Annual Conference 2023

Pitches and Critiques

Critiques and pitch opportunities with agents and independent press editors are available on both Saturday and Sunday and can be purchased during the registration process. To get the most discounted rates on tickets, pitches and critiques, join MWA and login to your member account to register.

Pitch Prices:

• Member: $20
• Non-Member: $25

Critique Prices:

• Member: $60
• Non-Member: $75

What is a Pitch?

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

What is a Critique? 

Critiques are appropriate for people with a 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 person to read in advance. At the conference the person will then meet with you for 10 minutes to provide feedback on that work. If you are getting a work critiqued, do not schedule a pitch session with that same person 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 or editor 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 profiles below and research each agent or editor (visit agency and publisher websites, twitter, http://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/, online interviews, etc.) to find someone who would be a good fit for your work. Agents and editors are listed according to the day they will be attending.

• If the person you are interested in is sold out, you may add your name to a waiting list in case something becomes available. To do so, please send email to [email protected] with the agent or editor'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.

Scheduling A Pitch or Critique

The Conference Committee will contact those who signed up for pitches or critiques during the first week of September to arrange scheduling. 

Agent and Editor Profiles

Saturday

Keir Alekseii – Associate Agent, Azantian Literary Agency

Keir Alekseii is an associate agent with Azantian Literary Agency. She is an educator and anti-GBV activist born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, a twin island country in the West Indies. Keir is a writer, gamer, lover of folklore, and former research scientist. As a neurodivergent, queer person of color, Keir is invested in discovering engaging work with similar representation, and passionate about creating space for voices not often recognized. They are especially interested in stories from BIPOC who are born and raised in the Global South. Keir still lives in T&T with their partner and five rambunctious felines.
http://azantianlitagency.com/pages/team-ka.html 

• Science Fiction/ Fantasy
• Steampunk
• Paranormal/Horror
• LGBT+ / Neurodiverse and Young Adult

Margaret Danko - Agent, Irene Goodman Literary Agency

PITCHES SOLD OUT!

Margaret holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Temple University, where she studied under best-selling authors of fiction and nonfiction, and received her Bachelor’s in Creative Writing, Archaeology and Anthropology from Oberlin College. She began her career as the Editor & Managing Editor of Temple University’s TINGE Magazine before joining the Paper Over Board team. Margaret empowers authors to find the voice and story that will engage and inspire readers to see the world around them in a new light. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two cats, keeping her plants alive and cupboards full of tea. 
https://www.paperoverboard.com/
https://www.irenegoodman.com/

• Nonfiction, Creative
• Nonfiction, General
• Inspirational / Spiritual
• General Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Mystery / Suspense / Thriller
• Romance
• Fantasy
• Paranormal/Horror
• LGBT+ / Neurodiverse
• Young Adult

Kiele Raymond – Senior Agent, Thompson Literary Agency

PITCHES SOLD OUT!

Kiele Raymond is a Senior Agent at Thompson Literary Agency, representing bold new voices in literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. Her list includes critically acclaimed and award-winning writers such as Lee Matalone, Ari Braverman, Peace Adzo Medie, Nichole Perkins, Destiny O. Birdsong, Candice Wuehle, and Katie Barnes. Kiele received her B.A. in Anthropology and English Literature from Johns Hopkins University and her M.A. in the Humanities from the University of Chicago before working as an editor at Simon & Schuster. She is particularly interested in narratives set in and around the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the American Southwest. 
https://thompsonliterary.com/

• Literary fiction
• Narrative non-fiction

Stefanie Rossitto – Agent, Tobias Literary Agency

Steffi studied English language, American literature and medieval history at Regensburg University and Edinburgh University. After graduation, she moved to New York City where she started out at three different literary agencies before moving on to Random House to explore the corporate side of the business. At Doubleday and Crown, she worked in their subsidiary rights departments for over five years. Before coming to the Tobias Literary Agency, she spent five years as a freelance reader evaluating German fiction and non-fiction for the US and international market, while raising her two young daughters.
https://thetobiasagency.com/stefanie-rossitto

• Historical Fiction
• Fiction based on real characters
• Modern Romance

Leslie Truex - Agent, Blue Ridge Literary Agenc

Leslie Truex started writing by accident. After starting a career website in 1998, she wrote two traditionally published non-fiction books. Later, she transitioned to writing fiction, penning over a dozen romance and mystery books. Now, as an agent with Blue Ridge Literary Agency, her goal is to use her experience as an author to help writers navigate the publishing world. She is a member of the Virginia Writers Club, finishing up her last year as the president. When she’s not writing or agenting, she enjoys reading, chocolate and coffee, often together, and is a planner and journal fanatic. Also available Sunday.
http://www.blueridgeagency.com/

• Romance: Contemporary, Romantic Comedy, New Adult, Paranormal/Fantasy (Romance with fantasy or paranormal elements, not straight fantasy), Inspirational Romantic
• Suspense. Suspense/Mystery: Cozy, Humorous, or Sleuthing Couples (past or present) YA Fantasy
• Nonfiction: Small/home/online business, Marketing, Fitness, Success-Oriented Self-Help, New Age/Spiritual Self-Help, Writing/authorship/publishing
  
  
  

Logan Harper - Agent, Jane Rotrosen Agency

PITCHES SOLD OUT!

Prior to joining JRA in 2021, Logan was an Associate Agent at a mid-sized literary agency in Manhattan. She’s seeking a variety of character-driven fiction and is particularly drawn to women’s fiction, book club fiction, psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, horror, mystery/crime, upmarket and literary fiction. She is always eager to read and champion underrepresented voices and perspectives. A native Washingtonian, Logan is a graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle and the Columbia Publishing Course in Oxford. 
https://www.janerotrosen.com/agents

• Women’s Fiction
• Book Club Fiction
• Literary Fiction
• Mystery / Suspense / Thriller
• Horror
  
  

Tom Miller - Liza Dawson Associates

Tom Miller has been a senior literary agent with New York-based Liza Dawson Associates since 2018 and previously worked with Carol Mann Agency. Before becoming an agent, Tom held executive and senior editorial positions with HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hyperion/Disney, Wiley, and McGraw-Hill. He brings an editorial eye to his clients’ work and represents writers of serious and commercial nonfiction as well as literary fiction. Over his career, he has worked with Deepak Chopra, Ginger Rogers, Jared Diamond, David Santos Donaldson, Bradley Nelson, Erica Jong, Dave Asprey, and Gabor Mate, among other authors.
https://www.lizadawsonassociates.com/tom-miller
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaswardmiller/

• Nonfiction, General Narrative Nonfiction
• Nonfiction, History / Biography
• Nonfiction, Journalism
• Nonfiction: Science, Psychology, Medicine, Mind-Body-Spirit, Popular Culture, Business, Health
• Literary Fiction
• LGBT+ Fiction (Commercial and Literary) and Nonfiction

SUNDAY

Ellen Goff – Associate Agent, HG Literary

CRITIQUES SOLD OUT!

Ellen (she/her) 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 and illustrators. She is also a member of HG Literary's foreign rights team. Ellen is interested in all genres and formats of YA, especially anything spooky, historical fiction, food-themed, graphic novels, and novels-in-verse. 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 critique group and writing workshop in NYC. 
www.hgliterary.com/ellen

• YA all genres, but especially horror
• Historical Fiction
• Non-Fiction: food-themed
• Graphic Novels
• Novels-in-Verse (long-form poetry)
• Southern themed adult literature.

Zach Honey – Agent, Fine Print Literary

Zach (He/Him) is North Carolina-born and Montana-raised with an equal love for sweet tea and waist-deep snow. He studied film production and philosophy at Montana State University and received a master’s degree from the University of Nottingham in England. Zach is primarily seeking thrillers and adult fiction, especially those set in rural places, mountainous regions, or other hard-to-reach corners of the world. His other interests include hiking, skiing, music, board games, golf, and other outdoor activities, and he is open to non-fiction pitches in these categories.

• General Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Mystery / Suspense / Thriller
• Paranormal/Horror
• Nonfiction, General
• Nonfiction, History / Biography

Michelle Jackson – Agent, LCS Literary

Originally from Jamaica, West Indies, Michelle Jackson is an agent with LCS Literary. An educator for over 20 years, Michelle is also a published author, writing professionally as Michelle Lindo-Rice for Mira and Harlequin Special Edition and Zoey Marie Jackson for Harlequin Love Inspired. She has earned degrees from New York University, SUNY at StonyBrook, Teachers College Columbia University and Argosy University. Michelle is seeking to work with adult fiction authors across an number of genres, listed below.
https://www.michellezjackson.com/

• Commercial
• Historical
• Humor
• New Adult,
• Romance (Contemporary, Comedy, Suspense)
• Science Fiction
• Thriller (psychological)
• Women’s Fiction, including
  • Contemporary Romance
  • Humor
  • Multicultural
  • Psychological Thrillers
  • Romantic Comedy
  • Romantic Suspense
    

Eloy Bleifuss – Literary Assistant, Janklow & Nesbit Associates

CRITIQUES SOLD OUT!

Eloy’s (he/him) first job in publishing was at Simon & Schuster editorial. He switched to the agency side when he joined Janklow & Nesbit Associates in 2019. Eloy is drawn to genre-blurring fiction and writers with a clear point-of-view. He’s looking for atmospheric horror, thrillers set in an under-explored time or setting, and character-driven speculative fiction. When it comes to nonfiction, he enjoys reading a broad sweep of categories from science writing and forgotten histories to pop culture and relatable self-help. Whether it is fiction or nonfiction, he is a fan of writing that is dark, strange, funny, and queer. A graduate of Vassar College, Eloy hails from Chicago and now lives in Brooklyn.

• Nonfiction, History / Biography
• Nonfiction, Journalism
• Nonfiction, Technical / Science
• Paranormal/Horror
• Science Fiction
• Fantasy
• Mystery / Suspense / Thriller
• LGBT+ / Neurodiverse

Leslie Truex - Agent, Blue Ridge Literary Agency

Leslie Truex started writing by accident. After starting a career website in 1998, she wrote two traditionally published non-fiction books. Later, she transitioned to writing fiction, penning over a dozen romance and mystery books. Now, as an agent with Blue Ridge Literary Agency, her goal is to use her experience as an author to help writers navigate the publishing world. She is a member of the Virginia Writers Club, finishing up her last year as the president. When she’s not writing or agenting, she enjoys reading, chocolate and coffee, often together, and is a planner and journal fanatic. Also available Saturday.
http://www.blueridgeagency.com/

• Romance: Contemporary, Romantic Comedy, New Adult, Paranormal/Fantasy (Romance with fantasy or paranormal elements, not straight fantasy), Inspirational Romantic
• Suspense. Suspense/Mystery: Cozy, Humorous, or Sleuthing Couples (past or present) YA Fantasy
• Nonfiction: Small/home/online business, Marketing, Fitness, Success-Oriented Self-Help, New Age/Spiritual Self-Help, Writing/authorship/publishing
  
  

Emily Williamson – Agent, Agency Founder, Williamson Literary

Emily Williamson is a literary agent and the founder of Williamson Literary. She and her team represent a variety of projects in fiction and nonfiction, working with major publishers, university presses, and boutique imprints alike to find the perfect home for her clients. As a writer herself, she understands the investment of time and heart it takes to follow this challenging path. It is the core of Williamson Literary—to support the careers of dedicated writers who deserve to see their ideas and imaginings realized. Williamson Literary is about building relationships: agent-author, agent-publisher, author-publisher. https://www.esjwilliamson.com/about

• Non-Fiction: How-to, Sports
• Children’s Literature
• As agency head, can refer a wide range of fiction and non-fiction projects within her firm

Tessa Shaffer, Literary Manager, Vice President, Corvisiero Literary Agency

CRITIQUES SOLD OUT!

Tessa represents screenwriters for the Film & TV side of the agency as well as a small, select number of authors in various genres from Middle Grade to Non-Fiction. She has a passion for finding cinematic books, developing adaptations, and bridging the two industries for the clients of Corvisiero Literary Agency. ​

• Non-Fiction, Creative and General
• Screenplays and Plays
• Spiritual/Inspirational
• Fantasy
• Paranormal Horror
• LGBTQ+/Neurodiverse
• YA
• Graphic Novels

Marisa Corvisiero Esq. –  Founder, Senior Literary Agent, Corvisiero Literary Agency

Marisa Corvisiero is the Founder and senior literary agent at the Corvisiero Literary Agency. She is also an author coach, literary consultant, speaker, author, and Attorney with more than 24 years of experience in corporate law and trusts and estates with practices in New York City and Red Bank NJ. She holds a J.D. from the Pace University School of Law with a focus in corporate and international law. She also received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Hofstra University. Marisa began her publishing career as an agent an agency in New York city for a few years before founding her own agency, which now has several agents, apprentices, and interns. She has attended more than 90 writing conferences, and hosted or participated in numerous boot camps, workshops, webinars, and tutorials on the craft, mindset, and business of writing at many of those events as well as Writer’s Digest and the annual Author-Preneur Workshops hosted by the Corvisiero Literary Agency.  

• Non-Fiction/Technical-Science
• Spiritual / Inspirational
• Historical Fiction
• Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
• Science Fiction / Fantasy
• Romance
• Paranormal / Horror
• LGBTQ+/ Neurodiverse
• YA / NA/ Middle Grade/ Childrens
• Picture Books / Graphic Novels

Shawn Reilly Simmons – Managing Editor, Level Best Book

Shawn Reilly Simmons is an Agatha and Anthony Award-winning author and editor. She’s written eight novels in her Red Carpet Catering mystery series and over twenty of her short stories have appeared in various anthologies. Shawn hosts a podcast, Five Compelling Questions, where she chats with authors about the writing life and creative pursuits. Shawn serves on the Board of Malice Domestic, is Managing Editor at Level Best Books, and is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, the Crime Writers’ Association, and International Thriller Writers. She lives in historic downtown Frederick, Maryland.
http://www.shawnreillysimmons.com/
Facebook: @ShawnReillySimmonsAuthor
Twitter & Instagram: @ShawnRSimmons

• Mystery (all sub-genres)