Author and editor to speak at Aurora Public Library Author Fair

Anna Michels is looking forward to meeting the writers of Aurora.

As an editor for Sourcebooks and Sourcebooks Landmark, she believes that good writing can "come from anywhere," and she hopes lots of local writers are in attendance for the panel discussion she is part of at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Santori Library in Aurora.

The panel discussion precedes the Catch a Bunch of Authors Fair that will run from 2 to 4 p.m. The discussion, with the theme "Publishing, A Lesson Learned," features Michels and three other authors: Adrienne Giordano, who pens romantic suspense and mystery; P.E. Calhoun, who writes fiction and nonfiction; and fantasy writer Greg Stolze. Michels is the author of a young adult novel. Moderating the discussion will be author Amy Alessio.

"We'll be talking about the publishing process and a bit about the industry, which is always changing," Michels said.

Michels' first book, "26 Kisses," came out three months ago on May 24, published by Simon & Schuster.

The idea for the book, about a heartbroken teen girl who finds there is more to life than meets the lips, came from a friend of Michels' who is "sort of doing this over her lifetime," Michels said.

"It was such a perfect idea for a Young Adult (YA) book, because it's a summer romance and it has that feeling of wanting to do something crazy after something bad happens," Michels said.

Here's how the story goes, according to the Simon & Schuster website dedicated to "26 Kisses": Veda gets dumped by her boyfriend Mark just before summer. When Mark makes it clear it's over between them, Veda is heartbroken and humiliated, but, more importantly, she's inspired. So she sets out on the love quest of a lifetime: use the summer to forget about Mark, to move on, and move up. All she has to do it kiss 26 boys with 26 different names - one for each letter of the alphabet."

Michels, an Aurora native who graduated from West Aurora High School, said she searched a lot of baby name books to come up with unique and memorable names for all the young men in the book. "She doesn't actually kiss 26 guys," Michels said. "For instance, a dog 'kisses' her hand and she counts it.

"At the beginning of the book, she intends to go in alphabetical order, but halfway through, it's just asking too much. So she grabs letters wherever."

Michels said she has learned a lot about writing, and herself, by going to writers conferences.

Her first, while she was still in college, was the "Writers in Paradise" conference held each January in St. Petersburg, Florida.

"At that time, I was writing an adult novel, but the protagonist was young; a 12-year-old boy," she said. "I don't think I had the experience and maturity to pull it off. I decided I wanted to write about younger characters but I wasn't capable of doing it in an adult fiction way."

So, she thought, why not "do" a YA novel?

"I read a lot of YA that is being published now, and when I found "My Life Next Door" by Huntley Fitzpatrick, I thought that was exactly what I wanted to do in YA."

And that adult fiction book that she put down? "Maybe 10 years down the road I will pick it up again," she said. "I'm interested in pursuing YA for awhile."

In the meantime, Michels is living her dream of working in publishing.

Michels' employer, Sourcebooks in Naperville, publishes authors in many subjects and styles and in both physical and digital formats. The company also publishes nonfiction, commercial and historical fiction, romance novels, gift books, college-bound materials, calendars, children's books and more.

"I love my job because there are very few things that make me as happy as a good book, and I get to work with them every day," she said.

She hopes to be able to work with many authors during her lifetime. And she knows it's entirely possible she will meet a great author at the upcoming author fair.

"It's not something where you meet someone and think they could be a good writer," she said. "A lot of writers are fairly introverted and shy and they don't always present themselves well. You have to see the writing," she said.

"I am from Aurora originally. I went to West Aurora High School. And I work in publishing and I have published a book. So, yes, it can be done," she said.

In her day-to day-life as an editor, Michels is looking for commercial literary fiction with interesting settings and a strong narrative voice, mystery, psychological suspense and literary thrillers.

She also is seeking memoirs by writers who connect the events of their lives to readers through "incredible storytelling," smart practical nonfiction, gift books and history.

Michels enjoys the reading and editing part of her job, but in the end it is about the authors.

"One of the more important things an editor does for an author is to be a sounding board and an advocate," she said. "Developing relationships with authors is one of my favorite parts of being an editor and I would love to someday be one of those veteran editors who has been working with the same brilliant author for 30-plus years."

The seventh annual Catch a Bunch of Authors Fair will take place September 10 at the Richard and Gina Santori Public Library of Aurora, 101 S. River St.

A morning workshop, "Success with Independent Publishing: From Starting to Marketing," is set for 9:15 to 11 a.m. in Room 224 of the library. The first 10 people who register will receive a copy of the "Book Production Handbook."

The panel discussion, "Publishing - A Lesson Learned," will be 1 to 2 p.m. in Room 224 at the Santori Library. The Author Fair takes place in rooms 125 and 126 and in the Dunham Atrium on the ground floor. To register for the workshop or panel discussion, visit www.aurorapubliclibrary.org and click on Events or call (630) 264-4101.