2010 Chairman:

Michael Murphy is once again Chairman of Agents & Editors programming for Words & Music, 2010.   His first 13 years in publishing were with Random House, where he was a Vice President. Later, he ran William Morrow as Publisher. In September, 2007, he formed his own agency, Max & Co. His clients include bestseller Tony O'Neill, called the IT Writer of the current decade by Esquire Magazine and author of Sick City, Hero of the Underground, Down and Out on Murder Mile, Neon Angel, and Digging the Vein. Other bestselling authors among his clients are Steven Church (The Guiness Book of Me, The Day After The Day After, and Theoretical Killings)and Kenny Mayne (An Incomplete and Inaccurate History of Sport and  Postcards from ESPN: Notes From Around the World).  New Orleans writers he represents include Chris Wiltz (The Last Madam and The Neal Rafferty series), Barb Johnson, winner of the Glimmer Train Best New Voice and 2nd place runner up as the 2009 Barnes & Noble Discovery Book of the Year for More of This World or Maybe Another, and Anne Gisleson, whose essays were anthologized in Dave Eggers 2009 Best Non Required Reading and the 2010 DeCapo Best Music Writing. He has taken on two clients directly through Words & Music: Peter Neofotis, whose novel, Concord, Virginia, won the Faulkner  Society’s Gold Medal for Best Novella and was runner-up for the 2010 William Saroyan Award, and Andy Young, an accomplished poet working on nonfiction prose.

Excellent Editors

Helene Atwan, born in Paris in 1953, has been director of Beacon Press since 1995. She began her career in publishing at Alfred A. Knopf and has worked at The Viking Press, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and Simon and Schuster. Her acquisitions at Beacon include Gayl Jones's The Healing, a National Book Award Finalist; Lillian Faderman's I Begin My Life All Over; and DeWitt Henry and James Alan McPherson's Fathering Daughters. She serves on the board of PEN-New England and the National Coalition against Censorship (NCAC) and has lectured on publishing at the New York University, Radcliffe College.

Sarah Crichton is Vice President and Publisher of Sarah Crichton Books, an imprint of Farrar, Straus and Giroux which began publishing titles in March 2006. An eclectic mix of smart and vervy books, fiction and nonfiction both, the imprint has already had marked success with Ishmael Beah's bestselling memoir, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, which reached Number One on the New York Times Bestseller list, and also made bookselling history when it was heavily promoted by Starbucks in stores around the U.S. and U.K. As of April 2008, A Long Way Gone has been sold to 32 countries.

Andra Miller of Algonquin Press. Recent acquistions include The Silver Girl, a new novel by award-winning author Tayari Jones.

Will Murphy is an Executive Editor at Random House, where he has worked for six years. Previously, he was a senior editor at the University of Minnesota Press, and the literary editor at the University of California Press in Berkeley. Will was recently was named one of "50 Under 40," who matter in publishing by Publishers Weekly. Murphy has become known for editing books that matter, such as the powerful Finn by Jon Clinch and the beautiful new work by Salman Rushdie, The Enchantress of Florence; as well as The Second World: Enemies and Influence in the New Global Order by Parag Khanna. And on his not-yet-scheduled list are How Success Happens by David Brooks and The Battle of the Crater by Richard Slotkin. Other authors include include Jeff Shaara, David Brooks, Bernard-Henri Levy, Philip Zimbardo, and Nassim Taleb, author of The Black Swan, which was on the New York Times Bestseller List for 16 weeks.

Richard Nash ran the renowned independent publisher Soft Skull Press from 2001 until March of this year. Richard was awarded the Miriam Bass Award for Creativity in Independent Publishing .  Soft Skull has published many award winning works such as Lambda’s 2007 Book of the Year, Michael McColly's The After-Death Room, and 2004’s Best Book, Choir Boy by Charlie Anders. Other key authors include Mark Ames, Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz, Paul Berman, Lisa Crystal Carver, Dennis Cooper, Brian Gage, Douglas A. Martin, William Upski Wimsatt, James Hatfield, Maggie Estep, Amanda Stern, Michael Muhammad Knight. Nick Mamatas, Lydia Millet, Daniel Nester, Wanda Phipps, Genesis P-Orridge, Nate Powell, Robert Rosen, Jack Sargeant, K. Thor Jensen, Lynne Tillman, Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio and Tim Wise.  Richard spoke on the Buzz Panel at last year's Book Expo, and more recently The LA Times flew him out April 09 to speak on "The Future of Publishing". His current project is a start-up called Round Table, a collection of social publishing communities including one with his own editorial proclivities, Red Lemonade.

Michael Signorelli has been at HarperCollins Publishers since 2005.  His list ranges widely from poetry and stories to novels and memoirs to graphic novels and design.  He edits New York Times bestselling author Kenneth C. Davis, internationally acclaimed novelists Dennis Cooper, Richard Milward, John Niven, and Tony O’Neill, memoirists Dan White and Kevin Sampsell, and AROHO’s Gift of Freedom recipient (and New Orleans local) Barb Johnson, among others.  His recent acquisitions include work by American authors Justin Taylor, Charlie Smith, and Hannah Nordhaus. He created and wrote HarperCollins’s poetry blog www.cruelestmonth.com and helps manage Harper Perennial’s blog www.olivereader.com. Michael’s keen for fearless yet disciplined debut fiction and for culturally significant non-fiction by experts in their field. He graduated with a degree in English from Hamilton College and lives in New York City.

Pat Walsh is the Editor-in-Chief of MacAdam/Cage, a publisher of fiction and narrative non-fiction. As editor-in-chief, Pat oversees the acquisitions, editing, and promotion of a list of more than 50 books a year. Pat is also is the author of 78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published and 14 Reasons Why it Just Might (Penguin), a book outlining the challenges that face writers and authors today. MacAdam/Cage is known industry-wide for its ability to find and debut new voices to great acclaim. Among its titles are Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn, Awesome by Jack Pendarvis and The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

Awesome Agents

Brandi Bowles has been an agent with Howard Morhaim Literary Agency in Brooklyn, NY, since 2007. She was previously an editor at Three Rivers Press. As an agent she represents a wide range of authors, from burlesque performers to archeologists, illustrators, professors, CEOs, chefs, rappers, folk musicians, and fitness gurus. Said Brandi in one interview, "I really love big idea books, and books about broad sociological phenomena, but will only consider them if they are written by experts in their fields. I love books that shed new light on something in pop culture, media culture, and everyday life. In terms of fiction, I like Southern fiction, experimental fiction, and cross-cultural novels. Quirky, funny, edgy, or naughty book ideas are always welcome in my inbox, and bonus points go to any authors that can make me laugh."

Henry Dunnow began his career as a literary agent in the early 1980s, with stints at Curtis Brown Ltd. and Harold Ober Associates before founding his own agency in 1997. His original agency has since evolved into Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency. He works primarily with quality fiction – literary, historical, strongly written commercial – and with voice-driven nonfiction across a range of areas – narrative history, biography, memoir, current affairs, cultural trends and criticism, science, sports, etc. Over the years he’s discovered and introduced a number of new, younger writers who’ve gone on to become established literary voices – and is particularly proud of that. He is the author The Way Home, a memoir about fatherhood. Notable clients: Alice Sebold, Marisa Silver, Marisa de los Santos, Kevin Brockmeier, Temple Grandin, Patti Smith.

Robert Guinsler has been with Sterling Lord Literistic since 2000. His primary interests include literary and commercial fiction (including YA), journalism, narrative nonfiction with an emphasis on pop culture, science and current events, memoirs and biographies. Guinsler's clients include Pulitzer Prize winning journalists, novelists and academics. With a journalism background, he interested in all kinds of nonfiction subjects and he has represented such authors as New York Times bestselling author and Harvard Humanist Chaplain Greg Epstein, Adam Bradley, Mark Kurzem, NPR Baghdad bureau chief Quil Lawrence, and Charles London. Robert’s interest in fiction includes literary and commercial fiction, as well as young adult and middle grade. His fiction writers include Samantha Peale, Vanina Marsot, Barnes and Noble Discover pick Doug Crandell, and Grant Jerkins. Additionally, Robert represents the Estate of Jack Kerouac and the Estate of Anne Sexton.

Deborah Grosvenor has worked in book publishing for more than 20 years as an editor and literary agent. During her career, Grosvenor has edited or represented several hundred fiction and nonfiction books in the areas of history, biography, politics, current affairs, memoir, the environment, the military, the South, and science, among others. Her best-known acquisition as an editor was a first novel, The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy. Deborah also signed up bestselling author Homer Hickham's first work, Torpedo Junction, and helped launch bestselling author's Stephen Coonts's first novel, Flight of the Intruder.  After running her own agency, the Grosvenor Literary Agency, for ten years, Deborah merged her company last October with the Kneerim and Williams Agency.. She and her colleagues represent a range of authors, from New York Times best-sellers to Pulitzer prize winners, among them Brad Meltzer, James Fenton, Stephen Greenblatt, Joseph Ellis, Christopher Hitchens, Caroline Elkins, Juan Cole, Dr. Susan Love, E.O. Wilson, Robert Pinsky, Howard Gardner, Geoffrey Wheatcroft, Edward M. Hallowell, Graham Allison, Elizabeth Pryor, Henry Allen, Tom Oliphant, Eleanor Clift, Curtis Wilkie, Aaron Miller, and Mort Kondracke.

Barney Karpfinger studied English at Columbia University while supporting himself with a job as a paralegal. He founded the Karpfinger Agency in 1985 after working at two other literary agencies and also running the contracts department at a major publishing house. His clients include Amitav Ghosh, John Lescroart, Leah Hager Cohen and Bill Loehfelm, the winner of the first Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, among others. (Loehfelm is a New Orleans resident and a member of the 2010 faculty of Words & Muisc.)The Karpfinger Agency focuses on representing writers who wish to make a living writing books, writers who are dedicated professionals and whose work "inspires passion in us." The agency believes in "helping clients develop their careers from scratch and in working with talented writers to regenerate careers that have faltered for one reason or another We negotiate thoughtfully and aggressively on behalf of our clients. And we don’t disappear once a deal is made. We are advocates for our clients during the entire publishing process both in the U.S. and abroad." The agency's list ranges from some of today’s best mysteries to fine literary fiction. Our non-fiction list includes narrative non-fiction, as well as memoirs, biographies and cultural and political analysis. "Across forms, our clients share two traits in particular: an ease with language and the ability to tell a compelling story."

Amy Rennert has spent more than 20 years in publishing business, pursuing her passion for the written word. The Amy Rennert Agency specializes in books that matter,  representing a select group of quality fiction and nonfiction writers--many of them award-winners. Dozens of agency books have been New York Times and national bestsellers. We provide career management for established and first time authors and our breadth of experience in many genres enables us to meet the needs of a diverse clientele. Notable Clients include: Tony Broadbent, Jimmy Buffett, Brian Copeland, Margaret Dumas, Mark Dunn, Betsy Franco, Peter Greenberg, Robert Heilbrun, Cynthia Kaplan, Beth Kephart, Bridget Kinsella, Michael Krasny, Kris Kristofferson, Don Lattin,Tom Lichtenheld, Patti LuPone, Robert Moss, Randy Newman, Robert O'Harrow, Adam Phillips, Cornelia Read, Amy Krouse Rosenthal,Terry Ryan, John Shannon, Kathryn Shevelow, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Marilee Strong, Frank Viviano, Pat Walsh, Cris Williamson, Steven Winn, Jacqueline Winspear.

Howard Yoon is the Vice President and Editorial Director of the Gail Ross Literary Agency.  Howard began his publishing career 15 years ago as Gail’s literary assistant.  He has served as an agent, writer, and editor on numerous fiction and non-fiction book projects.  In 2000, he was the founder and president of an online venture, Authors Online, and in 2003 he co-authored a business book, Begging for Change (HarperCollins) with Robert Egger, which won the McAdams Award for Best Book on the Nonprofit Sector. As a literary agent, he is interested in nonfiction topics ranging from current events and politics to culture to religion and history, to smart business.  He is also looking for commercial fiction by published authors. An avid foodie, he is a featured columnist for NPR.org’s Kitchen Window series. He is also currently teaching a narrative nonfiction writing class in the Masters of Journalism Program at Georgetown University.

IMPORTANT! Manuscript Critique Guidelines

If you wish to submit work for critiques by an agent and editor, please note that the rules have changed! This year we are requiring that everything be submitted electronically, with one hard copy of all documents MAILED TO OUR OFFICE. Review the guidelines below and then submit the required documents in a single attachment; contact sheet first, then synopsis if applicable, then writing example.

1. Write a cover letter in the body of your email to Words & Music stating that you are attending the conference and wish to have manuscript critiques and consultations. You may name the editor and agent you wish to speak with, but please note, these consultations are on a first-come first-served basis. Any such requests should be in this cover letter not in the submission attachment

2. With the email letter you will need to include the following as a single attachment in MS Word or RTF document: (Regardless of Category, one copy of entire submission).
A. For Novel, novella, or novel in progress, memoir, history, biography: Contact sheet (your name and all contact info, name of work, type of work, word count); synopsis (not more than one page) and the first few chapters but not more than 50 pages or 12,000 words, double spaced, one inch margins.
B. For Short Story, Essay, Journalistic Feature (such as travel writing), or Criticism: Contact sheet, and entire manuscript.
C. For Poetry: Contact sheet, and selection of three poems.

3. All submissions must be in our hands not later than September 25, 2010, drop dead deadline. Send your electronic submission to: info@wordsandmusic.org and Faulkhouse@aol.com. Put "Manuscript Critiques" in your message header, subject box, and your cover letter in the body of the email. For the hard copy submissions, mail your cover letter and all applicable registration documents to: Manuscript Critiques, Faulkner Society, 624 Pirate's Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116

4. You must register with tuition fee before or simultaneously with this electronic submission.  Only competition winners, and Louisiana writers approved for scholarship participation may submit for manuscript critiques without paying a tuition fee. See Pricing for details.

When you come to the conference, bring several hard copies of your submission, in case you meet agents other than those to whom you are assigned and would like to request that they review your work. Also bring several copies of complete manuscripts being critiqued in the event the editor or agent wants to see the entire work. Many agents will accept work during the conference to review after Words & Music. It is not reasonable to expect them to review submissions not previusly assigned to them and consult with you during the conference, however. Many are willing to be approached, as, of course, they all hope to sign new clients from the conference. Please do not hesitate to e-mail us at info@wordsandmusic.org with any questions. Fall back e-mail, Faulkhouse@aol.com.

The American Dream: To Become A Great...and Published...Writer
Every writer's ultimate impossible dream is publication of that manuscript embodying the writer's heart and soul and countless lonely hours of grappling with words, seeking the right word pictures to make a character, a plot line come alive...

The Society

Membership

Underwriting

HOME

Faulkner-Wisdom
Competition

Juleps in June

Words & Music

W&M Author Faculty

W&M Agent/Editor Faculty

W&M Schedule

W&M Pricing

Krewe of Libris

The Double Dealer

BLOG

Links