Faculty Interview: Sandy Lu

By Jason Henry 

Are you excited? We certainly are! Why shouldn't we be? The 2015 Pikes Peak Writers Conference is just around the corner! It has been an absolute pleasure recruiting the incredible faculty that we have lined up for you this year and the workshops they will be teaching are proving to be just as amazing.

Pikes Peak Writers Conference is known as one of the best and friendliest conferences for many reasons. One of those reasons is that we provide as many opportunities as possible to not only learn from our faculty, but to get to know them. Keeping in the spirit of that very statement, we interviewed all of our faculty members to get inside their heads just a little. Really, we don't see the point in waiting until April. Do you?

Over the weeks to come, we will be posting those interviews along with the responses right here on the PPW Blog. Be sure to check in on Facebook and Twitter as well! We hope you enjoy reading these brief Q&As as much as we have!

Sandy Lu: Agent - L. Perkins Agency 

1. What are the most compelling elements you feel are necessary for a good read?
A unique voice, three-dimensional characters and a compelling plot.

2. What do you see as the pleasures and difficulties of being a writer/artist in today's world?
The pleasures: finding people who respond to your writing positively, seeing your creation come to life.

The difficulties: more competitions (not just against other writers but also other media), more distractions, finding people who respond positively to your writing, and actually making a living writing full time.

3. What is the best career/writing advice someone has given you?
Read everything. Keep honing your craft. Be patient. Never give up.

4. Would you pass that same advice on or alter it?
Definitely. Also, only do it if you love it. Otherwise it’s just too hard.

5. What do you love most about your career?
Discovering new talents. Making someone’s lifelong dream come true.

6. What is something you wish everyone knew (or didn't know) about you?
I play the piano. And I love to sing. Also, I’m a damn good cook!

7. Which fictional character do you relate to the most, and why?
Sherlock Holmes. I observe and analyze everything. Also, I’m a bit of a misanthrope.

8. What character would your friends/family pick for you?
I don’t know if this is still true, but my nickname in junior high was Garfield. Yes, the cat.

Quick Qs:

Pen or Keyboard? Pen.

Plotter or Pantser? I’m not a writer, so I don’t think this applies. 

Book or E-Book? Book for pleasure. E-Book for work.

Spicy or Mild? Depends on my mood.

Sunrise or Sunset? Neither. Midnight.

Mr. Rogers or Sesame Street: No preference. Perhaps because I didn’t grow up in America.

Facebook or Twitter? Facebook for friends and family. Twitter for publishing peeps.

Sandy Lu has been a literary agent at the L. Perkins Agency since 2009. She holds BAs in psychology and sociology, with minors in music, business, and Japanese. Prior to becoming an agent, she was a Ph.D. candidate in Social and Personality Psychology and worked as a business/operations manager in the theater industry. She is a native Mandarin Chinese speaker.

Sandy is seeking submissions that draw her in with a unique voice and a good yarn that will make her miss her subway stop and keep her up at night. She particularly loves all things historical and anything with a supernatural bent. In fiction, she is looking for dark literary and commercial fiction, mystery, thriller, psychological horror, historical fiction, fantasy, and YA. In non-fiction, she is looking for narrative non-fiction, history, biography, memoir, pop science, psychology, sociology, pop culture (music/theatre/film), and food writing. She does not represent romance, poetry, children’s picture books, how-to/self-help, parenting, religion/spirituality, and sports.

Because I’m Not About the Pitch, ‘Bout the Pitch—Just Query

By Ashley Hodges Bazer

Have you heard? Pikes Peak Writers Conference has done away with Pitch!

What’s that about? I mean, isn’t that was writers’ conferences are for…meeting with an agent or editor? Rubbing elbows and networking with people in the industry to secure a career in writing? How in the world am I going to get my million dollar advance for my multi-book contract with one of the Big 5 publishers?

Cool your jets, Kemosabe. Just like pink is the new black, Query 1-on-1 is the new Pitch. And let me, your Query 1-on-1 Coordinator, tell you why.          

Instead of spending eight excruciating minutes trying to impress a total stranger with a memorized logline, a summary, and a glowing sales pitch, you’ll now have the opportunity to get instant feedback on your one page query letter. You’ll sit down with one of these knowledgeable agents or editors, slide a single sheet of paper across the table, and learn what stands out in your query letter and what could be made better. There’s still the same chance the agent or editor will request to see more. There’s still the same conversation about your work. But there is now a springboard in place—a solid, well-crafted query directed toward the agent or editor you will meet with. Your logline and summary committed to ink, not waffling on nerves. It’s an opportunity to share a sample of your polished writing with a literary giant.

I’m personally quite excited about this new format. My first pitch in 2013 went fairly well, but last year, I think I tried too hard. Those eight pitching minutes were miserable! I was way too nervous, and I had psyched myself out. I had chosen to meet with an agent, and I was rather confident in my idea. I even went to the speed pitching sessions to sharpen my skills and receive some pointers. I had my logline down cold, but when I stood outside the pitch room with my fellow authors, the jitters showed up. I sat down across from the kind agent and blurted out my logline. Our conversation about my book was over in about two minutes. Yes, thankfully, she wanted to see more. But now we had six minutes to sit and chat.

I will be the first to tell you, I am an introvert. A classic, stereotypical, quintessential introvert. I am much better at writing words than speaking them. (That’s why we write, no?) On top of that, these agents and editors are literary celebrities to a meek, hopeful author. These are people we cyberstalk, trying to determine their likes and preferences. We follow them on Twitter, hanging on their every Tweet. We Google them over and over, looking for that one piece of valuable information that will give us an “in.” We hope they accept our Facebook friend request. How cool would you look to your other author friends by tagging one of the literary elite?

Okay…so maybe it’s just me.

But I believe this fresh idea we lovingly call Query 1-on-1 will prove far more beneficial to those of us who choose to participate than the previous pitching years. I hope you will take advantage of this conference perk. Just sign up for Query 1-on-1 when you register. Tell us your top three choices, and we’ll try to make that happen. Then, the rest is up to you. Research, write, polish, revise, polish again, read aloud, polish one more time, edit down to one single page of genius, and present.

See you on the seventh floor!

    

About the Author: Ashley Hodges Bazer is the author of the sci-fi series, The Crown's Call. She’s often decked out in bellbottoms and grooving out on the lighted dance floor. Okay, not really, but she does have a thing for the BeeGees. She lives in Colorado with her husband and three children. After earning her bachelor’s degree in theatrical stage management from Arizona State University, she went on to work for Disneyland in that capacity. A love affair with books led her to work for several different bookstores. Currently a producer for an international daily radio program, she’s learning to balance working, writing, and momming duties. When she’s not writing, she’s crocheting or belting out Broadway show tunes. And she's a real duchess! Learn more about Ashley and her upcoming books at www.AshleyBazer.com.

Pikes Peak Writers Conference: Read and Critique

By Robert Spiller

Here's the deal. I am excited (read somewhat intimidated) to be the Read And Critique Coordinator for the 2015 Pikes Peak Writers Conference - in my opinion the finest, most useful, funnest (yeah, that's a word) writing conference in the solar system.

In hopes of being more than just a pretty face, let me school you about Read and Critique sessions in general and the types of sessions in particular.

What the heck is a Read and Critique Appointment, you say?

Are you proud of your work? Here is a chance to show it off!

Industry Professionals (Authors, Agents, Editors) will provide immediate, I'm talking on the spot, feedback concerning the beginning of your manuscript. And it doesn't have to be completed as of the conference.

What are the types of Read and Critique Sessions?

Read and Critique Author

As the title suggests, you are with a published author. You read your opening two pages. (Don't cheat. We're talking industry standard format.) You are in a small intimate setting; just you, your author, and a few other participants. The author provides immediate feedback. Additional feedback from the other participants is encouraged. 

Read and Critique 1,2,3

A staffer reads your first page, 16 lines (either chapter 1 or your prologue) aloud. You remain anonymous. A panel of one Author, one Agent, and one Editor listens, then each provides insight and direction. These sessions are open to attendees to listen in and take notes.

Read and Critique X

You read aloud your first page - again 16 lines - to an Agent or Editor. The coolness factor in this type of session is that every effort will be made to match you up with professionals who align with your genre. As in all Read and Critique sessions, feedback will be immediate and one-on-one.

How might I avail myself of these wonderful opportunities to have my work evaluated?

Glad you asked!

First be diligent. Decide what type of Read and Critique suits you. Research the conference faculty at the Pikes Peak Writers Website.

Next, request an appointment on your registration form.

Which brings us to registration. Register for the conference ASAP. The earlier you are ensconced in the conference, the more likely you will receive the Read and Critique appointment of your choice. Be sure to provide your genre, since this will determine how you are assigned a session and who you will be with.

Oh yeah, one more thing. All Read and Critique sessions are at no extra charge.

If you have any additional questions, I would advise a delightful excursion to the Pikes Peak Writers Website. Write on. 

About the Author: Robert Spiller is a displaced Pennsylvanian living the good life in Colorado Springs, Colorado with his wife Barbara. Within shouting distance are his three daughters and four grandchildren.  

He is the author of the Bonnie Pinkwater mysteries: The Witch of Agnesi, A Calculated Demise, Irrational Numbers, and Radical Equations. These combine four of his passions: teaching, mathematics, math history, and writing. 

Although recently retired, Robert has taught math from elementary to college for the past thirty-five years. In 2005, he realized a long time dream when he ran the Pikes Peak Ascent - a thirteen mile half marathon to the top of America's mountain. He is the 2015 Pikes Peak Writers Conference Read and Critique Coordinator.

I Hate All Writers Everywhere

By Aaron Michael Ritchey 

I was at the Colorado Teen Literature Conference this year, and they had wonderful guests like they

marcellapurnama.com

always do. David Levithan was there; he wrote Two Boys Kissing, co-authored Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and co-authored Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Heavy hitter. He got picked up by a big publishing house in his twenties, didn’t even query. A friend knew a friend, who passed on his writing.

I hate him.

A.S. King was also there, and she wrote Reality Boy, Please Ignore Vera Dietz, and like a million other books. Her story was more common. And heartbreaking. She wrote, queried, and was rejected for fifteen years. Then got a big break and became a hit. Another heavy hitter. 

I hate her.

And then Todd Mitchell was there, critically acclaimed (hate him), and a bunch of other local writers with big agents, big houses, movie contracts, adoration, and raw, burning talent (hate them one and all).

And there was Sheri Duff and me. I love Sheri Duff. She loves good books, writing, and me. All good things to love.  Sheri went home, feeling overwhelmed by all the big name authors, because yeah, it was intimidating.  I talked with her for a long time in the middle of the street, with cars zooming around us, because what she was feeling was important and I could empathize.

When I was first starting out, I hated anyone who had more success than me.

Because I felt like a small goldfish among sharks. I felt desolate and empty, hopeless. Despairing.  However, things have changed.

More and more, it doesn’t matter. The writing game isn’t a fair game. It’s evil in some ways. Why did David Levithan get the big contract when other authors didn’t? Why did it take A.S. King so long to get in the door?  How come?

I don’t have any answers. I don’t know why I’m unagented. People seem to like my books. My new book got a glowing review from Kirkus. I mean glowing. If you read it, you gots to wear sunglasses.  But still, no lovin’ for Aaron Michael Ritchey from the traditional publishing world.

I’m going to quote from an interview I had with Catherine Ryan Hyde (love her), because this sums up really what I’m feeling nowadays and I wanted to share it with the PPW blog:

 “I’m like a guy who couldn’t find a prom date. I went around and asked all these agents and editors to go to the prom with me, and they all said no. I went to prom anyway. I might be out on the dance floor by myself, but I’m publishing books I adore, and I’m dancing. But I’m not alone. I’m dancing with editors from small presses, I’m dancing with other writers, and I’m dancing with readers. Make no mistake. I’m dancing.”

I don’t know why some people strike it rich and others don’t. I do know I wrote for twenty years and I churned out numerous books, some of which were bad and shouldn’t be published. Other books were good, and I’m proud of them, but no one wanted to publish them. I don’t know why that is.

Doesn’t matter. I’m going to play this game with everything I’ve got. I am going to continue to query because an agent can get me to a bigger house, which can get me help with marketing. Not a lot, but any help is better than none. I’m going to continue to write books and get them out into the world.

In short, I’m going to continue to dance. What other people do, what fortunes they gain, or laurels they win, good for them. I am going to celebrate the victories of other writers.

Let me repeat that. I am going to celebrate the victories of other writers. Because a win for one of us is a win for all.

And when I meet the big names, when I see their lines of fans stretch around the block, I’m going to smile and be glad for them.

Maybe someday that will be me. Maybe not. Right now, I’m dancing, and when I’m pounding on my keyboard, listening to 30 Seconds To Mars, lost in my story, well, the music just can’t get any sweeter. That Jared Leto, rock star and Academy Award winning actor.

Him, I can hate.

About the Author: Aaron Michael Ritchey’s first novel, The Never Prayer, was published in March of 2012 to a fanfare of sparkling reviews including an almost win in the RMFW Gold contest. Since then he’s been paid to write steampunk, cyberpunk, and sci-fi western short stories, and his story, “The Dirges of Percival Lewand” has been nominated for a Hugo award. His next novel, Long Live the Suicide King, is currently giving hope to the masses. Kirkus Reveiws calls it a “a compelling tale of teenage depression handled with humor and sensitivity.” He lives in Colorado with two rockstar daughters and a moviestar wife.

For more about him, his books, and how to overcome artistic angst, visit www.aaronmritchey.com. He’s on Facebook as Aaron Michael Ritchey and he tweets - @aaronmritchey. .

Sweet Success! Karen Albright Lin

Compiled by Kathie Scrimgeour

Karen Lin has a lot of Sweet Successes to share!

 

It was announced that Karen Albright Lin’s feature length horror screenplay, Dark Side of Morning Light, is a quarterfinalist in the 2013 Scream Craft Horror Screenplay Competition.  The screenplay tells the story of a mother who wades through Chinese mythical culture to free her son of a hunger striker who has possessed him.  Ms. Albright Lin is now a monthly columnist for BTS Book and Book Trailer Reviews, a partner with Barnes & Noble.  She’ll be writing about the multitude of genres she’s dabbled in.  Her column is called "Karen’s Writing Detours. " Her first article is in the August 2013 issue.  Karen is now represented by Deborah Ritchken of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, who is currently marketing Karen’s cookbook, Nature's Wrap: Cooking in Leaves; Recipes from Around the World.  Ms. Albright Lin just returned from teaching writing classes on a cruise through the  Baltic and will teach again in December for Celebrity Cruise Line, destinations Belize, Panama, Cartagena, Costa Rica and Colon.

Karen Albright Lin is a professional editor/consultant for multi-published and yet-to-be published writers of fiction, nonfiction, and screenplays. She’s a ghostwriter of novels and writes for newspapers and magazines, as well as literary magazines. She has won or placed in 25 writing contests. She’s written and collaborated on five short scripts and ten feature length screenplays that have garnered international, national and regional awards - one produced. Her co-written scripts have been considered by James Cameron, Barry Sonnenfeld, HBO, Showtime and the Sci Fi Channel. She speaks at writer’s conferences, retreats, and on cruises.

We love to hear of fellow Pikes Peak Writers' Sweet Successes, including story acceptances, winning contests, getting published and book signings. Please email Kathie Scrimgeour at ppwsweetsuccess@gmail.com if you've got a Sweet Success you'd like to share.

PPWC 2013 - Kate Testerman, Agent

KT Literary

Kate Testerman

Kate Testerman worked in publishing in New York for twelve years before moving to Colorado and opening her own literary agency, KT Literary. She is primarily interested in YA and MG, but will consider teen chick lit, urban fantasy, romantic comedies and magical realism adventure stories. She will not be taking pitch appointments, but will host a coffee klatch on Friday.

Some fun facts about Kate: she was a cast member in the New York Renaissance Faire and she collects shoes. She's a member of SCBWI and AAR, and fully believes in using technology for marketing. Much of her social media is under her alter-ego, Daphne.

You can find her at the following places:

KT Literary website

Publisher's Marketplace

Google+

Facebook

Her Daphne blog

Twitter

About the Author:  Shannon Lawrence is a mom of two, a freelance writer and aspiring novelist.  She lives in Colorado Springs and is inspired by the beauty of Pikes Peak and the Rockies.  After years of letting her writing fall by the wayside, she has recently thrown herself back into it.  Her main focus is fantasy and horror and she has just finished a Young Adult Fantasy novel.  She has a flash fiction piece featured in the anthology Sunday Snaps: The Stories, due out in 2013.  She has also discovered a love of photography and enjoys photographing the breathtaking Colorado scenery and wildlife, as well as her children.  She blogs about reading, writing and photography at www.thewarriormuse.com.

PPWC 2013 - Pam van Hylckama Vlieg, Agent

Foreword Literary

Pam van Hylckama Vlieg

Pam van Hylckama Vlieg sold twenty-one books in her first year at Larsen Pomada Literary. She's now moved with mentor Laurie McLean to create a new agency, Foreword Literary.

Not only is Pam an agent, but she is also a writer of YA and a YA book blogger at Bookalicious.org, Bookalicio.us, and Brazen Reads. She feels that being a writer gives her better insight into fellow writers.

Pam is currently seeking YA, MG, Romance, New Adult, SF and Fantasy. Not only that, but she is also willing to take genre fiction and women's fiction pitches back for other agents at her agency, should the pitch interest her. She is currently building her list, so she's open to great ideas.

We recommend you view her Foreword Literary bio (link below) to see what some of her favorite books are in the genres she's accepting pitches for. She's provided great insight for writers in this list!

You can also find Pam at:

Larsen Pomada Literary

LinkedIn

Goodreads

Foreward Literary

Bookalicio.us

Bookalicious.org

Brazen Reads

Twitter

Google+

About the Author:  Shannon Lawrence is a mom of two, a freelance writer and aspiring novelist.  She lives in Colorado Springs and is inspired by the beauty of Pikes Peak and the Rockies.  After years of letting her writing fall by the wayside, she has recently thrown herself back into it.  Her main focus is fantasy and horror and she has just finished a Young Adult Fantasy novel.  She has a flash fiction piece featured in the anthology Sunday Snaps: The Stories, due out in 2013.  She has also discovered a love of photography and enjoys photographing the breathtaking Colorado scenery and wildlife, as well as her children.  She blogs about reading, writing and photography at www.thewarriormuse.com.

Good News for all Writers Everywhere! Rejoice!

By Aaron Michael Ritchey

I have a friend, Betsy Dornbusch, who posted on her blog that people think she self-published her book. They just assume it. Now, she’s spent the last eight years working on her craft to get to the point that she is a professional writer, and yeah, she hasn’t self-published, and gets miffed that people just assume she did.

It’s a fascinating blog post. And you can link to it from HERE. 

I commented, which I don’t do often. This is my comment in funky fresh italics:

I have to say, when asked if I self-pubbed, I can honestly say I didn't. I have a publisher. My press is small. Does that make a difference? I don't know. Mark Coker of Smashwords would say the market and the readers will decide.

However, the days of working years on a book only to shove it under the bed because you couldn't find a publisher are over. Good.

Write books. Publish them. Repeat. If you suck, you suck. If you're divine, the readers will come. Perhaps only a few, but better than no readers at all.

I keep thinking, though, that I didn’t capture exactly what I wanted to say. The issue is so deep, wide, and pervasive—it plunges into the murky bottom of my vanity and my fears.

I don’t have a literary agent. I published my first book through a small press. I’ve had to do everything myself as far as marketing and promotion. People are sooooooooo impressed that I got published. Most normal people don’t know the difference between my contract with Crescent Moon Press and Stephen King’s latest contract with Simon and Schuster. I know. And it pains me.

This is hard stuff. Should I stop writing and give up because the outside world has not given me the six figure advance? Or should I rejoice in the fact I have an ISBN?  Shouldn’t I be grateful I have a book in the world, and that readers in Germany and the Philippines get to write negative reviews about my work on Amazon?

Yes, but I have a problem. I have dramatic sensibilities. If I don’t have Twilight fame, I suck. If my work doesn’t win awards, I suck. If I’m not making millions of dollars off my books, I suck. If German teens don’t love my books, I suck.

And yet, there are writers who got the six-figure advance and then got screwed. Who got dropped by their publisher. Who lived a life of woe. There are no easy answers. Good books do well. Crappy books do well. No one knows anything except if you hit it big, people will call you a genius. Take the same book, give it a bad cover and add some misspelled words, the same EXACT book, and the same people who lauded your genius will laugh at you.

I say we should rejoice in whatever path we are on. If you are self-pubbed, rejoice that you live in a time when you can get your voice out into the world. Give Mark Coker a big kiss next time you see him. And pray for sales.

If you have a big-time literary agent with big-time contracts with big-time publishers, rejoice because you’ve done something very few people ever do. And pray for sales.

Above all, write books. Write good books when you can. Write really stupid books when you can’t. And then take the plunge and put your book in the hands of readers, real readers, with hearts, minds, and souls. If some knucklehead shrugs you off because your book is only available online, talk to the next person, who might really need to read your work.

My first book I had printed by a tech manual printer. I had about twenty copies made. The book was unreadable. I dedicated it to my wife and she couldn’t get past the first chapter. It was a disaster. But my friend Peter read it. And he cried because he understood what I was trying to say in that 150,000 word monstrosity. My story touched him down to the roots of his soul. So the disaster was worth every single piece of shrapnel.

Rejoice and be glad! 

About the Writer:  YA Paranormal author Aaron Michael Ritchey has penned a dozen manuscripts in his 20 years as a writer. When he isn’t slapping around his muse, Aaron cycles to look fabulous, works in medical technologies, and keeps his family in silks and furs. His first novel, The Never Prayer, hit the streets on March 29, 2012.

PPWC 2013 - Hannah Bowman, Agent

Liza Dawson Associates Literary Agency

Hannah Bowman

Hannah Bowman is one of the agents who will be at PPWC 2013. She interned with Weronika Janczuk before her current position at Liza Dawson Associates. But before that she moonlighted in physics, working Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. Particle physics may seem odd for a literary agent, but she has dual degrees from Cornell, one in English, one in Mathematics. 

Hannah writes fiction, in addition to agenting, and actually wrote and queried a couple novels, which were rejected. This led to her interest in the other side of things. She writes science fiction and fantasy. She also plays the organ. 

If you intend to pitch to Hannah, or query her, she specializes in commercial fiction, especially science fiction and fantasy, women's fiction, cozy mysteries, romance and young adult. She's also interested in nonfiction, particularly mathematics, science, and religion.

Hannah has a Tumblr account (link below) where she answers industry questions and gives advice on querying, genre, etc. From her Tumblr: "I love big concepts, powerful voices, and twisty, complex plots, and I'm a sucker for sweet love stories." You can find her at the following places:

Tumblr

Agency Website

Twitter

About the Author:  Shannon Lawrence is a mom of two, a freelance writer and aspiring novelist.  She lives in Colorado Springs and is inspired by the beauty of Pikes Peak and the Rockies.  After years of letting her writing fall by the wayside, she has recently thrown herself back into it.  Her main focus is fantasy and horror and she has just finished a Young Adult Fantasy novel.  She has a flash fiction piece featured in the anthology Sunday Snaps: The Stories, due out in 2013.  She has also discovered a love of photography and enjoys photographing the breathtaking Colorado scenery and wildlife, as well as her children.  She blogs about reading, writing and photography at www.thewarriormuse.com.