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, September 29, 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
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 Google Doc or Microsoft Sharepoint link 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, September 26th. We will be CLOSING Pitch Fest registration at 12pm ET on Friday, September 27th.
AGENTS & EDITORS
Susan Brooks * SOLD OUT *
Susan Brooks has loved books since she first got her hands on Go, Dog. Go! By P.D. Eastman as a toddler. She has many years of editorial experience and has a master’s degree in publishing from The George Washington University. She was on the board of directors for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization dedicated to supporting, encouraging, and educating fiction writers from 2009 to 2019, and is Editor-in-Chief at Literary Wanderlust, a small, independent traditional publisher in Denver, Colorado. She is a lover of cats and cares for Ragnar and Ziggy, two rescues who rule the house and expect breakfast and dinner at exacting times.
SEEKING: Susan is currently acquiring adult fiction including women’s fiction, romance (all heat levels), erotica, westerns, and character-driven mysteries, thrillers, and urban fantasy. And if you have a good ghost story with a twist, she’d love to read that, too.
Alex Brown * SOLD OUT *
Alex Brown is an associate agent with Mad Woman Literary Agency. She has over 10 years of experience in publishing as a writer and mentor. Her queer, Filipino folklore filled YA Horror Comedy debut, Damned If You Do, was a Locus Award Finalist, received the Junior Library Gold Standard Selection distinction, and was also placed on Taysha’s Reading List. Alex is passionate about working with writers to amplify the heart of their stories. Alex 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’s always ready to root for and brag about all of her clients.
SEEKING: Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade speculative fiction (horror, sci-fi, fantasy), and mysteries/thrillers led by BIPOC characters.
Amanda Carbonell * SOLD OUT *
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.
Elizabeth DeNoma * SOLD OUT *
I’m a hands-on literary agent at Sebes & Bisseling with deep editorial and international sales expertise whose purpose is to put quality narratives out into the world and help authors build their careers, whether that comprises a single book or 30. I firmly believe that stories of all kinds have the power to open minds and change the world. I sit in the United States and represent global authors writing in English to publishers in North America and others acquiring global English language rights. My work as an agent is a culmination of my decades of experience as a literary editor, foreign rights manager, manager of design and editorial teams, translator, and ghost writer. I have a PhD in literary studies from the University of Washington and have been awarded several awards, including a Fulbright Scholarship.
SEEKING: What I’m looking for: narrative nonfiction of universal interest – experts and storytellers in environmental science, sociology, psychology, medicine, parenting, history, anthropology, and remarkable memoirs (individual and group) that give us insight into our greater human story. Infrequently I represent a work of exceptional fiction.
Susan Graham * SOLD OUT *
Susan Graham (they/them/theirs) joined Einstein Literary Management as an assistant in 2015 and now has a growing list of author and illustrator clients. They hold a Master’s Degree in Children’s Literature and a Master’s Degree in English from Simmons College. They currently live in Brooklyn with their two cats, appropriately named Chicken and The Crocodile. They represent illustrators across format and age categories, children’s creators, and adult genre fiction.
SEEKING: Susan’s looking for children’s and young adult fiction in all genres, but their favorite books are often science fiction and fantasy, especially written with a queer lens. They also enjoy picture books and represent graphic novels in all age categories and in all genres. They’re particularly interested in friendships and sibling narratives, and monster protagonists are always a plus. They’re looking for a good non-fiction or two for children or teens but don’t know about what. For adult prose, they prefer genre fiction, and monster protagonists are still a plus. Works by and about marginalized voices are welcome and encouraged.
Liv Ivanov * SOLD OUT *
Liv Ivanov has always had a passion for reading wildly immersive, character-driven novels and developed a love for storytelling when her next-door neighbor introduced her to NaNoWriMo back in 2010. After graduating from the University of Missouri and working in operations and video game development for several years, Liv returned to her first love and began volunteering as a reader and fiction editor for literary magazines before starting her internships at Triada US and Creative Media Agency in 2023. Now stepping into her role as an Associate Agent at CMA, Liv is excited to both discover refreshing, compelling, and fantastical stories and champion new creative voices in the industry. In her free time, Liv loves to go hiking in the Rocky Mountains near her home in Colorado Springs, as well as collect books as she slowly works toward making her home office a 1,000-book library.
SEEKING: Adult: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery/Thriller, Dark Academia, LGBTQIA+, Coming-of-age; MG & YA: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery/Thriller, Dark Academia, LGBTQIA+ (more detailed information about specific genres can be found on Liv’s MSWL)
Heather Osborn * SOLD OUT *
Before joining Spencerhill Associates, Heather Osborn spent many years editing romance, science fiction, fantasy, cozy mystery, and women’s fiction for various publishers. The experience of working with both well-established, bestselling authors, as well as those just embarking on their careers has helped shape her skills working with authors at every stage in their publishing journey. One of Heather’s greatest joys in life is discovering an amazing new author, whether that be in a slush pile, or on a bookstore shelf, and she looks forward to building long-lasting relationships built on clear and open communication with her clients. When not immersed in books, Heather can be found spoiling her adorable dog, George, dabbling in whatever craft has caught her attention this week, incessantly listening to Kpop, and playing increasingly elaborate solitaire games on her laptop.
SEEKING: Heather is interested in representing works of popular fiction, mainly concentrated on romance of all genres and sub-genres other than inspirational—with a particular interest in romantasy (and if there are dragons, all the better!), humorous contemporary romance, new adult romance, and paranormal romance—as well as fantasy (particularly cozy fantasy), urban fantasy, and science fiction with strong romantic elements.
Andie Smith * SOLD OUT *
Andie Smith is a Junior Agent at The Booker Albert Literary Agency where she started as a Literary Intern in 2022. She is also a writer and editor of multiple genres. Andie has previously served as a writer and editor for several local newspapers and magazines in Central Florida and is the Founder of Sun & Spines Editorial, where she offers a variety of editing services for authors. She is also a developmental editor at Wild Ink Publishing. When she’s not agenting, Andie is spending time with her husband and two kitties or hanging out at Disney World.
SEEKING: In general, Andie is currently open to Young Adult and Adult genres and sub-genres including but not limited to contemporary, romance, thriller, speculative, issue-driven, fantasy, and eco-fiction. She has to be very selective with YA fantasy due to her current client list. She will be opening to MG genres toward the end of the year but is open to seeing these stories at conferences or pitch events in any of the same genres listed above. As an autoimmune advocate, Andie would love to see stories with MC’s embracing life through all disabilities, from those that are more obvious to invisible ones. Andie doesn’t represent: picture books, nonfiction, poetry, historical fiction (1960s and earlier), or horror genres (no gore/slashing). She is not the best fit for stories with heavy religious elements, vampires (unless VERY unique), pirates/ships/water settings, and AI or VR characters/plots. While not a total dealbreaker, Andie tends to shy away from stories with on-the-page cheating, abuse, rape, and reference to self-harm and/or suicide (off-page references ok). Please indicate any content warnings in your query letter. Click here for more details about her wishlist.
Eric Smith * SOLD OUT *
Eric Smith is a literary agent at PSLA, with a love for unusual literary fiction, accessible sci-fi and fantasy, and all kinds of non-fiction. He’s worked on award-winning and New York Times bestselling titles and began his publishing career at Quirk Books. He also occasionally writes books for kids when he finds the time, like his most recent young adult novel, the award-winning With or Without You (HarperCollins Children’s, 2023).
SEEKING: Eric is eagerly acquiring fiction and non-fiction projects. He’s actively seeking out new, diverse voices in literary and commercial fiction, and has a special place in his heart for genre-blending stories. In terms of non-fiction, he’s interested in pop culture, wellness titles, memoirs, and essay collections. He’s open to very select young adult and middle grade projects. You can view his detailed manuscript wish list here.
Stuti Telidevara * SOLD OUT *
Stuti Telidevara is an associate agent at Park & Fine Literary and Media, where she works on sharp, commercial adult, young adult, and middle grade fiction. She is looking for diverse storytellers and vivid, detailed worldbuilding across genre, and fiction with a strong, high-concept hook. She is especially interested in fantasy and speculative fiction. Prior to joining Park & Fine in 2021, she held positions at Raven Quill Literary, Orbit Books, and Transatlantic Literary. She holds a B.A. in English from Harvard University and spends her free time watching ice hockey, listening to history podcasts, and brewing perfect cups of tea.
SEEKING: Adult SFF of all kinds, especially epic fantasy, space opera, science fantasy, and horror, but anything speculative; Adult romance and rom-com, women’s fiction; Adult psychological mystery/suspense—more drama than thriller; YA fantasy; YA horror; and YA romance with big feelings.
Caroline Trussell
Caroline Trussell is a literary agent at Metamorphosis Literary Agency. Caroline has a background in editing, writing, and communications and has worked as an agent assistant, editorial assistant, journalist, communications consultant, and attended the prestigious Columbia Publishing Course in 2021. She is passionate about finding writers with unique voices and points of view and is looking for steamy romances, out of this world fantasies, chilling thrillers, and stories that touch on vital topics that can’t be ignored. Caroline is an independent author and the first book in her young adult dystopian duology, ENHANCED, will come out with Fire & Ice YA Books in July 2025.
SEEKING: I’m looking for: adult romance (particularly rom-coms, dark romance, romantasy); adult low fantasy (urban fantasy, magical realism); and adult thrillers (psychological).
Mackenzie Williams * SOLD OUT *
Mackenzie Williams is an assistant agent at Janklow & Nesbit, where she has worked since graduating from the University of Virginia as a Jefferson Scholar. She came up under Marya Spence, working with a roster of phenomenal authors including Rachel Khong, Naomi Fry, Monica Heisey, Sanaë Lemoine, Maggie Millner, and many more. Prior to Janklow & Nesbit, Mackenzie began her career with Jia Tolentino’s TRICK MIRROR and has championed groundbreaking, conversation-starting literature ever since. Mackenzie is looking for big, juicy novels for a new generation of readers in a post-pandemic world; fresh, well-told tales that look beyond the self. She loves a hot take, a high concept, and has a soft spot for stories that trend darker or queer (or both!). Mackenzie is a sucker for a well-wrought sentence and a strong voice that will live in your head after you’ve turned the last page. Some of her favorite recent novels bridge the gap between the literary and the upmarket, like the works of Liz Moore, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Meg Wolitzer, Gabrielle Zevin, and Bonnie Garmus. Mackenzie’s clients include Sarah Hagi, Emma Healey, Melissa Faliveno, Emeline Atwood, and Leslie Baird. Originally from the Seattle area, she lives in Manhattan with her partner and more books than you’d think.
SEEKING: Literary-upmarket novels, stories that are rooted in place, fiction by young writers, queer narratives, and books that subvert expectations. Select nonfiction and memoirs. Not looking for: YA, graphic novels, romantasy, straight-up horror/thrillers, science fiction.