I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty excited about 2018.

As difficult as 2017 was ~in the world~, I am so happy that in 2017, I got to work on pretty special books and attend spectacular conferences. Here’s what went on in my book world last year:

I spent much of the first part of the year working on Lindsey Smith’s Eat Your Feelings, a cookbook that published on December 26, 2017, and one that is very close to my heart. Lindsey is a dynamo, and working with her was a dream come true.

In April, I picked up authors Brad Johnson and Charles Ridley, authors of The Elements of Mentoring. Their new edition, publishing on August 14 of this year, will focus on the 75 practices of “Mastor Mentors.”

On May 9, the third edition of 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays published! This was one of the first books I acquired and a really neat project to put together.

Also in May, I had the special privilege to attend the Atlanta Writers Conference. Writers, if you’re looking for a great, worthwhile conference to attend, this is one of the best. Especially if you live in the Southeast! Plus, it happens twice a year—in May and November—and since I’m from Atlanta, I can say confidently that the weather is beautiful there both months.

In June, Book Expo came back to New York City, and I got to hang with some stellar folks and picked up some fabulous books.

July was so busy! I traveled to Seattle, where I attended the Pacific Northwest Summer Writers’ Conference. There, I met some absolutely incredible writers and met up with industry people I hadn’t seen in awhile (and befriended some other new, brilliant editors and agents!).

Also in July, I signed up Randy Chertkow and Jason Feehan, authors of The Indie Band Survival Guide, to make a new, overhauled edition of their book. The new edition will publish later this year and will focus on how music entrepreneurs can make money by following their dreams and creating original music.

Another great acquisition in August was The Guide to American Dads, a humorous, highly illustrated gift book that will highlight 26 species of dads, one for every letter of the alphabet. Look out for this unique book around Father’s Day 2019!

In August, I attended the Lit-Pow Author-Preneur Workshop in Huntsville—via Skype—and the Pitch Slam at the Writers Digest Annual Conference in person.

In September, I took on a very exciting book project that I can’t say anything about just yet…but I will tell you it involves food. More on that soon…

And, finally, in November, I took on Delicious Bundt Cakes, a cookbook by Roxanne Wyss and Kathy Moore that shows us how cool bundt cakes can really be! The book publishes on September 4 of this year. These ladies are true professionals and have already published a few other books with St. Martin’s Press, to great success, including Delicious Poke Cakes and Delicious Dump Cakes.

Also in November, I attended the SMU The Writer’s Path workshop, which was such a pleasant experience, working with writers who were just wrapping up their MFA programs.

In 2018, my goals are simple: find incredible, creative people and sign their books up. If you’d like to meet me in person this year, here’s what I’ve booked so far:

• May 30-June 1: Book Expo America, New York, NY
• October 19-21: Surrey International Writers’ Conference, Surrey, BC

And a reminder that I only take unsolicited (i.e. unagented) submissions at conferences where I am specifically taking pitches. Otherwise, your book must be submitted to me through your agent in order for me to accept it.

What am I looking to acquire? I am seeking character-driven narratives addressing real-life, everyday issues and/or current events and social issues. It’s important that readers can identify with characters they see in books—so, diversity is a huge plus.

• Nonfiction: Narrative, memoir, health/lifestyle, cookbooks
• Adult and YA fiction: Literary, upmarket/commercial, contemporary, women’s, magical realism

Cheers to a new year, to the resistance, and to publishing amazing books.

xo

Happy New Year!

As I look forward to 2017 and map out my goals for the year, I’m reflecting back on 2016 with gratitude and joy. I met incredible people, signed on amazing projects, and worked with talented authors.

It all started in May, when I attended the Chicago Writing Workshop and took pitches after our big industry fair, BookExpo America. It was there that I met the fabulous Lindsey Smith, or the Food Mood Girl. Little did I know that I would be signing her on at St. Martin’s at the end of the summer.

Also in May, I acquired an essay collection by the students at the Harvard Crimson, Harvard’s student newspaper. 50 SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION ESSAYS is a collection of successful Harvard application essays from students currently attending the university.

This fifth edition is updated with more comprehensive information and statistics relating to each student, and a dedicated section for international students.

After a successful trip to Nashville in July for the Tennessee Writing Workshop, I hopped on the Amtrak and took the train to Lancaster, PA to spend a weekend at Hippocamp 2016. I wrote a bit about my experience in Lancaster in this post, but it was a wonderful weekend filled with good people, talented writers, and stellar keynotes.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, I signed up Lindsey Smith and her forthcoming Winter 2018 book, EAT YOUR FEELINGS! Shortly after I got home from Hippocamp, we made it official:

Read more about the deal on literary agent Eric Smith’s blog, or directly from Lindsey herself!

I wrapped up the conference year with a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend in Sanibel Island, FL for the Sanibel Island Writers’ Conference. I met the most incredible people during this conference. It’s such a pleasure to just talk books for three days straight—because that’s all anyone wants to do. My people.

And now, here we are, at the beginning all over again. I’ve lined up a few conferences for this year—Atlanta in May, Seattle in July, and Lancaster, PA in September—so if you’d like to meet up and talk books, come find me! And if you have a book idea, come find me, too. You never know what could happen.