At the 2015 SCBWI Mid-Winter Conference in New York City, New England members mentioned their desire for more opportunities to interact with agents and editors to Assistant Regional Advisor Kristine Asselin. To fill this need, Kristine and Assistant Regional Advisor Francine Puckly developed an Agent-Editor Day for middle grade and young adult novelists. Ten New England-based agents and editors facilitated two round table discussion/critique groups of authors who had an opportunity to share the first 750 words of a work in progress.
In 2017, the event moved to a larger venue and was expanded to include picture book writers and illustrators. Fifteen agents, editors and art directors were invited and more than 100 members attended. The program has continued to evolve in recent years, and the schedule now includes a morning mini-keynote as well as a lunchtime panel in which industry professional share knowledge and advice with attendees.
In 2020, Stacy Mozer and Jeanette Bradley will coordinate a second Agent-Editor Day in Fairfield, CT.
Year | Coordinator | Location |
2015 | Kris Asselin, Francine Puckly | Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA |
2016 | Kris Asselin, Francine Puckly | Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA |
2017 | Kris Asseline, Francine Puckly, Milanka Reardon, Denise Ortakales | Devens Common Center, Devens, MA |
2018 | Kris Asselin, Milanka Reardon, Denise Ortakales | Devens Common Center, Devens, MA |
2019 | Kris Asselin, Milanka Reardon | Devens Common Center, Devens, MA |
2020 | Kris Asselin, Milanka Reardon | Devens Common Center, Devens, MA (moved online to Zoom as a result of Covid-19) |
2020 | Stacy Mozer, Jeanette Bradley | Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT (moved online to Zoom as a result of Covid-19) |