Editors & Agents

For the May 3-4, 2024 Atlanta Writers Conference, the editors and agents below have provided, in their own words, the genres they are seeking to acquire for publication (in the case of acquisition editors) or represent to publishers (in the case of literary agents)–and they often identify specific genres they are not seeking as well, to decrease ambiguity. Please pay attention to these details to avoid wasting your time and money! In addition to reading this information, you also should review their agency/publisher websites, do an Internet search on them–their manuscript wish lists, Twitter/Instagram feeds, interviews with them and/or what other agents, editors, and authors have written about them–and make sure you’re a good fit with their tastes and attitudes.

PLEASE NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, all guest agents and editors will be in-person at the Westin Atlanta Airport Hotel. If any of them switch to virtual participation, we will update this page and inform the attendees who selected that individual.

At every conference, a few participants are disappointed because they paid to get a critique from, or make a pitch to, an agent or editor who isn’t interested in their genre. This usually occurs because the participants did not read these descriptions. Again, don’t be like those people! Read the agents and editors’ bios carefully, research them, and select accordingly.

If you want up to three manuscript sample critiques and/or three pitches, you will notice on the session selection page of the registration system that you can make these choices yourself. If an agent/editor’s spots are full in the “A” group, look for them in the “B” and “C” groups. The groupings aren’t rank-ordered (i.e., one group isn’t “better” than another)–it’s just a way of giving you up to three separate agent/editor choices for manuscript sample critiques and pitches.

We don’t recommend that you select the same person for a manuscript sample critique as well as a pitch, because both activities serve to introduce the agent or editor to you and your work. With the manuscript sample critique, you get the added value of receiving that individual’s feedback about your writing; it doesn’t make sense to also pitch that individual about the same book, because they will indicate on their written critique whether they’re interested in receiving a partial or full manuscript from you.

What if you have two different book projects? It’s still a risk to pitch the same agent or editor you’re getting a critique from (just as it’s a risk to get two critiques or do two pitches with the same person), because if this person is interested in the first book project, they will want to focus on that one with you rather than tackle two projects simultaneously. If that person is not interested in the first one, there’s a chance they won’t be interested in the second one either. So, as you’re reading the descriptions below, please consider as many individuals as possible rather than setting your sights on just one.

During the registration process, you will see who has spots remaining for each activity and you can choose accordingly. That record of open spots is always up-to-date.

What if you have a self-published book you want to pitch and/or for which you want to get a sample critiqued? If agents and editors are open considering a previously self-published work, you will see this noted in their bios below. Be aware that most industry professionals prefer to only consider never-published manuscripts so they don’t have to deal with copyright issues, previous marketing, and other problems that already-released books present.

ALSO NOTE: At the bottom of each editor/agent bio, we indicate whether manuscript sample critique and/or pitch spots are open or are full but waitlists are available. There is no charge for waitlist spots, so there is no risk in registering for one; if a spot opens for you due to another participant’s cancellation, you will be informed by email and will pay for the activity at that time. If you want to put your name on any waitlists, you must register for those just like any other activity–please go to the Registration page and use the Cvent system link provided there at the bottom to do so.

If you can’t travel to the Westin Atlanta Airport Hotel, you can indicate on your registration that you want the virtual option, to participate via Zoom in any online meeting with the guest agents and editors you select for manuscript sample critiques and/or pitches as well as the randomly assigned agents/editors for the query letter critique activity. Due to the ever-increasing expense of the audio-visual equipment and personnel involved and the ever-dwindling number of virtual participants, we are only offering these agent/editor meetings via Zoom (thus, the workshop, Q&A panels, award ceremony with giveaway drawings, mixer, and free educational sessions will only be available to in-person participants).

See the bios below for complete details about the editors and agents and what they are seeking to acquire (for editors) or represent (for agents). If spots are full for all the editors and agents who are a good fit for you and your work, contact Atlanta Writers Conference Director George Weinstein at awconference@gmail.com to request recommendations about which ones have the shortest waitlists.

Carey Blankenship-Kramer, Junior Agent, Belcastro Agency – In-person at hotel

https://www.belcastroagency.com/

After growing up surrounded by books and people who loved to read them, Carey dreamed of bringing more books to the hands of avid readers like herself. She graduated from Berry College with a dual degree in English and Creative Writing. She later received her master’s in writing and digital communications from Agnes Scott College. She has experience working with both publishing houses and literary agencies and loves her role as Junior Agent at Belcastro Agency. As an editorial agent, she loves working closely with her authors to ensure their stories come to life on the page. Outside of work and writing, you can usually find Carey spending time with her small zoo and husband, getting way too competitive on the tennis court, gardening, playing video games, or eating candy.

Carey is seeking the following fiction genres:

• Coming-of-age
• Contemporary
• Family saga/drama
• Fantasy
• Graphic novel
• Historical
• Horror/Supernatural
• Humor
• LGBTQ+
• Literary
• Mainstream/Commercial (incl. magical realism)
• Middle Grade
• Mystery/Crime
• Romance
• Science fiction
• Southern
• Speculative fiction/myths & fairy tales
• Sports
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Upmarket commercial/Book club
• Women’s fiction
• Young Adult

Specific things Carey would love to find:

• A picture book manuscript featuring character dealing with alopecia areata and the experience of choosing out a wig from an #ownvoices author.
• A queer romance featuring equestrians. Or a queer romance featuring tennis players.
• Cozy fantasy! Anything that is quiet with a twist of magic where I can fall in love with the characters and the settings.
• Books set in fun settings, like a coastal town or a summer camp or a mountain cabin.
• A horror book centered around video games.
• A story where the main character is a barista or a chef.
• She is OBSESSED with books that use multimedia storytelling or unique perspectives. One of her all time favorite books is A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.

Things she’s learning aren’t really for her:

• Fairytale retellings, UNLESS it’s from a POC author.
• Stories with Elves or the Fae as the main characters, UNLESS it’s from a POC author.
• Stories with cheating as a main focus of the romance.
• Alien-centered stories.
• Thrillers where the main characters are running away from/fighting the government.
• Greek mythology books, UNLESS it’s from a POC author.

Here is Carey’s evergreen manuscript wish list:

Specifics Across All Genres and Age Groups:

• If you have a strong platform and love what you do, feel free to pitch her a concept.
• #1: Diverse stories from #Ownvoices.
• HORROR. Horror, horror, horror! If you have something remotely spooky, she wants to see it.
• Neurodiversity rep. As someone with ADHD, anxiety, and depression, neurodiversity is extremely important to her.
• Queer stories, especially those with happy endings.
• Quiet, coming-of-age stories with a twinge of magic for Middle Grade audiences, especially if the word count is on the smaller side.
• Stories with animal sidekicks/main characters/or just fluffy pals. Especially horses.
• Video game stories.
• Dragons! Or anything with mythological creatures.
• Tennis-centered books.
• Stories set in the South.

In Middle Grade fiction:

• Adventure
• Contemporary
• Fantasy
• Graphic Novel
• Historical
• Horror
• Mystery
• Paranormal
• Science Fiction
• Literally everything–she LOVES Middle Grade

In Young Adult fiction:

• Adventure
• Contemporary
• Fantasy
• Graphic Novel
• Horror
• Mystery
• Paranormal
• Science Fiction
• New Adult/Adult
• Contemporary
• Fantasy
• Horror
• Mystery
• Romance

Above all, Carey is committed to building a list that is diverse and represents children from all backgrounds and lifestyles. She is always on the hunt for #Ownvoices and is dedicated to supporting those communities however she can.

Carey is NOT accepting:

• Nonfiction
• Stories where the animals die. (She’s so sorry, she is weak and cannot handle it.)
• Stories written with the help of AI. No thanks.

She is open to self-published work, but unpublished works are her favorite because she loves working with new authors.

Carey’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Lane Clarke, Agent, Ultra Literary – In-person at hotel

https://www.ultraliterary.com/

Lane earned a Bachelors’ degree in English Literature from Virginia Tech, and a J.D. from The University of Chicago Law School. She is a Young Adult author and works as an attorney in Washington, D.C. As the creator of the #BVM hashtag for Twitter story pitch events, and the co-founder of #PitBLK, a pitch event highlighting Black writers, she is committed to making sure marginalized voices have a space in traditional publishing.

Lane is seeking the following in fiction:

• Children’s picture/chapter books
• Coming-of-age
• Contemporary
• Family saga/drama
• Fantasy
• Graphic novel
• Historical
• Horror/Supernatural
• Humor
• LGBTQ+
• Literary
• Mainstream/Commercial (incl. magical realism)
• Middle Grade
• Mystery/Crime
• Romance
• Science fiction
• Southern (within the larger genres listed)
• Speculative fiction/myths & fairy tales
• Sports (within the larger genres listed)
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Upmarket commercial/Book club
• Women’s fiction
• Young Adult

She is NOT seeking children’s chapter books or erotica.

In nonfiction, Lane is seeking the following:

• Business/leadership/law
• Current events/politics/social commentary
• Essay collection
• Health/diet/wellness
• Humor
• Memoir
• Pop culture
• Women’s issues

She will not consider previously self-published works.

Lane’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Christopher Combemale, Associate Agent, Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. – In-person at hotel

https://www.sll.com/

Christopher Combemale is an associate agent at Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. He represents the 2023 Carnegie Medal winner Manon Steffan Ros, Polish radical Agnieszka Szpila, scholar Thomas Dai, among others. As a Singaporean/French/American born and raised in London, he is interested in international, cross-cultural perspectives and work in translation. He graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill as a Morehead-Cain Scholar. 

Christopher is seeking the following fiction genres and nonfiction topics:

In fiction:

• Coming-of-age
• Contemporary
• Family saga/drama
• Horror/Supernatural
• LGBTQ+
• Literary
• Mainstream/Commercial (incl. magical realism)
• Mystery/Crime
• Romance
• Short story collection
• Southern
• Speculative fiction/myths & fairy tales
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Upmarket commercial/Book club

In nonfiction:

• Essay collection
• History/biography
• Narrative nonfiction/journalism
• Pop culture
• Science
• Food

Christopher is NOT currently accepting submissions for children’s/picture books, hard sci-fi, and memoir.

He can only consider unpublished manuscripts.

Christopher’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Tessa James, Associate Editor, William Morrow/HarperCollins Publishers – In-person at hotel

https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/williammorrow

Tessa James joined William Morrow in 2019. Her interests lie in fiction; particularly upmarket commercial and literary fiction with strong, contemporary voices, smart thrillers, and cross-genre novels that offer a new twist on old tropes or have a speculative element.

Her list includes bestselling and award-winning authors such as Linwood Barclay, Carol Goodman, and Deborah Crombie among others. Recent and upcoming publications include I Will Ruin You, an edge-of-your-seat thriller by Linwood Barclay; Nothing Serious, an upmarket literary suspense novel by debut author Emily J. Smith; and A Spy Like Me by Kim Sherwood, the second in a new trilogy expanding the James Bond universe. Tessa is also the editor for the Ian Fleming estate.

Tessa is currently seeking the following fiction genres:

• Literary
• Mainstream/Commercial (incl. magical realism)
• Mystery/Crime
• Speculative fiction/myths & fairy tales
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Upmarket commercial/Book club

Tessa is looking for a variety of fiction, from twisty psychological suspense to voice-y, commercial literary fiction. She especially enjoys stories where there is a sense that something is not right at the core, as well as stories that break away from the expected through cleverly conceived twists, speculative elements, or unconventional protagonists. She’s also drawn to stories with a strong sense of place, where the setting feels like a character. Generally, she leans toward contemporary timelines, but she is open to multiple timelines or historical novels that feel like they could be happening in the present day. Tessa is looking for stories about characters going through some kind of personal reckoning, especially from underrepresented voices. She doesn’t shy away from darker subject matter or “unlikeable” characters and loves a book with a meaty premise readers can really sink their teeth into. She appreciates gorgeous writing but she wants an equally compelling plot/hook that will draw in a wide audience.

Tessa is open to considering previously self-published work.

Because Tessa prefers working with an agent rather than working directly with the author at acquisition, she will be happy to give agent recommendations to any writer whose manuscript she’s interested in acquiring.

Tessa’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Marla Jones, Owner, Doodle and Peck Publishing – In-person at hotel

https://www.doodleandpeck.com/

Marla F. Jones has read thousands of children’s books. Literally. As a first-grade teacher, story time was her favorite part of the day. As a writer, she has authored four picture books. As an artist, Jones has illustrated five and is working on a sixth. She uses a colorful mix of media, papers, fabrics and found objects, and layers them to create texture and dimension to her folk-art style. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Oklahoma Writers Federation.

Marla Jones owns Doodle and Peck Publishing and is the senior editor. She opened the door in January of 2014 after seeing the need to get more books by talented Oklahoma authors published. However, Doodle and Peck has now published authors from across the U.S. She pairs up creative authors and illustrators to make fun, educational, family-friendly books. As of November 2023, Jones’ company has produced approximately 60 titles, most in hardcover as well as soft cover.

In 2020, partly as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Doodle and Peck added a literacy component to each of their picture and middle grade books. The Linking to Literacy component inside each of their new titles is designed to assist a parent, teacher, or caregiver, in building a child’s literacy skills in conjunction with the book itself. It includes simple activities, such as letter recognition, vocabulary, and comprehension, that require little to no supplies or materials. Using the guidelines from the State Department of Education, Doodle and Peck Publishing created developmentally appropriate activity sheets, which are color-coordinated, free to use, and printable on the Doodle and Peck website under the tab labeled Linking to Literacy.

Doodle and Peck Mission Statement:

“Doodle and Peck Publishing strives to produce fun, family-friendly books, created by talented authors and illustrators. In our children’s titles, we include a curriculum component, Linking to Literacy, making our books not just entertaining, but educational.”

Doodle and Peck publishes mainly children’s books (except for board books), including the following:

• Picture books
• Chapter books
• Middle grade

Poetry and spiritual/inspirational/religious nonfiction manuscripts might also be acceptable if the author has really thought about the final product and who its target market is.

When Marla receives a well-written picture book manuscript that is somehow useable in a classroom setting, she gets very excited. Books with a universal theme such as kindness and respect are very acceptable. Relatable subjects for children, such as thumb-sucking and bed-wetting, are acceptable if written in a kind and compassionate manner.

Authors considering Doodle and Peck need to keep in mind one of their mission statement’s goals: family-friendly.

Doodle and Peck does NOT publish full-length adult novels on any topic. Marla is not currently seeking young adult books either.

Marla will consider previously self-published work.

She prefers to work with the author directly. No agent is needed.

Marla’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

 

Azraf Khan, Assistant Editor, Random House – In-person at hotel

https://www.randomhousebooks.com/

Azraf Khan is an Editorial Assistant at Random House, where they assist Marie Pantojan and Andy Ward. They work alongside authors such as George Saunders, Ed Park, Charles Duhigg, Jenn M. Jackson, Karen Jennings, and David Leonhardt. Before coming to Random House, Azraf graduated from The College of William & Mary with a major in Government and interned at Aevitas Creative Management.

They are seeking the following fiction genres:

• Coming-of-age
• Family saga/drama
• Horror
• LGBTQ+
• Literary
• Romance—will consider if there’s a particularly strong hook
• Science fiction
• Speculative fiction/myths & fairy tales
• Women’s fiction

Azraf is seeking the following in nonfiction:

• Current events/politics/social commentary
• Gender/sexuality/race
• Health/diet/wellness (wellness books that use an intersectional, social justice-focused lens)
• History
• Memoir
• Narrative nonfiction/Journalism
• Pop culture
• Self-help/relationships
• Science
• Sports
• Women’s issues

Azraf prefers unpublished manuscripts, but they are open to considering self-published work.

Because Azraf can only work with an agent rather than working directly with the author at acquisition, they will be happy to give agent recommendations to any writer whose manuscript they’re interested in acquiring.

Azraf‘s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Sheyla Knigge, Literary Agent, High Line Literary Collective – In-person at hotel

https://www.highlineliterary.com/

Sheyla Knigge (SHAY-luh KUH-nig-gee) is a budding publishing professional who comes to the industry with a lifelong love of reading under her belt. Having worked under Victoria Marini since 2021, she has had the immense pleasure of perusing a variety of books that have gone on to do incredibly well and cannot wait to do the same for her own clients. When she’s not working, you can find Sheyla tucked away writing, getting more tattoos, or spending time with her family in the Appalachian Mountains. 

Sheyla is seeking the following fiction genres:

• BIPOC Literature
• Fantasy
• Graphic Novel
• Historical
• Horror
• LGBTQ
• Middle Grade
• New Adult
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Young Adult

In YA and adult fantasy, she loves rich fantasy worlds and innovative magic systems; characters that make her want to read them again and again; witches; characters who want to watch the world burn; and Arthurian legends, including those that focus on the women in those stories—Morgana La Fay has her whole heart.

In middle grade, she loves stories that take her back to her childhood.

In historical fiction, she loves anything having to do with the Medicis and anything that brings the rich history of the world to the forefront of conversation. Let her travel in time with your stories.

In thriller/suspense, she loves a good story that keeps her on the edge of her seat—particularly if it has an 80s/90s vibe to it.

Sheyla is very interested in books by marginalized creators who have yet to have the opportunity to have their voices heard, particularly BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and other #OwnVoices as a fellow queer woman of color. She longs to see uplifting stories from these communities rather than ones that focus on the trauma that comes from being a part of them.

She would love to see stories filled with myth, magic, and a healthy dose of smut when appropriate. Alternatively, she would love to see Percy Jackson-esque Middle Grade fiction; the type she can giggle along with as she reads them to her own children. Stories set in other lands, or other worlds tend to be her go-to choice when reading, so fill her inbox with them!

She’d like the next…

• Once And Future Witches
• FuryBorn
• A House of Sky and Breath
• Stalking Jack the Ripper
• The Final Exam
• Kingdom of the Wicked
• Bone Criers Dawn
• Serpent and Dove
• Sorcery of Thorns

Her favorites include…

• A Discovery of Witches
• The Magicians
• Enola Holmes
• The Last Kingdom
• Witcher: Blood Origin
• Beautiful Creatures
• Da’Vinci’s Demons
• That 70’s Show

As for stories that she is NOT a good fit for: picture books or really anything lower than MG, science fiction, Christian, short story collections, and any nonfiction UNLESS it’s pertaining to tattoos. Sheyla is also not a good fit for stories that contain any kind of abuse of women or children on the page. 

She is open to previously published stories.

Sheyla’s manuscript sample critique spots are full, but a waitlist is available. She has open pitch spots.

Marilyn Kretzer, Senior Acquisitions Editor, Blackstone Publishing – In-person at hotel

https://www.blackstonepublishing.com/

Currently a senior acquisition editor at Blackstone Publishing, Marilyn Kretzer has over 30 years of experience in the publishing industry. Her roles have ranged from acquisitions and rights sales, including: international, subsidiary rights and editorial acquisitions and contracts. She has a strong network across the industry, with agents, editors, and rights professionals. Previously, she held key roles at Sterling Publishing as Rights and Editorial Director, and at Scholastic as Acquisitions Manager. While caring for her mother, she held freelance and contract positions, including audio licensing for HarperCollins, author acquisitions for Callisto Media and business development for Devar Entertainment (a tech company specializing in AR for books).

In fiction, Marilyn is seeking:

• Romance
• Mystery/Crime (no cozies)
• Suspense
• Thriller 
• Science fiction
• Fantasy
• Historical fiction
• LGBTQ+
• Women’s fiction

In nonfiction, Marilyn is seeking:

• Motivational
• Self-help/relationships
• Narrative nonfiction
• Pop culture

Please do NOT send her erotica or Wiccan fiction or any nonfiction.

Marilyn will look at previously self-published work, but she would need to see one’s sales numbers and platform to consider it.

She works both directly with authors as well as through agents.

Marilyn’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available. 

Shawn Reilly Simmons, President & Managing Editor, Level Best Books – In-person at hotel

https://www.levelbestbooks.us/

Shawn Reilly Simmons is President and Managing Editor at Level Best Books, a press with a roster of roughly two hundred authors. A published author herself, Shawn is most passionate about bringing new voices to the forefront, collaborating with authors on their work, and promoting the books published by Level Best to the widest possible audience.

She is seeking the following fiction genres:

• Coming-of-age
• Contemporary
• Horror/Supernatural
• Mainstream/Commercial (incl. magical realism)
• Middle Grade
• Mystery/Crime
• Short story collection
• Southern
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Young Adult

In nonfiction, she is seeking true crime manuscripts and cooking/food/cookbooks.

Shawn will consider previously self-published work in certain circumstances, mostly if she is continuing a series with new books going forward.

She will work with agents and directly with authors.

Shawn’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Alexander Reubert, Associate Agent, Hannigan Getzler Literary Agency – In-person at hotel

https://www.hgliterary.com/

Alex is pursuing books that, either by style or story, demand he keep reading. For fiction that includes debuts, stories of love, family epics, and literary coming-of-age. He loves world literature and wants to see more books published in the U.S. that are not set in the U.S. He is eager to read and represent voices that have been historically de-centered. Literary fiction with genre elements is welcome, as is any narrator looking back and trying to make sense of their life.

For nonfiction, he’s interested in psychology, narrative, philosophy, literary studies, art history, popular science, and cultural studies. Writers that instill a sense of curiosity and wonder in others, no matter the subject, should get in touch and tell him about their work.

Alex joined the scouting department of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates at the start of 2019. Prior to the agency, he worked as a bookseller at WORD Bookstores and interned with New Directions and W.W. Norton & Company. Originally from Georgia, he now lives in Brooklyn. Find him on Twitter @alex_reubert.

In fiction Alex is seeking:

• Contemporary
• Family saga/drama
• Humor
• LGBTQ+
• Literary (including Literary with genre elements)
• Romance
• Science fiction
• Short story collection
• Southern
• Speculative fiction/myths & fairy tales
• Upmarket commercial/Book club

In nonfiction, he is seeking:

• Current events/politics/social commentary
• Essay collection
• Humor
• Narrative nonfiction/Journalism
• Self-help/relationships
• Science

He can only consider previously unpublished manuscripts.

Alex’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Reagan Rothe, Owner, Black Rose Writing – In-person at hotel

https://www.blackrosewriting.com/home

Reagan Rothe is the creator and owner of Black Rose Writing, an indie press in Texas, the host of the Heard It through the Rosevine podcast, and a fellow published author. He is an Amazon Ad ninja, serves on Ingram’s Publisher Advisory Board, and is a Social Media Certified Professional. Rothe has contributed to IBPA’s Independent, NetGalley Insights, and other literary channels. [After the May 2023 conference, he published several of the participants he met with, so we’ve invited him back in hopes he’ll discover even more participants’ work he’ll want to publish.]

Reagan is seeking the following in fiction and nonfiction:

FICTION GENRES:

• Children’s picture books from author-illustrators/chapter books
• Christian
• Coming-of-age
• Contemporary
• Family saga/drama
• Fantasy
• Graphic novel
• Historical
• Horror/Supernatural
• Humor
• LGBTQ+
• Literary
• Mainstream/Commercial (incl. magical realism)
• Middle Grade
• Mystery/Crime
• Romance
• Science fiction
• Southern
• Speculative fiction/myths & fairy tales
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Upmarket commercial/Book club
• Women’s fiction
• Young Adult

NONFICTION TOPICS:

• Business/leadership/law
• Cooking/food/cookbooks
• Current events/politics/social commentary
• Health/diet/wellness
• History/biography
• Humor
• Memoir
• Pop culture
• Self-help/relationships
• Science
• Spiritual/inspirational/religious
• Sports
• Women’s issues

He will consider previously self-published work but only for demonstrated sales of 5,000 copies or more. 

Reagan works with authors directly as well as through literary agents.

Reagan’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Matt Rusin, Assistant Editor, Tor Publishing Group/Macmillan Publishers – In-person at hotel

https://www.tor.com/

Matt Rusin is an Assistant Editor at Tor Publishing Group where he has worked for over four years. Building a list in commercial and upmarket science fiction and fantasy, his tastes include climate fiction, contemporary fantasy, light sci-fi, and tragicomedies. Authors he has worked with include Moses Ose Utomi, Seanan McGuire, Ray Nayler, and many more.

Matt is especially moved by stories that feature setting as character (though no evil spaceships, please!) Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer is a great example. He is looking for strong character work laid on top of rich worldbuilding and stories that reflect on real-world issues without feeling transparently allegorical. He will read all subgenres of fantasy but is extremely picky about science fiction. In sci-fi, the rule of thumb is he cares about characters not the tech. He is particularly averse to abbreviations of normal objects in sci-fi, such as “binocs” for “binoculars.”

Matt loves bildungsromans if they are strictly adult and not YA. Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward is an apt example. He is also interested in writing styles that let him care about a character even if that character is flawed and makes bad decisions. Bonus points if the author can walk the tragicomedy line and keep the reader at just enough distance to not be devastated by a character’s failure nor fully celebratory of their success.

He is seeking the following fiction genres:

• Coming-of-age
• Contemporary
• Fantasy
• Historical
• Horror/Supernatural
• Literary
• Mainstream/Commercial (incl. magical realism)
• Science fiction
• Speculative fiction/myths & fairy tales
• Sports
• Upmarket commercial/Book club

He is NOT looking for the following: extremely gory horror, horror that features Stockholm Syndrome/brainwashing, tech heavy sci-fi, erotica, non-fiction, short story collections, psychological thrillers (action thrillers are A-OK!), women’s fiction, or YA.

Finally, he has two dream books: a contemporary fantasy that prominently features baseball and a speculative prose poem.

Matt will consider both self-published and unpublished work.

He works directly with authors and also with agents.

Matt’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Sarah Schlick, Assistant Editor, Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster – In-person at hotel
https://www.simonandschuster.com/

Sarah Schlick is an assistant editor based in New York City at Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster), where she has worked with such notable authors as Stephen King, Patrick Stewart, Kelly Bishop, J.R. Ward, Marjan Kamali, and others. A graduate of Yale University with Distinction in English, she worked for several years in art conservation for both of Yale’s art museums and as a research associate for the university’s Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage. She has also worked with NYC literary nonprofit House of SpeakEasy, two literary agencies, and Artists Writers & Artisans (a graphic novel publisher/multimedia entertainment studio). In addition to her editorial work, she is a freelance artist/illustrator, with a new book cover illustration forthcoming on a memoir from Gallery Books/Scout Press in early April 2024. Her portfolio is available online at www.sarahschlick.com.

Sarah enjoys reading widely across genres and is always on the lookout for gorgeous writing, conversation-starting ideas, and an unforgettable voice. She loves novels written with fresh, poetic language that finds magic in the ordinary, and anything that weaves in historical or magical elements in an unusual and elevated way.

Sarah is seeking to acquire in the following fiction genres:

• Literary fiction
• Upmarket commercial/book club
• Women’s fiction
• Historical fiction
• Romance
• Contemporary
• Family saga/drama
• Speculative fiction/myths & fairy tales
• Coming-of-age
• Short story collection

In nonfiction, Sarah is seeking:

• Memoir
• Humor
• Essay collection
• Narrative nonfiction
• Art history/Arts-related titles
• Pop culture

Sarah is NOT looking for:

• Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Crime
• Sci-fi
• Horror
• Sports
• Politics
• Christian/Religious
• Business/Law
• Psychology

Sarah will consider strong (and ideally well-platformed) previously published work but prefers unpublished manuscripts.

Because Sarah prefers working with an agent rather than working directly with the author at acquisition, she will be happy to give agent and agency recommendations to any writer whose manuscript she’s interested in acquiring.

Sarah’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Kathy Schneider, Agent, Jane Rotrosen Agency – In-person at hotel

https://www.janerotrosen.com/

Kathy Schneider is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency (since 2017). She has over three decades of experience in publishing, starting as an independent bookstore manager in Princeton, N.J. She has worked in senior roles at Random House, Miramax Books, and HarperCollins as SVP Associate Publisher, where in her publishing role, she worked with authors such as Anne Patchett, Madeleine Albright, Louise Erdrich, Barbara Kingsolver, Mary Karr, Anderson Cooper, and Harper Lee.

Kathy’s fiction list includes Flannery O’Connor Award and Pushcart Prize-winner, Karin Lin-Greenberg’s You Are Here (Counterpoint 2023) mystery writer Kate White (Harper), River Adams, The Light of Seven Days (Delphinium 2023). In non-fiction her projects and clients include Shannon Watts, founder of Mom’s Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and author of Fight Like a Mother (HarperOne 2019), Barbara Butcher, author of What the Dead Know: Learning About Life as a New York City Death Investigator (S&S 2023), Jessica Baum LMHC, author of Anxiously Attached (TarcherPerigee 2022), Julie Wainwright, founder of The RealReal, indie-rocker and activist Courtney Barnett, New Yorker cartoonist Lila Ash, author of Decopdepenence (Chronicle 2023), Wall Street Journal business author Kindra Hall (Stories that Stick, HarperLeadership 2019), child development specialist and social media influencer, Dr. Siggie Cohen, and many more.

Areas of Interest                                                                                                       

FICTION: Kathy is interested in well-written accessible debut fiction, upmarket contemporary fiction with memorable characters and storylines that touch on conversation-making issues; accessible literary fiction with propulsive genre qualities, uplifting, emotionally charged stories, magical realism, literary suspense, fast-paced, atmospheric domestic thrillers with surprising twists, and gothic horror. Her favorite writers have a clear, unique voice, propulsive story, and emotionally affecting characters. She loves a novel that she can describe in a short sentence that totally hooks the reader.

Fiction genres of interest:

• Suspense
• Thriller
• Upmarket commercial/Book club
• Women’s fiction
• Literary
• Historical
• Mainstream/Commercial (incl. magical realism)
• Mystery/Crime
• Gothic Horror
• Southern

Kathy does NOT represent romance, sci-fi, straight fantasy, young adult, children’s, espionage, spy thrillers, gang, drug or mafia themes, and extremely dark themes involving illness or childhood abuse.

NON-FICTION: Kathy represents many female writers with strong, unique, empowering messages. She is looking for diverse voices, work that is highly researched, reported stories, narrative that reads like fiction, and authors with solid and growing platforms that relate directly to their book.

Nonfiction categories of interest:

• Business/leadership
• Self-help/relationships
• Spiritual/inspirational
• Women’s issues
• Current events/politics/social
• Health/diet/wellness
• History/biography
• Humor
• Cooking/food/cookbooks
• True crime
• Narrative nonfiction/Journalism
• Pop culture

Kathy is currently NOT considering memoir, business, or wellness if the author does not have a significant platform, nor essay collections.

She can only consider unpublished manuscripts.

Kathy’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Taz Urnov, Associate Editor, Soho Crime & Soho Press – In-person at hotel

https://sohopress.com/

Taz Urnov {they/them, she/her} is an associate editor at New York City-based independent publisher Soho Press, acquiring adult crime and horror fiction for the imprints Soho Crime and Hell’s Hundred. Taz started at Soho in 2021, following work in translation, linguistics, and education. At Soho, they have worked with first-time authors and seasoned masters of their craft alike, handling manuscripts at every imaginable stage of the process. Raised in California and Texas, Taz is fluent in Russian and French, poorly plays the bass, and loves potatoing on the couch with their Cavapoo.

Taz is seeking the following in fiction:

• ADULT MYSTERY/CRIME/THRILLER: private detective/investigator, traditional, locked room, whodunit, whydunit, international, historical, humorous, literary, heist, amateur sleuth, noir, LGBTQ+, and series.
• ADULT HORROR: body horror, literary, psychological, power dynamics, humorous, feminist, gore, grounded, meta, satire, LGBTQ+, aliens.

Taz is NOT a great fit for:

Cozies, police MCs, or science fiction/fantasy/speculative crime/mystery/thrillers.
Also, please no vampires or fantasy/myths/fairytales (unless it’s Bluebeard).

Taz does NOT want to see at all:

• World War II narratives
• Sex trafficking narratives
• Young adult fiction
• Any nonfiction

They can only consider unpublished manuscripts.

If an author has an agent, Soho Press prefers to work towards acquisition with the agent, but they acquire plenty of unagented work as well.

Taz’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Pam Van Dyk, Managing Editor, Regal House Publishing – In-person at hotel

https://regalhousepublishing.com/

Pam Van Dyk is the managing editor at Regal House Publishing (Foreword Reviews 2021 Independent Publisher of the Year). She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University and a PhD in Education Research from North Carolina State University.

She is currently acquiring the following fiction genres:

• Contemporary
• Literary
• Southern
• Upmarket commercial/Book club

While Pam doesn’t require trigger warnings in queries, if the content includes violence to animals or people, she likes to be forewarned. And if the violence is gratuitous, she is probably not the best editor for that work.

Pam will not consider previously published works (self or otherwise).

She accepts both agented and un-agented submissions.

Pam’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Jess Verdi, Senior Editor, Alcove Press & Crooked Lane Books – In-person at hotel

https://alcovepress.com/

Jess Verdi joined Alcove Press and Crooked Lane Books as Senior Editor in 2022, after well over a decade in commercial fiction and romance editorial, including six years at Simon & Schuster. An author herself, Jess has a 360-degree view of the publishing industry, and enjoys working with authors to bring exciting, thought-provoking, and heartstring-tugging stories to the world.

For her Alcove list, she’s especially drawn to laugh-out-loud and swoony commercial rom-coms, romantasy with a strong hook, stories exploring gender and sexuality in fresh ways, and novels featuring complex family and/or racial dynamics.

For Crooked Lane, she’s always looking for feminist and progressive thrillers and suspense—edgy and sexy are great but nothing too dark or gory, please.

Overall, here are the fiction genres she is seeking:

• Contemporary
• Family saga/drama
• Fantasy (no high fantasy, but “romantasy” is good)
• Historical
• Humor
• LGBTQ+
• Mainstream/Commercial (incl. magical realism)
• Mystery/Crime (feminist themes in particular)
• Romance
• Southern
• Speculative fiction/myths & fairy tales
• Sports (romance)
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Upmarket commercial/Book club
• Women’s fiction

Throughout her career, it has been of the utmost importance to Jess to work with BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other historically marginalized voices to bring their work to the publishing landscape—and this remains truer than ever! Jess would love to see projects ideal for fans of Abby Jimenez, Kiley Reid, Tia Williams, Alexis Hall, Mia Sosa, and Lev AC Rosen.

Within any genre, Jess is NOT currently seeking stories about parents mourning the deaths of children.

While Jess has a strong preference for unpublished manuscripts, she would be open to previously self-published work by authors with strong platforms/social media followings.

She accepts both agented and un-agented submissions.

Jess’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

Terrie Wolf, Literary Agent & Rights Manager, AKA Literary Management – In-person at hotel

https://akalm.net/

Terrie Wolf founded AKA (Also Known As) Literary Management (AKALM) in 2009 after decades of interaction with authors, musicians, and dignitaries in the arenas of publishing, international media, and large-scale events. A full member of AALA, she received the 2021 ACFW Agent of the Year Award, was named a “Top 20 of 2020 Agent” by Writer’s Digest and has sold rights in over forty countries and thirty languages.

A few of Terrie’s recent domestic and international projects include BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR by J.D. Barker (Hampton Creek Press/Simon & Schuster), REZ BALL by Byron Graves (HarperCollins/Heartdrum), the first four titles of THE MANIPULATOR SERIES by Dan Buzzetta (Severn River Publishing), The Timber Creek K-9 Mystery series by Margaret Mizushima (Crooked Lane Books), COLOR YOUR MIND by Maria Shriver (Blue Star Press), and Scott K. Edinger’s THE GROWTH LEADER: Strategies to Drive the Top and Bottom Lines (Fast Company Press).

In fiction, Terrie is seeking the following:

• Children’s picture/chapter books
• Christian
• Contemporary
• Family saga/drama
• Historical
• LGBTQ+
• Mainstream/Commercial (incl. magical realism)
• Middle Grade
• Mystery/Crime
• Romance
• Southern, Regional, and Western
• Sports
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Upmarket commercial/Book club
• Women’s fiction
• Young Adult

Nonfiction topics Terrie is seeking include:

• Business/leadership/law
• Cooking/food/cookbooks
• Health/diet/wellness
• History/biography
• Humor
• Memoir (well-known, celebrity)
• Narrative nonfiction/Journalism
• Pop culture
• Spiritual/inspirational/religious (Inspirational and faith over religious)
• Sports (including sport animals, working dogs, equine, etc.)

Adult titles that positively intrigue, enthrall, and impact, regardless of genre, and book clubby works filled with memorable characters, universal themes, and discussion-worthy concepts are at the top of Terrie’s wish list, along with outstanding crime (mystery, suspense, and thriller), historical, inspirational and women’s fiction. In nonfiction, Terrie seeks works that shine with an internal message of obtainable and relatable inspiration for readers across the globe, no matter the subject.

For children’s works, Terrie adores fun, non-confrontational, read-it-again picture books where words and illustrations dance. For middle grade, it’s all about capers, mysteries, adventure, and socially conscious works that encourage curious minds. Older middle grade and young adult works often appeal to her when they involve compassionate significance, self-realization, authentic honesty, and the occasional mystery.

She will not consider previously published works (self or otherwise).

Terrie’s manuscript sample critique and pitch spots are full, but waitlists are available.

 

Questions?

Please contact George Weinstein at awconference@gmail.com.

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