BIG happens in Texas! 

This past weekend was a blast at The Houston Writer’s Guild Annual Conference. Great things took place even before the conference began.

Saturday morning, we had a weather surprise. A big storm blew through and left us without electricity for two hours. Nothing like Mother Nature to spice things up. This occurred right at 7:30am during the breakfast stampede. Marriott employees rallied to everyone’s aid and excelled in service, providing all the necessities—coffee, of course, being #1! This hotel has lots of natural light, so all proceeded as planned. Then like magic, the lights came on right at start time.

Jeanie Loiacono, Ann Collette and Katharine Sands – Agents/Editors Panel

As one of the agents invited to do pitch sessions and the Agent/Editor Panel, I had requested to receive the pitches by e-submissions ahead of time; to familiarize myself with the authors and critique them before. This gives me the ability to explain to the author during the pitch what I thought of their work and what could be done to make it better. What a smashing success! I secured a contract on one a week ahead of the event, A Good Girl by Johnnie Bernhard, and am neck-deep into one I most likely will offer representation for when I’m finished, The Passers by David LeMaster. I am hoping to do the same with several others.

 Johnnie Bernhard

A Texas-style thanks has to go out to Rebecca Nolen, Denise Satterfield and Fern Brady, the three amazing ladies who organized it all, all the time-keepers, including Kathleen M. Rodgers (The Final Salute and Johnnie Come Lately) who did a session in March and was asked to come back, and to the COO of LLA, Robert Loiacono, the IT, financial and corporate adviser who got us to Houston and back safely and helped the LLA pitches run smoothly.

An announcement must also be made: Johnnie Bernhard has accepted a position as agent with Loiacono Literary Agency and is taking submissions per the LLA Submission Guidelines: https://loiaconoliteraryagency.com/submission-guidelines/  These awesome additions to the LLA Staff enable us to do quadruple submissions and publishing agreements. Please refer to the OUR STAFF icon on the LLA website for what genres they prefer: https://loiaconoliteraryagency.com/our-staff/

• Jeanie Loiacono, President of Loiacono Literary Agency