About Wendy Goldman Rohm
Wendy Goldman Rohm, New York Times bestselling author and literary agent, has taught and lectured for MediaBistro, Yale University, onboard the QEII, and numerous universities and organizations in the US, Europe and Asia. Her books have been published around the world in 14 languages. She launched The Rohm Literary Agency to nurture authors of high-quality literary works. With the publishing world being in the midst of major transformation, she has created an organization that mentors and promotes the development and collaboration of writers and artists across media platforms. Her clients include authors of fiction and nonfiction, screenwriters, playwrights, film directors, producers, and anyone who has a powerful and important story to tell. Ms. Rohm can be reached at [email protected]. (See the Kirkus Reviews' spotlight on Wendy Goldman Rohm.) As an author, Rohm's work has been published by Random House, The New York Times Syndicate International, The Atlantic, Wired magazine, Tina Brown's Talk magazine, Vogue, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Financial Times of London, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Playboy magazine, and many others. She's also been a literary agent and author for Sterling Lord Literistic, New York; The Waxman Agency, New York; Waterside Productions; and founded The Rohm Literary Agency to represent emerging authors of fiction and nonfiction. Rohm has been a commentator on numerous national and international television and radio broadcasts, including: The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, and dozens of programs on NBC, CNBC, PBS radio and television, CNN, CBS, ABC, and BBC radio and television. She's also spoken at TEDx. Rohm has been an expert researcher for Townsend & Crew, Skadden Arps, and Conlin Associates, among many others. Ms. Rohm's writing workshops have been held in the US, India, France, Thailand, Ireland, Italy, and South Africa. Europe and Asia. She has presented her writing workshops for novelists and nonfiction authors since 2002 across the U.S., Europe, Asia and India, featuring numerous guest artists. Our conference guests worldwide have included: Pulitzer Prize winning author Michael Moss; Pulitzer Prize finalist Suketu Mehta (Maximum City; Knopf); legendary literary agent Phoebe Larmore, whose clients include Margaret Atwood and Tom Robbins; author Saket Soni (The Great Escape, Algonquin Books), who developed his book with Ms. Rohm at the conference in 2018; best-selling author Rebecca Walker; author Mira Kamdar (Motiba's Tattoos); Broadway producer Brian Swibel; screenwriter and film director Pan Nalin (Samsara, Ayurveda: The Art of Being, and Valley of Flowers); journalist/author Livia Manera Sambuy (Philip Roth Unmasked; You'll Never Write About Me Again); playwright Seamus Scanlon (The McGowan Triology); French author/filmmaker Helene Guetary; author Bhaswati Battacharya (Everyday Ayurveda); creative director/author Prudence Fenton; Obie-award-winning playwright Robert Auletta; legendary literary agent Mr. Sterling Lord (who represented authors Jack Kerouac and Ken Kesey, among others); playwright Fabrice Rozie (Transatlantic Liaison); author Hajjar Gibran (The Return of the Prophet); Glamour S.A. editor-in-chief/writer Pnina Fenster; acclaimed fiction and nonfiction authors Hilary Masters and Kathleen George; French novelist Bruno Garel; international bestselling author Peter Nichols; Emmy Award winning writer Alan Cooke; bestselling Thai author Thitinart na Pattalung; British screenwriter Jane Hawksley (Je T’aime Paris), and many others. Testimonials "A big thanks to Wendy Goldman Rohm, for your Paris Writers Retreat, and the lovely, thoughtful week you created. You pushed us, entertained us, believed in our power as writers, and shared lessons that are worth their weight in gold. I left with gratitude for your attentiveness, artistry, and the community you created. Thank you for your labor of love. And I was equally grateful to the other writers present, for the opportunity to enter their worlds and meet characters indelibly marked in my mind: a dog with more humanity than many humans; a physicist-janitor; a Southern girl playing a Baldwin piano; two steelworkers expressing their love on a factory floor; a woman sowing a black wedding dress asking, "what could go wrong?"—and many more." --Saket Soni, author, The Great Escape (Hachette / Algonquin Books) "Wendy Goldman Rohm's workshops at the Paris Writers' Retreat were truly mind blowing and yes, even life changing. The way Wendy created the assignments and meditations provided us a structured and disciplined approach to writing, especially us neophytes. What was truly amazing, beyond the developing of our writing skills, was how the structure and the process that Wendy created enabled us to get to know the other participants, and learn from them to an extent that I've never experienced in business and in teaching...plus, it all took place in Paris on Isle Saint-Louis! How perfect is that! So thank you Wendy for the workshop, for your expert guidance and feedback, and for your hospitality in making us all feel so welcome!" --Andy R., PhD, Marketing, and former Reebok executive "Wendy ran the best workshop ever! The classes are exceptional. I have done the Iowa Workshops for non-fiction books, and although they are excellent, Wendy's are more helpful and inspirational, i.e., they translate into moving projects forward with a lot of creative intensity." -- Darcy Evon, author, Smithsonian scholar, Chicago Sun-Times columnist “Having worked in the media business (television, magazines and newspapers) for twenty years, my wings are broken and my writing voice cut in pieces. After the Paris Writers Retreat with Wendy Goldman Rohm, I can almost fly again and sing from my inner, true voice. Thank you ever so much." --Ingrid Maria (Werner) Ericsson, Paris, Swedish journalist, writer & illustrator “The 12-week Book Development class really energized the writing of my novel. I have gone through the completed manuscript more and am finding it harder to find sections that need tweaking. I spent some time on a new novel and like the direction that it is headed in. Then I picked up an old story that I worked on for a good while and absolutely figured out how to make it work!!! I can't tell you how excited that made me. I worked on the first novel for about 8 months and couldn't figure out how to tie it all together. Now I have and can't wait to do just that. Your class feedback has been amazing. Thank you for that!” ---Jon Pendergrass, Little Rock, AK "A big Thank You to Wendy Goldman Rohm for her excellent Writers' Retreat at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. I personally got a lot from the day from the advice from Wendy and from meeting other writers on the course. I hope to keep in contact with as many of my fellow 'retreaters' as possible." --Paul Fitzsimons, Dublin, Ireland “Wendy Goldman Rohm offers insider information about the publishing industry, both from the standpoint of an agent and an author. Her stories are entertaining and informative, and her interest in learning more about the participants and their book ideas is refreshing and makes for an engaging seminar. I thank her for helping me get my book published!”--Susan Blumberg-Kason, author, The Good Chinese Wife, published after taking Ms. Rohm's workshop. "Wendy Goldman Rohm's students get published! Three writers in my group alone got major publishing contracts after taking her course!"-- Bess Gallanis, author, Chicago "I attended Ms. Rohm's conference in Dublin and her 12-week online course. Both changed my life. The week in Dublin was powerful and great fun, I learned so much, and I met some amazing people, with whom I am still in touch. After the conference in Dublin, I started the book development class. Wendy has taken me, step by small step, encouraged me, challenged me, helped me achieve more than I ever though I could. She has a gift. She has shortened my personal learning curve by years, in terms of how to structure and organise a book, outlines, POV. Intuitively, she is a genius. Her editing skills are top class." --P. Mcnamee, Dublin, Ireland "I am an aspiring novelist. I took Wendy's course last June (2009) in Paris and I found it very useful and practical on many levels -- well worth the cost of admission. The others who were taking the course were also aspiring writers, with a great deal of writing skill among them, and they were good colleagues and very positive critics. The whole dynamic was excellent, and I was sorry, but wiser, when it was over." --Dr. Gordon Black, Paris "Thank you so much for the wonderful experience. This has really inspired me to work on getting everything together to try and solicit interest from an agent and a publisher. The whole goal of getting an advance; to stop working in this vacuum, and just write, is such a tantalizing goal... I mean, wow! I was really startled by people's reaction to my story. I have always thought of it as a dark and frightening passage in my history, I never considered that people might actually be eager to hear about something that gruesome. I am so glad I came to this event. It was very well executed, and it has given me a lot of hope. Where before I was feeling like I needed to write my personal story, just so I could get it out of the way and start writing something else, I now almost feel like everything happens for a reason, and I am getting closer to my true calling. Thank You Wendy!" ---Andy Alper, Chicago “If you have a great idea for a book and need a primer on how to shop the idea and develop a great book proposal, this is the class. Wendy offers great advice and walks you through the process of getting your nonfiction book idea published. She's very approachable and makes time to help you. I'd like to take a longer workshop with her as I develop my book proposal! I thought it was time and money well spent!” --Mike Reilley "Thank you Wendy. Your workshop was inspiring, exciting and stimulating. It gave me faith that if I really do want to write a book, start today, which I did. Anyone who wants to express their inner voice in the written word really has an obligation to do so. And so I look forward to another workshop or a weekly or monthly gathering to get into the habit of writing, get feedback and produce. I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge and for your very positive feedback. I thank the group as well for being so supportive." --Ros Kaspi, Chicago "Wendy is a fantastic instructor and this course is a great starting point for someone who is thinking about getting a book published, but just doesn't know where to start. Wendy was down-to-earth, accessible and honest - the class encouraged me to keep working on my writing, and helped me know what to expect from the literary industry." - Marthe Druska "I had a marvelous time and truly enjoyed the workshop. My only regret was that I could only attend one day. Wendy you area fabulous mentor. Thank you ever so much." --Sharon Lang, Chicago "I just accepted an offer on my book from St. Martin's Press (New York)! In this economy as a first time non-celeb or no major platform writer I'm very excited to get this opportunity. I wanted to thank Wendy Goldman Rohm for her help!!! I used a lot of your lessons in my editing!” --Melissa Malamut, author "I had the happy experience of participating in the Paris Writers Retreat created and led by Wendy Goldman Rohm. The "retreat" was more like a charge forward, an energizing experience, propelling me (and I think all the participants). The experience was valuable for several reasons, including: updated information about how the book business is operating currently, including a presentation by a guest speaker in Los Angeles on optioning books for TV or film production; tips and practical exercises on writing techniques, and recommendations of readings that may serve as models or as sources of ideas to stimulate our own creative imaginations. But beyond all that was something hard to get from on-line forums or self-help books: the synergy of face-to-face contact and interchange, with Wendy Goldman Rohm and with the other participating writers. Wendy is a very experienced magazine writer, book author and agent (as you'll see if you check out her website), so there was a lot to learn from her. She was also closely attentive and constructively critical of the work as we produced it in workshop exercises. And it was also very helpful to engage with the other participants and they developed books completely unlike mine, suggesting other approaches and seeking solutions to some of the same problems of narrative structure, pacing, etc. The face-to-face exchange with an experienced professional, in real time and in a real place, is insurpassable" –-Geoffrey Fox, Ph.D, Northwestern University, Harvard-educated author (A Gift for the Sultan) “Wendy Goldman Rohm possesses a rare ability to deepen and strengthen her students' writing. My novel improved greatly from the week with her at the September Paris Writers Retreat. Wendy helped me strengthen the bones of my plot, sharpen the writing, and deepen my connection to soul of the story. I grew more in my craft than ever before. Every moment of struggle was worth the effort. New joys came from the work. ” –Beatrice Bowles, San Francisco "A brilliant retreat. Having arrived at the retreat with just one simple sentence, I departed five days later with a fully-fledged main character, complete with voice, as well as most of the plot. Unheard of for me (and I suspect most normal writers) as plot and voice usually take months to materialise." --Hattie Edmonds, London, England "Whatever stage of writing your book you find yourself –- not yet started or almost done –- Wendy’s classes are sure to fill in missing pieces and break through stumbling blocks. Whether it’s through her unique guided meditation method, where she navigates you through scenes in your own book with her soft voice, or running you through the ins and outs of getting published with her natural business savvy, you are sure to benefit from her tips and techniques that will get your book finished and at the door of publishers." -- AG, Bangkok "Wendy Goldman Rohm's 2011 Writers Retreat in Thailand helped me tremendously. However soft and sensitive I may become as a monk, learning to be more harmless in whatever I do, I never really had the courage to think I could write in any way poetically. How wrong I was and how blessed to be able to attend the workshop. Funny how you think you know yourself and find an even greater surprise! Wendy's workshop was truly excellent. I have been recommending the workshop to friends who write and who have been pondering how to begin, or continue, a book. Being such a solo experience, it is good to be working with someone who has a high level of experience in all aspects of writing, to get practical help and gentle assistance to close in on what you really want to write to find your voice as a writer. Rohm's workshop is really worth the time and effort if you've ever considered writing a book. It was a real breath of fresh air. Thank you!" --Jake Chapman, monk and teacher, Angkor Wat, Cambodia "The Paris Writers Retreat has literally changed my life in many ways. I knew I had stories to tell but I also knew I didn't have the tools to create a gripping narrative. Attending the Retreat, listening to Wendy's sage advice and following her practical guidance, has been a godsend. An unexpected bonus was how warm, intelligent and helpful the other members of the group were. I really didn't expect to have the privilege of feedback from such educated, experienced and wise classmates. In addition to learning how to write my best and in my best voice, I also acquired a new circle of friends. So, what can I say about having attended the Paris Writers Retreat? I guess 'Lucky me!' says it all." --N. Lane, Paris “The Paris Writer's Retreat was very powerful. As a somewhat resistant writer, I felt overwhelmed by my book project and wanted help. Since the group was small, I was immediately comfortable with Wendy and the others. One of the most helpful exercises for me was a guided meditation that took us from writing in the first person to writing in the third person. It completely surprised me that I could bring in such diverse emotions from the two different perspectives. That exercise alone will make my book far richer. The workshop on Publishers, Literary agents and Editors was also very important. Staying at a fabulous hotel in Paris gave it an almost magical quality, but having an intelligent, talented and fun loving facilitator made it completely worthwhile. Wendy Goldman Rohm is precious and I couldn't have planned out, or asked for, a more delightful, fulfilling week. I'll be sure to keep you posted on my book's progress.” ---Glenda Bloom Ackley, Idyllwild, Calif. "The Writers Retreat in Mumbai was fabulous and probably the first time such an even was held in India for writers. I don't know if that's a fact but thats what I think. One thing is for sure, from the feedback I got it was evident that your being here gave a lot of hope to those who attended. For me your presence was a blessing. I had submitted my query letter by email to many Literary Agents but got no interested responses. Suddenly you were here, you understood what I had to say, you were interested and once again hope came back letting me know that one day these precious words that have moved my soul and changed my life will somehow make their way into print and be read by people all over the world. Thanks for everything. " -- Dr. Rohit Juneja CHt., R.H., R.M.P (A.M) Spiritual Psychotherapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist & Corporate Trainer |