1024 Courses

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Amanda Preston has been a literary agent for over 20 years and co-founded LBA in 2005. She won the RNA Literary Agent of the Year award in 2018.  She represents commercial and reading group fiction, as well as a range of narrative non-fiction and memoir. She loves working with authors, championing them every step of the way, and works with them and their publishing teams to build them into brand names and award winning and bestselling authors in the UK and internationally. Whether commercial or reading-group, she loves innovative and well-written stories that hook her in from the start and whose voice stays with her. She is looking for novels that demand to be talked about and shared, whatever their genre, and that she is still thinking about days after finishing.  She is on the hunt for a high-concept thriller which is character and plot driven, but also has a discussable issue at its heart i.e Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey and Girl A by Abigail Dean. She love thrillers where the location is as integral to the plot as the crime i.e The Dry by Jane Harper and The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse, and would love a good locked-room thriller but is only looking for fresh and unique ideas in this area.  She is also on the hunt for a glorious book club love story that is doing something a bit different and special i.e Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus or anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid or Liane Moriarty! Or smart, contemporary, observant romcoms with a very strong emphasis on diverse / own voices.  Finally, she would love a historical that vividly brings that period to life as well as having a stunning plot i.e, The Familiars by Stacey Halls and The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeal. Amanda would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and the opening three chapters (max 5,000 words). (In addition to the paid sessions, Amanda 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: Wednesday 25 September 2024

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION Louise Buckley has worked in publishing for well over a decade. She was inspired to enter the publishing industry after completing an MA in Creative Writing and then spent a hugely enjoyable year working as a bookseller for Waterstones, wishing that she could have a hand in publishing books. After a year working at Dorling Kindersley, she then spent almost five years working in the commercial fiction division at Pan Macmillan, where she published a mix of commercial bestsellers and award-winning authors. Most recently, she was an Associate Literary Agent at Zeno Agency Ltd. As an agent she represented a roster of commercial and literary fiction, including Anne Griffin’s When All is Said, which spent five weeks at number one in Ireland and sold into 17 territories. She is delighted to be working with Hannah at Hannah Sheppard Literary Agency. Louise is looking for:- Literary and upmarket fiction that focusses on the underdog, the repressed, the suppressed. Louise is especially interested in novels that represent working-class people or children going through difficult circumstances (think Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart, My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal or Boys Don’t Cry by FÍona Scarlett). Irish literary and book club fiction. Think Claire Keegan, Louise Kennedy or Anne Griffin. In commercial fiction she loves novels set during the Second World War, such as The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christi Lefteri or The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart. Louise recently read and loved The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson and would love to see anything in the same ‘older person going on a journey’ category, a more recent The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Louise had a lot of fun publishing a ‘pet fiction’ novel as an editor (Molly and the Cat Café) and would love to find an author who can write an Alfie the Doorstep Cat/Dog. She has a soft spot for novels featuring time-travel or parallel universes, a ‘what if’ that plays around with conventions. At the literary end this would be books like Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes or This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. At the more commercial end Louise loved Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister, Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and Oona Out of Order by Martina Montimore. She also enjoys novels set in the real world but featuring a hefty dose of magic or the supernatural. They can be commercial or literary, present-day or historical. Think Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch, Threadneedle by Cari Thomas, A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness or The Gifts by Liz Hyder. And also cosy fantasy in the vein of Legends and Lattes or The House in the Cerulean Sea. Cosy or humorous crime. Recently, Louise absolutely loved Over My Dead Body by Maz Evans. When she was an editor Louise published the hit Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll and would love to represent incisive, intelligent suspense written by authors such as Jessica Knoll and Gillian Flynn, or something a little more subversive and blackly comic like My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. More generally, Louise would also love to see novels with a disabled protagonist or someone (like myself) who is living with an invisible disability. As an ex-primary school teacher, she also warmly welcomes submissions from teachers, especially if the submission falls into one of the other categories she has listed. Following-on from this, she enjoys reading stories that follow a ‘beating the system’ narrative. Louise is NOT looking for: -romance -romantasy -epic, traditional fantasy -space opera -straightforward women’s fiction -children’s fiction of any kind -non-fiction Louise would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and the first three chapters or 5,000 words of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Louise 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: Friday 27 September 2024

Sessions can happen ONLINE or IN PERSON. Please read below to choose the session that is more appropriate for you (you'll be asked to select one in the booking process) If you have questions please drop me an email info@schoolofshamanism.co.uk Don't worry if you do not know what to select, just come and I'll be happy to help you:-) Shamanism is probably the oldest way to see through our hearts and not our eyes to connect with the nature of our creation. It allows us to go behind and beyond the surface of things, to understand why and how certain situations occur in our lives. Shamanism is a spiritual practice that goes beyond every beliefs and culture and is about trying to reach our full potential as we walk on planet earth, so connecting ourselves to the whole. Shamans were described as the first physicians, magicians, artists, storytellers, spiritual beings. But shamans are healers that make changes in invisible realms to help healing in the ordinary reality of the community. Shamans see in the darkness (which is the meaning of the Siberian word “Shaman”) while connecting with the divine outside the time in an altered state of consciousness. We can work together using different methods: A) Shamanic healing We can work together to solve one of these imbalances in your life, where you feel: lost and without life purpose, unhappy and unsatisfied, anxious and worried, overwhelmed and stressed, without energy and hope, uncertain about your future, stuck in repetitive dynamics, unable to manifest abundance, incapable of making decisions,not aligned with your heart, disconnected from the universe,impatient and impulsive, not focused and balanced, with low esteem and more? B) Ikigai coaching to find your soul mission through shamanic work Ikigai is the manifestation, the realization of who you are. It has always been with you, it is your reason for being. Some people are lucky to find a job that corresponds to their true passion. They earn a living doing what they love. But there are a lot of people that do not have such a privilege or can’t find the courage for such a big change.The Japanese people from the island of Okinawa have a word for you: Ikigai. It’s your “reason for being”, where you combine what you love with what you are good. Ikigai is 'what makes you happy to get out of bed in the morning' and is formed by the union of two words: iki which means 'life' and gai that is 'what is worthwhile' which the ancients called “happiness”, your soul mission. Our session together will be a deep inner journey, suitable for those who already know their life mission and those who have no clue at all about it or just are not aware how to combine their gifts and skills. You will reconnect with your inner voice and true skills to realize your true life mission. C) 1-1 Shamanic Divination and find your 9 power animals Everyone has nine power or totem animals that emulate each person’s abilities, talents and challenges. For example if a person is connected to Wolf as a power animal, that person is a born teacher, pathfinder, innovator. This does not mean that the person has acknowledged the gifts. The 9 animals are one for each of Direction (4 plus above, below, within) and two animals that walk aside you each time and that maybe have come to you in dreams for years or that you are simply drawn to. Through the use of cards, while connecting to my Spirit Allies, I will find out which animals are your main guides into your life.  Afterwards you will have the opportunity, while tuning with the 9 animals,  A) to ask a burning question. Divination does not mean to foresee future, but to tune your own wisdom to be guided about how to read your inner light simply using a stone.  You will need 3 medium/big stones with some marks on them and we will then choose 1 and I will guide you through the full process, both online or in person.  B) or to receive your full essence and symbol from me though "soul remembrance : I will undertake a shamanic journey for you to retrieve the essence of your gifts and talents and a symbol to be blown into your solar plexus. This can be done online or in person D) Spiritual Mentoring I am happy to help you with any questions you have about spirituality, about your personal journey, about any doubts you may have about the next steps to take in life. E) Meditation Struggling with your practice or even to sit down quietly for more than 10 minutes? Meditation is simply the creation of a nice space, it’s not achieving exctasy, it’s slowing down and doing something with mindfulness.  It is familiarizing with knowledge and bring it to practice. Meditation on a concept is not reflecting on something, it’s to feel it deeply- First you learn how to meditate, then you use it as one of the most precious tools of change. So 1) we learn 2) we understand 3) we familiarize…...and we change! These sessions are designed for your bespoke challenges and needings, for those that feel the urge to quiet the mind and find focus and concentration in their daily life. There is no labelling about the style of these classes, no schools imprinting. My approach is creative and flows according to what my intuition suggests the student would benefit for. We will discuss your available dates if you feel starting a journey and we can work out a suitable package that follows your requirements. Beginners and experienced welcome. GIADA'S JOURNEY Creative and Spiritual Explorer of the human well-being running events for 20 years worldwide Shamanic Teacher *Toltec tradition: three years formal training with Two Birds at Anam Cara, Scotland *Japanese Yamabushi tradition with Selene Calloni Williams Shamanic and Integral Yoga Teacher Ikigai Coach and Forest Therapy Guide qualified with Selene Calloni Williams at the Imaginal Academy Professional Esoteric Numerologist graduated at The Connaissance School of Numerology, England Cacao Alchemist Practitioner obtained with Firetree Alchemy, Scotland Corporate Mental Health Coach achieved with WeFocus, Denmark and twenty years working in corporate Practitioner of Buddhist teachings, meditation and the Five Tibetan Rites Yoga Founder of Drink In Art exhibitions of local artists in private flats Founder of School of Shamanism (formerly Invisible Caims) workshops, classes, therapies, retreats Founder of Art and Spirituality centre for creativity and well-being Co-author of a non-profit book with 33 Italian women about our stories in different countries By attending to our classes, workshops, 1to 1 sessions and retreats you agree to our TERMS AND CONDITIONS Payment  Bookings are non-refundable.  Disclaimer  By booking any event or 1-1 session -online or any other venues – with us, you release Giada Gaslini, Invisible Caims/School of Shamanism, Art and Spirituality and any business partners working with for the event from any liability arising out of any personal injuries, emotional or physical release, death, expectations of results, theft in the venue or damages that may happen to people and objects while attending. We recommend that you consult your GP regarding the suitability of undertaking an exercise programme, if the class you are booking includes it like with yoga or similar, and following all the safety instructions required before beginning to exercise. When participating in an exercise, there is the possibility of sustaining a physical injury. If you engage in this exercise programme, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities and assume all risk of injury to yourself. You acknowledge that coaching, shamanic healing and counselling are not to be used as a substitute for psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care, or other professional advice by legal, medical or other professionals. Our sessions are aimed at inner research, problem solving and personal growth, they do not replace the work of doctors and psychotherapists because they do not consider, treat or aim to solve pathologies and symptoms that are strictly medical. All contracts subject to and governed by the law according to my current insurance.   Added element of the disclaimer If the class happens in any venue and you are causing any damage to the property, you are taking responsibility of your actions. It is down to the individual to take personal responsibility when participating in physical activity and when entering a space that is used and shared by other parties. Giada Gaslini and Art and Spirituality do not take any responsibility about possible risks that may arise but can only advise and enforce guidelines and legal requirements as defined by the Scottish Government and local authorities.   

Facilitated by Steph Cox, Relationship Fundraising Lead at Dorothy House Hospice & HIGN trustee. Joining Steph are guest speakers, Andy King* (Fireside Fundraising), and Jane Montague* (Jane Montague Consultancy & Majestic Publications). Training and networking day for those working in events, community, corporate, and marcomms roles. FREE for HIGN members £25 fee for non-members (or commitment for your hospice to take organisational membership - you MUST have your line manager's approval before booking if you are a non-member). Outline timings: 10am: Arrival & refreshments 10.15am: How to tell your service users' stories 11.30am: Who wouldn't your service users wnat you speaking to? 12.30pm: Lunch 1.30pm: How to tell your organisational story 3.30pm: Q&A / general chat 4pm: Close Lunch will be provided at no charge, please specify if you have any dietary requirements when booking The day will NOT be online or recorded so that people feel more comfortable openly sharing. Fundraising, fundamentally, is storytelling. Where companies have the opportunity to sell you something – a chocolate bar, a glass of wine, a holiday – charities rely on donors buying into our stories. However, these stories can be hard to find – and even harder to shape. When you know your service users well, you can struggle to put their story onto a page. You can end up missing major opportunities because you can’t explain why you do what you do in a simple, emotional way. You’ll learn how to find, shape and tell stories in a way that connects donors emotionally to your cause. We’ll feature a live demonstration of turning a case study or a scrap of an idea into an emotional, simple story. Then you will get a chance to use these tools for yourself. You will leave equipped and inspired to build deeper emotional connections with your donors. As well as some beneficial training, the day is a great chance to catch up with others working in South West and Wales Hospices. Suitable for those working in corporate, events, community, and marcomms roles. Aimed at all levels. FREE parking is available, we ask attendees to park in the lower car park, so to allow good access for our patients in the upper car parks. *About Andy: Andy is an award-winning storyteller. In July 2022, Fundraising Magazine named him ‘the most influential fundraiser in the UK’. Andy’s passion is helping charities tell their most important stories to those with the power to change the ending. This has led him to kickstart corporate partnerships programmes from a standing start to a value of £450,000 per year in 18 months. He has also transformed existing approaches to go beyond ‘logo-led’ fundraising with St. John’s Ambulance and UNESCO. Having worked with charities of all shapes and sizes, he is keen to create the tools that will work for you. *About Jane: Working with charities seems now like it should always have been my career path. But the lure of auditing (has anyone ever said that?),and then HR, swerved me from seeing where my heart really lay until 5 years into my working life. I’ve had the honour of working with charities all over the UK for the past 20 years through our family business, Majestic Publications. Over time, my work with charities has developed way beyond the production of their free-of-charge fundraising publications, and I now spend a significant proportion of my time acting as an advisor, a networker, and trainer for wider issues too including GDPR, Direct Mailing, and working with commercial participators. Having established Jane Montague Consultancy as an entity in its own right, my role, as I see it, is two-fold: - - to help and assist charities of all sizes to make connections with businesses, with other charities, and with professionals so that fundraising goals can be met, exceeded, and new strategies formed. - to guide charities and companies through the minefield of the new regulation surrounding charity and business partnerships. I provide the commitment to work with regulatory bodies such as the Fundraising Regulator and the Charity Commission to ensure that charities and those companies that want to help them, are protected and regulated, earning the trust of the communities that they serve.

LOOKING FOR: MG, ADULT FICTION Jo Williamson has been in publishing for over 25 years. Having worked in Children’s books PR for Dorling Kindersley, HarperCollins and Orion, she started as an agent with Antony Harwood in 2008. She feels very privileged being with authors at the very start of their publishing journey and enjoys close working relationships with all her clients. From editorial help, general advice on the publishing world, guiding careers long-term and general cheerleading, she feels she has the perfect job. Although nothing is off limits and she loves being surprised by submissions, In middle grade children's fiction, Jo is particularly looking for books with heart, epic adventures with voice-led characters, and younger funny fiction with series potential.  In adult fiction, page-turning Commercial Women’s and Book Club fiction are right up Jo's street, including psychological suspense, thriller, cosy crime and books that don’t quite fit the mould. Above all, she wants stories that linger long after the final page has been read. Jo is not the right fit for police procedurals. Jo would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Jo is kindly offering one free session for low income/underrepresented 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 7th October 2024

LOOKING FOR: YA, NA, ADULT FICTION Helen Lane is a Junior Agent at The Booker Albert Literary Agency. She is also an editor and a writer of Adult Fantasy and Horror. She has a BSc in Environmental Science from the University of East Anglia and a postgrad qualification in Acoustics. She is passionate about books and has spent the last decade working with manuscripts. She lives in London with her family and the world’s naughtiest cocker spaniel. Helen represents Adult Fantasy, Sci Fi, Horror, Paranormal Romance, LGBTQ+ Romance, Action & Adventure & Thrillers. She also represents YA Fantasy. She is slightly obsessed with monster stories (especially if they have giant sharks or squids). And stories set in extreme environments such as the arctic, jungle, caves, ocean, and mountains. She DOES NOT want to read about affairs or abuse in any genre. (My husband likes me to add here that this is nothing to do with him, I just don't like sad stories). Her favourite authors are Mira Grant, Greig Beck, James Rollins, Matthew Reilly, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Darcy Coates, Patricia Briggs & Kelley Armstrong. To make querying more accessible she does not require personalisation in the letter, comparison titles or a synopsis. But if you have them already, please include them. Follow Helen on social media: @HFLane_writing Helen would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and first three chapters (Max 5,000 words) of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Helen 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: Tuesday 8 October 2024

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION, MG/YA inc GRAPHIC NOVELS Gyamfia Osei has joined Andrew Nurnberg Associates Ltd and is looking for writers of Children's and YA, commercial adult fiction and narrative non-fiction.   Gyamfia began her career in publishing working as a Bookseller at Waterstones, before joining Caskie Mushens as a literary assistant in 2018. She relocated to Amsterdam for two years, where she managed international sales for The Pepin Press and held the role of Editor for Plural Magazine, before returning to London in 2021 to start building her own list of authors at The Good Literary Agency. Gyamfia is now an agent at Andrew Nurnberg Associates, representing a diverse list of clients writing children’s books and a bespoke adult list focusing on commercial fiction and narrative non-fiction. Gyamfia is currently looking for contemporary children’s stories that are full of heart and joy-driven books that celebrate kids from underrepresented backgrounds (think Clare Weze, Kimberly Whittam and Elle McNicoll). Unique picture books, funny middle-grade and teen projects (think Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and Glow Up Lara Bloom) are currently at the top of her list this year. She is very interested in finding a graphic novel or illustrated project for either MG or YA readers.  She is very open when it comes to Children’s non-fiction but would be particularly interested to consider unique cookbooks aimed at young chefs, books exploring mental health/wellness and projects that bring the experiences of marginalised children to the forefront. In the adult fiction space, Gyamfia enjoys well-plotted, fast-paced narratives with authentic characters who lodge themselves in her mind long after she’s finished reading (think Big Little Lies, Verity and Girl A). She’s open to a broad range of genres, but would be particularly keen to see cosy crime, global stories and tightly plotted domestic noir.  In the adult non-fiction space, she would be happy to consider commercial narrative non-fiction and cultural history projects (think Brit(ish), It’s Not That Radical and Everything I Know About Love). Gyamfia would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and the opening three chapters (max 5,000 words). For picture books please send two texts and a covering letter. For non-fiction please supply a cover letter and proposal with up to 5,000 words of your sample text. (In addition to the paid sessions, Gyamfia 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 7 October 2024