LitFest: We’re In This Together – A Conversation About Beta Readers and Critique Partners

You've probably heard writers talk about beta readers and critique partners, and maybe you're even looking for your own group of writer friends. In today's conversational session, author Danielle Ellison brings in her circle of critique partners (CPs) and beta readers (BRs) to discuss what the role we play in each other's writing process, the importance of CPs/BRs, what the expectations are and should be, and how you can find or build a community of your own! Questions are welcome.
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This is one of many events happening this month for LitFest 2021. For a full breakdown of other programs, visit: www.metrolibrary.org/litfest

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS:
Danielle Ellison has been working in publishing for over a decade. She started her publishing journey as a book blogger and grew from there to spend many years as a Senior Editor at a small press, and even more time as an indie bookseller, during which she founded the NoVa TEEN Book Festival in Arlington, VA. Danielle is the author of YA books SALT, STORM, THE SWEETHEART SHAM and THE CRUSH COLLISION, as well as an adult romance, DAYS LIKE THIS. In addition to writing, Danielle spends her days working as a librarian, where she gets to spread her love of stories to others.

When she's not busy with books, she's probably watching her favorite TV shows, lost in a video game, drinking coffee, or fighting her nomadic urges to travel. Danielle also spends a lot of time laughing with her partner and snuggling two cats. She is creating stories in Oklahoma (for now), but you can always find her on Twitter: @DanielleEWrites.

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Jenny Perinovic is a writer and librarian. She lives in Philadelphia with her historian husband & toddler daughter. She has degrees in Medieval Studies and Library Science. Once upon a time, she wrote papers about monsters in Medieval French literature. Now she writes books about magic, ghosts, and girls who are braver than they know. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Drexel University, has studied Fiction at The Johns Hopkins University, and is an alumna of Blue Stoop’s 2019 YA Novel Intensive & the 2021 Tin House YA Workshop. She is represented by Amy Giuffrida of JD Lit.
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Traci Inzitari received a BA degree in English from the University of Connecticut. She formerly worked as a Young Adult editor at a small publisher and has been a Beta Reader for the past seven years. She currently works in the car industry by day and at night she can be found reading and writing.
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Cindy Thomas is a YA author. She lives in PA with her husband and five boys. She is represented by Jessica Watterson of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency.