We are excited to announce our First Annual SCBWI SF Agent's Day to be held on Saturday, August 16, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p. at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. Mingle with agents in the heart of SF at beautiful Fort Mason! Learn how to write a great query letter! Get tips to make your manuscript stand out! Meet in small groups and discover what these agents are looking for! Our featured agents have generously agreed to do paid written manuscript critiques for the first fifty SCBWI registrants who sign up.

AS OF 08/04/08:  AGENT'S DAY IS SOLD OUT!  If you are already SIGNED UP, please make sure you arrive between 8:30 and 9:00 to check in and receive your information.  There will be NO sign-ups at the door.

FEATURED AGENTS

NATHAN BRANSFORD is an agent in the San Francisco office of Curtis Brown Ltd., a New York-based agency that has been representing authors since 1914. Nathan represents a wide range of genres and is particularly interested in literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, young adult fiction, historical fiction, mystery, science fiction, business, sports, politics and popular culture. Nathan was born and raised in Colusa, California, where he learned a thing or two about rice farming, and graduated from Stanford University with a degree in English. Feel free to visit his blog at http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com .

JENNIFER LAUGHRAN is new to agenting, but not to the world of children's books. She's been a children's bookseller for over a decade, and is the buyer for one of the largest independent bookstores in California. She is also the founder of the extremely popular YA event series "Not Your Mother's Book Club.” Her knowledge of the market and extensive experience working with publishers are a definite asset for her clients. Jennifer joined the team at Andrea Brown Literary Agency in 2007. Her area of expertise is YA and middle grade fiction. She is actively seeking YA and MG authors. She tends to gravitate toward fresh, funny and character-driven novels, action-adventure, mystery, and quirky romance. She is not seeking picture books or non-fiction at this time. She is not interested in representing adult fiction. Forthcoming titles that she has sold include the new untitled novel from the amazing Daniel Pinkwater, to Houghton Mifflin; FLASH BURNOUT, by L.K. Madigan, a contemporary and gritty YA, also to Houghton Mifflin; OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW, by Kate Messner, a gorgeous picture book, to Chronicle; and more.

TED MALAWER joined Firebrand Literary in 2007, where he focuses on middle grade and young adult literature. His first year included six-figure deals with Scholastic, Hyperion, Random House, and Little, Brown and Company -- all from debut authors. A graduate of Columbia University and The Juilliard School, Ted is especially interested in stories with musical/theatrical themes, as well as manuscripts that blend commercial sensibility with beautiful storytelling. Forthcoming and representative titles include Danette Haworth's VIOLET RAINES ALMOST GOT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, Sarah Ockler's TWENTY BOY SUMMER, Josh Berk's BIG DEAF FATTY, and Yvonne Woon's teenage zombie love story, DEAD BEAUTIFUL.

KATE SCHAFER TESTERMAN - After nearly ten years with industry powerhouse agency Janklow & Nesbit Associates, Kate Schafer Testerman formed kt literary in early 2008, where she concentrates on middle grade and YA fiction, as well as some adult women’s fiction and narrative nonfiction. Bringing to bear the experience of working with a large agency, she’s looking forward to concentrating on all aspects of working with her authors, offering hands-on experience and personal service. Her clients include Maureen Johnson, Alyson Noël, Ellen Booraem, Susannah French, Daniel J. Blau, Josie Bloss, and Matthew Cody, among other exciting newcomers. Kate is a graduate of the University of Delaware’s Honors Program, a former cast member of the New York Renaissance Faire, and an avid collector of shoes. Her interests cover a broad range including teen chick lit, urban fantasy and magical realism, adventure stories, and romantic comedies. Please visit kt literary on
the web at www.ktliterary.com .

MARCIA WERNICK is a literary agent at Sheldon Fogelman Agency, Inc, in New York City. Marcia’s focus is on children’s books of all genres, from very young picture books to YA. She works with many established authors and illustrators, such as Mo Willems, Peggy Rathmann, Bryan Collier and Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, but loves to find new talent such as Jake Wizner, who was a Publisher’s Weekly Flying Start with his debut YA novel, Spanking Shakespeare. Author/illustrator Mo Willems, three-time Caldecott Honor Winner, has been a client of Marcia’s since beginning his career in children’s books. One of her newer clients, Jackie Urbanovic, had the lead title on HarperCollins Winter 2007 list with picture book, Duck at the Door, and was Jackie’s first title after representation. The book made it onto the New York Time’s Children’s Bestseller List as did the sequel, Duck Soup, which was published in January 2008. Although Marcia takes on relatively few clients in a year, she is always drawn to strong voices and age appropriate stories that engage, entertain and amuse the reader. In fiction, strong opening lines and first chapters that compel one to read on are key. She’s a sucker for southern voices, but overall shies away from meanspirited characters and horror. She’s not currently looking for traditional nonfiction.

HOW MUCH DOES THE EVENT COST?
EVENT ONLY:
SCBWI member &non-member: SOLD OUT!
If you would like to apply on-line for SCBWI membership and save $10 by registering as a member, visit: http://www.scbwi.org.

MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUE:
No longer available. 

WHERE DO I SEND MY REGISTRATION?
This event is SOLD OUT!

DIRECTIONS?
For directions to Fort Mason center see http://www.fortmason.org/directions/index.shtml

WHAT IS THE REFUND POLICY?
No refunds for program changes. No refunds after 8/1/08. Request for refunds must be made in writing. A service charge of $28 will be applicable. If your manuscript is being critiqued, no refunds will be allowed on the critique or the event.