Speed dating with publishers & agents – part 2

This was the second of two panel discussions where publishers and agents were pitching to the conference about ‘why you should go on a date with me’.

Second panel consisted of:

• Alex Adsett (Alex Adsett Publishing Services)
• Beverley Cousins (Random House)
• Sarah Fairhall (Penguin)

Beverley Cousins – Random House

• commercial fiction including crime, thrillers, women’s fiction, men’s fiction
• sales from local commercial fiction has grown by 168% in past 2 years
• strong sales/ marketing / publicity plan for authors
• recognises talent and potential that comes from the RWA membership
• limited print slots now
• Digital First imprint launching next year which will open up a lot more slots for romance
• send synopsis and first 3 – 4 chapters
• will talk to authors for social media, provide support network
• looking for women’s fiction – rural romance, strong female characters, erotic fiction

Sarah Fairhall – Penguin

• YA, Destiny, Romance
• had 17 writers at the conference this year
• Destiny offers a small boutique style team with the ‘power and might of the Penguin publishing team’
• provide social media training, help set up websites, on an author by author basis
• looking for rural romance, erotic fiction, and for Destiny looking for historical romance

Alex Adsett – Alex Adsett Publishing Services

• contract negotiator – works on a freelance basis
• also an agent looking for manuscripts, able to submit manuscripts to someone who knows the industry
• looking for fantasy, science, erotic paranormal
• hopes to get back to submissions within about a month
• please refer to website:  alexadsett.com.au