SIKESTON -- Somewhere in the crowd of writers gathered for the 7th annual Heartland Writers Conference could be the next John Grisham or Robert James Waller.

But it's really unlikely, said Shirleen Sando, conference coordinator. Instant fame and a climb to the top of the best-seller list isn't common.

"It happens, but it's not realistic," she said. Most authors don't even quit their regular jobs until they've become well-established.

"We can all write books and get paid," she said. "They're just special or lucky."

The 150 authors who attended the three-day conference came with manuscripts tucked into folders or hanging out of shoulder bags. Each one hoping to make the connections and eventually get published.

Representatives from the top publishing houses attended the workshops. Authors could even schedule appointments with editors from St. Martin's Press, Bantam Books. Pocket Books, BCI, HarperCollins and Time Being Books.

Each year, at least one author makes the right connections and signs a contract, Sando said, adding that the contacts are invaluable.

"I can't go to New York and meet an editor," she said. "But here they can tell me what they're looking for."

Sando, who lives in Kennett, wrote three novels before any of her work was published. A fat-free, low-fat dessert cookbook she authored is due out soon.

"You either keep your job and write on the side or you'll be poor," she said. "It's not overnight."

It takes about two years to complete the publishing process. An author must write a book, submit it to an editor or agent who then forwards it to the publishing company. The publishing company then sells the book to retail stores before it even reaches a customer's hand.

Selling a book is difficult because it has to have just the right title and cover to reach potential buyers, said Harry Helms, an editor with Bantam Books.

"You have about a nanosecond to grab their attention," Helms said. "But you don't want to grab everyone, just the correct customer."

Authors, particularly first-time writers, don't have much input in selecting cover art for their book. Often an editor will send them a print of the finished work before the book reaches full publication.

During the last 17 years, William Johnstone has seen about 150 covers for his books. He has been an author for more than 20 years.

"I have written for every genre but fantasy and science fiction," he said. "I spent 19,000 hours in 11 years writing before I got published."

But after his first book was published, an agent told him to keep practicing so that he could write for every genre from romance to historical fiction. "It was some of the best advice I got."

But Johnstone has different advice for beginning writers: make a habit of writing. Making writing a habit helped get his work published, Johnstone said. "I just got angry and was determined to get published."

He still writes everyday from his home in Shreveport, La. He writes about six books a year.

The writers conference concluded Saturday evening with an awards banquet at the Coach House Inn in Sikeston.