Calling all authors and publishing professionals!

Just some cool opportunities for bookish folks

Hi, friends!

How’s everyone feeling and doing? Today I’m sharing four fun opportunities for writers and others in the industry…

Authors for Voices of Color online auction

First off, my co-organizer Jennifer Keishin Armstrong and I have begun working on our fifth annual Authors for Voices of Color auction. The 2023 auction raised more than $37,000 for We Need Diverse Books’ internship grants and professional program for diverse college students/recent grads, books and materials for underfunded schools, and resources to help authors impacted by book bans. The auction will run Dec. 2-9, 2024, and if you’re an author, agent, publicist, marketing specialist, etc., let me know if you’d like to be involved!

Last year we featured a book club visit from Elizabeth Gilbert, a Zoom AMA with Lessons in Chemistry author Bonnie Garmus, a 30-page critique from Carmen Maria Machado, and a signed gift set from Roxane Gay, among other goodies. Query and partial-manuscript critiques did particularly well, but your donation can be as involved or low-effort as you want.

I meeean, not the main reason to do it but if you donate, there’s a chance your book will get some cool media coverage too?

Let’s get those wheels turning: Maybe you have a deleted scene or outdated Chapter 1 on your hard drive, or you’re a publicist willing to donate a one-hour virtual session, or you could offer a signed ARC or bound MS of your next book, or you could send signed books with cool swag, or you’re willing to name a character after the winner or thank them in your Acknowledgements. Please browse the 2023 auction for inspiration!

If you’d like to donate, please send an email with your idea to andibartz [at] substack [dot] com. The auction is US only, and you won’t need to worry about fulfillment until January. Thanks, beautiful people! (Oh, and if you’d rather give a direct donation to the cause, you can do that here.)

Words With (Author) Friends

I’d love to help promote your new book! I’m heretofore scheduling these author Q&A’s for after a book’s out and the dust has settled…that way, we can chat about how publication went, and I’m left with more flexibility re: when to run it. Hopefully it’s a nice way to keep the momentum going post-pub! 

If you’re an author, check out the WWAF archives here, then send me a note around your pub date so we can get something on the calendar (email above). These are low-key g-chat conversations…I will almost definitely be wearing sweatpants. And you won’t even know.

Query Letter Compendium

One of my favorite Get It Write resources is the free, public compendium of successful query letters I’ve pulled together. If your query letter got you an agent (even if you’re still prepublication), I’d love to include it! Just send me a note at the email above.

Book & freelance consulting

I have a few openings this fall for new consulting clients! As a former magazine editor, successful freelance journalist, and bestselling author, I would love to help you crush your career goals. Whether you’re looking to navigate traditional publishing, learn to pitch your ideas and write for major outlets, or forge a PR strategy for your new book, I can help. Learn more about my services here!

That’s it for now…have a great rest of your week (and make sure you’re registered to vote). Keep an eye out next week for a ~MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ME~ ooOOooh!