About Us
With a variety of experiences as writers and editors, we promise to make this a memorable and productive experience for you.
October 13-17 2011 staff
Author: David Corbett
David Corbett is a recovering Catholic/ex-PI/former bar-band gypsy and - lest we forget - novellist, poet and screenwriter. Nominated for virtually every major prize in crime-writing, he would hate to ruin things by actually winning one, though having a NY Times Notable Book and a story in Best American Mystery Stories is kinda sweet. He has four novels under his belt (which frees up room on his bookshelf), the most recent being 2010's Do They Know I'm Runnning? ("a hard-hitting epic," says Publisher's Weekly), and routinely gets compared to Grahm Greene, Robert Stone, Dashiell Hammett and Telly Savalas. Feel daring? Go to davidcorbett.com.
Literary Agent: Scott Hoffman
A refugee from the world of politics, Scott Hoffman is one of the founding partners of Folio Literary Management, LLC. Prior to starting Folio, Scott was at PMA Literary & Film Management, Inc. "My fiction is about half literary, half commercial (chick lit? sure, if it's smart and fresh, and has a strong voice). Nonfiction is spread out among serious journalistic or academic nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, and quirkier pop-culture books. If your project doesn't fit one of the "established" categories, I'm probably your guy - I love projects that can't be easily classified."
Kevin Doughten: Penguin editor
Kevin Doughten is an editor at Viking Penguin specializing in non-fiction. He has worked with a range of authors, including Barack Obama campaign manager David Plouffe and bestselling authors Robert Lacey and Rafe Esquith. He enjoys working with writers of all stripes including memoirists, essayists, jounalists, and has a particular interest in 20th-century history, the arts, and outsider stories.
Editor: Anica Rissi, Simon & Schuster
Anica Mrose Rissi is the Executive Editor at Simon Pulse, a YA Imprint of Simon & Schuster. She looks for edgy, voice-driven fiction; unexpected or dark humor; smart writing; and characters that she can't get out of her head. Anica especially enjoys launching and building the careers of debut novelists. Her list includes NY Times Bestselling authors Jessica Verday and Orson Scott Card, two-time RITA finalist Lauren Strasnick, and Eileen Cook, Terra Elan McVoy, Amy Reed, Albert Boris, Nina Malkin, Elana Johnson, Leila Sales, Carolee Dean, and Hannah Moskowitz.
Editor: Katie Gilligan St. Martins Press
After six years at Thomas Dunne Books, I’ve acquired nearly every type of fiction—and while I seek primarily women’s lit, I am always on the hunt for genuine narrators, or quirky plots, or cry-into-a-glass-of-wine tearjerkers. Recently I’ve had the privilege of working with New York Times bestseller, Sharyn McCrumb, to re-launch her Appalachian Ballad series. Two amazing debut novels put new writers on the map—Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff, and Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter by Lisa Patton—and in doing so, reminded me of the great joys of book publishing.
My women’s fiction acquisitions range from the commercial to the literary, and all points in between—including crossovers into mystery and romance genres. I’ve recently published non-fiction titles ranging from the memoir of an organic blueberry farmer, to a savory travel-cookbook set in Umbria. In short, I’m eagerly seeking voices that have me at page one and can keep my attention while running on the treadmill or inspire me to test out a new recipe.
"My mind and body have been nourished and renewed. My creativity enriched and my spirit fed. I'm indebted to Cicily. She's one of the most engaging, nurturing and talented and connected folks I"ve met. Writing Away is one of the most invigorating experiences I've had."
~Nancy Brooks-Lane
(Spouse and Attendee with Author Doug Crandell for May 2009 retreat)
