At this virtual event, writers can meet one-on-one for 15 minutes with an agent/editor. Writers need only bring 5 pages of their work, a query letter, and their “elevator pitch,” and they’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
When: Sunday, November 16, 11am – 3pm ET
Cost: $40/Meeting
Pitch Meeting Times (ET): 11:00am – 11:15am; 11:30am – 11:45am; 12:00pm – 12:15pm; 1:00pm – 1:15pm; 1:30pm – 1:45pm; 2:00pm – 2:15pm; 2:30pm – 2:45pm
*Katie Erickson is only available 11:00am – 1:00pm ET. Please check registration page for specific meeting times.
Contact: For questions, email philadelphiastoriesevents@gmail.com.
*IMPORTANT NOTE* We will NOT be sending work in advance to agents/editors. Writers can share their work by sharing their screen or sending a shareable link (Google Docs, Microsoft Sharepoint, etc.) with the agent/editor in their Zoom meeting. Pitch Fest is open to all writers and you do NOT need to be from the Philadelphia area to participate. However, we strongly recommend that attendees meeting with an agent/editor have a completed or nearly completed manuscript ready for querying. Attendees are also free to register for sessions with multiple agents/editors, but cannot book more than one session with the same agent/editor.
*Refunds for this event will not be issued after Thursday, November 13th.
AGENTS
*More agents/editors will be added as they are confirmed.
Amanda Carbonell
Amanda Carbonell’s passion for all things scary came at the age of five thanks to her mother for introducing her to Buffy. Soon after, her world became consumed by books. While receiving her bachelor’s and distinction in Journalism from Western Connecticut State University, Amanda interned with ArtHouse Literary before interning with CMA, Inc. She went on to agent-apprentice with Belcastro Literary Agency before being promoted to junior agent. When she is not reading through queries and building her client list, you can find her writing Latinx stories within paranormal/speculative genres with her agent.
SEEKING: Amanda is eagerly acquiring in the following categories – Middle grade & YA: Contemporary, coming-of-age, horror, fantasy, adventure, thriller, literary, first-crush romance, romance, LGBTQIA+, and genre-mashups; New Adult & Adult: Fantasy, horror, thriller, literary, commercial, romance, romantasy, horror-mance, genre-mashups, and contemporary.
Nikki Carrero
Nikki Carrero (she/her) is an assistant agent at The Rights Factory and has a background in education, publishing, marketing, social media, and author assisting. Over the years, Nikki has worked with books from all angles: as a writer, publicist, marketer, agent, and educator. Above all else, she loves to see people fall in love with stories.
SEEKING: Nikki is currently looking for adult or young adult fiction in the following genres: mystery, thriller, domestic and/or psychological suspense, paranormal thriller, romance, romcom, contemporary romance, paranormal romance, romantic suspense, magical realism, women’s fiction, and contemporary fiction. She has a passion for stories that feature characters who have disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental illnesses, are neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, or are a part of other marginalized communities. You can find her detailed MSWL here: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/nikki-carrero/
Lauren Eldridge
Lauren joined Lucinda Literary as an agent in 2022. Authors she’s represented reflect her genre-diverse interests, including memoirist Julie Fingersh (Stay: A Story of Love, Family, and Other Traumas), novelist Olivia Swindler (Break the Glass), and YA novelist Michelle Kulwicki (At the End of the River Styx). Prior to Lucinda Literary, Lauren was on the editorial team at Flatiron Books, where she focused on nonfiction and worked on bestselling and award-winning titles from authors including Leigh Bardugo, Oprah Winfrey, and Alicia Keys. She acquired The Unseen Body by Dr. Jonathan Reisman and edited books including New York Times-bestselling titles El Jefe by Alan Feuer and The Lincoln Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch. Most recently, she worked as a freelance editorial consultant with a slate of clients from corporations and nonprofits to professional writers. Lauren holds a BA in English with an emphasis on creative writing and a minor in religious studies from Kenyon College and is a graduate of the Columbia Publishing Course. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her family.
SEEKING: Lauren is passionate about elevating voices and stories that start important cultural conversations and is particularly interested in YA and children’s literature, upmarket fiction, and projects on religion and spirituality.
Katie Erickson
Katie Erickson joined The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency in 2024, after previously interning at the agency, and after over a decade working as a freelance illustrator for clients such as Humpty Dumpty magazine. She is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Creative Writing and Illustration. When she’s not reading, writing, or illustrating, she can be found playing board games or taking long walks with her family.
SEEKING: She represents picture books, as well as middle-grade and young-adult literature.
*Katie Erickson is only available 11:00am – 1:00pm ET. Please check registration page for specific meeting times.
Gracie Freeman Lifschutz
Gracie Freeman Lifschutz was raised in the bustle of New York City, surrounded by all kinds of stories — from story time at her local library to musicals on Broadway. She now can’t imagine her life without either. Gracie graduated from Oberlin College with a B.A. in English and a minor in French. Her work in the time since has always revolved around storytelling and human connection. She joined Dystel, Goderich & Bourret after completing the Columbia Publishing Course in 2022. She currently works alongside Lauren Abramo as the Subsidiary Rights Associate and opened to submissions in early 2025.
SEEKING: Gracie is interested in grounded genre fiction, upmarket romance, psychological thrillers, folk horror, book club fiction, and narrative nonfiction examining culture and social issues. Across young adult and adult categories, she’s interested in underrepresented voices, inventive storytelling, and delicious prose.
Jessica Larios-Zarate
Jessica Larios-Zarate is an Assistant Literary Agent with Wave Literary. Jessica (She/Her) is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley where she earned a B.A. in English. She is passionate about uplifting stories by authors with marginalized voices and intersectional identities. She was part of the Writers House Mentor Initiative, and worked with literary agencies including Creative Media Agency and Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. Based in Northern California, Jessica’s favorite pastime is watching the fog roll down the coastal mountains.
SEEKING: Jessica gravitates towards: commercial fiction, contemporary upmarket fiction, literary fiction, mystery/thrillers, romance, and speculative fiction. She is particularly invested in stories that feature LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and/or disabled protagonists, especially when the books are not issue-driven. Jessica is not the best fit for children’s books, police procedural mysteries, detective fiction, high fantasy, hard science fiction, and historical fiction (unless there is a speculative twist). Jessica is an eclectic reader, and she adores books when they make her: laugh, cry, swoon, and/or surprised. Above all, she loves when a book makes her want to talk about it endlessly to everybody.
Shannon Lechon
Shannon is an associate agent with Azantian Literary Agency. She began her career with literary agency internships at P.S. Literary and Cake Creative, as well as an editorial internship with Penguin Random House. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in criminology and English from Florida State University and a master’s in publishing from New York University.
SEEKING: Shannon is seeking MG, YA, and Adult SFF, horror, and mystery/thrillers. She is also seeking select nonfiction proposals on specialized careers, narrative nonfiction, medicine, mental health, trauma, and wildlife/nature. Finally, she is also looking at author/illustrator combinations for graphic novels in the YA fantasy and contemporary space, as well as adult narrative nonfiction narratives.
Rhian MacGillivray
Rhian MacGillivray is a Junior Literary Agent at Birch Literary. After graduating with an M.A. in French and Spanish from the University of Edinburgh, she worked for more than a decade as a Spanish-English translator, editor, and proofreader. Away from agenting, Rhian enjoys curling up with a good book, cramming in some creative writing time while taking her kids to extracurricular activities, and exploring new cities and countries.
SEEKING: Rhian is looking for adult commercial or upmarket fiction that can be classed as women’s, book club, historical, romance, or fantasy or romantasy fiction. Ultimately, she wants fiction that will make her feel something, keep her up late at night, and have her still thinking about it months down the line. She’s a sucker for coming-of-age stories and those told with multiple POVs, whatever the genre. Rhian is not seeking any YA, children’s fiction, or non-fiction books at this time. For more information on her MSWL, visit https://birchliterary.com/agents/.
Jael Morrill
Jael Morrill is an Associate Literary Agent with The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. She graduated from Pikes Peak State College in 2021 with a degree in history. Before interning with the agency, she had previously worked as a research assistant for a historian. When not reading, she can be found working on various art projects and writing stories with her spouse.
SEEKING: Jael represents adult and young adult fiction and nonfiction. Jael is currently seeking non-fiction that focuses on history, cultural anthropology, journalism, and the arts. She is also accepting memoirs. For fiction, she is looking for character-centered sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and noir.
Eva Oakes
Originally from Colorado, Eva earned her BA from McGill University and now resides in Toronto. Eva has been with the Transatlantic Agency for over three years, first as an Editorial and Agent Assistant to Samantha Haywood, President & Literary Agent, and as Associate Agent since 2024.
SEEKING: Eva is building a list that includes a wide range of upmarket and literary fiction, as well as narrative nonfiction. Some qualities she loves in a manuscript include:
- memorable narrative voice
- rich, layered multigenerational and family sagas
- surprising and inventive style
- realist narratives with a hint of absurdity
- a strong sense of place and palpable atmosphere
- writing that blends wit, warmth and humor
- stories from underrepresented identities and marginalized communities.
She doesn’t represent YA, Middle-Grade or Children’s books.
Ashley Reisinger
Ashley Reisinger is an Assistant Literary Agent at Triada US and is actively building her client list. She began her career in publishing as an avid writer before interning at Triada in 2020 and discovering her passion for championing authors. Based in Canada, she can often be found complaining about how cold the winters are and trying her very best not to unironically say “eh” out loud.
SEEKING: Ashley is drawn to stories with a strong commercial premise and more literary writing with an affinity for romance, horror, mystery, grounded speculative fiction, and genre-blending. She loves romances with a speculative twist, laugh-out-loud rom coms, speculative mysteries, contemporary fantasy, chaotic protagonists, campy/bonkers adventures, and satirical takes on traditional genre conventions. She is not the right fit for erotica, police procedurals, historical fiction, sick lit, dark/gritty romantic suspense, space operas, or dystopian. A detailed wishlist can be found on her MSWL page.
Nina Richner
Nina Richner is an agent representing adult fiction and narrative nonfiction. They joined HMLA 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: 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.
Haley Warrington
Haley Warrington has been an avid reader and writer since she can remember. After an internship with The Booker Albert Literary Agency, she recently moved into an agenting role on June 1st, 2025. She is eagerly growing her list and hopeful that she will bring talented writers to the forefront of publishing. When she’s not reviewing submissions or editing client manuscripts, she is hanging out with her two cats—Sweet Potato and Sugar Cookie. Ultimately, she enjoys fast-paced stories with strong hooks. Whether it’s steeped with emotion or scares her socks off, she’s looking for commercial genre fiction.
SEEKING: Genres for Adult fiction: Horror, romance, mystery, thriller, suspense, LGBTQ+, family saga, women’s fiction, & satire; Genres for Young Adult fiction: Horror, mystery, thriller, suspense, family saga, satire, low fantasy, urban/contemporary fantasy