Tag Archives: agent

Ghostwriting Conference in Long Beach

Posted on May 3, 2013 by JW Najarian | Leave a comment

Ghostwriters and writers interested in making a career in ghostwriting have their first ever conference.

Ghostwriters Unite! is the world’s pioneering conference for ghostwriters. Held May 3-5 at the Hilton in downtown Long Beach, GU! will bring together some of the best people in the book industry including publishers, literary agents, authors, distributors, eBook specialists, and—of course—ghostwriters.

Ghostwriters Unite! is the first conference of its kind: an international gathering to share ghostwriting experiences and expertise and discuss the future of our profession.

How did this pioneering event get its start?

Ghostwriters Unite! is the mental baby of Claudia Suzanne, the first person to ever deconstruct (Secrets of a Ghostwriter) and teach (Ghostwriting Certificate Program) how ghosts do what we do.

Ghostwriters Unite! was originally envisioned as an afternoon event, a chance for Suzanne’s alumni to meet and mingle with each other, their former teacher, and other industry experts.

But so many people got excited about the idea of getting together and talking about “professionalizing” our field that it’s grown into a full-blown conference!

We’ll be talking about setting fee standards and ethical boundaries and bylines and problem clients and working with agencies and publishing options and lots more.

If you’re a ghostwriter or are even thinking of getting started in this lucrative, recession-proof field, this is the one event you won’t want to miss!

The conference takes place May 3, 4, and 5, 2013 at the Hilton Long Beach & Executive Meeting Center, 701 West Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90831.

We’ll start with a Friday night mixer, then a full day of panels on finding clients, setting fees, handling the trust issue, maintaining voice, and other ghostwriter-specific topics. We’ll take a break at lunch with a keynote speaker and enjoy a limited-space banquet dinner with a special-guest author. We’ll finish the conference Sunday morning with an extended-panel discussion about the state of the book industry.

Get more information:

Ghostwriters Unite http://ghostwritersunite.com/

Come join me at this conference. Yes I will be there helping out Claudine and meeting all the wonderful authors and other industry leaders.

I can not stress enough how this conference may be one of the most important in the industry for those that want to make a living writing. – JW

Literary Agent Bruce Barbour on Submitting Your Book to Publish

Posted on May 22, 2012 by JW Najarian | 1 comment

Long Time Literary Agent Bruce Barbour Talks About How To Submit Your Book or Story

Literary veteran Bruce Barbour talks to OPM about how to submit your book to him.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRmatbYQQ6c]
I met Bruce at the incredible Author 101 Event in Los Angeles. This interview is well overdue since I recorded in in 2011, but the information has not changed.

Bruce is a veteran literary agent and he tells it like it is, about getting your book to him. What he wants to see, how he wants to see it and many more tips and suggestions to make sure you get your stuff read and taken seriously. – JW

Bruce Barbour

Excellence in Literary Management

Bruce R Barbour has been active in book publishing for thirty years.

Known to friends and colleagues as “BRB”, Bruce is the fourth generation of a publishing family that has served authors and publishers for nearly 140 years.

In 1870, his great-grand uncles, Fleming H. Revell and Dwight Moody, started publishing Christian books. Following in the footsteps of his great-grand uncles, grandfather, and father, Bruce joined the Fleming H. Revell Company in 1975 after graduating with honors from Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA.

He has held executive positions at several publishing houses including Fleming H Revell Company (family owned-business sold in 1979), Barbour and Company (co-founded and Exec VP in 1983-1986), Thomas Nelson (VP, Publisher, 1986-1993), and Random House (VP, Publisher 1994-1996).

In 1997, Bruce founded Literary Management Group, Inc., a full service literary agency and publishing consulting firm that has represented best-selling authors and properties including Zig Ziglar, Sandra Felton and The Beginner’s Bible and consulted with publishing houses including Thomas Nelson, Zondervan, Gospel Light, Pneuma Life, Legacy, New Hope, White Stone Books and others.

Literary Management Group

Literary Management Group is committed to providing excellent support and counsel to authors and publishers of a variety of resources (print, multi-media, and electronic).

We represent adult fiction and non-fiction and recommend that authors of children’s, gift, poetry, illustrated and academic books seek out literary firms which specialize in these genres. A great source for seeking out agencies is at www.michaelhyatt.com.

Although we specialize in the area of Christian publishing from an Evangelical perspective, we have editorial contacts and experience in general interest books as well.

Services include:

Literary Representation

Preparation of proposals based on a proven template that presents features, advantages and benefits so editors can review and quickly determine if book concept fits their editorial strategy and publishing needs.
Development of publisher submission strategy that identifies the list of publishers and editors most likely to be interested in reviewing and publishing the book.
Negotiation of optimum terms in publishing contract; terms that are fair for author, and reasonable for publisher, so everyone wins when the book is successfully published.
Project management and facilitation with publisher to ensure author’s experience, from editorial through marketing and publication, is smooth and understandable.
Review of publisher’s royalty reporting so author is clear on what the statements mean and confident in their accuracy.

Publishing Consultant and Executive Coach

Needs Assessment of all phases of publishing process including: strategic planning; budgeting; acquisition; editorial; design; production; sales and marketing; fulfillment; customer service; and, financial systems
Management mentoring and training.
Turn-arounds
Acquisitions and Sales of Assets
Strategic Planning facilitation

Packaging

Development of content from manuscript through delivery of bound books to customer including edit, design, production, and fulfillment
Sales and Marketing guidance and counsel

For Editorial Guidelines and Proposal Templates, please visit: http://literarymanagementgroup.com

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Rick Frishman’s Author 101

Are you curious about what publishers like Harper Collins, Morgan James, Adams Media, Wiley, Random House, and Simon & Schuster are looking for? What is the best way to get your manuscript read when you’re an unpublished author? Want to know the biggest mistakes to avoid when writing book proposals? You’ll be engaged as these top pros share their expertise, reveal the inner workings of the publishing industry, and discuss various approaches to common marketing and publishing challenges.

Author 101 University Event Website: www.author101university.com

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Posted in Business, Education, Interview, Management, Marketing, Video Podcast

Tagged agent, author, author 101, book, Bruce Barbour, business, children, christian, consulting, coporate, fantasy, fiction, how to, interview, jw najarian, Literary Agent, manuscript, marketing, non-fiction, Novel, packaging, publish, Reading, rick frishman, submit, Submitting Books for Publishing, training, video, writer, writing

Jeff Rivera Talks About Writing for a Living

Posted on May 20, 2011 by JW Najarian | 3 comments

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g55Wzo7Auc&w=500&h=315]

Jeff Rivera

Speaking at Author 101 2011 in Los Angeles, Jeff Rivera talks to the attendees about quiting your day job to write full time.

I did not know who Jeff was when I did this interview and now I am bummed, as Jeff has so many interesting things going on and his story is amazing. Go check it out for yourself. www.JeffRivera.com

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Jeff Rivera

Jeff Rivera is an author and inspirational media personality. He has appeared on national television, radio and print in such outlets as The Boston Globe, Publishers Weekly, Right On! Magazine, Rotarian Magazine, TMZ, WABC, WNBC, WCBS, SITV, American Latino and NPR.
He also writes for Mediabistro, GalleyCat and the Huffington Post and has been invited to speak and inspire groups all over the world from South Carolina to Nigeria.

His humble beginnings of living in American poverty on welfare and food stamps as the child of a single mother, to his days living in his car and final rise to becoming a published author, journalist and media personality have inspired many.

The Gatekeepers Post

Jeff Rivera is the Founder and Editor in Chief of The Gatekeepers Post. The Gatekeepers Post is a community of book publishing leaders including agents, editors, ebook publishers and A list authors allowing the publishing industry to tie in directly to other vendors and authors.

These professionals all blog on the newest changes in the industry and much more.

The Gatekeepers Post has been called a cross between The Huffington Post and Publishers Weekly. For More Info Click Here

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Forever My Lady Jeff Rivera

Jeff Rivera’s “Forever My Lady”

From Publishers Weekly

Dio “Playboy” Rodríguez grows up poor with a drunk single mother in gritty Las Vegas, leading him into gang life at 13. Now 17, Dio hides a softer side beneath a fierce exterior that’s known only to his middle school sweetheart, Jennifer. But when a drive-by leaves Jennifer wounded and sends Dio to prison boot camp, their soul mate relationship is put to the test. Rivera, who originally self-published this debut, traces a classic redemptive arc: perpetually scowling Dio resists the authority of drill instructor Jackson and clashes with fellow inmates, but he pours out his heart in letters to Jennifer, forms meaningful peer relationships and gains an appreciation for discipline. A genuine care for dynamic Dio allows Rivera to deliver a sincere story of transformation. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. –This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Rick Frishman’s Author 101

Author 101 University Event Website: www.author101university.com

3 Comments

Posted in Interview, Video Podcast

Tagged agent, author, Blogging, books, epublish, Jeff Rivera, News, publish on demand, Publishing, social media, The Gatekeepers Post, writers

365 Thank Yous – John Kralik – Author 101 Series

Posted on March 13, 2011 by JW Najarian | 5 comments

[youtube hhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vESUyUqXx_I&fs=1&hl=en_US]

365 Thank Yous Facebook Page

John Kralik was invited by Rick Frishman to speak at the 2011 Author 101 University Event in Los Angeles. JW Najarian interviewed John about his book and how he became published.

365 Thank Yous

One recent December, at age 53, John Kralik found his life at a terrible, frightening low: his small law firm was failing; he was struggling through a painful second divorce; he had grown distant from his two older children and was afraid he might lose contact with his young daughter; he was living in a tiny apartment where he froze in the winter and baked in the summer.

John was 40 pounds overweight; his girlfriend had just broken up with him; and overall, his dearest life dreams–including hopes of upholding idealistic legal principles and of becoming a judge–seemed to have slipped beyond his reach.

Then, during a desperate walk in the hills on New Year’s Day, John was struck by the belief that his life might become at least tolerable if, instead of focusing on what he didn’t have, he could find some way to be grateful for what he had.

Inspired by a beautiful, simple note his ex-girlfriend had sent to thank him for his Christmas gift, John imagined that he might find a way to feel grateful by writing thank-you notes. To keep himself going, he set himself a goal–come what may–of writing 365 thank-you notes in the coming year.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJGBujEmxKs&fs=1&hl=en_US]One by one, day after day, he began to handwrite thank yous–for gifts or kindnesses he’d received from loved ones and coworkers, from past business associates and current foes, from college friends and doctors and store clerks and handymen and neighbors, and anyone, really, absolutely anyone, who’d done him a good turn, however large or small. Immediately after he’d sent his very first notes, significant and surprising benefits began to come John’s way–from financial gain to true friendship, from weight loss to inner peace. While John wrote his notes, the economy collapsed, the bank across the street from his office failed, but thank-you note by thank-you note, John’s whole life turned around.

365 Thank Yous is a rare memoir: its touching, immediately accessible message–and benefits–come to readers from the plainspoken storytelling of an ordinary man. Kralik sets a believable, doable example of how to live a miraculously good life. To read 365 Thank Yous is to be changed.

About the Author

John Kralik was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended the University of Michigan for college and law school. He practiced law for thirty years, and was a partner in the law firms of Hughes Hubbard & Reed, Miller Tokuyama Kralik & Sur, and Kralik & Jacobs. In 2009, he was appointed a judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court. He lives in the Los Angeles area.

Rick Frishman’s Author 101

Additional bonus after hours cocktail party where you’ll have the opportunity to network with speakers from the day, industry experts and other attendees.
Author 101 University Event Website: www.author101university.com

5 Comments

Posted in Interview, Video Podcast

Tagged 365 thank yous, agent, author 101, book, distribution, john kralik, jw najarian, marketing, print on demand, publish, rick frishman