from Idea To The Shelf: Santa Barbara Literary Festival

What really happens after a manuscript is finished? Inside Publishing brings together four leading voices from across the book industry to demystify the path from draft to bookshelf. Designed for writers seeking publication, this candid panel offers an insider’s view of how the modern publishing ecosystem works—and how to navigate it.

Featuring book publicist Megan Beatty, co-head of publishing at UTA Christy Fletcher, editor Jodi Fodor, and literary agent Angela Rinaldi, the discussion will cover what agents look for, how editors shape manuscripts, how authors are positioned in the marketplace, and how publicity and branding factor into a book’s success. Panelists will also address current industry trends, common misconceptions, and practical steps writers can take to make their work stand out.

Whether you’re querying your first agent or refining a manuscript for submission, this essential conversation offers clarity, strategy, and realistic guidance for today’s publishing landscape.

Megan Beatie is a veteran book publicist with almost 30 years of experience in publishing. As the president and CEO of Megan Beatie Communications (MBC), a book publicity and marketing agency based in Los Angeles, she has represented books by many bestselling authors, including Linda Ronstadt, Tess Gerritsen, Robert Dugoni, Lee Goldberg, Marcia Clark, Amina Akhtar, and Maureen Johnson. She’s a fifth generation native Californian from a Ventura County farming family.

Christy Fletcher joined UTA as the Co-Head of Publishing at the beginning of 2023 after 20 years of running her own agency, Fletcher & Company.

Growing up in a house filled with books and obsessive readers, Christy developed a lifelong affinity for great storytelling and unique voices. Her clients include a wide array of influential, award-winning and bestselling writers including David Leonhardt, Yung Pueblo, Gretchen Rubin, Eric Ries, Stanford’s Dr. Fei-Fei Li, Whole30’s Melissa Urban, Chip & Dan Heath, Nir Eyal, Alexander Vindman, Joyce Vance, and Harmonia Rosales.

Jodi Fodor is a developmental and line editor with a BA in psychology and an MFA in creative writing. A professional writer since age twenty-one, she joyfully taught writing for twenty-five years and brings that joy to coaching authors, guiding them from early drafts through polished, publishable manuscripts. Jodi developed the content of her education/humor book, SAT Word Slam (Adams Media) into an award-winning iOS and Android app. She works in several genres and specializes in memoir, fiction, and humor. Jodi is She's also a dialogue specialist who works with authors to ensure that when their characters speak, readers listen.

Angela Rinaldi is the founder of The Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency with more than thirty years of experience helping writers of fiction and nonfiction find their path to publication. She carefully reviews each submission with an eye toward discovering exceptional work and guiding authors through the publishing process. With a background in editorial roles at major publishing houses, Rinaldi has represented a wide range of influential nonfiction and bestselling titles, including Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spencer Johnson. She is known for her deep industry knowledge and long-standing commitment to supporting writers and their ideas.

The Santa Barbara Literary Festival brings together readers and writers of every genre for a two day celebration of storytelling and inspiration. Engaging panels, enlightening workshops, pop-up events, and welcoming social gatherings, bring together established authors, emerging writers, and passionate readers in a uniquely intimate setting that fosters community centered around a shared love of the literary arts.