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The Flo Sessions - Stop the faff and do the work

LOOKING FOR: MG, YA AND ADULT SCI-FI / FANTASY, CHILDREN'S NON-FICTION After graduating from St Andrews University with a degree in English Literature and Art History, Maddy followed her love of literature to an internship at non-fiction literary agency Graham Maw Christie. At GMC, Maddy worked her way up to Agent and built a list of authors who wrote for both for adults and children, spanning history, tarot, and nature writing. An avid reader of anything magical, Maddy joined Madeleine Milburn in 2022 to build a list specialising in SFF. Maddy would like to see SFF across all genres for all ages, including: grim dark, thriller, historical, romance, cosy fantasy, sci-fi, epic, YA fantasy, dark academia, contemporary fantasy, fantasy middle-grade, mythology, fairy tale and queer fantasy. Inspiring children’s non-fiction. She loves worlds to get lost in, adventures that transform what it means to be a hero, and unique magic that offers as many problems as solutions. She likes books that make her cry and books that change her mind. Above all, when she finishes a story about another world, she wants it to have taught her a lesson which helps her live in this one. She loves all fantasy, but favours richly imagined, complex worlds with a history to discover and a future to protect. Worldbuilding is one of her favourite aspects of this genre and she is always looking for a new, dense world with series potential. Think Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere or the Marvel Cinematic Universe – the bigger the better! She also likes character-driven fantasy with a diverse cast to root for (or root against) and she wants to see a range of different relationships depicted authentically. She particularly like epics that dip into big, universal themes such as grief, climate change, or war and which ask impossible questions in the vein of R.F. Kuang or N.K. Jemisin. She is also excited by authors that play with form and language in a fantasy setting. In YA, she is looking for much the same as in an adult fantasy, but with younger protagonists and a closer focus on relationships. She wants to see the tropes she knows and loves in new and exciting forms and her favourite YA books often centre around belonging and becoming. She likes a dash of romance in everything, because she is sentimental that way, but it’s particularly important in the YA space. Sci-fi is a big passion of hers, especially when it comes with a strong hook. She is a huge fan of Becky Chamber’s The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet and Michaiah Johnson’s The Space Between Worlds. She likes space as a metaphor, and would love something that explores different alien species. Please send her your space operas and sci-fi romances which combine space, magic and mayhem! In fantasy middle grade, she favours whimsy and animal companions; she would love to follow a group of kids through magic school. She tends to look for plenty of humour with a strong friendship at the centre, and she wants middle grade stories which engage with the concerns of children growing up as well as offering an all-important escape (preferably on a dragon/unicorn’s back). She is also looking for children’s non-fiction for all ages. In this space, she wants something as creative as it is informative, and thinks diverse voices are increasingly important. Maddy would like you to submit a covering letter, one page synopsis and the first three chapters (Max 5000 words) of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Maddy is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 16 September 2024

AS YOU DELIVER THIS INFORMATION, YOU ARE COACHED TO IMPROVE YOUR PUBLIC-SPEAKING STYLE IN THESE (AND A FEW OTHER) AREAS: BODY LANGUAGE, POSTURE, WORD CHOICE, CONFIDENCE, EYE CONTACT, VERBAL TICS/FILLER WORDS, AND VOLUME. You will be coached to overhaul your content and visual aids (frequently PowerPoint) used during the presentation by: stating your purpose clearly, reducing the amount of text on slides, making messages more user-friendly, and choosing best graphics to support message. Attendees Will Be Able To: Increase ability to motivate the audience by delivering organized and engaging presentations; Gain more efficiency by crafting carefully-worded, streamlined messages, free of verbal tics and filler words; Increase enthusiasm through focus on body language and stage presence; and Convince listeners with strong evidence presented in speech and visual aids. Online Format—Advanced Presentation Skills is a 4-hour interactive virtual class for up to six people. Register for this class and you will be sent ONLINE login instructions prior to the class date. The Diversity Sensitivity & Awareness workshop was excellent. It provided a unique approach to addressing the topic. The session was interactive, interesting and very informative, leaving participants with a greater understanding of the merits of diversity and an inspiration to continue to broaden that knowledge base. Sandra Hess Moll, Director of Employment Services / Affirmative Action CoordinatorMcHenry County College

Join author Thea Faye in this nine week energy healing course. Clear your chakras, raise your vibration and enjoy holistic harmony and wellbeing! Each attendee will receive a FREE accompanying workbook.

LOOKING FOR: YA, NEW ADULT & ADULT ROMANCE Born to two bibliophiles, Isabel Lineberry could not have grown up to be anything else. She was born and raised in the Southwest United States but always knew she wanted to move to the UK. In high school she set her sights on a job in the publishing industry and hasn’t blinked since. Isabel graduated in 2021 from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University, with dual degrees in English Literature and Business Entrepreneurship. Just a few months later she was in Scotland pursuing an MLitt in Fantasy at the University of Glasgow. She wrote her Masters thesis on Tamora Pierce and is a fan of Ray Bradbury, Octavia Butler and Samantha Shannon.  At Pérez Literary & Entertainment, Isabel looks after foreign rights and audio rights inquiries, assists the Managing Director and is building her own client list of contemporary stories and fantasy, across the YA and New Adult genres and any teen / Adult fiction that features a prominent romantic plot, in any guise. Isabel is particularly interested in Contemporary Romance, Romantasy and Fantasy and is always attracted to the character and voice first, so give her romantic tension that has her giggling, a villain who is as charming as they are evil or a group of characters who have her watching their conversations as if it’s a tennis match. More specifically, Isabel is looking for: Romance –– For YA, updated Meg Cabot or John Green. Those were favorites for her as a teenager but she wants new takes––LGBT characters, diverse backgrounds, complex character development and a deep-dive into what it means to be a teenager in the current world. Give her relatability that doesn’t sacrifice a character’s unique traits. She is looking for the middle ground between the manic pixie dream girl and the buttoned-up character who just needs to take off their glasses. In New Adult, Isabel is a big fan of authors like Elle Kennedy, C. W. Farnsworth, Elsie Silver and Morgan Elizabeth. BookTok romances are the perfect escapism for readers of all ages but especially for college students and young professionals like myself. Her all-time favorite tropes are Grumpy/Sunshine, Fall First/Fall Harder and all the Spice! She is not a fan of cheating storylines, accidental pregnancy, step-sibling romance or unnecessary miscommunication tropes.  Romantasy –– Send her romance with sufficient fantasy worldbuilding. The romantic plot should be the main event but the worldbuilding needs to be able to stand up to scrutiny. The reader should accept the customs and specifics of your fantasy without too much confusion. Recent titles Isabel has loved include Fourth Wing and League of Gentleman Witches.  As for the romance, Isabel loves tropes (especially: Enemies to Lovers, Who Hurt You?), morally grey characters and kick-ass heroines. She loves training montages and dueling as foreplay. Show her spice during high-pressure situations, quick kisses stolen in battlefields, and fantastic banter. She would also love a return to the paranormal romances that dominated the 2010s. Think the 2020s twist on Twilight, Beautiful Creatures, Shiver or Vampire Academy. Isabel is most definitely on the hunt for Romantasy and paranormal romance featuring queer and underrepresented voices. Fantasy –– The worldbuilding absolutely must be believable and purposeful. Fantasy should be a mirror held up to the real world, offering a differing perspective that allows us to examine something about ourselves or our lives in a new light. Isabel has a masters degree in Fantasy from the University of Glasgow so can be a bit of a stickler when it comes to this! The magic/training/military school trope has been nearly exhausted, so be creative with the setting. Her favorite fantasy author is Tamora Pierce - she would love a “girl has to pretend to be a boy to get her knighthood” storyline that Pierce couldn’t do in the 80s such as LGBT representation (although Alanna was definitely gender fluid and Kel was 100% ace), a deeper dive into the social and political implications (no white saviorism!) and more spice. Some of her other favorite fantasy novels include Howl’s Moving Castle, Good Omens, Kindred and Golden Compass. Isabel does not want Tolkien-esque hard worldbuilding with 100k+ quests; instead focus on the pacing and how it can grab the reader. She wants a fantasy plot that compels me to keep reading even if it’s past her bedtime! She adores fairytale retellings, dark fantasy, alternate histories and historical fantasy, and the occasional steampunk/dystopia. When not working, Isabel can usually be found reading or wandering a bookstore. Some of her favorite books include The Hunger Games, Pride and Prejudice and The Mysterious Benedict Society.  Isabel would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 -2 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Isabel is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 16 September 2024

Transform your relationship with nature through the Wild Finca Online Rewilding Retreat. Over the course of two weeks, embark on a journey designed to deepen your understanding of the natural world, inspire personal growth, and provide practical steps for integrating rewilding practices into your daily life. Be among the first to experience this unique and innovative retreat. With limited spots available, don’t miss the opportunity to embrace a harmonious lifestyle with nature. Begin your journey towards a more connected existence today.

LEARN TO FOCUS ON INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, BEHAVIOR, AND ENVIRONMENT AND HOW TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY-POSITIVE INTERACTIONS. You will be able to focus on interpersonal skills, behavior, and environment, to see how they promote diversity-positive interactions, as well as learn causes for discriminatory practices and create an action plan for increasing workplace acceptance and harmony. Uncover and discard beliefs and attitudes that foster or block progress. By discovering your strengths as well as liabilities, you can build on the positive and move toward minimizing the negative. As a result, you will gain greater personal and professional satisfaction. PART I – BROADENING THE VIEW Find new perspectives and ways to turn challenges into opportunities. Become skilled at ways to further develop self-awareness and sensitivity. PART II – FAIR STANDARDS Learn about how attitudes expressed in speech and behavior promote or hinder a positive work environment. Determine and apply steps for getting past prejudice for greater productivity. PART III – ORGANIZATIONAL UNITY Discover value in diverse perspectives and personalities and their benefits. Strategize ways to strengthen relationships and turn negative into positive interactions. ATTENDEES WILL BE ABLE TO: Discover new ways to “see things differently;” Use Emotional Intelligence to strengthen relationships and increase awareness of self and others; Define Diversity and uncover ways in which it is significantly useful in an organization; Develop best practices (rooted in honor and law) to use Diversity in planning, problem solving, and decision-making); Manage conflict through unity, using the organization’s mission, vision, values, and goals; and Understand and communicate value to staff. Online Class—Diversity – Building a Thriving Business Environment is a 4-hour interactive virtual class.    Register for this class and you will be sent ONLINE login instructions prior to the class date. Improving Communications brought our organization to realize how important our employees—our people—are to Baystate Dental. By helping us to develop a more thoughtful and sensitive nature, we now relate better with each other and our patients. Dr. Kevin Coughlin, DMD, FAGD, MBABaystate Dental

For many people, managing priorities often causes a potential source of conflict. The correct work behaviour is summarised in the phrase ‘what you do second is equally important to what you do first’. This routine can be achieved if time is controlled for the purpose of priority management. This course looks at your ability to focus on the priority of job objectives and the fundamental problem of conflict between priority of importance and priority of time.