I'm frequently asked how I met the publisher of my two nonfiction books. "Did you have an agent?"  No, I did not have an agent.  I attended a writers' conference at Asilomar, a lovely beach front resort on the  Central Coast of California.  This one was staged by the California Writers Club.  As with most conferences, we heard a number of  speakers–professional writers, editors, publishers.  One afternoon we had opportunity to speak directly with some of these.  Each sat at a large table labeled with the name of the publisher and  handout literature.  I stopped at the table hosted by Steve Mettee, Editor/Publisher of Quill Driver Books/Word Dancer Press.  In his earlier presentation he had included the information that he had launched a series of books for readers in the "Best Half of Life."  As a senior (I call us "super adults") I sat down and listened to his further description what he was looking for.

  At the time I was writing a monthly column for a San Luis Obispo weekly newspaper. My latest title was a light touch article, "Just Pencil Me In.."  It featured the fact that I had moved (by then) six times since I turned 70. I asked Steve if he might be interested in a book about moving  for us "Supers." 

"Send me a proposal," he said.  One of the books Mettee had written  was on display at the conference, "How to Write A Nonfiction Book Proposal."  I purchased a copy and studied it. Following his instructions, I put together a proposal under the title, "Just Pencil Me In–Your Guide To Moving & Getting Settled After 60."  I got a go-ahead, an advance, and still receive royalties. The book was published  in 2003.    Quill Driver has an excellent promo department.  They encourage writers to publicize their own books but the Promo staff contacts radio stations to secure interviews for their writers and appearances at retiement homes, any organizations that can be (or should be) interested in the information contained in their books. 

At that time  the Quill Driver/Word Dancer Press catalog listed about 25 titles.  The 2007 catalog lists about 50, including my latest book with this publisher, "Long Distance Grandparenting."   Go to conferences whenever you can!