The third Manuscript to Marketplace Writers Conference at Shepherd University has a dramatic, new location for 2025 — The Marinoff Theater. Conference Founder and Co-Director Alan Gibson says that the event “strives to strike a balance between marketing and craft sessions; literary and genre fiction; formal sessions and chat time,” and he hopes the new location will inspire new ideas.
Keynote speaker Shawn Reilly Simmons, award-winning author of the “Red Carpet Catering” mystery series and co-owner and publisher of Level Best Books, is recognized for her leadership in conferences that host thousands of attendees each year. When asked what attracted her to Shepherdstown’s upcoming conference she commented, “Like large conferences, Manuscript to Marketplace offers an exciting line-up of authors and industry experts, but the audience gets to connect with them in a small, relaxed setting — likely to foster lasting, productive relationships.”
Art Taylor, also a keynote speaker, is the author of two Edgar Award-winning short story collections and the novel “On the Road with Del and Louise.” Taylor writes frequently for the Washington Post and the Washington Independent Review of Books and is associate professor of English at George Mason University.
Keri Barnum, owner and CEO of New Shelves Books, will devote her keynote address to helping authors understand what propels a book from launch to bestseller status. She and Gibson will teach authors to explain what their book is about in a way that spikes the interest of agents and publishers.
Even writers of ground-breaking works may be bewildered about how to attract the attention of an agent or publisher. Ed Aymar, author of bestselling novels who reviews fiction for the Washington Post, will discuss this essential part of the author’s life. Carrie Callahan, author of historical novels and short stories and senior editor with the Washington Independent Review of Books, will advise on how to use history in a story to best effect, regardless of its genre. And who can resist poet Kirk Judd’s session, “Metaphors Be with You”?
Shepherdstown itself is brimming with brilliant authors. The conference is fortunate to include as speakers Pam Clark, Ginny Fite, D.W. Gregory, with her sister Riley Kilmore, and Shepherd University’s own Dr. James Pate. Attendees are encouraged to sign up for individual sessions with agent Natalie Kimber and publisher Simmons and submit manuscript excerpts to author-editor Hannah Grieco.
The Conference is scheduled for March 21 and 22. Details and registration at WritersConferenceSU.com.
By Staff Contributor