Get the Scoop on Writing a Quilt Book

In just a few days, the 27th annual AQS Quilt Show and Contest will open in Paducah! If you have contemplated or even just dreamed about writing a book on quilting, then Andi Reynolds, executive book editor for AQS, is just the person for you to see during the show.

There are several opportunities to learn what is involved in authoring a book and getting it published.

• Potential book authors can also attend the lecture, Get into Print!, on Wednesday, April 27 from 10  to 11 am in the Eisenhower Room on the first floor of the convention center. Tickets for Lecture # 2802 will be available at the Workshop Desk; this is a free event.
• Later that afternoon, also in the Eisenhower Room, Andi will moderate the Author's Roundtable from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Come hear what five AQS authors have to say about what it’s like to publish with AQS. This is your time to ask all the nitty-gritty questions you can think of about what it is like to write a quilt book. Invited authors are Dilys Fronks (Dual Image Appliqué); Linda J. Hahn (New York Beauty Simplified); Sally Terry (Pathways from Quilt Top to Quilted); and Linda K. Johnson and Jane K. Wells, aka The Crafty Ol' Broads (Cuddly Snuggly Quilts). Tickets for Special Event # 2202 will be available at the Workshop Desk—and it’s free, too!
• If you have given some thought to writing a quilt book, you can bring just an idea or a full-blown proposal or anything in between. Andi's office will be on the second floor of the Julian Carroll Convention Center, to the left as you come up the stairs or off the elevator. There will be a sign indicating where to find her. The field editors for American Quilter magazine will have space there, too.

(Advance registration for the Paducah show is now closed. Pick up your tickets for these events at the Workshop Desk in the Paducah Expo Center - opens at 12 noon on Tuesday and 8 a.m. on show days.

If you'd like to talk about a book or magazine idea, you can prepare in advance by reviewing the AQS book proposal guidelines. Click here to view or print the guidelines.

Both of these events should help explain the process of becoming an AQS author, but you don't need to attend them to talk with Andi. Walk-ins are welcome, or you may make an appointment by emailing her at andi@aqsquilt.com no later than Wednesday, April 20.

See you soon in Paducah!

Look Me Up in Lancaster

Andi Reynolds here, sniffing wonderful things in the air. It’s not just Spring—it’s the start of Show Season in the Quilt world. A most exciting time!

Next week AQS will host the first of four shows in 2011. We will be at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, March 16 – 19.

Being at each AQS quilt show is always exciting for me, because as the executive book editor for AQS, I get to meet so many creative people with such interesting ideas. If you have given some thought to writing a quilt book, come to the quilt show and see me! Bring just an idea or a full-blown proposal or anything in between.

My office will be the Susquehanna Board room, which is on the fourth floor of the Marriott at Penn Square. The Marriott and convention center are attached; just use the hotel’s elevators and you’ll find me.

If you'd like to talk about a book idea, you can prepare in advance by reviewing our proposal guidelines, click here to read or print the guidelines.

You can also attend my lecture, Quilt Book Publishing 101, which will be Thursday, March 17 (Happy St. Patrick’s Day!) from 12 pm to 1 pm in the Southern Market Council Chamber. Southern Market is across Vine Street from the convention center. Ask for Lecture # 42805 at the Workshop Desk at the show.

Later that afternoon, also at Southern Market, I will moderate the Author's Roundtable. From 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm come hear what four AQS authors have to say about what it’s like to publish with AQS. This is your time to ask all the nitty-gritty questions you can think of about what it is like to write a quilt book. Invited authors are Kathie Alyce (Flip Flop Block Quilts); Dianne S. Hire (Vivacious Curvy Quilts); Sally Terry (Pathways from Quilt Top to Quilted); and Sue Nickels (Machine Quilting: A Primer of Techniques). Ask for Special Event # 42201—it’s free.

Both events should help explain the process of becoming an AQS author, but you don't need to attend them to talk with me. Walk-ins are welcome, or you may make an appointment by Friday, March 11 by emailing me at andi@aqsquilt.com. You can always ask for me at the Workshop Desk, too. 

I hope to see you soon in Lancaster!

Meet the AQS Executive Book Editor in Des Moines

If you've ever entertained the notion of writing a book about quilting, the show in Des Moines is your chance to discuss it with our executive book editor. Andi Reynolds will be available to meet one-on-one with prospective authors throughout the show (when she's not teaching or moderating the Authors' Roundtable, that is).

Come see her with just an idea or a proposal-in-progress. You can prepare to meet her by reviewing our book proposal guidelines, available on our Web site, or by attending her lecture, Publishing 101, on Wednesday, October 6 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Register for lecture #32801 by clicking here.


You can set up a meeting in advance by e-mailing Andi at andi@AQSquilt.com.

Andi's office will be in the corridor of Hy-Vee Hall outside the entrance to the quilt show. Look for the easel sign with her name. You may also ask for Andi at the Workshop Desk. She looks forward to meeting you!