Join Us for "Cook Your Book"
A one-day conference to address the needs and questions of aspiring writers.
Our guest speakers will include a literary agent, a publisher's representative, a representative of a leading book retailer, a ghost writer, and a book marketing guru. You will have ample opportunity to meet the speakers and ask questions.
Check back frequently for the list of speakers and the times they will be speaking.
Tickets are $ 75.00 per person in advance, or $ 100.00 day of the event. Our venue is the Verity Club, a beautiful location in the heart of downtown Toronto. There is paid parking directly across the street from Verity or it is easily accessible by subway.
Your admission includes continental breakfast and a buffet lunch.
Schedule of Events
8:00 am to 9:00 am - Breakfast and Welcome
9:00 am to 9:45 am - Andy Walker, Published Author and Marketer
Andy Walker is a marketing guru, a published non-fiction author, and radio and television personality. Some of Andy's books are You Call This The Future?, The Absolute Beginners Guide to Security, SPAM, Spyware and Security, The Windows Vista Help Desk and Windows Lockdown! Andy will speak about the process of getting a non-fiction title published. He also will give tips on successfully marketing yourself as a writer.
9:45 to 10:30 am - Trevor Dayton, Vice President, Indigo Books
After graduating from the Radcliffe Publishing Course in 1993, Trevor moved to New York and joined the National Accounts sales office representing National Book Network. Returning to Toronto, Trevor joined Somerville House Books Limited. In 2000, Trevor joined Indigo Books & Music where under his leadership, the Kids business has more than doubled. Trevor holds a BA and MA in English Literature from York University. Trevor will speak about what Indigo looks for when buying a book.
10:30 to 11:00 am - Break and Mingle
11:00 am to 12:00 pm - Trena White, Associate Editor, McClelland & Stewart
Trena White is associate editor at McClelland & Stewart, Canada's oldest book publisher. A graduate of the Master of Publishing program at Simon Fraser University, she specializes in non-fiction, with a focus on politics, popular culture, and current affairs, and works with both first-time authors and major internationally bestselling ones. She is the editor of such bestselling titles as The Washington Diaries by Allan Gotlieb, Where War Lives by Paul Watson, and Runaway Devil by Robert Remington and Sherri Zickefoose.
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Lunch and Mingle
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm - Sam Hiyate, Literary Agent
Sam Hiyate is a literary agent who has been inthe business for over six years and has successfully negotiated book deals for many first time writers. Sam's company is The Rights Factory. The Rights Factory is an agency that deals in intellectual property rights to entertainment products including books, comics, graphic novels, film, television and video games. The Rights Factory licences rights in every single territory on earth. Find out more about Sam and The Rights Factory at www.therightsfactory.com.
2:00 to 2:30 pm - Break and Mingle
2:30 to 3:15 pm - I.J. Schecter, Writer and Ghostwriter
I.J. Schecter has been a featured reader at bookstores and festivals throughout North America and is invited regularly by writers' groups and literary associations to speak about why writing, and writers, matter. His list of "15 Ways You Know You Were Born to Write," originally published in Writer's Digest, has become one of the most frequently circulated writing-related pieces on the internet. I.J. will be sharing his wealth of knowledge and will also speak to the why and how of utilizing a Ghost Writer. I.J. also has an upcoming book, the freelancer's guidebook, 102 Ways to Earn Money Writing 1,500 Words or Less (F&W Media).
3:15 to 4:30 pm - Mitch Kowalski, Managing Director, Toronto Writers' Centre
Mitch Kowalski is the Founder and Managing Director of Toronto Writers’ Centre (TWC). Since 2006, writers in Toronto have enjoyed TWC’s affordable workspace, collective energy and sense of community. Before creating Toronto Writers’ Centre, Mitch practiced law in Toronto for many years and still maintains a small, boutique law practice. He has written a legal text on commercial real estate financing as well as a number of legal and non-legal freelance articles. His pieces have appeared in The Globe and Mail, National Post, Lexpert Magazine, National Magazine and Outpost Magazine. Mitch will speak about what kind of environment a writer needs to be successful.
4:30 pm to 5:00 pm - Wrap-up and Feedback
This event is being hosted by BookCo. We look forward to seeing you there! If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Debbie Wood via email - dwoodkelly@aol.com.