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Philadelphia Stories Inc

Philadelphia Stories Inc fosters a vibrant literary community by providing a platform for local writers to share their work, engage with readers, and promote the importance of storytelling in enriching lives and communities.

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Maureen Wise is a Junior Literary Agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.metamorphosisliteraryagency.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Metamorphosis Literary Agency</a>. She&#39;s worked in the sustainability/ environmental field her entire career and is looking for climate fiction and mystery books. She writes eco-mysteries under the pen name Iris March. Wise lives in a Cleveland suburb with her husband, son, and three cats. She&#39;s happiest on a hiking trail or in a kayak. &nbsp; SEEKING: Maureen is seeking climate fiction and mystery books.

September 2026 Pitch Fest - Maureen Wise Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Danai Christopoulou is an associate literary agent with <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.thetobiasagency.com/danai-christopoulou" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">The Tobias Literary Agency</a>. After a long career as a journalist and copyeditor (their articles have featured in magazines such as Glamour, House &amp; Garden and Marie Claire since 2004), Danai pivoted into writing and editing fiction, which helped them identify their passion for championing authors and their stories. A Pushcart Prize-nominated and BSFA-longlisted author, Danai began their internship at The Tobias Literary Agency in 2023, and worked closely with Lane Heymont as his assistant for two years, before being promoted to associate literary agent. Danai loves speculative fiction of all flavors, from horror and thriller to sci-fi, fantasy and romance. They focus mostly on adult fiction, but are interested in Young Adult fiction with crossover appeal, particularly from BIPOC, queer, neurodivergent and other traditionally marginalized groups. SEEKING: Witty horror with a social commentary, crime and romance with a speculative twist, fantasy and science fiction that feels grounded, funny and fresh. Genre mash-ups are always welcome! Danai is NOT seeking Middle Grade and anything younger, non-fiction, crime or romance without a speculative element, military SFF, women&#39;s fiction or historical without a speculative element.

September 2026 Pitch Fest - Danai Christopoulou Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. *Amelia Theriault-Brown is available 12:00pm &ndash; 3:00pm EST.&nbsp; Amelia Theriault-Brown has been with the <a fr-original-style="" href="https://lg-la.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Laura Gross Literary Agency</a> since 2023, first as a foreign rights director and, since 2026, as an agent. A lifelong Bostonian, Amelia studied psychology and worked in several research labs before pursuing an MFA in fiction at Bennington College and beginning her publishing career at Charlesbridge, an independent children&rsquo;s publisher in Watertown, MA. SEEKING:&nbsp;Amelia is looking for literary and upmarket fiction, and narrative non-fiction. Across all of these, Amelia is most drawn to books with an obsessive bent. Her ideal fiction skews voicey and strange, with an indelible sense of place, written by someone who spends an unreasonable amount of time revising at the line level. She likes speculative and dark, but prefers the weird, surreal and uncanny over horror. In narrative non-fiction, she is looking for writers who celebrate or investigate the overlooked and the difficult-to-categorize, and anything to do with the natural world. Having worked in psychology and neuroscience labs, she has interest in that field&mdash;contemporary developments and the history of the science&mdash;but she has a high bar, and a low tolerance for pop psychology. She got her start in children&rsquo;s publishing and is always happy to read picture book and middle grade submissions, preferably off-beat and contemporary fiction or non-fiction about things as wild and strange as kids are. Across all categories and genres, Amelia is looking to amplify underrepresented voices, and whatever stories they want to tell. *Amelia Theriault-Brown will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning September 13.

September 2026 Pitch Fest - Amelia Theriault-Brown Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Ava Lauren Grayson is a literary agent based in Los Angeles who joined <a fr-original-style="" href="https://lowensteinassociates.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Lowenstein Associates&nbsp;</a>in 2026. She was previously an editor at Quill and Flame Publishing House for several years, following an internship supporting the literary department at Echo Lake Entertainment. Ava is a modern romantic with a taste for all things magical and dramatic. She is passionate about reading romantic yearning, empowering female heroines, and coming-of-age stories, and is actively building her list in the literary fiction, horror, romantasy, gothic, YA, genre-blends, romance, fantasy, and narrative nonfiction spaces. Ava reads widely and is willing to consider projects in any genre as long as the writing is compelling and immersive. She is seeking debut authors, own stories, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ stories. She is partial to Romantasy and YA.&nbsp; SEEKING: I am seeking YA, NA, and adult fiction and non-fiction in all genres. My favorites include horror, fantasy, thrillers, and crime.

September 2026 Pitch Fest - Ava Grayson Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Tali is a literary agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.stormliteraryagency.com/tali-shammas.html" id="isPasted" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Storm Literary Agency</a>. She grew up devouring books by flashlight long past her bedtime. After several years practicing corporate law, she returned to her childhood love: books. With her legal knowledge and skills in client advocacy and contract negotiation, she looks forward to building a diverse client list. Tali is looking to work with clients over the span of their careers and is not afraid of a writer who wants to explore multiple genres. She is an editorial agent who loves to sink her teeth into a great manuscript and work with the writer to make the story shine. Tali is a champion for underrepresented voices, and she gives back by offering mentorship to up-and-coming writers and running workshops on legal issues writers should consider. She also co-hosts a literary podcast called The Prose Pros. Tali lives with her husband, two children, and a very spoiled (and handicapable) cockapoo with wheels.&nbsp; SEEKING:&nbsp;Tali is looking for adult fiction, young adult, middle grade, and nonfiction. She is drawn to commercial hooks, lyrical writing, and voicey characters who jump off the page and pull you in. She loves books that explore underrepresented folk stories and mythologies. Similarly, she is interested in non-Western settings. In fantasy, she adores a unique magic system. She is also a big fan of books about books. Across all genres and age groups, she would love to see projects from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, neurodiverse, and chronically ill communities. For more details, see her manuscript wishlist: <a fr-original-style="" href="https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/tali-shammas/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/tali-shammas/</a>.

September 2026 Pitch Fest - Tali Shammas Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Jess Taylor is a Literary Manager at&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.martinlit.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Martin-Newens Literary Management</a>. Jess discovered her passion for publishing when she crafted her first book pitch for a high school research project. After falling in love with persuading others to read the stories she adored, she earned her BFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she also completed the publishing certificate program. She spent six years acquiring children&#39;s books, YA, nonfiction, and fiction for a Virginia-based publisher before opening an online bookstore dedicated to her first love: young adult literature. Jess finds great joy in getting books into readers&#39; hands and loves working with authors from all publishing backgrounds. She champions books with diverse characters and settings and is currently building her list in the following genres: &nbsp; SEEKING: Jess is seeking Young Adult, New Adult Romance, and Romance. To see Jess&rsquo;s listing on #MSWL, click here: <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/jess-taylor/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/jess-taylor/</a>. Jess is currently NOT accepting the following: <ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Adult fiction in any genre aside from the romance subgenres listed&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Nonfiction</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Middle Grade&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Faith-Based&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Books over 150k words</li></ul> *Jess Taylor will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning September 13.

September 2026 Pitch Fest - Jess Taylor Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Phoebe Schmidt joined <a fr-original-style="" href="https://brittsiesscreative.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">BSCM</a> after working as an independent scout and a book-to-film agent at Paradigm Talent Agency. She works primarily with upmarket science fiction and fantasy. She is a hands on agent with a developmental approach, and loves projects that turn everyday life upside down.&nbsp; SEEKING: Phoebe is actively growing her list, and has a particular interest in Sci-Fi and Fantasy. She&rsquo;s always interested in stories by queer and BIPOC authors, and she&rsquo;s excited to help writers develop their projects in a way that feels most authentic to each of them. This is what&rsquo;s currently at the top of her wish list:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Science Fiction grounded in reality &ndash; stories that either warp aspects of everyday life, or explore everyday life in a new world</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">21st century Magical Realism/Fabulism</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Sci-Fi and Fantasy blended with elements from other genres like mysteries, romances, etc. Urban Fantasies, Sci-Fi legal dramas, and other creative crossovers are VERY welcome!</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Stories with unusual narrators or perspectives</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Expertise; a thorough understanding of the crafts, trades and technologies involved in the plot</li></ul>She is not a good fit for:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Extremely high Sci-Fi/Fantasy with massive worlds, in the vein of DUNE or A GAME OF THRONES</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Aesthetic over plot</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Talking down to the reader</li></ul>For more details, visit <a fr-original-style="" href="https://brittsiesscreative.com/submissions/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://brittsiesscreative.com/submissions/</a>.

September 2026 Pitch Fest - Phoebe Schmidt Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Ellen Scordato is a partner in <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.stonesong.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Stonesong</a> with more than 35 years&rsquo; experience in trade book publishing. She started at St Martin&#39;s Press, then Charles Scribner&rsquo;s Sons and Random House, where she learned from some of the best in the business. She joined Stonesong as a partner in 2002, initially specializingin four-color and packaged titles. After 20 years she returned to her first, best love, genre fiction, and currently represents Jennifer Williamson, S. K. Golden, Victor Sulhammont, Elena Hartwell [Taylor], and Alex Myers, among others. A Wellesley College graduate with a B.A. in Classics and Art History, she lives in Manhattan with a husband and a couple of literary cats. SEEKING:&nbsp;Ellen is looking for fast-paced contemporary mysteries and thrillers with charismatic protagonists and fresh settings with the potential for series. &nbsp;She&rsquo;s a fan of dark academia, hard-boiled heroines, and clever police procedurals for today&#39;s readers, but she&#39;s not looking for cozy mysteries, horror, or comedy. She&rsquo;ll read submissions set in the literary world, but if it&rsquo;s in a tried-and-true setting (writing conference, bookstore, etc.), she&rsquo;d like to see something innovative or an unexpected twist.&nbsp; *Ellen Scordato will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning September 13.

September 2026 Pitch Fest - Ellen Scordato Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Lydia Caudill is an agent with <a fr-original-style="" href="https://andreahurst.com/literary-agency/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Andrea Hurst Literary Management</a>. She started asan editorial intern in 2022 before quickly transitioning into a literary scout and editorial assistant. Now sporting the agent hat, Lydia is excited to build a diverse client list of her own and partner with authors to craft and share meaningful stories that leave a lasting impact on readers. Although currently residing in Raleigh, NC&mdash;Lydia is proud of her Appalachian roots and calls a small town in Eastern Kentucky home, where her grandmother fostered her passion for reading at a young age. She is a graduate of NC State University, where she earned her B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. When she&rsquo;s not editing or reviewing submissions, you can find Lydia supporting live music, stamping her national parks passport, or spending quality time with her much-beloved hound dog, Rocky. SEEKING: Lydia is looking for the following in Fiction (primarily in the Adult and New Adult spaces at this time): Commercial, Contemporary, Domestic Suspense, Dystopian, Historical Romance, Horror, LGBTQ+, Mythic Retellings (folklore, fairy tales, etc.), Romance, Romantasy, Science Fiction (light and cozy only), and Supernatural/Paranormal. For more information on her manuscript wishlist, visit <a fr-original-style="" href="https://andreahurst.com/literary-agency/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://andreahurst.com/literary-agency/</a>.

September 2026 Pitch Fest - Lydia Caudill Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Erika Staiger re-joined <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.spencerhillassociates.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Spencerhill</a> as an assistant in 2024, following a semester-long internship in 2018. She holds an MFA in Fiction from the University of South Florida, where she also taught creative writing and worked as a writing tutor. After graduation, she worked in higher education at the University of Central Florida and as a trivia writer for Rez Events. Her greatest ambition in life is to turn her house into the library from Beauty and the Beast. She lives in Orlando with her husband and bowling-ball shaped cat.&nbsp;&nbsp; SEEKING: Erika is seeking a variety of commercial fiction for adults, especially romance, romantasty, fantasy, horror, thriller, and dystopian. She is also open to select science fiction projects (but if only if the aliens are hot), as well as select historical fiction projects focused on female or LGBT+ protagonists. Erika is not a good fit for middle grade, international thrillers reminiscent of Jason Bourne, or anything intended for the Christian market. Writers querying Erika are welcome to kill off any and all of their human characters, but if their work features a dog or a cat, they have to live happily ever after.&nbsp;

September 2026 Pitch Fest - Erika Staiger Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Rebecca Lommers is a literary agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.katiereedlit.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Katie Reed Literary</a>. Rebecca graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor&rsquo;s in English: Creative Writing, a Music Minor, and an Editing and Publishing Certificate. She is currently attending graduate school at Eastern Washington University to receive an MFA in Fiction. She has loved books ever since she learned how to read, and she always dreamed of reading books before they were published. She is incredibly excited to work with authors to help them achieve their writing dreams. She interned with Katie Reed for two years before being promoted to junior agent.&nbsp; SEEKING: Here are the types of work I am seeking. <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.katiereedlit.com/new-page" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Here</a> is a link to my full Manuscript Wishlist:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">All YA</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Middle Grade Fantasy</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Dystopian</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">General Fiction/Upmarket/Literary</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Romance&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Sci-Fi</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Horror</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Historical Fiction</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mystery/Thriller (mostly Cozy)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Graphic Novels (must already be illustrated)</li></ul>What I DO NOT&nbsp;represent:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Non-Fiction</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Adult Romantasy and Fantasy</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Anything Middle Grade (except fantasy)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Children&rsquo;s books</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Mystery/Thrillers that are overly dark and are not cozy</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Overly dark horror with graphic or inappropriate content</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Erotica</li></ul>

September 2026 Pitch Fest - Rebecca Lommers Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Nina Richner is an agent representing adult fiction and narrative nonfiction. They joined <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.morhaimliterary.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">HMLA</a> in 2023 after earning their BA in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Ohio University in 2020 and graduating from the Summer 2023 Columbia Publishing Course. SEEKING:&nbsp;Nina is interested in literary fiction, horror/thriller/ contemporary fiction, queer fiction, and magical realism. They are especially interested in unlikeable characters and family sagas. Weird and off-kilter stories are of perennial interest to them. For nonfiction, they are most interested in memoirs and essay collections on the topics of climate and gender/queer studies. *Nina Richner will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning September 13.

September 2026 Pitch Fest - Nina Richner Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Gabrielle Harbowy is a Literary Agent with <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.corvisieroagency.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Corvisiero Literary Agency</a>. Gabrielle has more than 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, from her entry into the field as a pricing analyst at Scholastic, to becoming a full-time freelance editor and part-time writer. She was Managing Editor at Dragon Moon Press for a decade, has worked with award-winners and international bestsellers, and is passionate about elevating the authors around her. A three-time published novelist, short story author, and award-nominated anthologist, Gabrielle loves speaking, giving workshops, and running D&amp;D games at numerous conventions.&nbsp; SEEKING:&nbsp;Gabrielle is seeking science fiction, fantasy, paranormal mysteries, queer romance, and genre-bending speculative fiction. She loves reading diverse books, characters that come alive and immersive worlds, and tropes turned on their heads. She would like to see queerness, neurodiversity, and disability represented and normalized, both in the world and on the page. Her passions include music, travel, tabletop roleplaying games, crocheting and needlepoint, tattoo art, everything Finnish (except lutefisk), outer space, and the Oxford comma. See Gabrielle&#39;s full wishlist <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.corvisieroagency.com/gabrielle-harbowy.html" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">here</a>.

September 2026 Pitch Fest - Gabrielle Harbowy Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Audrey Clare Farley is a literary agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.hyponymous.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Hyponymous Literary</a>. Audrey is an author, editor, and literary scholar. After earning a PhD in English literature, she turned to creative nonfiction, writing The Unfit Heiress and Girls and Their Monsters. The latter won the Michigan Notable Book award and was named a New York Times Editors&rsquo; Pick. Farley currently teaches part-time at Mount St. Mary&rsquo;s University and leads creative writing workshops for Narratively Academy, where she has helped many authors to develop book ideas. SEEKING: She is currently acquiring nonfiction for Hyponymous Literary. She is most interested in hybrid memoir, essays, religion, philosophy, and cultural criticism. She&#39;s especially drawn to projects that disarm the reader&ndash;that ask the reader to let go of certainties and look at the world anew. *Audrey Clare Farley will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning June 7.

June 2026 Pitch Fest - Audrey Clare Farley Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. An Arkansas Native, Marrissa has come a long way in her journey into publishing. She doubled majored in professional writing and creative writing at the University of Central Arkansas. Since she has obtained her MFA in Creative writing at Chapman University in California, she has dedicated herself, wholeheartedly, to publishing through leading her literary innovation team, JourneyWriter, in their path to healing the literacy crisis. She is also a member of the New York non-profit, Inkluded Inc.- assisting them with introducing young BiPOCs publishing professionals to the industry. She has also had the opportunity to work with Publisher&rsquo;s Weekly as a writer and Booklife extern. She is now entering her path to agenting with <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.ladderbird.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Ladderbird Literary Agency</a> with a clean slate, but experienced mind. Marrissa is a reader that values detailed narratives, intelligent and cool characters, lessons learned, and family gained in unlikely places. When Marrissa is not reading you can find her drinking sweet iced tea, eating pasta, and watching the latest foreign drama.&nbsp; SEEKING: I am currently interested in accepting Adult, New Adult fiction, and Craft/Homemaking.&nbsp; I DO NOT accept Picture Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult, legal, mystery/spy thrillers, paranormal, religious, hyper-sexual, or dark romance.&nbsp;For more wishlist information, visit <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.ladderbird.com/marrissa-childs" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.ladderbird.com/marrissa-childs</a>. *Marrissa Childs will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning June 7.

June 2026 Pitch Fest - Marrissa Childs Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Olivia Emerick is a Literary Assistant at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.metamorphosisliteraryagency.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Metamorphosis Literary Agency</a>. A Boston College graduate with a B.A in English and Classics, she has always had her nose in a book. Her experience working at literary magazines and participating in the behind-the-scenes work of theatre productions has led Olivia to believe in collaboration, communication, and stories that speak to the human soul. As a writer herself, Olivia is passionate about advancing authors&#39; careers while respecting their artistic visions. When she is not working or cozied up with a book, she enjoys writing poetry and attending local theatre productions. SEEKING:&nbsp;Olivia is looking to represent commercial fiction for young adult and adult audiences in the romance, fantasy, mythology, dark academia, horror, thriller, and dystopian genres. *Olivia Emerick will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning June 7.

June 2026 Pitch Fest - Olivia Emerick Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Delila is a Publishing Agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://vervetla.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Verve Talent &amp; Literary Agency</a> based in NYC, where she represents debut authors and multi-hyphenate creatives in fiction and select nonfiction. She is actively building her list and has worked with writers including Amanda Mortlock, AC Robinson, Skylar Harrison, Elizabeth Rose Quinn, and Kayla Hardy. SEEKING: She&rsquo;s drawn to literary and upmarket fiction with a singular voice and a compelling premise, though she remains genre-agnostic. She gravitates toward bold female and queer perspectives, and especially loves work that is quirky, funny, stylish, tonally confident, and thematically complex. She&rsquo;s looking for smart, contemporary suspense with a fresh and literary POV; sweeping love stories with an edge; and grounded high-concept narratives with mythic or occult elements. She has a soft spot for literary horror (cults, obsession, intense relationships), queer reimaginings of mythology or religious institutions (including nunhood), atmospheric gothic mysteries, and stories rooted in insular worlds (restaurant culture included). Writers she admires include Lily King, Heather O&rsquo;Neill, Yael van der Wouden, Jen Beagin, Ottessa Moshfegh, Madeline Miller, Sophie Mackintosh, Liz Moore, Gabrielle Zevin, and Taylor Jenkins Reid. In nonfiction, she&rsquo;s seeking narrative work with humor and a sharp, provocative lens focused on girlhood and the body, subcultures, the inexplicable, niche worlds/professions, and behind-the-scenes perspectives. *Delila Keravuori will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning June 7.

June 2026 Pitch Fest - Delila Keravuori Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Jillian graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, CT with a BS in Mathematics. After working for years in Finance at a consulting firm in Boston, Jillian realized her passion did not lie within excel sheets, and she set off to pursue a new dream. She moved to New York City to attend NYU and obtained her MS in Publishing: Digital and Print Media. Her first role in publishing was as an intern for HG Literary in 2023. She also provided contract work for Gina Protano of GGP Publishing (whom she met by chance in Barnes &amp; Noble). Upon graduating NYU, she returned full time to <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.hgliterary.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">HG Literary</a> as an assistant to Josh Getzler. SEEKING: Jillian loves a novel that is going to make her feel deeply, whether that is devastating sorrow or profound joy. She is primarily looking for adult fiction and is specifically interested in thrillers, particularly anything psychological (or anything with a shocking twist!) with page turning suspense. She is also drawn to rich historical fiction set against the backdrop of war. She also loves any book that includes representation of mental illness and is not afraid of novels that include darker, more challenging themes. She is open to novels that skew literary and upmarket, as well as anything Book Club. For YA, Jillian is only considering YA romance at this time. Jillian is not looking for middle grade, picture books, religious books, fantasy/romantasy, or horror at this time. *Jillian Schelzi will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning June 7.

June 2026 Pitch Fest - Jillian Schelzi Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Gemma Paynter is an associate agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.psliterary.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">PSLA</a>. She holds a BA in Philosophy and a postgrad in Publishing. After over a decade working in marketing and strategy, she moved into publishing with Harlequin, working across both trade and category romance. She brings an instinct for audience development, emerging trends, and the cultural undercurrents that shape what resonates, often before it fully breaks through. SEEKING: Gemma is actively acquiring adult fiction and non-fiction that subvert expectations. In non-fiction, she is drawn to narrative projects that bring niche subjects to a wide readership, particularly those that blend memoir with expertise. Her interests include pop culture, pop science, fashion, design, literary commentary, and the history of subcultures and counterculture. In fiction, she loves immersive atmosphere, sharp observation, twisty storytelling, and offbeat wit. She is especially interested in folktale-inspired horror and fantasy, gothic mystery and romance, fantasies featuring mundane magic, puzzle-driven mysteries, and cozy stories that feel hopeful yet grounded, like a Studio Ghibli movie. She has a soft spot for &ldquo;weird girl&rdquo; literary fiction, unreliable narrators, and true rom-coms &mdash; make her laugh! She is drawn to work that takes an irreverent, witty approach to the macabre and is always on the lookout for projects that capture the strange, uncanny magic of Twin Peaks. Her full wish list can be found here - <a fr-original-style="" href="https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/gemma-paynter/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/gemma-paynter/</a>. *Gemma Paynter will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning June 7.

June 2026 Pitch Fest - Gemma Paynter Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Natalie grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia reading as many fantastical adventures she could get her hands on. After a myriad of publishing internships and graduating from New York University with a major in English and a minor in psychology, she joined <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.hgliterary.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">HG Literary</a> to assist Carrie Hannigan. She has worked with many of the agency&rsquo;s clients across a number of genres, and is now building her own list. For information on her favorite books, visit <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.hgliterary.com/natalie" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.hgliterary.com/natalie</a>. SEEKING:&nbsp;Natalie is primarily interested in fantasy of all kinds, but will read almost any genre of fiction. She loves found family, original magic systems (particularly those that utilize aspects from underrepresented cultures), complex dynamics, retellings (especially fairytales and Greek mythology), and romance. She&rsquo;s a sucker for any well-executed trope and loves animal companions (that don&rsquo;t talk). In adult and YA, Natalie is looking for fantasy and romance with compelling characters and strong worldbuilding. She selectively represents science fiction, thriller, and mystery. For middle grade, she loves anything that can make her laugh. Fantasy is preferred, but she is open to any genre. Natalie is very selective about picture books, but gravitates toward ones that tug on her heartstrings. She is not&nbsp;looking for religious books, literary fiction, nonfiction, horror, or graphic novels. *Natalie Sun will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning June 7.

June 2026 Pitch Fest - Natalie Sun Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Ren&eacute; J. Kooiker joined <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.dystel.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">DG&amp;B</a> as Digital Coordinator and Junior Literary Agent in 2026, following stints in book-to-screen scouting, magazine editing, and academia. He consulted on new fiction for major book-to-screen clients in Hollywood and was Assistant Editor at The Yale Review. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Yale University and a B.A. in French and English from Amherst College. Having grown up in the Netherlands, he also lived and studied abroad in Avignon and Paris, France. SEEKING: Ren&eacute; is actively building his list, balancing fiction with non-fiction. In fiction, he&rsquo;s drawn to high-concept or speculative upmarket fiction, literary debuts, friend groups and family sagas, grounded love stories and romcoms, psychological thrillers, crime or noir, and elevated horror. Generally, he loves reading fiction that has potential to be adapted for the screen. For non-fiction, he will consider previously untold or marginalized histories, research-driven narrative, incisive or funny essay collections, and smart cultural criticism for a broad audience. *Ren&eacute; J. Kooiker will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning June 7.

June 2026 Pitch Fest - René J. Kooiker Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Kenna DeValor (they/them/theirs) is a literary agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.d4eoliteraryagency.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">D4EO Literary Agency</a>. Kenna is a queer and nonbinary literary agent, artist, and writer who aspires to bring representation and diversity to the literary world through the books they publish and the authors they represent. Kenna wants to partner with those who have a genuine passion for their stories and have words that &ldquo;sing&rdquo; off the page. Kenna is currently an MA/MFA graduate student at Wilkes University studying Creative Writing (Fiction and Arts Education). With 7+ years of publishing, literary arts education, social media, and marketing experience across the literary and nonprofit scopes, Kenna wants to advocate for authors, build an author-centric vision for author careers, and build a foundation on connection, trust, and genuine passion for storytelling and literary arts as a whole.&nbsp; SEEKING:&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; box-sizing: inherit;"><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">LGBTQIA+ Adult Fiction and YA (Horror, Fantasy, Romance)</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Strong FMC (Female Main Character) Fiction</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Poetry (Full-Size Collections - 80-120 pgs.)</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">YA (Romance, Horror, Folklore, Fantasy, LGBTQIA+)</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">&ldquo;Weird Girl Lit&rdquo;</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Adult Fiction: Horror, Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Dark Academia Fiction</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Fictional Sub-Genres: Romantasy, Dark Academia, Gothic Horror, Story Collections (Full-Length)</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Graphic Novels</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Creative Nonfiction: Punk Memoirs (akin to &ldquo;Crying in H Mart&rdquo; by Michelle Zauner &amp; &ldquo;I&rsquo;m Glad My Mom Died&rdquo; by Jennette McCurdy)</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">I wish to represent and uplift diverse and underrepresented voices in literature, such as LGBTQIA+, disabled, BIPOC, Latine, AAPI, and neurodivergent characters and voices.</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Loves: Enemies to Lovers, diverse characters and diverse representation, Secret Societies, Magic, Dragons, Stories that feel like a fever dream, Dark Academia &amp; School-Based settings, Vampires, Gothic undertones, folklore, mythology.</li></ul> For more wishlist information, visit <a fr-original-style="" href="https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/kenna-devalor/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/kenna-devalor/</a>. *Kenna DeValor will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning June 7.

June 2026 Pitch Fest - Kenna DeValor Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Madelyn Knecht is an Associate Literary Agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.stormliteraryagency.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Storm Literary Agency</a>. Madelyn is an editor, writer, and passionate reader from Texas whose hair changes color on a weekly basis. After falling in love with reading books that made her laugh and cry in equal measure, she started writing her first book at nine and never looked back. She serves as a RevPit board member, where she created the BIPOC Editor Mentorship, and a member of the EFA. When not reading or writing, you can find her playing cozy games, crocheting, or spending time with her two criminal Australian Shepherds and her lovable cat, Lucas.<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> SEEKING:&nbsp;Young Adult, Adult, and select Middle Grade in horror, fantasy, light scifi, LGBT+, and anything speculative and spooky. She is especially looking for novels with heart and masterfully-handled social and/or political commentary, and characters who pull you in until the very last page. <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.stormliteraryagency.com/madelyn-knecht.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Find more about her wishlist here.</a><p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> *Madelyn Knecht will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning June 7.

June 2026 Pitch Fest - Madelyn Knecht Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Paige is an artist and storyteller from Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada, who grew up climbing trees and playing make-believe. She recently completed her Honours BA in Creative Writing &amp; Publishing from Sheridan College and is actively building her list as an Associate Literary Agent with <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.thepurcellagency.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">The Purcell Agency</a>. SEEKING: Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult, Adult. Paige has a wide range of interests. Her primary focus is commercial genre fiction in thriller, horror, mystery/suspense, and westerns; however, urban fantasy, or other speculative fiction as well as the occasional contemporary or paranormal romance may also pique her interest. Paige considers herself a seasonal reader, so &lsquo;summer&rsquo; is also welcome&mdash;she&rsquo;ll let you be the judge of what the means, but beaches, boardwalks, and sunburns are encouraged. Paige would also love a contemporary novel in the vein of Arcadia by Tom Stoppard or an adventure reminiscent of the Uncharted video game series by Naughty Dog (or National Treasure). Additionally, she&rsquo;s a sucker for pirates and haunted/sinister amusement parks. She is NOT&nbsp;suited for picture books, memoirs, high/epic fantasy or sci-fi (no fairies or outer space, please), poetry, or faith-based works. You can check out her full <a fr-original-style="" href="https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/paige-broadbent/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">MSWL</a> to see examples of her favourite titles. *Paige Broadbent will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning June 7.

June 2026 Pitch Fest - Paige Broadbent Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Sheila Fernley is an Associate Literary Agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.stormliteraryagency.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Storm Literary Agency</a>. Sheila is a Mexican American editorial agent and children&rsquo;s book author, with her debut picture book to release fall 2026. As a former special education teacher and editor, Sheila advocates for diverse and inclusive authors and illustrators. She seeks clients who study their craft, who have a critique group and/or beta readers, and who are open to feedback and editorial guidance. Sheila is excited by fresh and compelling stories and structures, openings that make the reader wonder and compel them to dive into the story, and strong voices across categories and genres. SEEKING: Sheila is currently seeking authors and author/illustrators of board books through MG, fiction and nonfiction, although she will consider a great YA that feels fresh. She is especially interested in fiction and nonfiction manuscripts that include humor. Sheila is not a great fit for sports, horror, historical, health and wellness, military, and sci-fi (unless it has the feel of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir). She is also not the best fit for rhyming picture books. *Sheila Fernley will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning June 7.

June 2026 Pitch Fest - Sheila Fernley Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Wadzanai Mhute is literary agent and founder of <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.antsuliterary.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Antsu Literary Agency</a>. She founded the boutique agency with a vision to champion diverse voices and ensure that stories from all corners of the world find their place in the literary landscape. Wadzanai is also a writer, editor and book critic, and a recipient of the MacDowell Fellowship. She was a books editor at Oprah Daily and Oprah&rsquo;s Book Club, was also fiction editor at The Sunday Long Read and the Brooklyn Review. &nbsp;Her writing has appeared in several publications including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, People Magazine and The Washington Post among others. Wadzanai is currently serving as a member on the National Book Critic&rsquo;s Circle Board where she is the DEI Chair and the Balakian Prize co-chair. She is an alumnus of Columbia University&rsquo;s Graduate School of Journalism and Brooklyn College&rsquo;s creative writing program.&nbsp; SEEKING: I am looking for literary fiction, contemporary, historical, thriller/mystery, memoir, science fiction and narrative non-fiction. For more details, visit my website <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.antsuliterary.com/submissions" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.antsuliterary.com/submissions</a>. *Wadzanai Mhute will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning June 7.

June 2026 Pitch Fest - Wadzanai Mhute Meeting

*During checkout, Zeffy will prompt you to add a contribution at the bottom of the form. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Welcome to our first PitchFest of the year! At this virtual event, writers can meet one-on-one for 15 minutes with an agent/editor. Writers need only bring five pages of their work, a query letter, and their &ldquo;elevator pitch,&rdquo; and they&rsquo;ll meet in a private Zoom room with the agent/editor of their choosing. Register now for the chance to pitch your work! Location: Zoom&nbsp;When: Sunday, March 22, 2026, 11am &ndash; 3pm ETCost: $50/Meeting Pitch Meeting Times (ET):&nbsp;11:00am &ndash; 11:15am; 11:30am &ndash; 11:45am; 12:00pm &ndash; 12:15pm; 1:00pm &ndash; 1:15pm; 1:30pm &ndash; 1:45pm; 2:00pm &ndash; 2:15pm; 2:30pm &ndash; 2:45pm Contact: For questions, email philadelphiastoriesevents@gmail.com.

PitchFest - March

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Claudia Cramer is a literary associate at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.olswanger.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Olswanger Literary</a>. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and English, she started her career in publishing by writing and editing for Coffee House Writers. She recently joined Olswanger Literary as a Literary Associate.<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> SEEKING: Claudia is actively seeking fiction and nonfiction projects with cross-genre appeal and strong audience potential. In fiction, she is interested in romance, historical fiction, family sagas, mystery, low fantasy, and book club reads. For nonfiction, she welcomes cookbooks, science, nature, history, and popular culture. She&#39;s especially enthusiastic about stories centered on Latino characters by Latino authors. *Claudia Cramer will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning March 15.

March 2026 Pitch Fest - Claudia Cramer Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Jennica Dotson is an editor at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.literarywanderlust.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Literary Wanderlust</a> with over a decade of editorial experience and a lifetime of seeking literary thrills. When not wielding a pen, Jennica loves to sing in the Out Loud Chorus, an LGBTQ+ choir based in Washtenaw County, Michigan. She also loves to read, write, spend time with friends and family, go for walks in the forest, and enjoy quiet nights at home with her wife and many stuffed animals. SEEKING:&nbsp;Jennica is looking for YA fantasy &amp; sci-fi, as well as adult fantasy, sci-fi, historical, romance, and literary novels. She is always eager to work on diverse, character-driven stories, particularly from queer, neurodivergent, and BIPOC authors. Her favorite novels often include found family, unique worlds, true heroes, complex villains, the power of love, and humor mixed with high stakes. Please no grimdark fantasy, portal fantasy, apocalyptic science fiction, or military settings.&nbsp;<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> *Jennica Dotson will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning March 15.

March 2026 Pitch Fest - Jennica Dotson Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Frannie Dove (she/her) is a literary agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://thecaldwellagency.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">The Caldwell Agency</a>. Frannie comes to The Caldwell Agency having previously co-represented historians at a boutique agency and having interned with Creative Media Agency. Prior to agenting, she worked in academia, helping scientists and public health professionals with community outreach. When not reading or writing, she can be found browsing new cookbook recipes or flipping through old newspapers. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from George Mason University and serves as the secretary of the Young Publishers Association.&nbsp;<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> SEEKING: <ul fr-original-style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; box-sizing: inherit;"><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left: 11pt;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: 11pt; box-sizing: inherit;">Nonfiction: science for the non-scientist; narrative history and biography; and thematic essays</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left: 11pt;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: 11pt; box-sizing: inherit;">Commercial &amp; Upmarket Fiction: voicey, character-driven, book club stories; contemporary settings with a speculative hook; untold histories, especially those written from historically marginalized perspectives; comedic mysteries with characters in over their heads; grounded horror (especially with a dash of the speculative)</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#222222;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left: 11pt;" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; margin-left: 11pt; box-sizing: inherit;">Some Favorite Reads: The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali, The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang, Margo&#39;s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kemmerer, and The Art Thief by Michael Finkel</li></ul>

March 2026 Pitch Fest - Frannie Dove Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. V. Ruiz is a literary agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.d4eoliteraryagency.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">D4EO Literary Agency</a>. V. is a lesbian, Mexican-American agent, editor, and author, who aspires to make publishing more equitable by working as an advocate for their authors. With nearly ten years of editing experience across literary and commercial genres, they consider themselves an editorial and career agent. V. wants to work with authors who are eager to work on multiple projects and who are open to editorial guidance and feedback. Recently, they worked as an acquisitions editor and project manager with Row House Publishing (distributed by Simon and Schuster) for over three years. You can rest assured that they have a deep understanding of the publishing process which, in turn, helps their authors feel prepared with what to expect. V. is always eager to hear from voices who have been systemically underrepresented in publishing.<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> SEEKING:&nbsp;I&rsquo;m seeking YA and Adult fiction across most genres, and I&rsquo;m open to esoteric/occult nonfiction. For adult fiction, I&rsquo;m especially interested in thrillers that are in line with Lisa Jewell&rsquo;s work. I&rsquo;m always interested in &ldquo;Weird Girl Lit&rdquo; and cross genre / hybrid books with literary language, especially with Queer protagonists. I&rsquo;m open to most genres of Romance, but I&rsquo;m not a great fit for Romantasy, sports romance, or cishet historical romance. I&rsquo;m always open to Fantasy, and I like for it to deal with larger themes and I&rsquo;m always drawn to those that have a folkloric or myth base at its core. I&rsquo;m always interested in books that play with different forms of media. I&rsquo;m not a great fit for sci-fi unless it&rsquo;s grounded or accessible.&nbsp; For YA fiction, I&rsquo;m eager to represent fantasy, paranormal, horror, and grounded sci-fi. I&rsquo;ll be very particular about YA thrillers without a speculative/genre element that have Sapphic romance at their core. I&rsquo;d love to find a fantasy YA but I don&rsquo;t do well with romance as a main plot point.&nbsp;For more information, you can visit <a fr-original-style="" href="https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/v-ruiz/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/v-ruiz/</a> and <a fr-original-style="" href="https://vruiz.me/literary-agent/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://vruiz.me/literary-agent/</a>.<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> *V. Ruiz will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning March 15.

March 2026 Pitch Fest -  V. Ruiz Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Des (they/them) is a Chicagoan and a literary agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.metamorphosisliteraryagency.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Metamorphosis Literary Agency</a>. They earned their MFA from Columbia College Chicago, and they continue their love for the craft in their current role. When not reading so much fantasy manuscripts, they hang out with their two silly cats and visit their family dog. SEEKING: Des is seeking works in Romance, Fantasy, Horror, LGBTQ+, Literary, Thriller, Mystery, New Adult, Science Fiction, and Young Adult.

March 2026 Pitch Fest -  Des Salazar Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Pronoy Sarkar is the lead nonfiction agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.gbagency.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Georges Borchardt, Inc</a>, where he focuses on expert driven nonfiction and high-quality narrative work across numerous genres, all geared towards stimulating public debate and engaging with the world in new ways. Previously, he worked at Little, Brown as a senior editor, where some highlights include publishing the New York Times bestselling, Heat Will Kill You First by Jeff Goodell, finalist for the Helen Bernstein Award for Excellence in Journalism, LA Times Book Prize, and PEN/EO Wilson Prize for Literary Science Writing; San Francisco Chronicle bestseller, If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal by Justin Gregg; The Everything War by WSJ reporter and Pulitzer winner Dana Mattioli, a finalist for the Financial Times Book Prize, and acquiring forthcoming books by bestselling historian Rick Perlstein, Washington Post op-ed columnist Dana Milbank, Congressman James Clyburn, and bestselling management professor at MIT, Andrew McAfee, among many others. He was also an editor at St. Martin&rsquo;s Press, where he published 2030 by Mauro F. Guillen, a Wall Street Journal bestseller and Financial Times Best of the Year pick, New York Times bestselling The Fund by NYT reporter Rob Copeland, Aftershocks by Biden officials Colin Kahl and Thomas Wright, Profit and Punishment by 2019 Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Messenger, among others. SEEKING: Pronoy is focused on nonfiction. He is interested in bold, ambitious, and conversation shifting projects across a range of areas, including history, biography, popular science, politics and current affairs, economics/law, high concept/big think, investigative journalism, culture, and paradigm-defining works focused on feminism, race, sexuality, and the intersections thereof. Also, cultural tastemakers and critics with fresh perspectives and points of view. Above all, projects should be imbued with strong writing of the highest quality.&nbsp; *Pronoy Sarkar will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning March 15.

March 2026 Pitch Fest - Pronoy Sarkar Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Irene Kaster is a literary agent at HJLit. Irene started at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.hjlit.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">HJLit</a> as an intern in 2022. She studied at Emerson College in Boston and holds a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing, and an MA in Writing and Publishing. She has worn various hats in publishing including intern, freelance editor, literary assistant, social media coordinator, bookseller, and ghostwriter&mdash;but above all, she is a bookworm. Irene is based in Colorado and spends her free time enjoying the outdoors and searching for the best coffee shops.<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> SEEKING:&nbsp;I&rsquo;m most interested in literary and commercial fiction (historical and contemporary), romance, fantasy, and suspenseful or dystopian horror. Within nonfiction, I&rsquo;m seeking practical nonfiction pertaining to women&rsquo;s health, psychology, medicine, science, and relationships; I&rsquo;m interested in narrative nonfiction that reads like fiction and is a deep dive into a historical event, a person or group, a place, or cultural and social phenomena. My full manuscript wishlist is available <a fr-original-style="" href="https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/irene-kaster/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> *Irene Kaster will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning March 15.

March 2026 Pitch Fest - Irene Kaster Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Natalie Rosselli joined the <a fr-original-style="" href="https://aaronpriest.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Aaron Priest Literary Agency </a>in 2022 as the agency assistant while earning her MFA in Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing from Emerson College. She also holds a BA in Creative Writing from Hunter College. During her time with the agency, she&#39;s worked with many of its authors, and she&#39;s now actively building her own list. She lives on Long Island in a funny little house with her partner, and spends her weekends learning to knit and hosting dinner parties. SEEKING: Natalie is currently most interested in and actively seeking out adult fiction, specifically in the following genres: romance, romantasy, and women&rsquo;s fiction. In romance, she&rsquo;s interested in a wide range of subgenres, including historical, contemporary, romcom, western/cowboy, fantasy, and gothic romance. Some of her favorite tropes include enemies to lovers/hate to love, workplace romance, forbidden love, fake dating, alpha heroes, marriage of convenience, and forced proximity. She loves stories with big city settings and high emotional stakes.&nbsp; In romantasy, she&rsquo;s looking for an equal balance between the love story and world-building, stories that lean gothic, and premises with a fresh take on the tried-and-true tropes of the genre. She&rsquo;s partial to stories with elemental magic, female characters who can hold their own in a fight, and enemies to lovers storylines.&nbsp; In women&rsquo;s fiction, she&rsquo;s looking for narratives with a great depth of emotion, explorations of female friendship, coming of age journeys, and mother-daughter stories.&nbsp;

March 2026 Pitch Fest - Natalie Rosselli Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Jeanne De Vita is a Literary Manager at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.martinlit.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Martin Literary Management</a>. While working in acquisitions and as a developmental editor for traditional publishers and freelance clients, Jeanne De Vita has edited hundreds of aspiring and established authors, including NYT, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon bestsellers. After more than a decade working with stories at various stages of the publishing cycle, including teaching both writing and editing at the college level, Jeanne brings a strong editorial vision and passion for the publishing industry to her clients. She is excited by strong voices and compelling stories across the sub-genres of fiction, with a specific interest in romance, fantasy, thrillers/mysteries/suspense, horror, and speculative fiction. &nbsp; SEEKING: Jeanne&rsquo;s current wish list includes the following: Romance, Romantasy, Thrillers/Suspense/Mystery, Horror, Women&#39;s Fiction, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Dystopian/Post-Apoc, and Non-fiction.&nbsp; She is not reviewing: Faith-Based/Inspirational fiction and non-fiction, including memoirs, Illustrators, Middle Grade, Picture Books, Graphic Novels, Grimdark, Wellness, health, and lifestyle nonfiction, Military or hard sci-fi/fantasy. For more information on her wishlist, visit <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.martinlit.com/about-mlm" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.martinlit.com/about-mlm</a>. *Jeanne De Vita will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning March 15.

March 2026 Pitch Fest - Jeanne De Vita Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Alex Land (formerly Alex Brown) is an associate agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.madwomanliterary.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Mad Woman Literary Agency</a> and a Young Adult novelist. She loves collaboration and is excited about working with her clients to form sustainable, long-term careers in publishing. Alex has worked with New York Times Bestselling authors, Stonewall Honors recipients, and many other critically acclaimed authors on various projects. She&rsquo;s always ready to root for and brag about all of her clients.<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> SEEKING: Alex is seeking Adult, YA, and MG; especially Final Girls who are also monsters, diaspora stories, horror of any kind, stories that will make her laugh/cry/wonder if something is lurking in the darkness, anything that hints at what might be hiding in the ocean, witches, rom coms, witchy rom coms, women/enby/POC-lead thrillers that leave her on the edge of her seat, queer horror, queer rom coms, queer anything, stories written by and for folks from underrepresented/marginalized identities, ghost stories, weird stories, weird ghost stories, time loops, heists, the sensibilities of Grady Hendrix, and anything speculative/fabulist. For more information, visit <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.madwomanliterary.com/agents/alex-land" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.madwomanliterary.com/agents/alex-land</a>.<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> *Alex Land will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning March 15.

March 2026 Pitch Fest -  Alex Land Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Elizabeth Guthrie is an associate literary agent at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.psliterary.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">PSLA</a> representing fiction and nonfiction. Before joining the team, she worked first as an intern and then as a literary agent at Lucinda Literary. Prior to moving into publishing, she had a career in trauma-informed integrative medicine, earning a PhD in Natural Medicine and a Master&rsquo;s of Public Health with a concentration in functional nutrition.&nbsp;<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> SEEKING: Elizabeth is interested in a broad range of books, but is especially interested in fiction with character-driven plots that end with clever twists and expert-driven non-fiction. In non-fiction, she is particularly drawn to true crime, music (almost any genre, but especially blues and classic rock), religion, and history (especially ancient civilizations or intellectual history). She also likes expert-driven wellness, popular psychology, and other science-related ideas (especially in biology or physics). In fiction, she is interested in fantasy, historical, romance (especially fantasy, historical, or LGBTQ), speculative, and psychological thrillers.<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> *Elizabeth Guthrie will accept pitch materials in advance of the event. Registered attendees will receive the appropriate contact information to submit their materials beginning March 15.

March 2026 Pitch Fest - Elizabeth Guthrie Meeting

*Zeffy will offer an optional contribution at checkout by default. To opt out, select &ldquo;Other&rdquo; and enter 0. Melissa Rodman received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History &amp; Literature, magna cum laude, from Harvard University and in college interned at Picador USA. Prior to joining the team at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://nyliterary.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Nancy Yost Literary Agency</a>, she served as research associate in entertainment, media, and sports at Harvard Business School and editorial associate at Harvard University Press, before earning a master&rsquo;s degree at NYU&rsquo;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, completing an editorial internship at The New Republic, and working as an associate literary agent at Park, Fine &amp; Brower Literary Management. A native New Yorker, when not working she often can be found writing articles or volunteer ushering at off-Broadway shows.<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> SEEKING: Melissa develops a variety of nonfiction and select fiction projects from proposal to publication. Her literary interests include narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, history, memoir, and practical nonfiction as well as both literary and commercial fiction with strong characters and sharp prose.&nbsp;

March 2026 Pitch Fest -  Melissa Rodman Meeting

We all have stories to tell. Our lives are a treasure trove of amazing stories, filled with hilarity. Losses and griefs. Hair-tingling concerts. Books we&rsquo;ve read. Quirky people we&rsquo;ve known. Weird cousins. Pets. Our stories are what make each of us unique and amazing!<p dir="ltr" fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"> In this three-hour creative nonfiction workshop, Philadelphia Stories&rsquo; Jenny Burkholder and Christopher Drajem will help you to uncover those stories and begin mining them for significance. We will provide prompts to generate ideas, share and discuss examples of published essays, and offer tools to develop your story into a creative nonfiction essay.&nbsp;<div fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; box-sizing: inherit;"> </div> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1770938315/wysiwyg/hz9cvmmygdfiawue5qh0.jpg" style="width: 82px; display: inline-block; vertical-align: bottom; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; text-align: left; max-width: calc(100% - 5px); float: left; position: relative; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 82px; display: inline-block; vertical-align: bottom; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; text-align: left; max-width: calc(100% - 5px); float: left;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">Jenny Burkholder is the Creative Nonfiction Editor of Philadelphia Stories, writer, and teacher. Her creative nonfiction has appeared in Intima, The Healing Muse,&nbsp;Epiphany,&nbsp;So to Speak, and elsewhere. She is also the co-host of OVERexpressed &amp; OUT, a podcast that amplifies the voices of Philadelphia-area artists, activists, pioneers, and more&ndash;women transforming their communities. Her website is: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://overexpressed.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">overexpressed.net</a>.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1770938342/wysiwyg/yeqt1ek36mk3g25qfta7.jpg" style="width: 82px; display: inline-block; vertical-align: bottom; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; text-align: left; max-width: calc(100% - 5px); float: left; position: relative; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 82px; display: inline-block; vertical-align: bottom; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; text-align: left; max-width: calc(100% - 5px); float: left;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">Christopher Drajem is an educator, writer, and developmental editor. He has taught high school English, mostly in the Pacific Northwest, since 2000. His writing has been published in Philadelphia Stories and his collaborative memoir, written with his mother Linda Drajem, is titled Wandering Close to Home: A Gay Son and His Feminist Mother&rsquo;s Journey to Transform Themselves and Their Family.&nbsp;

Masterclass: Beginning to Write the Story of You: An Introduction to Writing Creative Nonfiction Essays

Revision as Re-Vision: Killing Your Darlings on Purpose(*VIRTUAL*) Every poem worth keeping goes through a second, third, or even a tenth life. This masterclass focuses on revision as its own creative act of reinvention rather than just &quot;cleanup.&quot; We&#39;ll look at concrete strategies for breaking a stuck poem open: reverse drafting, shifting point of view, cutting your strongest opening line, and transplanting free verse into form (and back again). Using live before-and-after examples, we&#39;ll build a revision toolkit you can return to again and again. Bring one unfinished or unsatisfying poem to work on during the class. You&#39;ll leave the session with it fundamentally changed. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1790990496/wysiwyg/xg7kbqtzs1mkshcjiajk.jpg" style="width: 193px; display: inline-block; vertical-align: bottom; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; text-align: left; max-width: calc(100% - 5px); float: left; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 193px; display: inline-block; vertical-align: bottom; margin: 5px 15px 5px 0px; text-align: left; max-width: calc(100% - 5px); float: left;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">Keith Kopka received the Tampa Review Prize for his collection of poems, Count Four (University of Tampa Press, 2020). His poetry and criticism have recently appeared in American Poetry Review, The International Journal of the Book, New Ohio Review, and many other journals. The recipient of the International Award for Excellence from the Books, Publishing, and Libraries Research Network, he is also the author of the critical texts Asking a Shadow to Dance: An Introduction to the Practice of Poetry (GRL, 2018) and Crossing Disciplines: A Cross-Curricular Writing Guide (Kendall Hunt, 2022). His work has been supported by the MacDowell Foundation, the Wallace Foundation, Centrum, and the Vermont Studio Center. Kopka is a Senior Editor at Narrative magazine, Poetry Editor at Philadelphia Stories, and Director of the low-res MFA at Holy Family University in Philadelphia. Hosted by Philadelphia Stories, this session supports our mission to cultivate a community of writers, artists, and readers across the Greater Philadelphia area. Register below to deepen your revision craft and engage with fellow local writers.&nbsp;

Philadelphia Stories Inc

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Masterclass - Revision as Re-Vision: Killing Your Darlings on Purpose

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