• After a few rewrites, and with the able assistance of NYC staff, Ann Garvin's high-concept women's fiction novel, ON MAGGIE'S WATCH, is now represented by Eve Bridburg of Zachary Shuster Harmsworth. Big congrats to Ann! We knew it would happen.

• The hits keep coming. ADOPTING ADULTS, a first novel by NYC Pitch and Shop attendee, Randy Susan Myers, was just bought by St. Martins. Her editor is none other than Hilary Teeman, a frequent editor at the NYC Pitch. What a coincidence!

• Sujatha Hampton's unique and fascinating novel, EVERMORE, pitched at the September '07 conference, is under contract, and with Thomas Dunne Books, a division of St. Martins. Read her views on GalleyCat concerning the NYC conference. Congrats Sujatha!

• Meanwhile, networking news from NYC Pitch alum, Rosemary DiBattista (THE MARRIAGE PLOT): courtesy of a strong recommendation from an NYC editor-in-attendance who believed in her novel, Rosemary has just signed with Kim Lionetti at Bookends; and to quote from Rosemary's recent letter: "What I learned has been invaluble ... Without the conference, I'd be a full year behind where I am now in this process, sliding backwards down that steep learning curve."

• In keeping with our mission to set writers on a realistic path to publication, the following writers attending Algonkian's NYC Pitch events over the past eighteen months have signed contracts with major publishing houses as a result of their attendance: Sujatha Hampton [EVERMORE - Thomas Dunne Books], Randy Susan Meyers [ADOPTING ADULTS - St. Martins], John Ford [THE MORGUE AND ME - Viking], Kate Gallison [THE EDGE OF RUIN - St. Martins], Christina Meldrum [MADAPPLE - Knopf], Will Lavendar [OBEDIENCE - Shaye Areheart], James Hayman [THE CUTTING - St. Martins], and Susan Breen [THE FICTION CLASS - Plume].

• At last count, an estimated 45 total manuscripts are currently in the process of being reviewed by publishing house editors. Over 50% of these were requested by more than one editor. These include manuscripts submitted from the last four conferences. At least 33 manuscripts were requested by editors from the September '08 conference, including I DREAMT OF HEAVEN by Suzanne Maxwell, UNDER A FICKLE STAR by Suruchi Moran, DEAD ASLEEP Jennifer White, IN THE SQUARED CIRCLE by Lisa Kerr, IN MALICE, QUITE CLOSE by Brandi Ryder, and PARADISO by Jane Wells.

• We would like to welcome literary agent Tina Wexler to the New York Pitch workshop faculty. Tina works at ICM, one of the top three literary agencies in the U.S. Her tastes are eclectic--most types of fiction, nonfiction, and even YA. Prior to ICM, she worked with Ellen Levine and at Trident Media. She earned an MFA before becoming an agent. More information about Tina can be found on our faculty page.

• NYC alum, Kate Gallison will also be published by St. Martins. Her novel, THE EDGE OF RUIN, is a cozy historical about the efforts of an evil Thomas Edison to maintain control of the film business at any cost, even murder. Peter Rubie, an Algonkian faculty member, is the agent on the deal.

• After honing her novel (WOLF IN THE ROAD) and pitch at Algonkian and the June '08 NYC, Jenny Milchman wrote and told us she is now represented by Elaine Markson agency. Congrats Jenny!

• After working with conference faculty, Amy Hanson signed with Atchity Entertainment in Los Angeles. They will represent her novel WHAT NORMAL LOOKS LIKE. Joan Baril and Susan Sands, veterans of the same workshop, have signed with the Larsen-Pomada Agency in San Francisco as a direct result of networking with Algonkian Conferences. Congrats! ... Futhermore, Rachel Willen, NYC Pitch attendee, has signed with Levine Greenburg Literary Agency while Amy E. Fischer has signed with Emily Kim of the Prospect Agency.

• We are pleased to announce that future NYC events will include a book publicist panel composed of experts in the field of marketing books and authors. The current panel includes Sloane Crosley's publicist, Melissa Broder of Pengiun; Susan Schwartzman, a popular and successful independent publicist; and Ami Greko from Folio Literary Agency. Aspiring authors will learn what they must do to stay on top and earn out successfully. See our faculty page for more info.

• At the April '08 event, over 30% of pitched novels were requested by at least one acquisition editor and half of that number were requested by two or more editors. Several novels were requested by three or more editors. Note that many of these projects are in-progress or now undergoing rewrites based on editor reaction and will be submitted upon completion. Projects requested include ACT BUSY by Anna Leffler, ZINFANDELITY by Tracey Lyons, THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE by Tina Gordon, WHITE MAN'S BLUES by Kevin Arnold, ORLANDO TALES by Joe Conlin, SALAH THE MUTE by Shay Azoulay, WENDELL PENNY BY Colin Garrison, EATING STARS BY MISTAKE by Diane Simmons, and ADOPTING ADULTS by Randy Susan Meyers.

• Former NYC Pitch and Shop attendees (several of whom have book contracts as a result of the conference) share comments on the conference.

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