Archive for May, 2009

Hangin’ With a Happenin’ Agent Conference Days Away!

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

[Permission to Forward]

Kelly Mortimer of Mortimer Literary Agency Presents:

The First “Hangin’ with a Happenin’ Agent” Conference

Everyone knows I’m certifiably insane, so I need to keep up my rep. I’ve decided to have my own mini-conference. A one-woman conference. [or a two-woman, if ya count my bipolar disorder] Learn. Laugh. De-stress in beautiful Southern California.

WHY?

· Many writers belong to RWA, but can’t afford a trip to their D.C. conference.

· Many writers don’t belong to an organization, and don’t know where to start.

· Many writers can’t afford the high costs of conferences: conference fees, food, lodging, extra editing and seminar costs, transportation. Yikes!

· Many writers don’t get a chance to know an agent in a ten-minute appointment. I wanna make friends! I’m a good friend to have. [So my friends tell me….]

· Many writers don’t like conferences where thousands of people attend. [Sometimes it’s better to be a big fish in a small pond.]

· I guarantee you’ll leave my conference motivated, more knowledgeable, and well rested. [You’ll have downtime, and great ways to spend it.]

· Conference will benefit anyone who wants to rev up their writing, have fun with me, and possibly win ridiculous [the good ridiculous, meaning “awesome”] prizes.

GENERAL INFO:

Place: Calvary Chapel Conference Center, Murrieta, CA. [Note: This is a conference for ALL writers, not just inspirational writers]

Dates: Friday May 29, 2009 at 4 p.m.; to Sunday May 31st at 10:15.

Registration: Deadline to have forms and money order in my hand: Thursday May 28

AGENDA:

  • One-hour workshops with practical, hands-on advice to help writers in different aspects of their careers.
  • A one-hour Motivational Speech [I dare ya not to be motivated.]
  • A twenty-minute pitch appointment with moi.
  • Question-and-Answer time
  • Hangin’ out with me. Just wanna gab? I’m up for it.

AMENITIES: [It’s a sic spot, dudes!]

  • Mammoth swimming pool [not a pool for Mammoths, it’s just gigantic]
  • Roman Spa that holds 80 people [No worries. LOTS of chlorine.]
  • 6 Natural Hot Springs
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • Basketball
  • Billiards
  • Foos ball
  • Ping-pong
  • The grounds have fountains, waterfalls, palm trees; and rolling, green lawns.

FUN EXTRAS and PRIZES:

  • I’ll bring some of my bodacious, blingy bags [custom-made handbags] from Four Gals Designs [www.4galsdesigns.com], as they aren’t yet available in high-end stores. They’re pricey (hundreds), but I’ll give y’all a discount.
  • One fortunate attendee will WIN a handbag just for attending a workshop!
  • Immediately following the conference, you can win lunch and shopping on me. [Well, I don’t want your lunch on me.][details follow]
  • Drawing for a chapter (up to 30 pages) content/line edit.

COST:

  • Workshops [kewl], Motivation [priceless], Pitch [my undivided attention—oh, forgot, I’m bipolar…sorry.], All Five Meals (two breakfasts, one lunch, two dinners), and Lodging. [Lodging is dorm-style: two-to-six people per room, but the rooms are off the rip—and I’ll be stayin’ in one of them. Pillow fight, anyone?]
  • Total cost for the entire weekend of information, fun, and R&R is only $250.00! Period. Everything’s covered except transportation. An awesome deal!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

Friday:

4:00-5:00 Check in

5:00-5:30 Orientation

5:30-7:00 FREE TIME! Unpack, rest, explore the acreage of waterfalls, gardens, etc., or use the fab facilities.

7:00-7:45 Dinner

8:00-9:00 Motivational Speech: How I Went from Worthless to Worthwhile

Saturday:

8:00-8:45 Breakfast

9-10:00 Workshop: Extreme Makeover: Editing Edition, Part 1 (Bring THREE Full-

Page Overheads of Your Work, and We’ll Edit them!)

10-12:00 Appointments (If you don’t have an appointment, this is FREE TIME!

Rest, explore the acreage of waterfalls, gardens, etc., or use the fab facilities.)

12-12:45 Lunch

1:00-2:00 Workshop: Extreme Makeover: Editing Edition, Part 2 (Bring THREE Full-

Page Overheads of Your Work, and We’ll Edit them!)

2:15-4:00 Appointments (If you don’t have an appointment, this is FREE TIME! Rest, explore the acreage of waterfalls, gardens, etc., or use the fab facilities.)

4:00-5:00 Workshop: Query Letters and Synopses – Make a Great First and Last Impression

5:00-6:00 Let’s hang out! Informal question and answer session, or we’ll just gab. (No pitches allowed!)

6:00-6:45 Dinner

7:00-8:00 Workshop: Bleak to Chic – Dress for Success (My version of What Not to Wear.) Lookin’ great gives you the confidence you need in a field where rejections abound. One fortunate attendee to this workshop will win a $100.00 gift card to buy a new outfit, and if you stay until the conference is over, we’ll go to lunch, and then I’ll take you to the mall and give ya advice on how to spend your winnings!

Sunday:

8:00-8:45 Breakfast

8:45-9:00 Drawing for Four Gals Designs handbag and Chapter Edit. Collect survey sheets. Closing remarks for those who don’t have Sunday appointments and wanna bail.

9:15 Shuttle to airport, or hang out until noon (when they kick ya out).

9:15-10:15 Appointments (If you don’t have an appointment, this is your last chance to take advantage of the facilities until noon, or you can get the heck outta Dodge.)

10:30-1:30 Shopping trip and lunch for workshop winner, if still around. (Hint: Duh!)

ACQUISITIONS LIST:

[You don’t have to write in the genres listed below to attend. Still have great info.]

  • Single Title and Category/Series
  • Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy (No Chick Lit)
  • Historical Fiction
  • Historical Romance
  • Paranormal/Fantasy/Speculative (Both romance and not)
  • Romantic Suspense (No Cozy Mysteries)
  • Suspense/Thrillers
  • Women’s Fiction
  • Young Adult/Middle Grade
  • Non-Fiction
  • Screenplays/TV Scripts

Not Looking For:

  • Science Fiction
  • Children’s Books
  • Westerns
  • Poetry

ABOUT THE AGENCY/KELLY MORTIMER:

MISCELLANEOUS INFO:

  • Handouts for workshops given
  • No tape recorders, please.
  • If traveling via air, Ontario Airport (ONT) is the closest, roughly 40 minutes from the site. We’ll run one shuttle from the airport on Friday at 3:00 p.m.—can fit the first 6 people who request a ride, and one on Sunday at 9:15 a.m. No charge!
  • Dress is ultra-casual. [I know what I said about dressin’ up, but not for this conference.]
  • More questions? E-mail me: kmortimer@mortimerliterary.com
  • Sorry, no refunds.

Let me know if you’re in, I’ll e-mail you a registration form, then you pony up the dough by Cashier’s Check or Money Order only, made out and sent to:

Kelly Mortimer

52645 Paui Road

Aguanga, CA 92536

Hope to meet some serious, non-hobby writers and get to know ya. Boo-Yah!

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