by Kathryn Lively

Created on: March 12, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

This weekend will mark the second time in my short publishing career where I will take appointments from prospective authors interested in submitting works to Phaze. EPICon 2007 is to be held in Virginia Beach, and as I understand, it is going to be big event. The keynote speaker is bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon, and many panels and seminars will help aspiring writers understand the nature of eBook publishing. I will be one of several publishers meeting personally with authors and listening to their pitches.

I can assure you that in my case, I am probably equally, if not more, anxious to meet writers as they are to meet with a publisher. As a writer, I had never taken the opportunity to meet one-to-one with a literary agent or editor from a publishing company. As you decide to become more active in persuing publication, it is strongly advised to attend conferences such as EPICon, Romantic Times, or any local/regional convention where appointments are scheduled. From previous experience, I can tell you that seeing an author in person makes a lasting impression that outshines any e-mail conversation. I note the sincerity and enthusiasm of each writer I meet, and often can tell when one does submit something to me.

Little things do mean a great deal in this business, and though some editors and agents meet with hundreds of writers annually, it is possible to make a lasting connection through a brief encounter. Watching recent American Idol auditions, for example, I was surprised to see instances where Simon, Paula, and Randy had recognized singers who had auditioned in the past. Considering they must see thousands of people in a season, to be remembered says much, even if you don't make the cut.
Now, once you secure an appointment, you want to be sure that lasting impression is positive. In most cases, you like only have 10-15 minutes to wow somebody looking for that next big seller, so make every second out. An appointment is like a job interview - you have to be your absolute best: confident, attentive, and prepared.

That said, here are a few tips to consider to help turn those precious few minutes into a possible long-term relationship:

Dress for Success: You don't have to wear Prada or coif your hair into a librarian's bun, but do dress as you would for a job interview. Nice outfit or dress, clean fingernails, well-kept hair and a beautiful smile is suggested attire for such a meeting. Keep your posture straight and maintain good eye contact. This is the

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