Push to Publish 2019 – Philadelphia Stories

DATE: Saturday, October 12, 9am-5pm

LOCATION: Rosemont College, 1400 Montgomery Ave., Rosemont, PA 19010

Whether you are an established writer or just getting started, this one-day workshop will provide valuable resources you can use to get your work in print and online. Highlights include:

Speed date with the editors and agents: Meet editors and agents who will review and offer feedback on your work (bring up to 5 pages of fiction, poetry, or nonfiction to review and discuss)
Learn how to increase your chances of getting published
Discuss the latest writing trends with professionals in the community
Get great marketing and networking tips to break into the competitive world of publishing

Contact: For Push to Publish questions, email push2publish@gmail.com.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Click here for bios of agents, editors, and speakers.

9:00-10:00 Registration and Breakfast (Kistler Memorial Library)

Attendees will sign up for their speed dates at registration. Open speed date sessions will run in the morning. Appointments will be available the day of the event on a first-come, first-serve basis. (Note: Please see registration information below for details on pre-reserving an afternoon agent appointment.) Due to high demand, we limit one agent meeting per attendee. Attendees are free to sign up for additional appointments with agents, after initial sign-ups, as available.

10:00-11:00 Keynote Speaker (McShain/Dorothy McKenna Brown Science Center, Rotwitt Theater*)

Susan Muaddi Darraj is an Associate Professor of English at Harford Community College in Bel Air, Maryland. A 2018 USA Ford Fellow, Susan is also a Lecturer in the Johns Hopkins University’s MA in Writing program and a faculty member in Fairfield University’s MFA program. In 2014, her short story collection, A Curious Land: Stories from Home, was named the winner of the AWP Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction. She was awarded a Ford Fellowship by USA Artists in 2018. In January 2020, Capstone Books will launch her debut children’s chapter book series, Farah Rocks, about a smart, brave Palestinian American girl named Farah Hajjar.

11:15-12:30 Speed Dating with Editors & Agents (Kistler Memorial Library)

Editors and agents will meet with attendees in 10-minute sessions.

12:30-1:15 Lunch & Networking (Cardinal Hall)

Lunch will be served at the cafeteria in Cardinal Hall.

1:15-2:15 Breakout Session I: Panels & Workshops (McShain/Dorothy McKenna Brown Science Center)

NOTE: A pen & paper, laptop, or similar device is recommended for these sessions.

Workshop: How to Survive Writing a Family Memoir: Room 112: Alison Bechdel, the author of Fun Home and Are You my Mother?, the New York Times Bestseller graphic memoir, says that the writers utmost responsibility when writing a memoir is to “serve her story. Not, you may note, to serve her family, or to serve the truth, but to serve the story” (p. 283). In this workshop we will explore strategies for memoir writing when members of your family become characters on the page. Attendees should come prepared with a family photograph for this workshop. Presenter: Concha Alborg

Panel: Submitting to Magazines & Journals: Room 212: This panel of editors will share their advice on how you can submit your work to literary magazines and journals to better your chances of getting published. They can answer any questions you have regarding reading fees, themed issues, writing contests, and more. Panelists: Trish Rodriguez (Philadelphia Stories), John Wall Barger (Painted Bride Quarterly), Rachel Kolman (Rathalla Review), Frances Metzman (Schuylkill Valley Journal), Moderator: Mitchell Sommers

Panel: Querying Your Book Without an Agent: Room 315: Agents are often seen as the gateway to getting published but there are a number of authors who’ve successfully published their books without an agent. This panel will offer tips on how to query publishers when you don’t have an agent’s connections. Panelists: Tara Tomczyk (Blydyn Square Books), Feliza Casano (Lanternfish Press), Henry Israeli (Saturnalia Books), Curtis Smith (Author), Moderator: Autumn Konopka

Panel: The Life of a Writer: Room 215: A panel and Q&A discussion about what exactly is meant by ‘the writing life’. Our panelists, the novelists of The Liars Club with more than 25 traditionally published books between them, will talk about what you do to survive as a writer—including day jobs, submitting to magazines, work for hire, keeping track of the state of publishing, and whatever else our audience has in the way of questions. A free-form talk about…everything to do with surviving as an author. Panelists: Gregory Frost, Kelly Simmons, Jon McGoran, Merry Jones, Moderator: Keith Strunk

*This panel will be recorded as a podcast for the Liars Club Oddcast series.

1:30-2:30 Speed Dating With Agents (PRE-RESERVED APPOINTMENTS) (Kistler Memorial Library)

Agents will meet with attendees who pre-reserved appointments in 10-minute sessions.

2:30-3:30 Breakout Session II: Panels & Workshops (McShain/Dorothy McKenna Brown Science Center)

NOTE: A pen & paper, laptop, or similar device is recommended for these sessions.

Workshop: Word Wizardry: Crafting A Stand-Out Query And First Page: Room 315: Bring your laptops, tablets, or just multi-colored pens and paper for this interactive, hands-on workshop! You’ll be guided through tips and tricks for creating your best query and first pages in order to engage the agents and editors of your choice. Come prepared, main character in mind, to learn new tactics for getting your manuscript noticed! Presenter: Kelly Peterson, Literary Agent, Rees Literary Agency

Workshop: Push to Post: Using Social Media to Create your Author Brand: Room 215: Smith Publicity publicists and social media strategists Michela DellaMonica and Lindsey Brodowski will go through the basics of creating an author presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, including tips on creating content, engagement, and becoming a brand on social media! Each attendee should come prepared with the above social media accounts to work on during the workshop. Presenters: Lindsey Brodowski, Michela DellaMonica (Smith Publicity)

Workshop: Revising with Character: Room 212: A 6-Point Worksheet to guide your novel revision process. All successful novels have one thing in common—and it has nothing to do with your genre, plot, setting, rising action or denouement. This workshop offers a simple, effective method to focus your revision around your characters. Presenter: Kelly Simmons

Panel: Writing for Children & YA: Room 112: This panel of published authors and industry professionals will discuss the unique Childrens and Young Adult markets and offer tips for submitting to agents and publishers seeking work. Panelists: Erin Entrada Kelly (2018 Newbery Medal Winner & Middle Grade Author), Cordelia Jensen (YA & Middle Grade Author), Rachel Dougherty (Picture Book Author), Britny Brooks-Perilli (Running Press), Moderator: Sawyer Lovett

3:45-5:00 Breakout Session III: Meet the Agents (McShain/Dorothy McKenna Brown Science Center, Rotwitt Theater*)

Agents share their tips for finding the right agent and selling your work. This interactive panel will include plenty of time for Q&A so you can get an insider’s perspectives on the publishing market today. Panelists: Jordy Albert, Maile Beal, Heather Carr, Devon Halliday, Caitlin McDonald, Kelly Peterson, Maximilian Ximenez, Moderator: Carla Spataro

5:00-6:00 Happy Hour & Networking (McShain/Dorothy McKenna Brown Science Center, Rotwitt Theater* Lobby)

Meet new friends and share lessons learned!

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Fee: $125 (Students, Seniors $95) includes Breakfast, Lunch, and one Speed-date Pass. Additional Speed-date passes can be purchased for $5 each. (No more than 3 total recommended.) (50% off for Rosemont students, faculty, and alumni — must provide valid proof of affiliation at registration)

Travel: For driving directions, click here. For transportation directions, click here. If you are taking public transportation, see SEPTA’s schedule for the Paoli/Thorndale rail line to the Rosemont station. Rosemont’s campus is a 5-10 minute walk from the station. Directions from Rosemont station: head right and when you reach the first corner, cross the street and head left. Keep heading down the street; it will curve and you will see the Rosemont Campus at your left.

Parking: You may park in ANY lot on the Rosemont Campus for free. You do not need to worry about the signs about permits. See the campus map for lot locations.

Pre-reserve an Agent (FULLY BOOKED): Attendees may pre-register for a guaranteed agent meeting in an afternoon time slot for a $25 fee (LIMIT ONE MEETING/ATTENDEE). Attendees MUST register for the Push to Publish conference to reserve an agent. It will count as use of your Speed-date Pass included with your registration. Click here to see available agents and meeting times.

Speed Date: Attendees will sign up for agent and editor meetings in the morning the day of the conference (first-come, first-serve). Those who have NOT pre-reserved an afternoon agent meeting will have the opportunity to sign up with an agent first (limit one agent meeting/attendee). All attendees are free to sign up for additional appointments with agents, after initial sign-ups, as available.

*We strongly recommend that attendees meeting with an agent have a completed or nearly completed manuscript. For those wishing to get feedback on their work, in-progress or completed, we recommend you meet with an editor.

PRE-CONFERENCE EVENT:

Master Class with Susan Muaddi Darraj: “Voice” is often what makes or breaks a work of fiction, but few writers know what the term means. Through an analysis of several samples as well as writing exercises and prompts, participants will work on understanding and evoking their own distinct voices. Click here for more information.

Where: Rosemont College, 1400 Montgomery Ave., Rosemont, PA 19010; Kaul Forum (click here for campus map).

Travel & Parking: For driving directions, click here. For transportation directions, click here. You may park in the lot by Kaul for free (see campus map).

When: Friday, October 11, 11-4, 2019

Fee: $95 (Students, Seniors $85) includes Lunch. (50% off for Rosemont students, faculty, and alumni — must provide valid proof of affiliation at registration)

Thank you to our sponsors!

Greater Philadelphia Wordshop Studio

Philadelphia Writers Workshop

OC87 Recovery Diaries

OC87 Recovery Diaries is an interactive website that features stories of mental health, empowerment and change.

Rosemont College

Rosemont MFA in Creative Writing & MA in Publishing Programs

Click here for bios of agents, editors, and speakers.

Agents – Speed Date

Jordy Albert

Jordy Albert

NOTE: SPEAKER

Jordy Albert is a Literary Agent and co-founder of The Booker Albert Literary Agency. She holds a B.A. in English from Pennsylvania State University, and a M.A. from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. She has worked with Marisa Corvisiero during her time at the L. Perkins Agency and the Corvisiero Literary Agency.

SEEKING: Jordy is looking for young adult contemporary, sci-fi, and fantasy (romance is a plus). She’s also looking for smart, sexy contemporary and historical romance (Jordy definitely has a soft spot for a fantastic Regency). She’s drawn to strong, intelligent characters (snarky, but still likable). Please note that while it isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, she tends to shy away from novels with trigger topics, such as suicide and any type of abuse.

Maile Beal

NOTE: SPEAKER

Maile is an agent with the Carol Mann Agency. Maile grew up in Kailua, Hawai’i before moving to the East Coast to earn her B.A. in English from Drexel University. A city girl at heart, the only thing she misses about her hometown is her dog, Simba. Maile began her publishing career as an intern with the Carol Mann Agency before joining the team as subrights manager and assistant to Myrsini Stephanides in 2017. Now, she is excited to be filling her own list with projects she’s passionate about. Maile usually spends her free time binging her favorite TV shows and annoying her cat, Mae. You can follow Maile on Instagram and Twitter.

SEEKING: I’m interested in both fiction and non-fiction that amplifies underrepresented voices and untold stories. In fiction, I’m looking for voice-driven, commercial adult and YA as well as suspenseful, psychological thrillers. In non-fiction, I’m looking for everything from fun and humorous illustrated books to journalistic investigations of important and timely social issues. I’m particularly interested in intersectional feminism, pop-culture and entertainment, true crime, and lifestyle and cookbooks with a fresh hook. I am not looking for fantasy/sci-fi or prescriptive health/fitness books right now.

Heather Carr

NOTE: SPEAKER

Heather Carr is an associate agent at The Friedrich Agency. Originally from outside of Portland, OR, she received a B.A. in English from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, and ended her eastbound journey by settling in Brooklyn, NY with her 18-year-old cat. She spent her first few years in publishing at Trident Media Group before joining The Friedrich Agency in March 2018.

SEEKING: Heather is looking for voice-driven narrative nonfiction, especially relating to science, the environment, niche histories, and cultural criticism. She’s also seeking literary and high-concept commercial fiction including that which dabbles in the surreal and suspenseful, particularly about complex women and female friendship. In all writing, she’s on the hunt for a singular voice and new perspectives. She does not represent any work for children or young adults.

Sharon Chudnow

Sharon Chudnow moved from California to New York with her heart set on working in publishing and seeing a proper snowfall. After studying English and fine arts & design at Hofstra University, she spent time as an intern at New Leaf Literary and an assistant at Janklow & Nesbit Associates before joining InkWell Management. She spends her free time training for ballroom dance competitions, traveling great lengths for good food and fantasizing about getting a small dog. You can follow her on Twitter.

SEEKING: Sharon is drawn to the full gamut of children’s literature from picture books to YA, with special interest in science fiction & fantasy, contemporary fiction and the occasional creative nonfiction. She especially loves seeing stories about sibling relationships, multicultural identity, food, slice of life LGBTQ+, niche/specialty hobbies, and other cultures & their histories.

Devon Halliday

NOTE: SPEAKER

Devon Halliday is a literary agent at Susanna Lea Associates. She holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Brown University and has worked at various agencies in the past, including Writers House and Maria B. Campbell Associates.

SEEKING: On the fiction side, Devon is open to a wide range of literary and upmarket work, but is especially drawn to anything with a speculative twist and intimately detailed observations of human relationships. For non-fiction, she’s interested in any narrative or investigative writing that illuminates a niche or unexpected factor in our lives. A few things that catch her eye across both genres: climate change, millennial voices, moral complexity, and sharp original sentences.

Caitlin McDonald

Caitlin MacDonald NOTE: SPEAKER

Caitlin McDonald joined the Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2015, and was previously at Sterling Lord Literistic. Caitlin grew up overseas and has a BA in Creative Writing from Columbia University.

SEEKING: She represents adult and young adult science-fiction, fantasy, horror, and related subgenres, as well as contemporary fiction about geeky characters. She is particularly looking for stories with diverse casts and fresh takes on popular tropes or important topics of today’s world; genre-bending and crossover works; complex female leads and female-focused relationships; and any kind of heist. She also handles a small amount of nonfiction in geeky areas, with a focus on food, feminist theory/women’s issues, and pop culture.

Kelly Peterson

NOTE: SPEAKER

Kelly Peterson is a West Chester University graduate with a B.S.Ed in English and Literature. She worked as a Junior Literary Agent for two years before moving to Rees Literary Agency, continuing to champion her authors and the manuscripts she loves.

SEEKING: Kelly seeks manuscripts in various genres within Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult age ranges. In Middle Grade, she loves fantasy, sci-fi, and contemporary that touches on tough issues for young readers. Her Young Adult preferences vary from contemporary to high fantasy, sci-fi (not the space kind) to paranormal (all the ghost stories, please!), and historical all the way back to rom-coms. Kelly is proud to continue to represent Adult manuscripts in romance, fantasy, and sci-fi. She is very interested in representing authors with marginalized own voices stories, witty and unique characters, pirates, witches, and dark fantasies.

Maximilian Ximenez

NOTE: SPEAKER

Maximilian Ximenez grew up within the New York publishing industry. Prior to joining the L. Perkins Agency, he worked at Blizzard Entertainment, creators of the popular Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo video game franchises. He is a strong believer in publishing and narrative as a central pillar of franchise and transmedia development. Maximilian’s clients include two-time New York Times bestselling graphic novel author, Micky Neilson, and Lucien Soulban, lead writer of the BAFTA award winning video game Far Cry 3.

SEEKING: Maximilian is actively pursuing clients for both fiction and nonfiction works. In fiction, he is actively pursuing science fiction, fantasy, horror and thrillers, particularly cyberpunk and neo-noir as well as books with a uniquely deconstructive bent. For nonfiction, Maximilian is seeking popular science, true crime and books pertaining to arts and trends in developing fields and cultures.

Sarah Yake

NOTE: SPEAKER

Sarah Yake has been an agent with the Frances Collin Literary Agency since 2005. She manages the foreign and subsidiary rights sales for all of the agency’s clients, including the estates of Rachel Carson, John Williams and Esther Forbes. Her own clients include Sarah Blake, Nadine Darling, Kirsten Kaschock, Christopher Merkner, Wendy Sparrow, and Ann S. Epstein. Prior to becoming an agent Sarah managed a bookstore and was a sales rep for Random House. She holds an MA in English Literature from West Chester University and has a few obscure poetry publishing credits to her name. She can be found online in the following places: Twitter @slyyake, Publishers Marketplace and Manuscript Wish List.

SEEKING: Sarah’s main focus is adult fiction where she represents action/adventure, commercial, general, historical, literary, science fiction, short story, and women’s fiction. She also represents nonfiction, including biography, history, LGBTQ, memoir, and pop culture.

Editors – Speed Date

Courtney Bambrick

Courtney Bambrick COURTNEY K. BAMBRICK is poetry editor of the regional literary magazine Philadelphia Stories. Her poetry has appeared online or in print in Apiary, Certain Circuits, Dirty Napkin, Philadelphia Poets, Mad Poets Review, and Schuylkill Valley Journal. She performed as part of the 2016 Welcome to Boog City Festival. Her chapbook Rape Baby was a runner up in the 2013 Pavement Saw chapbook competition and most of it was published as “Caring for Your Rape” in the Body Map series at The Fanzine, curated by Sarah Rose Etter. Courtney has taught composition, creative writing, and literature at a number of colleges and universities in the Philadelphia area. In addition to poetry, Courtney has written and directed adaptations of plays and musicals for young people. She coordinates the Children’s Arts Program at Old Academy Players in Philadelphia. She lives outside the city with poet, painter, and musician, Peter Baroth.

GENRE: POETRY

Feliza Casano

NOTE: SPEAKER

Feliza Casano (MA Publishing ’15) is the marketing and publicity director at Lanternfish Press, an independent publisher located in Philadelphia. She specializes in speculative fiction, and her essays and reviews have appeared in The Portalist, The Mary Sue, and Unbound Worlds. Previous titles she helped acquire for Lanternfish Press include The Quelling by Barbara Barrow (September 2018), One Bronze Knuckle by Kenneth Hunter Gordon (March 2019), the reprint edition of Carmilla edited by Carmen Maria Machado (April 2019), and the upcoming novel Witches’ Dance by Erin Eileen Almond (October 2019). She’s especially interested in speculative fiction with well-crafted settings.

Lanternfish Press’s fall open submissions period is September 15-October 31 in 2019. We are open to submissions of novels and novellas with a speculative or gothic element and creative nonfiction focusing on cross-cultural boundaries. We are particularly looking for stories that draw on non-Western mythologies and traditions of the fantastic, Gothic fiction that’s more carnivalesque than depressing, and novella-length fictional encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other oddities.

GENRES: FICTION, NONFICTION

Chris Fenwick

Chris Fenwick is a writer, editor, marketer, and ecommerce professional. Initially, a foundational leader at Sunbury Press (2005-2009), she has returned this year as the Director of Fiction Imprints. Chris spent the last decade as Strategy Director in both for-profit and non-profit businesses. Her first novel, the 100th human, published in 2006 remains one of Sunbury Press’ all-time bestsellers. The first novel of her new four-book fantasy series, State Changers will be released this summer. She lives on a farm in rural Pennsylvania with her family and a multitude of animals.

SUBMISSIONS: Sunbury Press is always seeking new titles to publish including: history, historical fiction, police procedurals, crime thrillers, horror, steam punk, young adult, current events, science, reference, art history, ANY local/regional history, humor, spiritual/metaphysical, self-help, professional, memoirs, etc. If we didn’t mention your category — try us anyway!

GENRES: FICTION, NONFICTION

Valerie Fox

Valerie Fox is a contributing editor at Texture Press, a small press active since 1989 out of Norman, Oklahoma. She is a poet and flash fiction writer whose books include Insomniatic, The Rorschach Factory, The Glass Book, and Poems for the Writing: Prompts for Poets (Second Edition), co-written with Lynn Levin. Much involved in collaboration, Fox has published many poems and stories co-written with Arlene Ang, and also published Bundles of Letters Including A, V and Epsilon, which is a compilation with Ang. She’s taught at numerous institutions, including Peirce College (in Philadelphia) and Sofia University (in Tokyo). She currently teaches writing at Drexel University.

Texture Press is the English language publisher of notable Slovenian author, Evald Flisar. TP publications include chapbooks, monographs, and full-length collections of poetry, plays, short fiction, and essays. Texture is interested in practical, education-related topics, as well. For several years, Fox has been helping Texture Press founder Susan Smith Nash develop literary and anthology projects.

GENRES: FICTION, NONFICTION, POETRY

Ayesha Hamid

Ayesha F. Hamid is the editor-in-chief at The City Key. She is a Philadelphia-based poet and creative nonfiction writer, published in Blue Bonnet Review, Philly Flash Inferno, and the Rathalla Review. Her memoir, The Borderland Between Worlds, will be published by Auctus Publishers in 2020. Ayesha holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and an M.A. in Publishing from Rosemont College, and an M.A. in Sociology from Brooklyn College. Aside from writing, Ayesha also loves travel and photography.

GENRES: FICTION, NONFICTION, POETRY, FLASH FICTION

Alison Hicks

Alison-Hicks Alison Hicks is the founder of Greater Philadelphia Wordshop Studio, which offers community-based writing workshops. She is also the author of poetry collections You Who Took the Boat Out and Kiss, a chapbook Falling Dreams, a novella, Love: A Story of Images, and an anthology, Prompted. Her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize by Green Hills Literary Lantern, and has appeared in Eclipse, Fifth Wednesday, Gargoyle, Louisville Review, Passager, Permafrost, Poet Lore, and Whiskey Island, among other journals. Awards include the 2011 Philadelphia City Paper Poetry Prize and two Pennsylvania Council on the Arts fellowships. She will be happy to read literary or mainstream fiction, nonfiction and poetry.

GENRES: FICTION, NONFICTION, POETRY

Jennifer Kasius

Jennifer Kasius Jennifer is the Editorial Director of Running Press, a place she has been happy to call “home” for the last 15 years. She has acquired several New York Times bestsellers including the #1 bestsellers You are a Badass by Jen Sincero and Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, The Sneaky Chef by Missy Chase Lapine, and Fabulicious! by Teresa Giudice. Some of her newest projects are Buddha’s Diet by Tara Cottrell and Dan Zigmond, Life is Like a Musical by Tim Federle, Vern Yip’s Design Wise, Liz Climo’s Lobster is the Best Medicine, and Asha Gomez’s My Two Souths, which was one of the New York Times’ “Best Cookbooks of the Year” for 2016. Before joining Running Press, she worked as an editor at Crown/Three Rivers Press, as well as the Dutton/Plume imprints.

Jennifer really loves offbeat and edgy voices, as well as books that have meaningful messages lurking beneath their fun packages. She is particularly drawn to the “quirky self-help” genre, but also like to acquire in the areas of lifestyle, memoir, pop-culture, and cooking.

GENRE: NONFICTION

Rachel Kolman

NOTE: SPEAKER

Rachel Kolman is the managing editor of the Rathalla Review, a literary journal at Rosemont College. She is a writer and editor based in Philadelphia, PA, and an MFA candidate at Rosemont. She received her first MFA in fiction from the University of Central Florida, and has returned to Rosemont to focus on nonfiction. She also teaches in the First Year Writing Program at Drexel University. Her writing online can be found in Bustle, Good Housekeeping, Elle, Cosmo, Bodega Magazine, WhiskeyPaper, and others.

GENRES: FICTION, NONFICTION, FLASH FICTION

Frances Metzman

Fran Metzman NOTE: SPEAKER

Frances Metzman is the fiction editor at Schuylkill Valley Journal. She authored a novel, THE CHA-CHA BABES OF PELICAN WAY, that came out June, 2018, (Wild River Publishing). It was met with high praise from the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Baltimore Sun, Orlando Centennial and several others, including The Kirkus Review. She’s had a short story collection published, 2012, THE HUNGRY HEART STORIES, (Wilderness House Press.) Before that she co-authored and published a novel, UGLY COOKIES (Pella Press, 2000). Most recently, she has achieved, Best Seller on Amazon, 2019, for her novel, The Cha-Cha Babes of Pelican Way. In 2018 she was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She has published 10 articles in well-known journals on health and relationship issues, 2018/2019. Publishing 24 short stories in college and university journals, she also speaks on panels of various writing conferences. She has a Master’s Degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

GENRES: FICTION, NONFICTION

Gabriel Nathan

Gabe is the Editor in Chief of OC87 Recovery Diaries, an online mental health publication that tells stories of mental health, empowerment, and change. He is an author, editor, actor, playwright, director, and a lover of commas. For five years, he worked at Montgomery County Emergency Service, Inc. (MCES), a non-profit crisis psychiatric hospital in the capacity of Allied Therapist and, later, as Development Specialist. At MCES, he created innovative programs such as a psychiatric visiting nurse program, a suicide prevention collaboration with SEPTA, and an Inpatient Concert Series that brought professional performing artists to entertain the patients and enrich their inpatient experience. While at MCES, Gabe also produced and directed a full-scale production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town with the staff of the hospital, as an exercise in teamwork, empathy-building, and creative expression. Gabe serves on the Board of Directors of the Thornton Wilder Society and is Editor of its newsletter. He lives in a suburb of Philadelphia with his wife, twins and a basset hound named Tennessee.

OC87 Recovery Diaries offers an honorarium of $250 for accepted submissions. Please review the submissions guidelines before submitting.

GENRE: NONFICTION

Trish Rodriguez

NOTE: SPEAKER

Trish Rodriguez is the fiction editor for Philadelphia Stories. Trish lives, reads, and writes in Media, PA. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Rosemont College where she teaches in the Rosemont Writers’ Studio. Her writing has been published in Awakened Voices and Animal: A Beast of a Literary Magazine. She has served as managing editor for Rathalla Review and is also the prose editor for Typehouse Literary Magazine.

GENRES: FICTION, NONFICTION

Tara Tomczyk

NOTE: SPEAKER

Tara Tomczyk is editor in chief at Blydyn Square Books, headquartered in Lansdale, PA and Kenilworth, NJ. She has been a professional editor for over 21 years. She began her career at Enslow Publishers in New Jersey, where she specialized in editing nonfiction books for the young adult market, working primarily as a history, social studies, and biography editor. She then moved to McGraw-Hill, where she developed textbooks and other educational materials. She has also worked for Chelsea House Publishers/Facts on File, where she served as the executive editor in charge of science titles. In 2005, she started her own editorial services company. She eventually narrowed her focus to book publishing and helped launch Blydyn Square Books in 2015.

Blydyn Square Books specializes in literary fiction, but will consider any title that fits its company motto: Books That Make You Think. Tara’s favorite part of her job is discovering talented new writers—especially people who have never been published before—and working with them over the years to develop their writing. She will consider anything other than poetry and children’s books, with a main focus on literary and contemporary fiction.

GENRES: FICTION, NONFICTION

John Wall Barger

NOTE: SPEAKER

John Wall Barger is an editor for Painted Bride Quarterly. His work has appeared in American Poetry Review, Rattle, The Cincinnati Review, Poetry Ireland Review, and Best of the Best Canadian Poetry. His fourth collection of poems is The Mean Game (Palimpsest, 2019). He lives in West Philadelphia.

GENRES: FICTION, POETRY

Speakers

Please note that speakers are not available for speed dates unless otherwise noted.

Jordy Albert

NOTE: SPEED DATE AGENT

Concha Alborg

Concha Alborg was born in Valencia, Spain, and grew up in Madrid. She has lived in the United States since the 1960s. More than any other event in her life, this move defines who she is, an immigrant living between two cultures. She may seem Americanized to her Spanish relatives, but she is from another country as far as her daughters are concerned. Although Concha fits well enough in both cultures, a tell-tale Spanish accent marks her speech as well as her writing. Since her retirement from teaching, she has dedicated herself to writing creative non-fiction. Her family memoir, My Mother, That Stranger. Letters from the Spanish Civil War is being published this fall by Sussex Academic Press (Brighton, Great Britain). She has also published Divorce after Death. A Widow’s Memoir (2014), a novel, American in Translation: A Novel in Three Novellas(2011) and two collections of short stories: Beyond Jet-Lag. Other Stories (2000) and Una noche en casa (1995). More information on her career and publications is available on her web page: www.conchaalborg.com. Workshop: How to Survive Writing a Family Memoir

Maile Beal

NOTE: SPEED DATE AGENT

Lindsey Brodowski

Lindsey Brodowski is a publicist and social media strategist for Smith Publicity Inc., Book Marketing and Promotion. In addition to helping clients gain national media attention on print and broadcast outlets and on social media, she also runs the social media channels for Smith Publicity. Workshop: Push to Post: Using Social Media to Create your Author Brand

Britny Brooks-Perilli

Britny Brooks-Perilli is an assistant editor at Running Press, which is part of the Hachette Book Group. She has worked on and acquired a number of pop culture and entertainment projects on both the Adult and Kid’s lists. Some of her newest projects are Rick and Morty Book of Gadgets and Inventions, The Little Book of Video Games by Melissa Brinks, Fierce Heroines by Rosie Knight, and Where There is a Wisk by Sarah J. Schmitt. Before joining Running Press, she received her MFA in Fiction and MA in English from Arcadia University and graduated from NYU’s Summer Publishing Institute with a Master’s Certificate in Publishing. Panel: Writing for Children & YA

Heather Carr

NOTE: SPEED DATE AGENT

Feliza Casano

NOTE: SPEED DATE EDITOR

Michela DellaMonica

Michela DellaMonica is the Publicity Manager at Smith Publicity. Michela has been in the public relations field for over 8 years implementing strategic plans for clients in the industries of book publishing, music, entertainment and food. She’s worked with book publishers such as Wattpad Books, HarperCollins / Thomas Nelson and Nelson Books, Shadow Mountain, Quarto Books, Imbrifex Books, Morgan James Publishing, Mango Publishing, Green Leaf Publishing and publicity consulting with BookBaby. She’s worked with award winning and bestselling authors with both genre fiction and non-fiction titles. Workshop: Push to Post: Using Social Media to Create your Author Brand

Rachel Dougherty

Rachel Dougherty is a Philadelphia-based author/illustrator driven by a love of nonfiction for young readers. She is the illustrator of several educational picture books, the author of one nonfiction early reader, and the author/illustrator of Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge. Visit her online at www.racheldougherty.com. Panel: Writing for Children & YA

Gregory Frost

GREGORY FROST is a writer of fantasy, dark fantasy, and science fiction for adults and young adults. His most recent book-length work, the Shadowbridge duology, was an ALA Best Fantasy Novel pick. His collaborative novelette with author Michael Swanwick, “Lock Up Your Chickens and Daughters, H’ard and Andy Are Come to Town,” won a 2015 Asimov’s Magazine Readers Award. His latest short work will soon appear in the new Weird Tales magazine, and in the Beatles-themed anthology Across the Universe. He is currently a Visiting Instructor at Swarthmore College and Rosemont College. Web • Facebook • Twitter Panel: The Life of a Writer

Devon Halliday

NOTE: SPEED DATE AGENT

Henry Israeli

Henry Israeli’s poetry collections are Our Age of Anxiety (White Pine: 2019), god’s breath hovering across the waters, (Four Way Books: 2016), Praying to the Black Cat (Del Sol: 2010), and New Messiahs (Four Way Books: 2002). He is also the translator of three books by Albanian poet Luljeta Lleshanaku. He has been awarded fellowship grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Canada Council on the Arts, and elsewhere. His poetry has appeared in numerous journals including American Poetry Review, Boston Review, and The Harvard Review, as well as several anthologies. Henry Israeli is also the founder and editor of Saturnalia Books, and teaches in the English and Philosophy Department of Drexel University. Panel: Querying Your Book Without An Agent

Cordelia Jensen

Cordelia Jensen is the author of two Young Adult verse novels Skyscraping (Penguin Random House, 2015) and The Way the Light Bends (Penguin Random House, 2018). She is also the co-author of the half verse/half prose Middle Grade book Every Shiny Thing (co-authored with Laurie Morrison, Abrams, 2018). Skyscraping was an American Library Association’s Best Fiction Book for Young Adults and a 2016 NCTE Children’s Notable Verse Novel. Cordelia lives in Philadelphia with her husband and children where she teaches creative writing at various places and runs a local kids’ literary journal. Currently, she teaches Writing for Children at Bryn Mawr College. You can find her on Twitter @cordeliajensen and Instagram @cordeliajensen1 Panel: Writing for Children & YA

Merry Jones

Merry Jones is the award-winning author of twenty books: non-fiction (eg. BIRTHMOTHERS), humor (eg. I LOVE HIM, BUT…), and suspense (eg. the Zoe Hayes, Harper Jennings and Elle Harrison novels). Her latest book, WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW is a domestic thriller launching in October, 2019. Merry’s work has been translated into seven languages; she taught college-level writing for over a dozen years, and she’s a member of Authors Guild, International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America and the Philadephia Liars Club, for which she cohosts a weekly podcast (The Oddcast) and a monthly writers’ coffeehouse. Panel: The Life of a Writer

Erin Kelly

Erin Entrada Kelly received the 2018 Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe, the 2017 APALA Award for The Land of Forgotten Girls, and the 2016 Golden Kite Honor Award for Blackbird Fly, among other honors. She is a New York Times bestseller whose work has been translated into several languages. Netflix is currently adapting Hello, Universe into a feature film, and her fourth novel, You Go First, has been optioned for the stage. Her most recent work, Lalani of the Distant Sea (September 2019), is a Junior Library Guild Selection. Erin is also a short story writer. Her short fiction has been nominated for the Philippines Free Press Literary Award for Short Fiction and the Pushcart Prize. She has a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies and liberal arts from McNeese State University and an MFA from Rosemont College. Erin was raised in Louisiana, but now lives in Delaware. Erin is mestiza and identifies as Filipina-American. Her mother is Visay. Panel: Writing for Children & YA

Autumn Konopka

Autumn Konopka is a poet, parent, teacher, and literary organizer in the Philadelphia area. Her poems have appeared in bedfellows, Rock & Sling, Main Street Rag, Coal Hill Review, APIARY, Literary Mama, and Crab Orchard Review, among others. Her chapbook, a chain of paper dolls, was published by the Head & the Hand Press (Philadelphia, 2014). In 2016, she was named poet laureate of Montgomery County, Pa. She is the current president of the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference. Panel: Querying Your Book Without An Agent, Moderator

Rachel Kolman

NOTE: SPEED DATE EDITOR

Sawyer Lovett

Sawyer Lovett is a writer who lives in Philadelphia with his wife, a dog, and a hedgehog. He is the author of two books and his work has appeared in Apiary, Hoax, and Cleaver. His work can be found at sawyerlovett.net. Panel: Writing for Children & YA, Moderator

Caitlin McDonald

NOTE: SPEED DATE AGENT

Caitlin McDonald joined the Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2015, and was previously at Sterling Lord Literistic. Caitlin grew up overseas and has a BA in Creative Writing from Columbia University. Panel: Meet the Agents

Jon McGoran

Jon McGoran is the author of nine novels, including the YA science fiction thrillers Spliced and Splintered. Spliced was named to ALA’s Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable List, ABA’s Best Books for Young Readers, and is shortlisted for South Carolina’s 2020 YA Book of the Year. Other works include the acclaimed ecological thrillers Drift, Deadout, and Dust Up; the D. H. Dublin forensic thrillers; and The Dead Ring, based on TV’s The Blacklist. He is also a developmental editor and writing coach, and cohost ofThe Liars Club Oddcast, a podcast about writing and creativity. twitter • facebook • instagram Panel: The Life of a Writer

Frances Metzman

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Kelly Peterson

NOTE: SPEED DATE AGENT

Trish Rodriguez

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Keith Shrunk

Keith Strunk is an author, actor, producer and cohost of The Liars Club Oddcast. He is a co-founder of River Union Stage, a professional Equity theater in its 18th year of operation and holds an MFA in Theater from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts. An award-winning scriptwriter, Keith has written film and stage scripts including a stage adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. He is the author of PRALLSVILLE MILLS AND STOCKTON and THE DELAWARE RIVER SCENIC BYWAY from Arcadia Publishing and a founding member of The Liars Club. Panel: The Life of a Writer, Moderator

Kelly Simmons

Kelly Simmons is a former journalist and advertising creative director and the author of the novels Standing Still, The Bird House, One More Day, The Fifth of July, and coming next year, Where She Went. She’s a member of WFWA, the Tall Poppy Writers and The Liars Club, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mentoring fledgling novelists. She also co-hosts The Liars Club Oddcast, a weekly podcast interviewing top authors and discussing the craft and business of writing. More at kellysimmonsbooks.com. Workshop: Revising with Character, Panel: The Life of a Writer

Curtis Smith

Curtis Smith has published over one hundred stories and essays, and his work has been cited by or included in The Best American Short Stories, The Best American Mystery Writing, The Best American Spiritual Writing, The Best Small Fiction, and the new WW Norton anthology New Micros. He’s worked with independent presses to publish five story collections, two essay collections, four novels, and one book of creative nonfiction. His latest book is the Lovepain (novel, Braddock Avenue Books). Next year, Running Wild Press will put out his next novel, The Magpie’s Return. He also writes book reviews and interviews for a number of literary websites. Panel: Querying Your Book Without An Agent

Mitchell Sommers

Mitchell-Sommers Mitchell Sommers is the former fiction editor for Philadelphia Stories. He is also a columnist for LNP, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania daily newspaper. He practices law in Lancaster County, concentrating in the area of consumer bankruptcy. He received his MFA from the University of New Orleans. He’s currently working on a novel set in colonial Pennsylvania. Panel: Submitting to Magazines & Journals, Moderator

Carla Spataro

Carla “C.J.” Spataro is the MFA program director at Rosemont College and the editorial director of Philadelphia Stories and PS Books. She is an award-winning short story writer, Pushcart Prize nominee, and a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts grant winner. Her short fiction has appeared in Phantom Drift, december magazine, Italian Americana, Iron Horse Literary Review, Pithead Chapel, Permafrost, The Baltimore Review, Painted Bride Quarterly, and others. Poetry has appeared in Ovunque Siamo. Her work has also been anthologized in Another Breath, Forgotten Philadelphia, Extraordinary Gifts, and 50 Over 50. Panel: Meet the Agents, Moderator

Tara Tomczyk

NOTE: SPEED DATE EDITOR

John Wall Barger

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Maximilian Ximenez

NOTE: SPEED DATE AGENT

Sarah Yake

NOTE: SPEED DATE AGENT