Bio of Michael Neff - Algonkian Writer Conferences

INTERVIEW
OBSERVATIONS

"Any first time author can be made to look "fabulous" -- it's all about how an agent, author and publisher present the author. Every author has a background and a story, which can be told to the book- sellers and public in a boring way or a way that is spectacular."
Barbara Zitwer

"If an author is a terrific writer and has a voice or perspective or style that's not been seen before, there is a far greater chance it will have a place in the literary market. Though it's true that it can be tough to get a first book published, agents and editors are always looking for the next voice or story."
Elise Capron

Bio of Michael Neff - Algonkian Writer Conferences
Producers: All Those Who Play a Part
Favorite Place: New York Pitch Conference

Michael Neff - Agent, Author, Teacher and Writer Event Entrepreneur

From WebdelSol.Com to Algonkian to "Year of The Rhinoceros"

Our ultimate goal is to realistically increase your odds of becoming a published author by showing you how to inhabit that upper percentile of writers who will have their work taken seriously by professionals in the business.

Michael Neff is the creator and director of Algonkian Writer Conferences and the New York Pitch Conference, as well as other Algonkian events. As a result of his "Algonkian method" workshops and his own editorial expertise, Michael and his programs have ushered dozens of authors over the past several years into agent contracts as well as publication contracts with major houses, including such novels as ON MAGGIE'S WATCH by Ann Garvin, LIPSTICK IN AFGHANISTAN by Roberta Gately, CROAK by Gina Damico, THE WISDOM OF HAIR by Kim Boykin, and more. He routinely works closely with literary agents and senior publishing house editors in New York to locate and tap potential in budding new authors working in a variety of genres including upmarket literary and general fiction, serious and light women's fiction, narrative non-fiction, historical fiction, mystery and YA fantasy.

In addition to Algonkian pursuits, Michael is the "Bay Area Associate" for AEI Film Productions in Los Angeles. As an associate, he is actively searching for high concept projects that can be transformed into films or books. He is also a contributing editor and content provider for Author Salon.Com, the founder of Writers Helping Others (WHO), a writer volunteer organization in California, and a founder and contributor to a popular writer blog known as The Writer's Edge which provides assistance to nascent authors.

Michael Neff's motto is From the heart, but smart. He preaches the art of passion and rigorous training, frank feedback, and the mental toughness necessary to become a published author, whether the writer seeks publication by a New York house or an independent press. Algonkian Writer Conferences are regularly attended by published authors and MFA graduates for the purpose of obtaining new skills and connections.

His own novel, YEAR OF THE RHINOCEROS, published by Red Hen press in 2009, (narrative samples) concerns the corporate conquest of Washington during the Reagan years, and features as main characters a liberal and a conservative who put aside their differences and work together to expose ongoing corruption in the White House, while at the same time struggling to save as many lives as possible from real harm. The novel (Amazon customer reviews) is based on a true story, a real place, and on Michael's own experiences working in Washington during those years. Aside from this novel, his literary work has appeared in many prominent publications, including North American Review, Quarterly West, Pittsburgh Quarterly, The Literary Review, American Way Magazine, and Conjunctions, as well as several Internet publications. He was one of the winners of the first Imitation William Faulkner Contest sponsored by the University of Mississippi, and has served as judge for various writing contests, including the Writer's Digest Finalist Prize for best short fiction.

He is well known in literary and academic circles for his creation and direction of Web del Sol, a popular Internet publisher and community portal for scores of journals, indie presses, filmmakers, poets, and writers. Since 1994, WDS.Com has served content to millions of readers worldwide, and links lead to WDS.Com content from over 500,000 other websites. WebdelSol.Com has been featured or reviewed in everything from Chronicle of Higher Education to Poets and Writers to the New York Times. As WDS.Com continued to grow, Michael proceeded to create, direct, and/or contribute as editor to several journals and literary projects, including but not limited to Del Sol Press, The Potomac Journal of Poetry and Politics, Del Sol Review, In Posse Review, Double Room, and Perihelion.