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Elevate your writing

Learn advanced narrative techniques

Add mind-blowing twists

Master the subtleties of characterization

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Bestselling Author

“Steven is one of the best writing teachers I know. In 2014, when we started Master CraftFest, which involves a day of extensive training with a small group of students at ThrillerFest each year, Steven was our first choice to be an instructor.”

—STEVE BERRY,

NYT and #1 international bestselling author

“Steven James is both a master storyteller and master teacher. Relatable, insightful, and down-to-earth with decades of experience, Steven’s teaching is a boon for any writer wanting to improve their craft, lots of fun, and wonderful encouragement. I can’t recommend the experience of learning from him highly enough.”

—TOSCA LEE,

NYT bestselling author of A Single Light

Critically acclaimed novelist Steven James is one of the country’s premier fiction instructors. He is the author of eighteen novels that have won or been shortlisted for dozens of national and international awards. He has served for many years as a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest Magazine and written two groundbreaking books on the craft of writing: Story Trumps Structure and Troubleshooting Your Novel, both of which won Storytelling World Awards. 

       

Steven’s books, which have sold more than 1 million copies and have tens of thousands four- and five-star ratings on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads, span the genres from fantasy to science fiction to YA to high-concept thrillers. His articles and stories have appeared in more than eighty publications, including the New York Times.

 

Steven’s work has been optioned by ABC Studios and praised by Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal, the New York Journal of Books, and many others. He is an active member of International Thriller Writers and The Authors Guild. He has taught writing and storytelling principles around the world and is a frequent keynote speaker at premier writing conferences and retreats nationwide. 

July 14-19, 2024

Jonesborough,

Tennessee

Advanced Fiction Institute

small group, personalized attention, transformative teaching

Learn & Get Inspired

This 6-day writing conference with award-winning author Steven James will give you the tools you need to move forward on your road to publication.

                         WORLD-CLASS TEACHER

                         DETAILED, INSTRUCTIONAL SEMINARS

                         TRANSFORMATIVE INSIGHTS FOR YOUR WRITING

                         SMALL, FOCUSED GROUP LIMITED TO 8 ATTENDEES

“Steven James is the best teacher I’ve ever worked with.”

—ROBERT DUGONI,

NYT bestselling author of My Sister’s Grave

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Literary Agent

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John Talbot is the co-founder of The Talbot Fortune Literary Agency and during his 25 years as an agent has placed books at all of the major publishers and their imprints. His clients include New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Indiebound bestsellers, as well as Amazon Top Ten picks and several winners of national literary awards. He is a member of the AALA.

Prior to co-founding his agency, John worked as a senior editor at Penguin, where he had the honor of working with such global bestsellers as Tom Clancy, W.E.B. Griffin, and Jack Higgins, as well as then-rising literary stars such as Tom Perrotta. He edited dozens of national bestsellers and several New York Times Notable Books. He began his career at Simon & Schuster. 

 

John received his B.A. in English Composition from DePauw University and spent semesters at Washington University and at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan. After graduating from college he lived in Japan and traveled the Pacific Rim before settling in New York.

John Talbot's clients:

  • Aimee Hix

  • Austin Camacho

  • Barbara Ross

  • Brad Taylor

  • Boyd Morrison

  • Bruce Bawer

  • Christine DeSmet

  • Clara McKenna

  • Clarence Major

  • Cleo Coyle

  • The Estate of Clint Richmond

  • Don Keith

  • Donna Everhart

  • Edith Maxwell

  • Ellie Alexander

  • George Wallace

  • Ginger Bolton

  • Jack Stewart

  • Jon Land

  • Kevin O'Brien

  • Lane Talbot

  • The Estate of Lea Wait

  • LynDee Walker

  • Maddie Day

  • Maya Corrigan

  • Meg Mims

  • Michael Ledwidge

  • Mindy Quigley

  • Rick Campbell

  • Ryan Steck

  • Shari Randall

  • Sharon Farrow

  • Shelley Costa

  • Sherry Harris

  • Steve Urszenyi

  • Steven Hartov

  • Steven James

  • Taylor Moore

  • Ted Bell

  • Tu Lam

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