After working as a book editor, Ann Rittenberg started agenting at a large New York literary agency, where she worked with authors Pat Conroy (The Prince of Tides), Hedrick Smith (The Power Game), and Jan Morris (Conundrum). On her own since 1992, she represents Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Shutter Island, Gone Baby Gone, and Live By Night), C.J. Box (Edgar winner Blue Heaven and the #1 New York Times bestselling Joe Pickett mystery series), Paul Doiron (Camden author of the Mike Bowditch series of game warden mysteries), spy novelist Dan Fesperman (Pariah; Safe Houses), art historian Avis Berman (Lichtenstein: The Impossible Collection; My Love Affair With Modern Art), bestselling humorist Matt Kracht (The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America; The Worst Birds Ever), the late great Loren Pope and his perennially selling Colleges That Change Lives, the estate of former Surry resident Jan Willem van de Wetering, and other writers of fiction and nonfiction. Her eponymously named independent literary agency is located in lower Manhattan, and she lives part of the year in Sedgwick.
The first page is a writer’s best shot at engaging a reader. Literary agent Ann Rittenberg will begin by discussing some of the best first pages in English literature before a close read of first pages from participants’ works in progress. She will offer publishing insider insights on what editors look for when they sit down to read an unpublished manuscript. Participants will be asked to read the selected published first pages in advance and to bring their own first pages.