Congratulations to Shelly Lowenkopf whose new book Love Will Make You Drink and Gamble, Stay Out at Night made the top 100 of all books in Amazon’s Best Sellers Rank last weekend.
- From Shelly’s writing-for-hire dayCongratulations to Shelly Lowenkopf whose new book Love Will Make You Drink and Gamble, Stay Out at Night made the top 100 of all books in Amazon’s Best Sellers Rank last weekend.
Shelly Lowenkopf has held major editorial positions with general trade, mass market paperback, literary, and scholarly book publishers in addition to executive editorial participation in special interest, literary, and genre fiction magazines. Those companies include: Sherbourne Press (Editor-in-Chief); Dell Publishing (Director, Los Angeles office); Clio Books (Editor-in-Chief); Ross-Erickson (Editor-in-Chief); and, Capra Press (Advisory and Acquisitions Editor). He has seen over seven hundred book projects and hundreds of short story and essay projects through the publishing process.
Currently a freelance consultant and teacher, his clients include novelists, retired and active academics, and the humorist creator of one of the most popular television series of all time.Lowenkopf taught courses in short story, novel, dramatic writing, editing, genre fiction, and revision at the graduate level in one of the most prestigious writing programs in America at University of Southern California, where he was given a Lifetime Teaching Award. He has been a visiting professor at the College of Creative Studies, UCSB, since 2011.
He is a past regional president of the Mystery Writers of America; his book reviews have appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The National Catholic Reporter, The Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, Publishers’ Weekly, the Santa Barbara News-Press, and the Santa Barbara Independent. He has been the weekly reviewer for the Montecito Journal since 2005.
Lowenkopf has had over 35 books published, along with short fiction, pulp novels, essays and reviews. His most recent book, The Fiction Writer’s Companion (Available on Amazon), is a guide to terms, concepts, and forms related to storytelling.
Read a sample from Love Will Make You Drink and Gamble, Stay Out at Night by Shelly Lowenkopf
Charles Harper Webb‘s review of Shelly Lowenkopf‘s upcoming short story collection: “Shelly Lowenkopf’s short stories breathe gusts of fresh air into the often stuffy literary atmosphere. Witty, urbane, sharply observed, insightful, mordant yet poignant and absolutely entertaining, these stories touch the funny bone as well as the heart. Readers have had to wait too long for this collection. Grab it now.”
“The Fiction Writer’s Handbook by Shelly Lowenkopf is one of those rare reading experiences – insightful, unusually useful, and wise. If you’ve ever dreamed of writing, have begun to write, or a master looking for a fix, turn on your reading lamp and settle in for the night. You’ll thank me.” – Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Spies
“I’ve been attending writing conferences and writing for years and I’ve found things in The Fiction Writer’s Handbook I’d never heard of. It has already given me insight into a couple of problems my current book has in it!” – Gracie Stanners
“Knowing how editors choose one work over so many others would give any writer an advantage. To that end, Lowenkopf, a longtime writer, editor, and educator, delivers the fiction-writing guide he has always longed for—one that can be applied to the practical goal of every aspiring writer: getting published. Arranged alphabetically, entries define and describe elements of editor-speak used by those in the know when judging a manuscript. Defining terms and ideas from “aftertaste” to “zeitgeist,” the handbook instructs and encourages beginner writers. An annotated bibliography punctuates this spirited read on what works and what doesn’t. VERDICT An invaluable insider’s take on what editors look for when sifting through the slush pile.” – Library Journal
Read Melinda Palacio’s interview with Shelly Lowenkopf on La Bloga.
Read Susan Finlay’s interview with Editor, Teacher, Author Shelly Lowenkop
Toni Lopopolo Literary Management 
Long time no see, Shelly. Remember “Encounters With Aliens: UFOS and Alien Beings in Science FIction” which was remaindered without tellinng the editor? I’d be interested in chatting with you about that.
Shelly,
You were recommended by Kathleen O’Donnell via Linked-In.
I wrote a novel that is now up on Kindle and Nook. I believe that spelling, grammar, sentence structure and mechanics are pretty O.K. Certainly, you will find lots I have missed. It is close to 104,000 words. I want someone like yourself to improve the writing style and perhaps fix scenes. I also need a good query to return to my agent search. My literary agent was working independently and died after taking-on my project.