Publishers Marketplace: J R Lankford

ISBN: 159643211X
KIRKUS starred review

NOVELPRO LAUNCHES SUPER CLINIC

Workshop Jumpstarts Careers

BELLAIRE, TX FEBRUARY 28, 2008 --

The writing workshop, NOVELPRO, considered by some to be the best full-novel critique group on the Internet, today completed its first trial of a new six-week offering called the Super Clinic.

Paula Jolin, whose YA novel, IN THE NAME OF GOD, was published by Holtzbrinck's Roaring Brook Press last year and earned a starred review from KIRKUS says, "The Super Clinic was fabulous. It was an amazing experience to take an already good book and watch it, step by step, become extraordinary. I thought the interactive experience really mirrored a professional author-editor relationship." Paula's THREE WITCHES is due from Roaring Brook Press in the spring of next year.

Pat Brown, author of L.A. HEAT, participated with the first draft of her new novel, BERMUDA HEAT. "I'm loving this clinic," she said. "Not that the regular NovelPro clinic isn't head and shoulders above anyone else's critiques, but this Super Clinic is up in the stratosphere. I'm sure I'm on the right path now for my rewrites." L. A. Heat, put out by Alyson Publications, was #1 on the Amazon Gay/Lesbian Mystery Thriller list last year on its publication.

Founder J R Lankford devised the Super Clinic to go beyond the in-depth critiques for which NovelPro is known. "I wanted to offer our authors a revision process that simulates the real world in which agents and editors want revisions as quickly as possible. And I wanted to refashion the NovelPro critique process into a six-week intensive from which authors could emerge with a submission-ready draft."

When Lankford started NovelPro ten years ago, quality was her goal and it's being achieved. Her own novel, THE JESUS THIEF, earned a BOOKLIST starred review, was translated into five languages, and is under option for Hollywood film.

Member Lynn Hoffman's bang BANG, a novel about a strong woman who takes on the gun lobby, also earned a BOOKLIST starred review.

Member Dave Shields' cycling sagas, THE RACE, THE TOUR, and TOUR DE LIFE, have enjoyed long stays on various Amazon sports bestseller lists and made him a media guest expert for CNN, FOX, and ESPN.

Art Tirrell's THE SECRET EVER KEEPS, was also well-received by top reviewers when it came out last year from Canadian publisher Kunati, which also published Hoffman's bang BANG.

Lankford says, "I think we've now found a way for authors with a great book concept and great prose to shorten the time from first draft to a submission-ready manuscript that wows publishing professionals and avid readers alike. I certainly plan to put the novel I'm writing through a Super Clinic. My agent, Al Zuckerman of Writers House, has high hopes it will 'get publishers excited,' and I want to give that every chance of happening."

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