Black Hawk Literary Agency, Unicorn Writers Conference

07/31/2024

Passionate about helping writers learn about the world of publishing with all the new changes! I will be posting weekly tips https://www.instagram.com/p/C-Djurhv0ih/?hl=en based on my 40 years of experience in book publishing (Doubleday, St. Martin's Press, Scholastic, Macmillan, Charles Scribner's Sons, Warner Books/Little, Brown & Company, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Lippincott & Crowell, Condé Nast Publications, and Google!) I've worked in Editorial, Art, Production, Subsidiary Rights, Foreign Rights, and ran various Contracts/Copyrights/Permissions departments. I'm the creator of Unicorn for Writers paid services for writers), Black Hawk Literary & Portfolio Agency (no fees to clients), and Unicorn Writers Conference. I will be teaching two continuing education classes this fall - Greenwich, CT and Trumbull, CT. In addition, YOU WROTE A BOOK, NOW WHAT? at Byram Shubert Library, October 10, 2024, 7 pm, in Greenwich, CT. Over 40 handouts for each person and 80 pages in a PowerPoint presentation. Check out my resources on Black Hawk and Unicorn for Writers.
Please join my MEETUP Group: Writers and Book Publishing Group which has over 950 members. This is an excellent way to network with other writers and share opening pages for feedback.
I also suggest you follow my super agent son, Mark Gottlieb, VP, Literary Agent at Trident Media Group. He has many helpful pieces on YouTube and a great blog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do_AwoeCWBE

Today we kick off October with our 152nd episode of The Thriller Zone, where we welcome super agent Mark Gottlieb.Mark is the Vice-President of Trident Media...

07/31/2024

Passionate about helping writers learn about the world of publishing with all the new changes! I will be posting weekly tips https://www.instagram.com/p/C-Djurhv0ih/?hl=en based on my 40 years of experience in book publishing (Doubleday, St. Martin's Press, Scholastic, Macmillan, Charles Scribner's Sons, Warner Books/Little, Brown & Company, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Lippincott & Crowell, Condé Nast Publications, and Google!) I've worked in Editorial, Art, Production, Subsidiary Rights, Foreign Rights, and ran various Contracts/Copyrights/Permissions departments. I'm the creator of Unicorn for Writers paid services for writers), Black Hawk Literary & Portfolio Agency (no fees to clients), and Unicorn Writers Conference. I will be teaching two continuing education classes this fall - Greenwich, CT and Trumbull, CT. In addition, YOU WROTE A BOOK, NOW WHAT? at Byram Shubert Library, October 10, 2024, 7 pm, in Greenwich, CT. Over 40 handouts for each person and 80 pages in a PowerPoint presentation. Check out my resources on Black Hawk and Unicorn for Writers.
Please join my MEETUP Group: Writers and Book Publishing Group which has over 950 members. This is an excellent way to network with other writers and share opening pages for feedback.
I also suggest you follow my super agent son, Mark Gottlieb, VP, Literary Agent at Trident Media Group. He has many helpful pieces on YouTube and a great blog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do_AwoeCWBE

07/12/2024

You Wrote a Book, Now What? with Jan L. Kardys
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 4:00 pm

LOCATION: Guilford Free Library, 67 Park Street, Guilford, CT

DATE:
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Gain an insider’s view of book publishing with literary agent Jan L. Kardys, Black Hawk Literary Agency and chairman of Unicorn Writers Conference. Jan will share her 40 years experience inside 10 major NYC book publishers on such topics as developing a concept, writing a manuscript, editing, finding a literary agent, query letters, book proposals, publishing agreements, the various departments within publishing companies, self publishing versus traditional book publishing, subsidiary rights, marketing, utilizing the most cutting-edge technologies.

Jan L. Kardys’ diverse book publishing career includes executive positions at ten of the major book publishers – Doubleday, St. Martin’s Press, Scholastic, Macmillan, Scribner’s, Little, Brown & Company, Warner Books, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Lippincott & Crowell, Simon & Schuster/Prentice Hall, and Condé Nast Publications. Her experience and know-how are in editorial, art/production, subsidiary rights, contracts, copyrights, permissions, book agenting, editing, writer’s conferences, publishing consulting, and freelance editing. Jan worked for Google for three years where she added internet sales and marketing to her already extensive expertise.

This program is free and open to all.

Please register.

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03/25/2024

YOU WROTE A BOOK, NOW WHAT? 5 sessions, May 4, 11, 18, 25, June 1, 2024, Saturday, 1-3 pm, First Congregational Church, 46 Main Street, Bethel, CT 06801 FEE: $250
Write to [email protected] for registration form, Payment via Venmo, Cash App, Personal Check.

PART I (First hour) Gain an insider's view of book publishing at this program with literary agent Jan Kardys/Black Hawk Literary Agency, Chairman of Unicorn Writers' Conference and (President) Unicorn for Writers. Jan will share her 40 years of experience inside 10 major NYC book publishers on such topics as developing a concept, writing a manuscript, editing, finding a literary agent, query letters, book proposals, how to get the attention of a literary agent, publishing agreements, opening first pages, components of a novel, getting known before the book deal, various departments within a publishing company, self publishing vs. traditional book publishing, subsidiary rights, marketing, utilizing the most cutting-edge technologies and social media services to increase visibility to literary agents, publishers and readers alike.

PART II (Second hour) Second hour involves you reading your first 5 - 10 pages of your manuscript and making enough copies for each member of the group. With kindness and gentleness, we discuss the strong points of your writing piece, and offer suggestions and comments to help improve your manuscript. Additional writing assignments,

# # Elevate Your Manuscript: Workshops for Fiction and Nonfiction Writers

Ready to take your writing to the next level? Our workshops offer a supportive and inspiring environment for both fiction and nonfiction writers to hone their craft and transform their manuscripts.
For Fiction Writers:

Plot & Pacing Masterclass: Learn to build a captivating plot with strong structure, suspenseful pacing, and unforgettable character arcs.
Dialogue that Sizzles: Craft natural-sounding dialogue that reveals character personalities and drives your story forward.
Description that Dazzles: Master the art of evocative description to immerse your readers in your fictional world.
From Spark to Novel: Develop your initial story idea into a compelling and well-structured novel.
Character Development Deep Dive: Create characters that leap off the page with depth, complexity, and believable motivations.
For Nonfiction Writers:

The Art of Storytelling in Nonfiction: Learn how to weave narrative elements into factual content to engage your readers and make your message memorable.
Structure & Organization for Clarity: Organize your nonfiction manuscript for maximum impact, leading your readers through logical steps and arguments.
Research & Fact-Checking Fundamentals: Develop strong research skills and learn effective fact-checking techniques to ensure your writing is accurate and credible.
Finding Your Authorial Voice: Discover and refine your unique voice to establish yourself as a trusted authority in your field.
Crafting a Compelling Book Proposal: Learn the essential elements of a winning book proposal to attract the attention of agents and publishers.
All Workshops Include:

Expert Instruction: Led by experienced writing professionals offering insights and guidance.
Interactive Exercises: Put your learning into practice with targeted exercises and activities.
Personalized Feedback: Receive valuable feedback on your work in a supportive workshop environment.
Community Building: Connect with other writers and share your writing journey.
Invest in your writing success! Join our workshop and take your manuscript from promising to published.

03/25/2024

Passion .. to teach writers how to get published and improve their writing. YOU WROTE A BOOK, NOW WHAT? May 4,11,18, 25, June 1, 2024, Saturdays, 1-3 pm, First Congregational Church of Bethel, 46 Main Street, Bethel, CT 06801, Fee:$250
PART I (First hour) Gain an insider's view of book publishing at this program with literary agent Jan Kardys/Black Hawk Literary Agency, Chairman of Unicorn Writers' Conference and (President) Unicorn for Writers. Jan will share her 40 years of experience inside 10 major NYC book publishers on such topics as developing a concept, writing a manuscript, editing, finding a literary agent, query letters, book proposals, how to get the attention of a literary agent, publishing agreements, opening first pages, components of a novel, getting known before the book deal, various departments within a publishing company, self publishing vs. traditional book publishing, subsidiary rights, marketing, utilizing the most cutting-edge technologies and social media services to increase visibility to literary agents, publishers and readers alike.

PART II (Second hour) Second hour involves you reading your first 5 - 10 pages of your manuscript and making enough copies for each member of the group. With kindness and gentleness, we discuss the strong points of your writing piece, and offer suggestions and comments to help improve your manuscript. Additional writing assignments,
Elevate Your Manuscript: Workshops for Fiction and Nonfiction Writers
Ready to take your writing to the next level? Our workshops offer a supportive and inspiring environment for both fiction and nonfiction writers to hone their craft and transform their manuscripts.
For Fiction Writers:
Plot & Pacing Masterclass: Learn to build a captivating plot with strong structure, suspenseful pacing, and unforgettable character arcs.
Dialogue that Sizzles: Craft natural-sounding dialogue that reveals character personalities and drives your story forward.
Description that Dazzles: Master the art of evocative description to immerse your readers in your fictional world.
From Spark to Novel: Develop your initial story idea into a compelling novel.
Character Development Deep Dive: Create characters that leap off the page with depth, complexity, and believable motivations.
For Nonfiction Writers:
The Art of Storytelling in Nonfiction: Learn how to weave narrative elements into factual content to engage your readers and make your message memorable.
Structure & Organization for Clarity: Organize your nonfiction manuscript for maximum impact, leading your readers through logical steps and arguments.
Research & Fact-Checking Fundamentals: Develop strong research skills and learn effective fact-checking techniques to ensure your writing is accurate and credible.
Finding Your Authorial Voice: Discover/refine your unique voice to establish yourself as a trusted authority in your field.
Crafting a Compelling Book Proposal: Learn essential elements of a winning book proposal.

12/21/2022

This literary agency has the following submission package to editors/book publishers:
Manuscript (we professionally edit every manuscript)
Bio with photo, including published work and social media numbers (we edit this for you)
Marketing Plan (we give you detailed samples, instructions and hands-on help to develop a plan to work with the publisher to generate sales for your book, because in today’s market, this is a collaboration)
One Page Synopsis (we edit this for you until it is a compelling sales tool)
Chapter-by-Chapter Summary (we explain the format and edit this for you until it is a concise representation of your manuscript)
Competition for your book (we provide the correct format and work with you to develop a list of 8 to 10 published books that are similar to yours, to show publishers where your book fits into the marketplace)
Website (we discuss in depth the tabs and information on your site)
Newsletter (we recommend you look at authors’ newsletters and develop your own, because publishers today prefer Newsletters to Blogs as a way to gauge the excitement you are generating for your followers)
Illustrators (we submit an artist’s portfolio, artist bio, and sample artwork)

There are no fees or charges with this agency. We professional edit all manuscripts (at our expense). We love our published authors!