News & Reviews

WORD: Cosmo’s John Searles to keynote Backspace Writers Conference Aug. 7-8

John Searles, the deputy editor of Cosmopolitan who oversees book coverage for the magazine, has been added as keynote speaker at the 2008 Backspace Writers Conference that kicks off this week in New York City, Karen Dionne said. The two-day event brings together literary agents, acquisitions editors, best-selling authors and publishing professionals for a program of workshops, panels and networking at Radisson Martinique in Manhattan from August 7-8.

Program highlights include a conversation with Simon Lipskar and Mark Tavani on agents and editors working together, a marketing discussion by M.J. Rose, a workshop from independent editor Jerry Gross on finding and working with a reputable book doctor, and a role-playing workshop from Jeff Kleinman: "Buy This Book!"

Other sessions include agent and editor panel discussions, and panels on the young adult market, short stories, memoir, nonfiction, crime fiction, erotica and children’s picture books. In addition, there will be mixers and cocktail parties where conference delegates can mingle.

Attendance is limited to 200. $355 for Backspace members; $395 for non-members. In addition, Mystery Writers of America is offering their members a special discount. Click here to register up to the day of the conference. Some confirmed participants in this year’s conference are listed below.

Literary Agents: Richard Curtis, Simon Lipskar, Jeff Kleinman, Emmanuelle Alspaugh, Paige Wheeler, Laney Katz Becker, Jenny Bent, Maya Rock, Michael Bourret, Scott Hoffman, Ronnie Gramazio, Elisabeth Weed, Stephany Evans

Authors: M.J. Rose, Harry Hunsicker, Jason Pinter, Jackie Kessler, Heather Brewer, Gail Konop Baker, Laurel Corona, Lisa McMann, Jenny Gardiner, Danielle Younge-Ullman, Claudia Gray, Marlys Pearson, Jessica Keener, Elizabeth Letts, A.S. King, Robin Slick, Susan Henderson, Pam Jenoff, Trish Ryan, Leora Skolkin-Smith, Caroline Leavitt, Reed Farrel Coleman, Chris Grabenstein, William Powers

Editors and Other Publishing Professionals: Hilary Rubin Teeman (editor, St. Martin's), Charis Conn (contributing editor, Harper's Magazine), Kristen Weber (senior editor, New American Library), Bella Stander, Jerry Gross, Lauren Cerand, Eileen Winnick

< Back to News & Reviews Home