How do I break into glossy magazines that pay two dollars a word? Why don't literary agents call me back? Why are editors rejecting my proposal? Come to the SECRETS OF PUBLISHING PANEL, moderated by the author of seven books in seven years, Susan Shapiro. These bi-coastal experts will answer all of your questions, as well as teach you ten tricks to breaking in, turning no into yes, and landing a big book deal.

JOINING SUE ON THE PANEL:  Los Angeles agent Betsy Amster (a former book editor); L.A. literary agent B.J. Robbins; Counterpoint Press editor Dan Smetanka (former editor of Ballantine & Phoenix Books); L.A. Jewish Journal editor Susan Freudenheim (former L.A. Times editor); Modernman.com editor Ky Henderson (former editor of Cosmo & Maxim) and I See Rude People author & nationally syndicated columnist Amy Alkon.

Sue usually charges big bucks for her courses, but this special L.A. Press Club event is FREE! to members and only $15 to non-members with pre-payment. ($25 at the door, RSVP is still a must) -- or join for $50 you get a full year of membership, plus a free ticket to this event (you save $40).

WHERE AND WHEN: Tuesday, August 17, 6 PM cocktail hour (refreshments and finger food); 7 PM program starts. --  L.A. Press Club at  Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd. (two blocks west of Vermont) in the Hollywood/Los Feliz neighborhood. Free parking in lot. 323-669-8081

MORE ABOUT SUE: Susan Shapiro, a Manhattan journalism professor, has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, L.A. Times, Newsweek, Salon.com, Daily Beast, The Forward, Village Voice, People, More, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan. She's co-editor of Food for the Soul and author of the nonfiction books Only as Good as Your Word, Lighting Up, Secrets of a Fix-Up Fanatic and Five Men Who Broke My Heart, which was optioned for a feature film. She’s sold two novels Overexposed and Speed Shrinking. She lives with her husband, a TV/film writer, in Greenwich Village, where she teaches her own "instant gratification takes too long" writing method at the New School, NYU and in private workshops and seminars.