In the biggest news of the night, Jenny Martin announced she has signed with Mary Kole of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc. What’s even better is that Jenny met Mary at the 2010 DFW Writers’ Conference, making this yet another success story for an event designed to connect authors with agents and editors.

In other news, Carolyn Williamson announced the addition of three new writer’s market books for the Workshop’s library. While these reference books may not be checked out, there are many others available for use by DFWWW members.

Finally, it’s rumored that 15 literary agents have already agreed to attend the 2011 DFW Writers’ Conference. With success stories like Jenny’s proving the value of the event, attendees will want to register early for the best chance to meet with one of next year’s agents.

During the April 14 meeting of the DFW Writers’ Workshop, the group thanked chairperson Jeri Burbage for her two years of dedication to the conference. As well, the multitude of classroom monitors, agent wranglers, and other volunteers were recognized.

Speaking of successes, the following Workshop members had full or partial requests from:

• Agent Joshua Bilmes — Pat Hauldren, Harry Robbins, John Keith, Russell Connor, Nik Holman, George Goldwaithe
• Agent Gina Panettieri — Carolyn Williams, Robert O’Haugherty, Mary Kelly, Merris Doud,  Ginnie Bivona, Anne Perry
• Agent Diana Fox — John Sanders, Donna Lasko, Katy Roberts
• Agent Lucienne Diver — Pat Hauldren, Paula LaRocque, Kendall Furlong
• Agent Paul Levine — Jeannie Furlong, Tina Britt
• Agent Mary Kole — Stephen Manning, Anne Perry
• Agent Laurie McLean — Carolyn Williamson, Pat Hauldren, Larry Enmon, Kyle White
• Agent Anne Hawkins — Kenneth Ingle, Daryle McGinnis, Wes Dunham, Tom Gensler

In other Workshop news, Kenneth Ingle signed the contract for his fourth book. A. Lee Martinez has two upcoming book signings. On Friday, April 16 at 6 p.m. at the Weekend Reader Book Shop in Balch Springs. On Saturday, April 17 from 2 — 4 p.m. at the Barnes & Nobles Booksellers in Hurst.  

Finally, registration for the 2011 DFW Writers’ Conference is underway. We’re moving to a bigger facility to accommodate more people. It will be held February 26–27, 2011 at the American Airlines Training and Conference Center in Fort Worth. Located on a lush wooded campus, the event will be more of a writers’ retreat. New York Times #1 best-seller and Thriller Master, Sandra Brown, will be the keynote speaker. Early registration is recommended, since this year’s event sold out.

For example, authors interested in pitching their books to Joshua Bilmes, Lucienne Diver, or Gina Panettieri had better register now. The slots for all three agents are over a quarter of the way full and going fast. Appointments with many of the other agents  are also filling quickly. This is definitely a case where if you snooze, you could lose, so register early to secure your place in line.  

Members were also told that the tenth, and final, agent had been named. Mary Kole, who represents children’s picture books as well as Middle Grade and Young Adult authors, has been added to the roster. The agents attending the 2010 DFW Writers’ Conference are:

Anne Hawkins | John Hawkins & Associates, Inc.

Gina Panettieri | Talcott Notch Literary Services

Joshua Bilmes | JABberwocky Literary Agency

Laurie McLean | Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents

Lucienne Diver | The Knight Agency

Melissa Shultz | Jim Donovan Literary

Paul S. Levine | Paul S. Levine Literary Agency

Victoria Horn | Liza Dawson Associates

Mary Kole | Andrea Brown Literary Agency

In other news, A. Lee Martinez signed the contract for the German rights to his upcoming novel, Divine Misfortune. (Those Germans sure do love his work.) Russell C. Connor has a book signing for his horror novels on October 3 at the Cat and the Candle Bookstore in Lake Whitney from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during Pioneer Days.