Annual Conference 2021 - Literary Agents

 Agent Panels | Pitches & Critiques | Saturday Agents | Sunday Agents

Agents will be featured on panels, available for networking at lunch, and will offer critiques and pitch opportunities on both Saturday and Sunday. Critiques for the first 10 pages from a work in progress will be available for $60. Agent pitches are $20 each.

Agent Panels

SATURDAY

THE FIRST PAGE: HOW TO GET AN AGENT’S ATTENTION
A panel of our guest agents will discuss what they look for when they read the first page of a book. Topics will include the importance of the opening sentence, how much needs to be included in the first page, and what to avoid in that important introduction. BRING A SAMPLE FIRST PAGE AND IT MAY BE SELECTED FOR A CRITIQUE BY OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS.

Sunday

BEST FOOT FORWARD: QUERY LETTER FEEDBACK 
Don't be stopped by your query! Submit your query into a random drawing to be read aloud to the panelists. At the point when a panelist would stop reading they raise their hands. Once all hands are raised the panelists tell you why they stopped reading. Receiving this insider feedback may get you out of the slush pile! BRING A SAMPLE QUERY AND IT MAY BE SELECTED FOR A CRITIQUE BY OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS.

Preparing your Sample for the First Page OR Query Panels

• Use 8X11 sheet of paper
• The paper must have one inch margins
• The font must be Times New Roman size 12
• Submit five copies, placed in a single manilla envelope.
• Samples must be submitted anonymously - do not put your name anywhere on the page.

Pitches and Critiques

** Critiques are now closed **

Critiques and pitch opportunities with agents are available on both Saturday and Sunday. Critiques for the first 10 pages from a work in progress are $60, agent pitches are $20 each, and both can be purchased during the registration process. Please read all of the below for more details.

What is a Pitch Session?

Pitches are appropriate for writers with a submission-ready project. At the conference, you will have 10 minute in-person meeting with an agent to pitch your book. You will describe your book and answer any questions. The agent will let you know if he/she wants to see more. If you are getting a work critiqued, you do not need a pitch session with the same agent for the same work.

Note: Talcott Notch Literary Agent Gina Panettieri will be the MWA September webinar guest speaker. Her topic is "How to Pitch Your Work." Registered conference attendees will be able to attend Pantetteri's webinar for free.

What is a Critique?

Critiques are appropriate for people with a WIP (work in progress) or finished project that has already been workshopped or critiqued by a peer group, that the writer is now ready to get professional industry feedback on. You will submit up to 10 pages of your work (or one complete picture book manuscript under 10 pages) for the agent to read in advance. At the conference the agent will then meet with you for 10 minutes to provide feedback on that work. If you are getting a work critiqued, you do not need a pitch session with that agent for the same work.

How to Sign Up for A Pitch or Critique

• These opportunities sell out fast, so be sure to register early.
  
  
• You may purchase up to two pitches (MWA members may select up to three, see below).
  
  
• If you are only attending one day of the conference, be sure to select an agent who will be present that day.
  
  
• You may not sign up for a pitch or a critique for a day you are not registered for the conference.
  
  

• Please review agent profiles below and research each agent and agency (visit agency websites, twitter, http://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/, online interviews, etc.) to find agents who would be a good fit for your work. Agents are listed according to the day they will be attending.

• If the agent you are interested in is sold out, you may add your name to a waiting list in case something becomes availabile. To do so, please send email to [email protected] with the agent's name and whether you are looking for a critique or pitch. Please know that openings are unlikely, but we will notify wait list people on a first-come first-served basis should something become available.

Free Pitch for MWA Members

• All registrants may purchase up to 2 pitch sessions. MWA members get their first pitch free, so they may select up to two additional pitches. To get your first pitch free, login before registering and use the coupon code FREEPITCH. Click here to join MWA.

Agents: Saturday, October 16

Lara Lea Allen, The Lotts Agency

Lara has worked in international publishing for over 20 years. She is looking for speculative fiction, gothic fiction, commercial women’s fiction, and YA. Some recent favorites include Sarah Purcell, Talia Hibbert, Nicole Glover, and Jordyn Taylor. Some perennial favorites include Shirley Jackson, Margaret Atwood, Jane Yolen, Jane Austen, and Agatha Christie. She’s drawn to fairy tale and folklore retellings in any of the above genres, particularly if they’re underrepresented cultures or voices in the current publishing climate.

Genres: Women's Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Graphic Novels, New Adult, Young Adult

Amiee Ashcraft, Brower Agency

Originally from Ohio, but educated in Kentucky, New York, and France, Aimee Ashcraft is a literary agent at Brower Literary & Management. A lifelong book lover who was constantly in trouble for reading under her desk at school, she’s obsessed with stories that explore history and human nature in new and surprising ways. Some recent favorites include THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT (Alexander Chee), WEATHER (Jenny Offill), and WASHINGTON BLACK (Esi Edugyan). She's also always game for a good ghost story, books with speculative elements, or anything that delves into the darker side of history. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her two goofy cats.

Genres: General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal/Horror, LGBT+, Neurodiverse, Young Adult, Middle Grade

Terra Chalberg, Chalberg & Sussman

Terra Chalberg co-founded Chalberg & Sussman with Rachel Sussman in 2011. She represents a range of fiction and nonfiction writers including Trevor Aaronson, creator and host of the popular podcasts "Chameleon: High Rollers" and "American ISIS"; Vanessa Chakour, author of the forthcoming Awakening Artemis; Victoria Fedden, author of This Is Not My Beautiful Life; the late Margaux Fragoso, author of the New York Times and international bestseller Tiger, Tiger; Lexie and Lindsay Kite, authors of More Than a Body; Lori Ostlund, author of After the Parade; Andrew Porter, author of In Between Days; Melissa Radke, author of Eat Cake. Be Brave.; Bethany Webster, author of Discovering the Inner Mother; and Sara Zaske, author of Achtung Baby.

Dawn Dowdle, Blue Ridge Literary Agency

Dawn Dowdle began Blue Ridge Literary Agency, LLC (www.blueridgeagency.com) in Virginia in 2009 to help authors, especially newer authors. Prior to establishing her agency, she was a freelance copy editor and an avid reader of cozy mysteries. Cozy Mysteries she represents that are USA Today Bestsellers include Murder at Redwood Cove by Janet Finsilver, Staging Is Murder by Grace Topping, and Murder at Harbor Village by G.P. Gardner. Recent books she represents: Knot of This World by Mary Marks, Evil By The Sea by Kathleen Bridge, Maryann’s Hope by Molly Jebber, Death of An Editor by Linda Norlander, Checked Out For Murder by Allison Brook, Southern Sass and A Crispy Corpse by Kate Young, The Sheriff’s Second Chance by Tanya Agler, and Divide and Concord by JC Eaton.

Genres and subgenres of interest: Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery, Mystery, Suspense, Amish Romance, Historical Romance, Rom-Com, Romantic Suspense, Inspirational Romance, Sweet Romance, Middle Grade Mysteries, True Crime, Cookbooks, Picture Books. Only stand-alone or first books in a series please.

Sulamita Garbuz, Frances Goldin Literary Agency

Sulamita Garbuz is an associate literary agent and rights director at the Frances Goldin Literary Agency. Prior to joining the Goldin Agency, she spent over four years at Trident Media Group, and also worked for the US Attorney’s Office and several labor unions before entering publishing. Sulamita gravitates primarily towards nonfiction, with an emphasis on books that use personal stories to comment on universal issues. She also acquires select fiction, and is especially excited by novels that use speculative elements to explore current social dynamics, stories of obsession and women misbehaving, and narratives about immigration and the 2nd generation experience.

Genres: General Nonfiction, including Creative, Journalism, Technical / Science; General Fiction

Ellen Goff, HG Literary

Ellen graduated from The University of Chicago with a BA in English, a minor in Cinema and Media Studies, and a focus in Creative Writing. Ellen has worked everywhere from The White House under the Obama administration to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. At HG Literary, she assists partner and agent Carrie Hannigan on all children's titles from picture books to middle grade to young adult. Ellen's own list consists of YA writers and illustrators, as well as middle grade and picture book writers. She is also a member of HG Literary's foreign rights team. For picture books, Ellen is looking for author-illustrators, and projects that highlight the sparse and simple. She is interested in all genres and formats of YA, especially anything spooky, historical fiction, martial arts, graphic novels, and novels-in-verse. Ellen might be convinced on a nonfiction project if it involves food. She has a soft spot for Shakespeare as well as southern stories that remind her of her home state of Kentucky. Ellen runs a YA writing group and workshop in NYC.

Genres: General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Steampunk, Paranormal/Horror, LGBT+, Neurodiverse, Graphic Novels, New Adult, Young Adult, Picture Books

Gina Panettieri, Talcott Notch Literary Services

Gina Panettieri is the Founder of Talcott Notch Literary Services, LLC, a five-member literary agency headquartered in Milford, CT representing a full range of adult and juvenile fiction and nonfiction. She has worked in publishing for more than 30 years as an agent, freelance editor and writer. Some of her recent titles include THE HIDING PLACE by USA-Today Bestseller Paula Munier, UNDER COLOR OF LAW by Aaron Philip Clark, the OVERLEAPER SF podcast series by Sam Bosch, HIGH YELLA, A Memoir by former NBC, MsNBC and CNBC producer, Steve Majors, and the series Sons of Valor, Tier One, The Shepherds and the latest WEB Griffin Presidential Agent title, ROGUE AGENT, all from Andrews & Wilson. 

Genres: General Nonfiction, History, Biography, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Suspense / Thriller, Romance, Science Fiction, Paranormal/Horror, LGBT+, Neurodiverse, Young Adult, Middle Grade

John Rudolph, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC

John Rudolph joined Dystel, Goderich & Bourret in 2010 after twelve years as an acquiring children’s book editor. On the adult side, he is primarily interested in narrative nonfiction, especially in music, sports, history, popular science, “big think”, performing arts, health, business, memoir, military history, and humor. He reps a very limited amount of literary and commercial adult fiction as well. On the children’s side, he is keenly interested in middle-grade and young adult fiction, children's nonfiction for all ages, and he would love to find the next great picture book author/illustrator.

Genres: General Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction, History, Biography, Journalism, Technical Nonfiction, Science, General Fiction, Mystery / Suspense / Thriller, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Paranormal/Horror, LGBT+, Neurodiverse, Graphic Novels, New Adult, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Picture Books

Agents: Sunday, October 17

** JUST ADDED ** Ellen Goff, HG Literary

Ellen graduated from The University of Chicago with a BA in English, a minor in Cinema and Media Studies, and a focus in Creative Writing. Ellen has worked everywhere from The White House under the Obama administration to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. At HG Literary, she assists partner and agent Carrie Hannigan on all children's titles from picture books to middle grade to young adult. Ellen's own list consists of YA writers and illustrators, as well as middle grade and picture book writers. She is also a member of HG Literary's foreign rights team. For picture books, Ellen is looking for author-illustrators, and projects that highlight the sparse and simple. She is interested in all genres and formats of YA, especially anything spooky, historical fiction, martial arts, graphic novels, and novels-in-verse. Ellen might be convinced on a nonfiction project if it involves food. She has a soft spot for Shakespeare as well as southern stories that remind her of her home state of Kentucky. Ellen runs a YA writing group and workshop in NYC.

Genres: General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Steampunk, Paranormal/Horror, LGBT+, Neurodiverse, Graphic Novels, New Adult, Young Adult, Picture Books

Lauren Beiker, Fine Print Literary

Matt Belford, Tobias Literary Agency

Margaret Danko, Irene Goodman Literary Agency

Jacqui Lipton, Raven Quill Literary Agency

Jacqui Lipton, M.F.A., Ph.D. is a literary agent, attorney and law professor who specializes in the business side of the publishing industry and represents clients from picture book through adult with a particular love for genre fiction (romance, mystery, some sci-fi, some historical) and nonfiction. She is the founding agent at Raven Quill Literary Agency and also writes her own nonfiction. Her most recent books are Law and Authors: A Legal Handbook for Writers (University of California Press, 2020) and Our Data, Ourselves: A Personal Guide to Consumer Privacy (forthcoming, University of California Press, 2022). 

Genres: General Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction, History, Biography, Journalism, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Suspense / Thriller, Romance, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Paranormal/Horror, LGBT+, Neurodiverse, New Adult, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Picture Books