RWA PITCHING & BUSINESS APPOINTMENTS PROGRAM Melbourne 2019

Publisher & Agent Pitch Appointments

Jacinta Di Mase Penguin Random Harlequin Harlequin Harlequin Allen & Unwin Corvisiero Agency Boroughs Publishing Management House Rachael Donovan Jo Mackay ESCAPE (TBC) Danielle Binks Ali Watts Annette Barlow Marisa Corvisiero Michelle Klayman

What are you looking for? What are you looking for? What are you looking for? What are you looking for? What are you looking for? What are you looking for? What are you looking for? What are you looking for? I’m looking for: I’m looking for mysteries, Escape will be looking for I’m looking for: I’m looking for: I’m seeking Australian I’m specifically looking for: I’m looking for: • Romance: family sagas, submissions that include a • Contemporary • rural romances – • Contemporary • Regency romance contemporary women- central romance or • Rural • Women’s fiction • Tear-jerker ultimately uplifting, Romance • • Historical centred fiction, romantic elements • Family drama • YA romance romantic and underpinned • Historical Romance • Suspense psychological thrillers, focused on lead characters What are you NOT • Coming-of-age • NA romance with conflict set around • Romantic Comedies • Contemporary — historical, and any story I and an uplifting ending. looking for? • Stories with a unique • LBGTQ romance in all funny, sad and in can’t put down after the • Adventure I’m not looking for: ‘hook’ or premise and a rural communities’ • Romantic Suspense subgenres between! first page. Specifically: • Contemporary • Erotica strong selling point pressing issues of the day, • Paranormal Romance… • And any series with • Women’s life fiction • Mysteries with an • Comedy • Rural romance/ chook eg drought, succession with angsty and sexy plots serious innovative • Family saga Australian hook • Erotic lit What are you NOT planning… I’m also keen where both characters are world building in • Domestic noir • Australian Historical • • Medical romance looking for? to find brilliant very well formed with popular tropes such as • Gay • Christian romance I’m not looking for: , wolf packs, • Historical epic • Funny, fast-moving commercial women’s their own issues or particularly with • Historical • Sci-fi and fae. contemporary women- fiction writers – a shortcomings, and an Australian content. • Word count • Fantasy • Clever writing. centred fiction romantic subplot is very overall creative obstacle • Paranormal Single title (80k upwards) • YA

What are you NOT • Rural • Rural romance welcome but she’d love to they need to overcome to What are you NOT What are you NOT looking for? • Suspense • Category romance contract someone who is reach that happily ever looking for? looking for? I’m not looking for: • Sci-Fi writing with a broad brush after. I’m not looking for I’m not looking for: • Erotica • Saga Word Count such as authors like Kate Inspirational romance, and • Fantasy • Georgina/Regency/ • YA/NA Single title (80k upwards) Morton, Hannah Richell, women’s fiction where the • YA What are you NOT Scottish historical romance is not the spine • Children’s Monica McInerney. looking for? romance But they are particularly of the story. We don’t Limited paranormal • Paranormal • Horror keen to see Sweet and publish mainstream

• Fantasy • Erotica stories with Beta Heroes romance. Not looking for literary fiction. What are you NOT • Horror • Illustrated shifters of any sort. No • YA • Non-Fiction Word Count looking for? . Not too dark or Word Count Category length (45k-55k) I’m not looking for gory. Marisa is fairly open For the most part, we are Word Count looking for books at 40k Word Count Novella or less (40k down category romance to most things as long as Single title (80k upwards) words and up. Single title (80k upwards) to short story) they stand out. Occasionally, we will Word Count accept novellas 25k words Single title (80k upwards) Word Count and up IF they are a duo or Single title (80k upwards) part of a series so they can Category length (45k-55k) be presented as a box set for print purposes. We also work with e- publishers that accept 50K to 70K words.

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Business Appointments

Ingram Spark Kobo Draft2Digital Findaway Voices Bolinda Australian Society of Authors Melanie Coles Nick Coveney Dan Wood Kelly Lytle Cristina Lee Olivia Lanchester How might you help an How might you help an How might you help an How might you help an aspiring How might you help an aspiring How might you help an aspiring aspiring author? An emerging aspiring author? An emerging aspiring author? An emerging author? An emerging author? An author? An emerging author? An author? An emerging author? An author? An established author? An established author? An established established author? established author? established author? author? We offer advice on the various author? author? We work with all authors and The audiobook category is the Draft2Digital works with pathways to publishing for aspiring IngramSpark is a self- The Kobo Writing Life blog and authors at every stage of their offer tremendous service and fastest growing segment in the authors, as well as mentorships and publishing platform, so podcast offer tonnes of careers so we have answers new opportunities. For all publishing industry and whether workshops. Emerging authors regardless of your author resources for authors at all for nearly any questions you authors we can help you think an author is aspiring, emerging might be interested in our advice status, you can utilize our vast levels who want to learn craft may have. We have tools to through the right approach to or established, publishing an service where you can ask about printing and distribution and business strategies specific help get your first novel out to creating your audiobooks and audiobook opens doors to new any aspect of publishing and our network to publish your own to promoting their titles on the world and we have tools the best paths to getting those audiences all around the world. If Contract Assessment Service in designed to save you hours of which we conduct a legal and works. Whether you are Kobo. When an author is ready works to a world of listeners. We an author wants to record their work if you have dozens of industry review of your publishing looking for author copies to to upload a title, our team of published novels. In addition work closely with authors at all own book, we have a great team offer. Established writers can sell at your book launch, ARCS author care experts is available to our publishing tools we levels to set release schedules, of producers to guide them benefit from our workshops on for your beta readers or a to answer any questions. And have our Books2Read tools to pair audio marketing initiatives through the process. reinvigorating your career and our platform to get your print once the book is live, we offer help authors let readers know with eBook marketing efforts, Alternatively, we’re experts in advocacy efforts to improve the and/or ebook into the big promotions to help grow your how to find their book promote new and noteworthy the selection of the perfect for a returns to all authors. All writers online retailers…we can help. sales. globally. releases, and provide paths for book and will work with an can enter their books into our monthly bulletin New to View, promotions and other features author every step of the way to which showcases new publications.

with our distribution partners. find a voice that works for them. Our goal is to be an extension of your team focused on audio!

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Individual Profiles

Rachael Donovan Harlequin BIO: WISHLIST: Rachael works with the Harlequin publishing What is the minimum word-count your agency takes or your publishing house requires? team as a commissioning editor. She has Single title only (80k and upwards) been in the What sub- or genres are you not looking for? Australian publishing industry for over ten Erotica, Georgina/Regency/Scottish historical romance, paranormal, fantasy, horror and YA. years and has worked in a variety of roles Is there a or sub-genre you’re particularly keen to see? from administration and sales to editorial. Romance: rural, historical, suspense, contemporary — funny, sad and in between! — women’s life fiction, family She joined Hachette Australia as a division saga, domestic noir and historical epics, particularly with Australian content.

coordinator before branching out into What genre is your personal favourite? product management and marketing in the There are too many to count! Like most readers, I read widely, but there’s always special place in my heart for a heady days of YA romances. tragic love story. What is your major turn-off in a book? She crossed over into editorial with the local Psychological tension and the connection between people is engrossing, but anything overly gory on the page is publishing division before moving to Allen & hard going. Unwin. There she worked with a creative and What is likely to really knock your socks off besides an engaging voice and well-written book? fun children’s publishing team as a children’s Something that shows you more about the world around us or the universality of human experience without you editor. Over the years she has helped create even realising it as you’re too engrossed by the characters. books of fantasy, moving memoirs, kids’ Any advice to your potential pitchers? picture books and war stories; but fiction is Easy to say, I know! But don’t be nervous. We’re looking for books to publish from new Australian writers, so I her one true love. Now she is dedicated to want to hear about you and your story. hunting down those compelling stories filled with unforgettable characters that you can’t put down.

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Jo Mackay Harlequin BIO: WISHLIST: Jo Mackay heads the local fiction lists for What is the minimum word-count your agency takes or your publishing house requires? Mira and HQ at Harlequin (a division of Single title only (80k and upwards) HarperCollins Publishers). A passionate What sub-genres or genres are you not looking for? Fantasy, YA, Children’s, Horror, Erotica, Illustrated, Non-Fiction advocate for her authors, Jo firmly believes Is there a genre or sub-genre you’re particularly keen to see? good writing can change lives. She loves Looking for mysteries, family sagas, contemporary women-centred fiction, psychological thrillers, historical, and strong characters, historical novels, any story she can’t put down after the first page, specifically: mysteries, family sagas, women-centred Mysteries with an Australian hook fiction, psychological thrillers, romance set in Australian Historical

close-knit communities and any story she Funny, fastmoving contemporary women-centred fiction can’t put down after the first page. What genre is your personal favourite? Crime, , mystery, historical, contemporary

What is your major turn-off in a book? Jo has worked in publishing for more than 20 Feeble heroines, badly written sex, no voice years. Originally from the UK, she began her What is likely to really knock your socks off besides an engaging voice and well-written book? career as a journalist in London before Fast paced plots, high concept drama, rich detail and research, hooky narratives, kickass heroines training as a book editor. Since then she has Any advice to your potential pitchers? worked in Australia for several trade Please know who your readers are. What else are they reading? Why will they read you? Try and avoid comparing publishing houses in senior editorial roles, your book to obvious bestsellers such as Liane Moriarty: something more achievable is best. Give me a flavour of the tone of the book in the pitch if you can. including six years as a Commissioning Editor

at ABC Books and three years as an Associate Publisher at HarperCollins Publisher. She has worked at Harlequin since 2014.

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ESCAPE TBC Harlequin BIO: WISHLIST: We’re a specialist romance publisher. It’s all What is the minimum word-count your agency takes or your publishing house requires? we do and it’s what we love. What we don’t Category length (45-55k) know about publishing romance probably Novella or less (40k down to short story) isn’t worth knowing. We’re a small, Is there a genre or sub-genre you’re particularly keen to see? innovative publisher working within Escape accept the following, but are particularly keen to see Sweet and Beta stories: Harlequin Enterprises, a larger, long • Adventure established company with a rich tradition as • Contemporary a leader in the industry. We are innovative • Comedy and quick to respond to changes in the • Erotic industry, plus we have the backing of the • Fantasy global organisation. • Gay • Historical You can expect us to be responsive, • Magic Realism professional, knowledgeable, supportive, • Paranormal and forward thinking. We’ll also be honest • Rural and tell you how we see things. • Suspense

• Sci-Fi Escape Artists have formed a vibrant and • Saga engaged community supporting each other

as independent authors. • YA/NA

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Ali Watts Penguin Random House BIO: WISHLIST: For over twenty-five years Ali Watts has What is the minimum word-count your agency takes or your publishing house requires? worked as a publisher and editor with one of Single title only (80k and upwards) the world’s largest trade publishing houses. What sub-genres or genres are you not looking for? Sci-fi, fantasy, YA, rural romance, category romance In that time she has produced countless Is there a genre or sub-genre you’re particularly keen to see? fiction and non-fiction bestsellers across all Romantic comedy genres with some of Australia’s best-loved Tear-jerker and most successful writers. Her greatest Family drama passion is commercial women’s fiction, and Coming-of-age she is the proud publisher and editor of Stories with a unique ‘hook’ or premise and a strong selling point many international fiction superstars, What genre is your personal favourite? Contemporary romantic drama, female relationships, tear-jerker, crime/mystery including Monica McInerney, Fiona What is your major turn-off in a book? McIntosh, Katherine Scholes, Barbara Flat writing (writing that shows the story rather than tells the story) Hannay, Josephine Moon and Amanda What is likely to really knock your socks off besides an engaging voice and well-written book? Hampson. Originality of content and style and a gripping plot Any advice to your potential pitchers? I am looking for commercial women’s fiction that contains a good dash of romance but is not categorised exclusively as ‘romance fiction’. In addition to a compelling and convincing love story, your novel should contain strong evidence of other themes, such as drama, suspense, crime, comedy, history.

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Annette Barlow Allen & Unwin BIO: WISHLIST: Annette Barlow has worked at Allen & What is the minimum word-count your agency takes or your publishing house requires? Unwin, Australia’s largest independent Single title only (80k and upwards) publishing house, for over twenty-five years. What sub-genres or genres are you not looking for? She has a wide and vibrant list of fiction and non-fiction, including authors Fleur I have a wonderful rural stories list that romance/rural crime elements list but I’m not looking for category McDonald, Karly Lane, Nicole Hurley-Moore, romance. Maya Linnell, Kate Morton, Kirsty Manning, Is there a genre or sub-genre you’re particularly keen to see? Jessica Rowe and Minette Walters. Yes, please! Bring me your Australian rural romances – ultimately uplifting, romantic and underpinned with conflict set around rural communities’ pressing issues of the day, eg drought, succession planning… I’m also keen to find brilliant commercial women’s fiction writers – a romantic subplot is very welcome but I’d love to contract someone who is writing with a broad brush. I’m thinking of authors like Kate Morton, Hannah Richell, Monica McInerney. What genre is your personal favourite? I love women’s commercial fiction and I’m a big fan of our rural storytellers, Fleur McDonald, Karly Lane, Nicole Hurley-Moore and Maya Linnell. What is your major turn-off in a book? Information dumps! They slow down the narrative and can often cause the reader to put down your book. What is likely to really knock your socks off besides an engaging voice and well-written book? A fresh way of looking at what is often similar territory; characters who develop throughout the novel; a heroine with and for whom I can cheer. Any advice to your potential pitchers? Don’t be nervous, all the publishers and agents really really want your book to be ‘the one’.

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Marisa Corvisiero Corvisiero Agency BIO: WISHLIST: Marisa A. Corvisiero, Esq., is a literary agent What is the minimum word-count your agency takes or your Agency requires? and the founder of the Corvisiero Literary Single title only (80k and upwards) and Category length (45k-55k) Agency. She is also an author coach, literary We work with e-publishers that accept work from 50K to 70K words. consultant, speaker, author, and Attorney with more than 18 years of experience in What sub-genres or genres are you not looking for? corporate law and trusts and estates in New Limited paranormal romance. Not looking for shifters of any sort. No zombies. Not too dark or gory. I’m fairly open York City. She holds a J.D. from the Pace to most things as long as they stand out. University School of Law with a focus in Is there a genre or sub-genre you’re particularly keen to see?

corporate and international law. She also /fantasy, suspense, comedy. Contemporary and historical. received a bachelor’s degree in business In Romance I am specifically looking for Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Romantic Comedies, administration from Hofstra University. Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance with angsty and sexy plots where both characters are very well formed Marisa began her publishing career as an agent at L. Perkins Associates before with their own issues or shortcomings, and an overall creative obstacle they need to overcome to reach that founding her own agency, which now has happily ever after. Heat level can vary from Hallmark Sweet to Chocolate Havanero Pepper Hot. However, the several agents, apprentices, and interns. She language, details, and plot must be suitable for each heat level and the market the story is targeting. i.e. Hallmark has attended more than 60 writing sweet will need toned down language and situations; whereas a super hot story can use more crude and direct conferences, and hosted or participated in language; and have explicit or graphic situations. numerous boot camps, workshops, What genre is your personal favourite? webinars, and tutorials on the craft, mindset, Contemporary Romance with a mixed in sub genre that adds substance to the plot without taking over the love and business of writing at many of those events as well as Writer’s story. I especially enjoy Christmas, , space, science, magic, superpowers, handicaps, conspiracies, and Digest and the Author-Preneur Workshops special relationships themed stories. I am a fan of heavy science and high concept, high stakes, out of the box hosted by the Corvisiero Literary Agency. plots. I like to be surprised by unexpected twists (as they should be). I enjoy the challenge of figuring out villains who have logical motives that give them a good reason for being who they are and seeking what they seek, and when the morality line is blurred enough to make the reader wonder who is actually in the right What is your major turn-off in a book? Credibility is essential. If I feel like any part of the story or writing isn’t authentic or lose confidence in the plot I’ll be immediately turned off. If they sound like something else I will probably decline it. I’m looking for amazing out of the box concepts that I can love and sell. What is likely to really knock your socks off besides an engaging voice and well-written book? An out of the box concept that doesn’t remind me of anything else, characters I can relate to or love to follow, and a captivating voice. Any advice to your potential pitchers? Just relax! Most agents are nice and are listening to your pitch because we want to love it. All you have to do is tell us your story in the most captivating way you possibly can. Focus on your plot and MC’s journey. Know the hook of your story- the reason why we’ll want to read it.

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Danielle Binks Jacinta Di Mase Management BIO: WISHLIST: Danielle Binks is a writer, reviewer, book What sub-genres or genres are you not looking for? blogger and Youth Literature Advocate. In Erotica. Rural romance/chook lit. Medical romance. Christian romance. 2016 she joined literary agency, Jacinta di Is there a genre or sub-genre you’re particularly keen to see? Mase Management, as an agent – seeking Contemporary. “Women’s Fiction” Australian authors of Young Adult (YA) and What genre is your personal favourite? Middle Grade (MG) fiction works. In 2017, Contemporary. New adult. Historical, and paranormal romance. she edited and contributed to Begin, End, What is your major turn-off in a book? Begin: A #LoveOzYA Anthology, of new When a romance doesn’t have a happy-ending (then it’s not a romance). Smut for smut’s sake. Australian young adult writing – inspired by What is likely to really knock your socks off besides an engaging voice and well-written book? the #LoveOzYA movement – and released by Diversity and inclusion – ‘Own Voices’ writing. Think A Affair by Sonali Dev and The Kiss Quotient by HarperCollins. Helen Hoang, or Courtney Milan writing inclusive historical romances. Anything that celebrates those multicultural spaces and characters is going to make me sit up and take notice! In 2019 she is looking to acquire authors of Any advice to your potential pitchers? adult fiction, and particularly romance - since It’s okay to be nervous – but it can really help to have a solid one-line tagline handy (think what you see on movie- that is one of her favourite genres to read. posters) and comparisons are always handy (not just of similar books, but TV and film too) so – “It’s Lisa Kleypas Danielle even won the Romance Writers of contemporaries in a Nora Ephron world with a dash of Shonda Rhimes’ sensibility” – SOLD!) Australia Media Award (the ROMA) two years in a row in 2015 and 2016 for her freelance writing about the genre.

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Michelle Klayman Boroughs Publishing BIO: WISHLIST: Born in the South Bronx (the 41 What is the minimum word-count your agency takes or your publishing house requires? precinct/Fort Apache), Michelle discovered For the most part, we are looking for books at 40k words and up. Occasionally, we will accept novellas 25k words romance novels in law school. The library and up IF they are a duo or part of a series so they can be presented as a box set for print purposes. closed at midnight, and there was one 24- What sub-genres or genres are you not looking for? hour supermarket close by, so she did her Inspirational romance, and women’s fiction where the romance is not the spine of the story. We don’t publish shopping at 12:30 in the morning. Inside the mainstream literary fiction. front doors, first thing on the left, was the Is there a genre or sub-genre you’re particularly keen to see? rack with the paperbacks. She thought Regency romance, historical romance, YA romance, NA romance, LBGTQ romance in all subgenres, and any series something completely different than the law with serious innovative world building in popular tropes such as vampires, wolf packs, and fae. Clever writing. would quiet her brain. Ah, no. How do you What genre is your personal favourite? spell a-d-d-i-c-t-i-o-n? While she went on to I’m an equal opportunity reader as long as there is a dark hero and a strong heroine/hero. I love a good series become an attorney, her love of romance where I can become immersed in the world the author has created. stories never waned. Evidence of that love What is your major turn-off in a book? culminated in Boroughs Publishing Group. Presuming the book is well-written: weak heroines and preachiness. What is likely to really knock your socks off besides an engaging voice and well-written book? A native of NYC, Michelle called Manhattan Intense emotional conflict, clever writing, and innovation. home for many years before travelling the Any advice to your potential pitchers? world and, for a time, living in Europe. She Be conversational about yourself and your writing. Don’t bring pictures, documents, or notecards. You have five has a special affinity for the book From the minutes to convince a publisher/editor/agent that you’re worth taking the risk. You don’t have to be a clever Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, orator, but you have to be real and show commitment to your craft, and that you’re willing to put in the work to as she has always wanted to take up promote yourself and your books. residence in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Michelle has lived in California for over twenty years, but she goes back to NYC as often as she can. She calls those trips her dip in the sanity pool.

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Melanie Coles Ingram Spark BIO: SERVICE OFFERING: Melanie spent her best school years What does your business offer, what is it that you do? immersed in writing and literature, only to IngramSpark, works with independent publishers to print their books for orders they need (no minimum order) lose her mojo shortly after graduating high and can list the books as available for sale to all of Ingram’s 39,000+ customers- distributors, bookstores, retail school. Discovering it in the dead of night outlets, libraries, etc., so you never miss a sale. some twenty years later, she wrote her first full-length and successfully How might you help an aspiring author? An emerging author? An established author? pitched it to Escape Publishing at her very IngramSpark is a self-publishing platform, so regardless of your author status, you can utilize our vast printing and first RWA conference in Melbourne in 2015. distribution network to publish your own works. Whether you are looking for author copies to sell at your book

launch, ARCS for your beta readers or a platform to get your print and/or ebook into the big online retailers…we A chance introduction at last year’s RWA can help. cocktail party resulted in a career move to What are the specific benefits you offer to Indie authors? Ingram Spark, where she now helps authors from all genres achieve their self-publishing IngramSpark is a self-service portal, which allows you to control the setup, printing, pricing and distribution of your dreams. She juggles writing with her Ingram title. We offer both paperback and hardback editions in a large number of trim sizes, giving you a greater number career and life as a single mum to two of options when it comes to how you want your book to look. Plus, Ingram Spark allows you to control the list price sports-crazed sons. and wholesale discounts for your title, meaning you can offer different pricing for US, Australian, UK and Europe markets according to your own requirements. And if customers are buying from you directly, you can have orders drop-shipped to anywhere in the world, thanks to our multiple print locations in Australia, US and UK. If someone is traditionally published, what opportunities might they have with you? Many traditionally published authors decide to put a foot in each camp and become hybrid authors. Or perhaps they have recently received the rights back on an old story that they don’t want to pitch again. By utilizing our self- publishing platform, they can control the look, format, pricing and distribution of their titles, with all the information held and managed in one place. Is there anything an author should bring to their consultation with you? Just your questions! And perhaps your laptop if you’d like any assistance with navigating the platform. Any advice to your potential clients? IngramSpark is a printer and distributor only. We work off print-ready files provided by you, and make no alterations to them. We do not offer file formatting services, so if you intend to self-publish, we highly recommend engaging the services of professional editors, file formatters and cover designers to ensure you end up with a polished and professional looking book.

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Nick Coveney Kobo BIO: SERVICE OFFERING: Nick has more than nine years’ experience in What does your business offer, what is it that you do? the publishing industry, working with Kobo Writing Life is Kobo’s free self-publishing platform. We make it fast and easy to upload your titles and reach bestselling authors and leading brands to millions of Kobo readers in over 190 countries. digitally bring their content to life. How might you help an aspiring author? An emerging author? An established author? Prior to joining the Kobo team he was Digital The Kobo Writing Life blog and podcast offer tonnes of resources for authors at all levels who want to learn craft Innovation and Projects Director at and business strategies specific to promoting their titles on Kobo. When an author is ready to upload a title, our HarperCollins, leading in-house teams to team of author care experts is available to answer any questions. And once the book is live, we offer promotions to work with tech and start-ups to create help grow your sales. unique storytelling opportunities and new What are the specific benefits you offer to Indie authors? platforms, such as the award-winning Kobo Writing Life is the easiest platform to use, and we’re constantly using feedback from our communities to StoryCastle. improve it – if you’re self-publishing, there’s no reason to not go direct with KWL. In 2019, we are launching direct In 2018 he was listed in the FutureBook40 as audio uploading to create exciting opportunities for authors to sell and promote their audiobooks to Kobo one of the top forty innovators in the customers. publishing industry. Nick is also co-chair of If someone is traditionally published, what opportunities might they have with you? the Pride in Publishing network, which aims If traditionally published authors retained the rights to their titles in some territories, they can consider self- to support LGBTQ+ members of the book publishing those books in those territories – it’s a hybrid approach that traditional authors should be aware of. And trade in the UK and increase the inclusivity they can also come learn about Kobo and how they can ensure they’re including links to all retailers across their and diversity of the industry. platform when they promote their books. Is there anything an author should bring to their consultation with you? Lots of questions! Any advice to your potential clients? Please reach out to us as we are always open to discussing new potential partnerships and opportunities.

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Dan Wood Draft2Digital BIO: SERVICE OFFERING: Dan Wood is the Director of Author Relations What does your business offer, what is it that you do? at Draft2Digital. Prior to this he spent many Draft2Digital helps authors publish their books worldwide with a variety of tools designed to make self-publishing years as a technology advisor in the energy easy, a wide distribution network and world class customer service. industry and served two years as an How might you help an aspiring author? An emerging author? An established author? AmeriCorps Vista volunteer. Draft2Digital works with authors at every stage of their careers so we have answers for nearly any questions you may have. We Draft2Digital gives over 53,000 authors have tools to help get your first novel out to the world and we have tools designed to save you hours of work if simple tools to format and publish their you have dozens of published novels. In addition to our publishing tools we have our Books2Read tools to help ebooks to digital stores worldwide. Authors authors let readers know how to find their book globally. keep their rights and keep writing. What are the specific benefits you offer to Indie authors? Draft2Digital helps with the rest. We offer email and phone support, distribution to all major digital retailers and many regional retailers, catalogue management tools, marketing tools and promotional support. If someone is traditionally published, what opportunities might they have with you? We work with a wide variety of hybrid authors, so we have a lot of answers for an author who has only been traditionally published but is interested in trying out self-publishing. Is there anything an author should bring to their consultation with you? Lots of questions. Any advice to your potential clients? We have videos on Facebook and YouTube of our software and platform for those who are visual learners.

13 RWA PITCHING & BUSINESS APPOINTMENTS PROGRAM Melbourne 2019

Kelly Lytle Findaway Voices BIO: SERVICE OFFERING: Kelly is Executive Producer and Head of What does your business offer, what is it that you do? Author Services and Success for Findaway Findaway Voices is a single service offering authors, publishers, and content owners the ability to create, Voices. He works closely with authors and distribute, and market their audiobook. We offer access to the world's largest network of audiobook sellers in publishers to connect them with a retail and library and work with a global community of professional voice talent to create professional audiobooks. community of world-class narrators, create We’re a completely non-exclusive platform, with the goal of opening the audiobook market to make it more audiobooks, and market and sell those audiobooks everywhere in the world. Kelly accessible for authors and content owners. has produced and directed audiobooks for Whether you have an existing audiobook you just need to distribute or you need to find a great narrator to many leading publishers including Penguin produce a new title, Findaway Voices provides everything you need! I lead our author services and success team, Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, working closely with our authors and our downstream partners to create more opportunities for marketing, Macmillan, and many others. merchandising, title visibility, and special promotions.

How might you help an aspiring author? An emerging author? An established author? He recently completed a series of audiobooks We work with all authors and offer tremendous service and new opportunities. For all authors we can help you with Apple Audiobooks, all featuring think through the right approach to creating your audiobooks and the best paths to getting those works to a world celebrity narrators. Kelly published and of listeners. We work closely with authors at all levels to set release schedules, pair audio marketing initiatives narrated his memoir, To Dad, From Kelly, with eBook marketing efforts, promote new and noteworthy releases, and provide paths for promotions and other about his relationship with his late father, features with our distribution partners. college football Hall of Fame running back Our goal is to be an extension of your team focused on audio! Rob Lytle, in 2014. Kelly speaks often on the What are the specific benefits you offer to Indie authors? concussion crisis in professional sports and has been featured in Sports Illustrated, The We give authors easy access to the world's largest network of audiobook sellers, reaching listeners through retail, Cauldron, The Ann Arbor News, and The library, and education channels. We can help authors build a wider network, reach a truly global audience, and Detroit Free Press. expand revenue sources. We have a whole team in place to help create professional audiobooks. We connect authors with the perfect narrator, manage audio production from end-to-end, and prepare digital audio files so they meet the technical specifications of every audiobook seller in the world. We provide more price control and promotional capabilities than any other audiobook service. We also offer Giveaway Codes, sales and transaction reporting (realtime for many retailers), promotion opportunities, and making sure your royalty payments arrive accurately and on time. We also value customer service and support. Our team is always available to help with whatever the question may be! If someone is traditionally published, what opportunities might they have with you? There are many ways for traditionally published authors to work with Findaway Voices! 1. If you are traditionally published but still own your audio rights, Findaway Voices is a great option to both create your audiobook or, if you have finished audio files, reach a global audience through our distribution network. 2. If your publisher has created your audiobook and is seeking more avenues to distribute, Findaway Voices can be a great option. We are a completely non-exclusive platform, which means our partner network 14 RWA PITCHING & BUSINESS APPOINTMENTS PROGRAM Melbourne 2019

can complement a publishers existing distribution! 3. If you have books coming where you still own the rights and are considering audio, our service is a great option for all the reasons discussed! Is there anything an author should bring to their consultation with you? It’s always helpful to have a preliminary understanding of the audio market and opportunities available. More important, though, is an understanding of how audio fits into your specific strategy as an author. Is now the right time to create audio? What release schedule helps my books get noticed? Do I have an initial marketing plan and tactics in place for audio? You don’t need to have firm answers to such questions—that’s what we can discuss! But having giving them a little thought in advance will help our conversation as we can chat about both the general audio market and then dig into the specifics that will matter most to you.

Any advice to your potential clients? Our business is built on relationships. We love working with authors and talking about all the ways to grow your audience in audio. If you have a question, just let us know! We’re always happy to help!

15 RWA PITCHING & BUSINESS APPOINTMENTS PROGRAM Melbourne 2019

Cristina Lee Bolinda BIO: SERVICE OFFERING: Bolinda, audio publisher of elite literary and What does your business offer, what is it that you do? commercial talent, is the No. 1 audiobook Bolinda is an audio publisher of elite literary and commercial talent and the No. 1 audiobook publisher in the publisher in the British Commonwealth. For British Commonwealth. For more than 25 years we have created the highest quality collection of audiobooks in the more than 25 years it has created the world and are credited worldwide for reinvigorating the audiobook category. Bolinda offers authors the ability to highest quality collection of audiobooks in reach not only the retail market but also the library market & the online digital market. the world. How might you help an aspiring author? An emerging author? An established author? The company is credited worldwide for The audiobook category is the fastest growing segment in the publishing industry and whether an author is reinvigorating the audiobook category and aspiring, emerging or established, publishing an audiobook opens doors to new audiences all around the world. If Bolinda’s values are intrinsic to the an author wants to record their own book, we have a great team of producers to guide them through the process. company’s success, encapsulating Alternatively, we’re experts in the selection of the perfect for a book and will work with an author every step of commitment to libraries, authors, the user the way to find a voice that works for them. experience, the provision of great literature What are the specific benefits you offer to Indie authors? and the fostering and engaging of Access to a commercial market built over years of working with some of the best publishers and book stores in the communities. country. We work directly with digital download companies such as Google Play, Audible and Apple as well as physical trade such as Amazon, Dymocks or Collins Booksellers. A marketing team that creates individual assets for each author and can provide direct communication on all campaigns and marketing. If someone is traditionally published, what opportunities might they have with you? Tailored marketing campaigns Direct communication with acquisitions and production manager Personalised treatment Reaching a new audience (selling and social media) Is there anything an author should bring to their consultation with you? Sample of their work Previous books written, awards won for previous books, examples of exposure in the industry. Any advice to your potential clients? Do your research on the market Think about the voice you would want narrating your book – yours or a particular narrator.

16 RWA PITCHING & BUSINESS APPOINTMENTS PROGRAM Melbourne 2019

Olivia Lanchester Australian Society of Authors BIO: SERVICE OFFERING: Olivia Lanchester is the Legal Services What does your business offer, what is it that you do? Manager at the Australian Society The ASA is a membership organisation; the national peak industry body for writers and illustrators in Australia. We of Authors (ASA). Previously, she worked as offer advice, support and advocacy. We’re here to help you build your career, provide access to a community of an intellectual property lawyer in private creators and advocate for robust copyright, fairer contracts, digital lending rights and so much more. Check out practice and as a freelance editor. Olivia runs our range of services at Asauthors.org. the ASA's Contract Assessment Service and How might you help an aspiring author? An emerging author? An established author? has reviewed hundreds of publishing We offer advice on the various pathways to publishing for aspiring authors, as well as mentorships and workshops. contracts during her time with the ASA. Emerging authors might be interested in our advice service where you can ask about any aspect of publishing and our Contract Assessment Service in which we conduct a legal and industry review of your publishing offer. She is passionate about informing ASA Established writers can benefit from our workshops on reinvigorating your career and our advocacy efforts to members on their rights and optimising the improve the returns to all authors. All writers can enter their books into our monthly bulletin New to View, which contractual position of writers and showcases new publications. illustrators. Olivia is deeply interested in What are the specific benefits you offer to Indie authors? copyright reform and helps to coordinate the Indie authors will be interested in our resources and workshops on self-publishing. They also might wish to include ASA's advocacy on copyright, unfair their titles in our International Marketplace Catalogue. And we have an exciting announcement regarding a new contracts and digital lending rights. distribution partnership that will be of interest to indie authors.... watch this space! If someone is traditionally published, what opportunities might they have with you? Our Contract Assessment Service receives such positive feedback. It is a subsidised affordable way of optimising your traditional offer. These days, even traditionally published need to be up to date on affordable marketing initiatives and you might enjoy these resources. Lastly, we have successfully helped out authors in dispute with their publishers. If you find yourself unsure of your rights or a way forward, the ASA is here to help. Is there anything an author should bring to their consultation with you? No need to bring anything! Any advice to your potential clients? Only that you should consider joining the ASA! I am looking forward to meeting many writers at the Conference.

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