Queries, Proposals & Publishing for Writers of Genre

Fantasy, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Romantasy and YA have all been trending up in the publishing world this year, but the path to publication can vary significantly depending on your genre and its current reception. On Sat, Dec 14 from 1-3pm, acclaimed local authors Riss M. Neilson, Sophie Burnham and Vanessa Lillie will gather at LitArts RI to discuss the challenges their genres face in traditional publishing circles and their own journeys to book publication. As Novel Writing Month comes to a close, join them for an in-depth conversation on Queries, Proposals & Publishing for Writers of Genre.

This event is made possible by funding from the Dexter Donation.

About the Panelists

Riss M. Neilson is the author of young adult novels Deep in Providence and I’m Not Supposed to be in the Dark. Her adult debut romance A Love Like the Sun published in June. She lives in Rhode Island, has two children, a cat, a dog and bunnies named Casper The Ghost and Micheal Myers.

Sophie Burnham (they/them) is the author of the Ex Romana trilogy. The first novel, Sargassa, is available wherever books are sold. They have been a participating writer in—and script doctor behind—multiple studio film and television projects. Sophie lives with their dog on an island in Rhode Island, which is not an island.

Vanessa Lillie is the USA Today bestselling author of Blood Sisters, a new series centered on the stories of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which was a Target Book Club pick and GMA Book Club Buzz Pick, as well as a best mystery of the year from the Washington Post, Amazon Editor’s and Reader’s Digest. Her other thrillers are Little Voices, For the Best and she’s the creator and coauthor of the # 1 Audible Charts bestseller and International Thriller Writers award nominated,Young Rich Widows, set in Providence, RI where she lives, with the Audible Original sequel Desperate Deadly Widows and print edition recently released. Originally from Miami, Oklahoma, she is a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
Vanessa wrote a weekly column for the Providence Journal about her experiences during the first year of the pandemic. She hosts an Instagram Live show, ‘Twas the Night Before Book Launch, where she chats with authors the night before their book is out in the world.

Health Safety Guidelines

If you have tested positive for Covid-19 within a few days of attending an event at LitArts RI, please contact Staff so we can let others know of possible exposure. We ask that you wait 14 days or until testing negative to return to the Center.

Accessibility

LitArts RI is wheelchair accessible. The organization is actively committed to cultivating a community that values and reflects diversity, equity and inclusivity and to providing programming that is accessible to all attendees. Please let us know about any accommodations we can make to allow you to participate fully in this event.

Host or Publisher LitArts RI