Charity Critique Auctions
Irene Goodman and the top editors and agents in New York auction critiques of manuscripts every month!
The June auctions go live on June 1st!
We have a diverse and impressive lineup in June:
AGENTS:
Richard Curtis - Richard Curtis Associates
Richard Curtis, president of Richard Curtis Associates, Inc., is a leading New York literary agent; founder of E-Reads, an electronic book publisher; and a well-known author advocate. He is also the author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction including several books about the publishing industry. His interest in emerging media and technology has enabled him to help authors anticipate trends in publishing and multimedia. He has lectured extensively and conducted panels and seminars devoted to raising consciousness in the author and agent community about the future of communications. He was president of the Association of Authors' Representatives. His popular blog about publishing appears regularly on www.ereads.com. He represents all kinds of commercial fiction and has had many bestsellers and trendsetters, including Kim Harrison, Janet Dailey, and Laura Kinsale.
Rebecca Strauss - DeFiore & Co.
Rebecca Strauss is an agent at DeFiore & Co and represents writers in a variety of genres, including WALL STREET JOURNAL bestsellers and Indie Next Picks. She represents non-fiction, literary and commercial fiction, women's fiction, urban fantasy, romance, mystery, memoir, humor and pop culture. Before joining DeFiore & Co, Rebecca was a foreign rights associate at Trident Media Group, a book scout and development assistant at Sony Pictures and an Account Associate at Ketchum PR. Rebecca earned her degree in English Literature from Duke University.
Irene Goodman - Irene Goodman Literary Agency
Irene is a leading agent in commercial fiction, heading the staff of a bustling agency in New York. A frequent speaker and keynoter at conferences, she has also sponsored some major changes and insights in the business. She has left an indelible stamp on the industry with a host of bestselling authors, including #1 New York Times bestsellers. As founder of Publishing for Vision & Hearing, she has become one of the major sources of giving back from the publishing community. She has been doing auction critiques for five years to rave reviews from recipients, and her critiques are in great demand.
Editors:
Margo Lipschultz--HQN and Harlequin Teen
Margo Lipschultz is an editor for HQN Books and also edits for Harlequin TEEN. She is thrilled to be working with a wide array of paranormal, contemporary and historical romance authors. She is an expert in the romance genre, Young Adult fiction, and women's fiction, with several New York Times bestsellers in those areas to prove it. A chance to work with her should not be missed.
Amy Pierpont - Grand Central
As Editor-in-Chief of the Forever print and Forever Yours digital-first imprints, Amy feels she has the envious position of working in a world filled with love, laughter, and happily-ever-after! Here is her own take on her job:
Between our print and digital imprints, Forever publishes over 140 titles a year, which makes for busy, but very exciting days. At any given moment I can be found at a cover photo shoot, or brainstorming consumer marketing plans, or plotting out social media strategy. Finding the best ways to introduce readers to our exceptional list of authors is one of the favorite parts of my day, as I like nothing better than placing a wonderful novel into the hands of an eager reader.
As an editor, I am most taken with writers who have a crystalline voice, one that engages from the very first page. At GCP I have the pleasure of working with some of the best names in romance, including New York Times bestselling authors Elizabeth Hoyt, Larissa Ione, Courtney Cole, Jessica Sorensen, Kristen Ashley, Eileen Dreyer, and Roxanne St. Claire.
Amy is one of the most respected and sought-after editors in all of romance. She is a detailed and discerning editor with a finger on the pulse of the market. Having created several bestselling careers, she is a true starmaker.
"Your comments were so full of insight, and made me realize I had not presented the materials in the right way. I got an agent and last week I got a book deal, too. So, I just wanted you to know that you really changed my life. I don't know if this would have happened if I had not submitted those pages to you." -- Laura R.
Here are the details:
Q: Really? Are these really the top editors and agents in New York?
A: Yes, really. They are well-know industry professionals who have worked with bestselling authors. They have also discovered newcomers and made them into stars. Each one will have their own bio and preferences listed, so you will know who to bid for.
Q: How soon can the winners expect to hear from you?
A: Each industry professional will list their response time, but the average is a few weeks.
Q: How long will each critique be?
A: At least half a page, single-spaced, usually more. But we can pack a lot of feedback into half a page.
Q: What kinds of manuscripts are you looking for?
A: Check the individual page of the auction site to see what each industry professional is looking to critique. They ask for what they know best, so you’ll be getting the benefit of experience and proven success.
Q: What are the critiques like?
A: Good critiques pack a lot of punch. My colleagues and I are direct, honest, and encouraging when we can be. Nicey-nice doesn’t really help you. Honesty does. If you can accept well-meant feedback from those who have built a lot of best-selling careers, then this is for you.
When you are hungry for information that will really make a difference, not waste your time, and respect your goals, you need a real industry professional who has walked the walk.
Q: Why these causes?
A: Foundation Fighting Blindness, Hope for Vision, and the Hearing Health Foundation are of crucial importance to me because my son Rob, 25, has Usher Syndrome. That’s a genetic condition that causes progressive loss of both vision and hearing. The research in this area is tremendous and there is great hope on the horizon. We can expect that there will be an effective treatment for blindness in his lifetime. The Hearing Health Foundation has assembled a “dream team” of scientists all over the country who are working aggressively on a cure for hearing loss. They predict a treatment in 10 years.
But when you are 25 and you are losing your sight and your hearing, you want the cure to happen NOW. All this costs a lot of money, and that’s where your dollars will be spent.
What previous winners have to say...
"Your review far exceeded my expectations." -- Alan Chaput
"What a great review! I have a clear sense of the many opportunities to
improve my craft and story." -- Mike S.
"The way you deliver feedback is truly amazing. It was honest, tactful, and insightful. You really packed a lot into your critique. It was an invaluable experience." -- Kourtney Heintz
"This rare peek into the thoughts of an accomplished agent energized my own enthusiasm to make my story even better." -- Gary W.