Charity Critique Auctions
Irene Goodman and the top editors and agents in New York auction critiques of manuscripts every month!
The May auctions go live on May 1st!
We have a diverse and impressive lineup in May:
AGENTS
Peter Lampack - Peter Lampack Agency
3 Chapter critique (approx 15,000 words) in the genres of thrillers, action/adventure, literary fiction, mysteries, contemporary women's fiction.
Peter Lampack joined the William Morris Agency in 1967 through its now famous mail room training program, acceptance into which is said to be more competitive than Harvard.
After 5 years in the television department, Peter transitioned into film. He sold the first television script by Sylvester Stallone, a then-aspiring writer in New York. When he sold a first novel by Jeffrey Konvitz, The Sentinel, it promptly became a New York Times Best Seller. Then came The Mediterranean Caper by Clive Cussler, the first in the now famous 'Dirk Pitt' action adventure book series.
In 1977 Peter founded his eponymous agency. He has represented NYT Best Selling authors Sally Mandel, Doris Mortman, John Coyne, Warren Adler, Ted Bell, Martha Grimes and Clive and Dirk Cussler. His longtime client, J. M. Coetzee, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003. Non-fiction authors have included Laurence Bergreen, Gerry Spence, Judith Kelman and Peter Scardino, MD.
Peter continues to ply his trade every day.
Response time: 1 month
http://www.peterlampackagency.com/
Irene Goodman - Irene Goodman Literary Agency
3 chapters and a complete synopsis in the areas of romance, thrillers, historical fiction, upmarket women's fiction, and mystery
Irene Goodman has been a leading member of the publishing community for over 30 years. Her agency represents many NY Times bestselling authors, including Linda Lael Miller, Sharyn McCrumb, Keri Arthur, Lili St. Crow, Lauren De Stefano, Graham Brown, and Celeste Bradley. Irene is the founder of Publishing for Vision & Hearing. Her critiques have earned rave reviews from writers. One auction winner got her first contract after following Irene's advice, and another is now a Goodman Agency client.
Response time: one month
http://www.irenegoodman.com/
Chip MacGregor - MacGregor Literary
3 Chapter critique (approx 15,000 words) in the genres of suspense, mystery, thriller, romance, women's fiction, literary fiction, and non-fiction self-help.
Chip MacGregor is president of MacGregor Literary Inc. A former publisher with the Time Warner Book Group, Chip has been agenting for 15 years, and counts among his clients numerous award-winning and bestselling authors. Over the past five years, he has consistently been one of the five busiest agents in the country.
Response time: 1 month
http://macgregorliterary.com/
Malaga Baldi - Malaga Baldi Literary Agency
Malaga has worked as independent literary agent since 1986. The Baldi Agency is an independent and eclectic agency specializing in literary fiction, memoir and cultural history.
www.baldibooks.com/clients.php
Response time: one month
Helen Breitweiser- Cornerstone Literary
3 Chapter critique (approx 15,000 words) in the genres of historical fiction, mysteries, YA (but not fantasy), middle grade, and upmarket women's commercial fiction.
Helen Breitwieser is a member of the Association of Authors' Representatives (AAR), the Authors Guild, Mystery Writers of America (MWA), SCBWI, and Romance Writers of America (RWA). Helen Breitwieser was a literary agent at the William Morris Agency in New York before founding Cornerstone Literary in 1998. She received her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Barnard College. Clients include Katherine Center, Beth Fantaskey, C.S. Harris, Rachel Lee, Sophia Nash, Ursula Vernon, Tracy Anne Warren and Ahmet Zappa.
http://www.cornerstoneliterary.com/EDITORS
Ann Leslie Tuttle - Harlequin
3 Chapter critique (approx 15,000 words) in the genre of paranormal romance.
Ann Leslie Tuttle is the Senior Editor for Harlequin Nocturne and Cravings. Prior to joining Harlequin in 1997, she worked at Charles Scribner’s Sons and at the University Press of Virginia. She earned her Masters in History from the University of Virginia and graduated from the College of William and Mary. The New York City chapter of RWA named her Editor of the Year in 2000 and she has taught a course in romance writing at Marymount College in Manhattan. She is a seasoned expert in the romance genre.
Response time: 1 month
Kate Miciak - Ballantine/Bantam Dell
3 Chapter critique (approx 15,000 words) in the genre of suspense.
Kate Miciak is Vice President, Editorial Director, of Ballantine/Bantam Dell, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group. Among the authors she has edited are Melanie Benjamin, Alan Bradley, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Elizabeth George, Laurie R. King, and William Landay. She is one of the very best editors in New York.
Response time: 1 month
"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.