conference recordings are available to our members!

T: I know that you strive to schedule workshops that have appeal for the widest range of writers. For example, can you talk about why a science fiction writer would be interested in attending the session, "How to Seduce Your Reader" given by romance writer Tracy MacNish?

K: GLVWG is made up of all kinds of writers and our presenters know that. Since we have three breakout rooms to play with, my approach has been to create a fiction track, a nonfiction track, and a business of publishing track so that specialists always have a session they might be drawn to. We do have genre writers heading the fiction sessions; you mentioned Tracy, who writes historical romance. Fiction writers who want to sell their books know that including a little sizzle goes a long way toward selling books. Tracy happens to have a specialty at this, and she can share techniques that can work in any kind of fiction. Our YA writer, Jordan Sonnenblick, creates great characters, so why not learn from the best? Bill Kent can break down the basics of writing action in a way someone who’s done it less may never have considered. When you go to a talk by someone who knows what they are talking about, someone who communicates effectively and with passion, you always take away something worthwhile. No matter the genre, good writing is good writing, and good storytelling is good storytelling.

T: What is your best tip for getting the most out of The Write Stuff conference?

K: The most obvious one is SIGN UP EARLY. You'll save yourself money through Early Bird discounts (discounts end Feb. 25), including Four Points Sheraton hotel rooms at an all-time low of $85/night, and you'll stand a good chance of getting your first choice for opportunities with limited enrollment.

Once you are on site at the conference, though, my advice is to play to your weaknesses. The conference is about opening yourself to new people and ideas and opportunities, after all. Many writers are introverts, so if talking to other writers scares you, use the conference to practice—again and again. Telling fellow writers about your project this year is great groundwork for pitching it to agents next year. If your specialty is creating an effective sense of time and place you might be drawn to Tracy's session on that topic—but maybe what you really need to hear is what a veteran like Molly Cochran has to say about actually finishing all those projects you've started. If you fear the way the internet is changing the publishing world yet still hope to succeed, make sure to attend David Wilk's session on the new rules and tools for writers. Stretch yourself in this way and you will see how quickly a little discomfort will translate into new inspiration.
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Besides her responsibilities as Conference Chair, Kathryn Craft is also a developmental editor at Writing-Partner.com, and writes literary women's fiction and memoir.  

Tori Bond is the President of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group and writes humorous women’s fiction.  

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More from Tori's interview, including responses from Co-Chair Tammy Burke, in our next post.

The keynote revealed!

We are thrilled to announce that the keynote for our 2010 conference will be internationally acclaimed creative writing teacher and workshop leader James N. Frey, the author of HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD NOVEL; HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD NOVEL II; THE KEY: WRITING DAMN GOOD FICTION USING THE POWER OF MYTH; HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD MYSTERY; and the forthcoming HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD THRILLER. He is also an award-winning playwright and the author of nine novels, including the Edgar Award-nominated THE LONG WAY TO DIE and WINTER OF THE WOLVES, a Literary Guild selection.

[One of his works of fiction was not the controversial memoir A MILLION LITTLE PIECES—that’s another James Frey.]

Jim’s workshops have been an enduring attraction at the Oregon Writers Colony, the Heartland Writers, the University of California Extensions novel writing workshop, the California Writers Club Conference, and the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, where former GLVWG member Barbara Howett got to know him. Her recommendation led us to him. We are most excited to host this rare East Coast appearance!

Frey’s keynote will be “The Writer’s Life: The Power and the Passion.” In addition, Frey will speak at the conference on two great topics: “The Power of Knowing Your Premise” and “How to Write Damn Good Prose.” He is looking forward to meeting conferees at the Friday night Welcome Reception: “When I go to conferences I always spend time with the writers,” he says. “I enjoy meeting them and sharing war stories.” He has also offered to serve as a Page Cuts panelist, and will regale those who share his passion for mysteries and thrillers with insider information at an informal genre chat.

But that’s not even half of it... More in the next post.