Guild offers workshop on “Agents: From Hello to Goodbye”

With the number of books self-published each year almost tripling since 2006, a common question among writers these days is: Do I need an agent?

Agented local authors Paula Stokes (AKA Fiona Paul) and Cole Gibsen will address some pros and cons July 13 in their talk on “Agents: From Hello to Goodbye.” Sponsored by the St. Louis Writers Guild, the workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 S. Geyer Road in Kirkwood. Free to Guild members, $5 for nonmembers.

The Young Adult novelists will cover the querying process, dealing with rejection, finding the “right” agent, and determining when to part ways with an agent.

Paula is the author of VENOM, BELLADONNA, and the forthcoming STARLING and THE ART OF LAINEY. When she's not writing (rare), she's kayaking, hiking, reading, or seeking out new adventures in faraway lands. She's petted tigers, snuggled snakes, snorkeled with stingrays, and once enjoyed the suction-cuppy feel of a baby elephant's trunk as it ate peanuts from her palm. Paula is a graduate of Hazelwood West, Washington University, and the Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College. She currently makes her home in the Central West End. Find her online at twitter.com/pstokesbooks.

When Cole isn't writing books for young adults, she can be found rocking out with her band, sewing crazy costumes for the fun of it, picking off her nail polish, or drinking milk straight from the jug -- provided no one is looking. She is the author of the young adult KATANA series. To learn more about Cole and her books, visit www.ColeGibsen.com or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/colegibsen