The Women’s National Book Assn-San Francisco Chapter  

The Agents and Acquisition Editors listed below exemplify the quality of folks with which each participant had the opportunity to present their work at our 2010 “Meet-the-Agents” event in San Francisco on March 27^th. The evaluations from both sides were glowing, making it an amazing win-win occasion for all. Mark your calendars now for March 26, 2011.

Agents, Editors & Publishers Graciously Sharing Their Expertise Include: 

Alan Rinzler began at Simon and Schuster in 1962, then as Senior Editor at Macmillan Company and Holt, Director of Trade Publishing at Bantam Books, Associate Publisher & VP of Rolling Stone Magazine, and President of the Rolling Stone Book Division Straight Arrow Books. He was West Coast Editor for Grove Press, Editor of Berkeley Monthly, and for the past 18 years Senior Editor to Executive Editor of Jossey-Bass, imprint of John Wiley & Sons. Alan has edited and published Toni Morrison, Hunter S. Thompson, Tom Robbins, Claude Brown, Lorraine Hansberry, Oscar Acosta, Shirley MacLaine, Robert Ludlum, Irv Yalom, Jerzy Kosinski, Joan Acocella, Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, Phyllis Chesler, Clive Cussler. 
http://www.alanrinzler.com/

Amberly Finarelli is an agent with Andrea Hurst Literary Management (www.andreahurst.com), and has worked in the book publishing and freelance writing business for over five years. She joined Andrea Hurst Literary Management in 2008, and previously worked as a manuscript evaluator, developmental editor, copy editor, proofreader and freelance writer. Amberly is looking for Non-fiction: Gift books; Lifestyle (house and home, beauty, weddings); Relationships/advice; Self-help. In Fiction:  Commercial women’s fiction; Comic and cozy mysteries; Literary fiction with a focus on the arts, culture, and/or history. Not looking for True crime, science fiction, YA, or children’s. 

Amy Burkhardt joined Kimberley Cameron & Associates (www.kimberleycameron.com) in 2007 and represents fiction and nonfiction projects for the adult market. In fiction, she looks for literary and commercial fiction, upmarket women's fiction, mysteries, and historical fiction. In nonfiction, she seeks narrative nonfiction, memoirs, and prescriptive nonfiction written by experts in their field. She has a soft spot for lifestyle, humor, food, and current events topics. In any genre, she looks for accomplished writing, compelling characters, fresh voices, and timely themes. Amy has an MFA in Writing from the University of San Francisco and a BA in English from Bates College .  

Andy Ross has been a literary agent since January 2008.  Prior to that, he was the owner of Cody's Books in Berkeley, California for 30 years. Andy specializes in non-fiction, particularly narrative non-fiction, history, current events, and journalism. He has secured contracts in other genres as well. Andy has served on the faculty of numerous writers conferences and has conducted workshops on writing non-fiction book proposals. Andy is a member of the Association of Author Representatives (AAR). Check out Andy's Website: www.andyrossagency.com and Blog: www.andyrossagency.wordpress.com 

Brooke Warner Brooke Warner is Senior Editor at Seal Press, publisher of women’s nonfiction books, written for women, by women. Seal Press is fueled by the radical thinking and daring work of its authors, including notable women such as Jessica Valenti, Michelle Tea, and Inga Muscio. In 2007, Seal was acquired by Perseus Books Group, allowing it to continue its long tradition of publishing books that matter to women. Brooke is also a writing coach who works with writers to develop their ideas and pursue their creative passion. Her website is warnercoaching.com. 

Elizabeth Pomada is a partner in Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents and a member of the Association of Author’s Respresentatives. The agency has sold books to more than 100 publishers. Elizabeth loves good storytelling. For her, a book begins when she can’t put it down. She welcomes the chance to represent adult fiction, narrative nonfiction, and books for women. Their colleague, Laurie McLean, handles genre fiction, and middle-grade and young-adult books, query@agentsavant.com. Elizabeth and Mike are co-directors of the San Francisco Writers Conference. Elizabeth is the author of the 9^th edition of Fun Places to Go in Northern California with Children. Www.larsen-pomada.com. 

Georgia Hughes is editorial director at New World Library, where she acquires and edits nonfiction books in the areas of animals, spirituality, personal growth, sustainable business, animals, and women’s issues. New World Library, publisher of the bestselling The Power of Now and Creative Visualization, is a member of the Green Press Initiative. Recent acquisitions include The Life Organizer by Jennifer Louden, Dogs and the Women Who Love Them by Allen and Linda Anderson, Live Your Bliss by Terry Cole-Whittaker, SNAP: Making the Most of First Impressions by Patti Wood, and Secret History of Dreaming by Robert Moss. www.newworldlibrary.com 

Jeanette Perez, editor, acquires for the Harper Perennial, Harper paperback and Harper One imprints with an occasional book on the Harper hardcover and Avon (trade) lists. Some of her titles include the New York Times bestseller Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon, the national bestseller My Mistress’s Sparrow Is Dead edited by Jeffrey Eugenides, The Return by Victoria Hislop, Friendly Fire by Alaa Al Aswany, and Who By Fire by Diana Spechler. She’s looking for new, fresh literary fiction, book club fiction, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, and inspirational/spiritual nonfiction that appeals to a general trade audience.  

Jennifer Joseph has been publisher and editor of Manic D Press since its founding in 1984. Manic D Press is a critically acclaimed, award-winning literary press based in San Francisco, California publishing fiction (novels and short stories), poetry, art, cultural studies, and alternative travel trade titles. She has appeared as a guest on CSPAN’s BookTV and Michael Krasny’s Forum on KQED radio. Her critical writing has appeared in the San Francisco Bay Guardian, American Bookseller, and the Los Angeles Times, among other publications. 

Laurie McLean is an agent at Larsen-Pomada Literary, San Francisco, Northern California’s oldest literary agency founded in 1972, Laurie represents adult genre fiction (romance, fantasy, science fiction, horror, nouveau westerns, mysteries, suspense, thrillers, etc.) as well as middle-grade and young-adult books. She looks for great writing, first and foremost, followed by memorable characters, a searing storyline and solid world building. For more than 20 years Laurie ran a multi-million dollar eponymous public relations agency in California 's Silicon Valley. She is passionate about marketing, publicity, negotiating, editing and a host of other business-critical areas. She is also a writer herself, so she can empathize with the author's journey to and through publication. www.agentsavant.com & www.larsenpomada.com  

Michael Larsen, Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents, is eager to find adult nonfiction for big and midsize houses and tell you how to transform your writing and your career. He is most drawn to well-written books with social or practical value by writers with platforms who can promote their work. The fourth edition of How to Write a Book Proposal will be out this year. An update is at www.larsen-pomada.com.  Mike wrote How to Get a Literary Agent and coauthored the second edition of Guerrilla Marketing for Writers: 100 Weapons for Selling Your Work. He has a consulting service for nonfiction writers. 

Pat Walsh is the Editor-in-Chief f MacAdam/Cage, a publisher of fiction and narrative non-fiction. As editor-in-chief, he oversees the acquisitions, editing, and promotion of a list of more than fifty books a year. MacAdam/Cage is known industry wide for its ability to find and debut new voices to great acclaim. Among its titles are Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn, Awesome by Jack Pendarvis and The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Pat Walsh is also is the author of 78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published and 14 Reasons Why it Just Might (Penguin), a book outlining the challenges that face writers and authors today. 

Ted Weinstein is a member of the Association of Author Representatives, representing a broad range of adult non-fiction. His areas of focus include journalism, narrative nonfiction, popular science, biography, history, business, personal finance, health, food, pop culture (often based on popular Web sites or blogs), and quirky reference books. His clients include former Wired editor and NY Times bestselling author of INSIDE STEVE'S BRAIN, Leander Kahney; Stanford mathematician and NPR's "Math Guy" Keith Devlin; bestselling visual thinking expert Dan Roam, author of THE BACK OF THE NAPKIN; Stanford psychologist Kelly McGonigal, author of the forthcoming THE SCIENCE OF WILLPOWER; cartoonist and Web sensation Jessica Hagy, and many others.  More information about his agency and clients is available at www.twliterary.com.

Verna Dreisbach of Dreisbach Literary Management offers professional representation for distinctive voices for both emerging and experienced writers. Verna has a particular interest in books with a political, economic or social context and represents both fiction and non-fiction authors.  With over 13 years of law enforcement experience, she has a genuine interest and expertise in the genres of mystery, thriller and true crime.  Verna does not represent children’s books or screenplays.  Verna is the founder of Capitol City Young Writers, a non-profit organization that offers education and inspiration for aspiring young writers and the co-founder of The Writers Police Academy.