Join Westport Writers' Workshop for a full day of dynamic talks and industry panels, the rare opportunity to pitch your book—including submitting five pages of your work to two literary agents and one-on-one pitches— and a keynote address from acclaimed author Helen Simonson. Connect with fellow writers, deepen your understanding of the publishing world, and end the day in celebration at our Saturday evening wrap party.
Join us at the intersection where creative passion meets profession.
Tickets are available in two tiers to fit every writer’s goals. Conference Only grants access to the full day of programming, including panel discussions, Bite-Sized Insights, our keynote speaker, and the celebratory wrap party. For those looking to take a step toward publication, the Conference with Pitches ticket includes everything in the standard ticket plus the opportunity to submit five pages of your work in advance and pitch one-on-one for ten minutes each with two agents from top publishing houses.
Early Bird pricing valid until January 1st.
What's Included
What's Included
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9:00 – 9:45 AM: Registration & Coffee |
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9:45 – 10:00 AM: Welcome and Overview from Amanda Parrish Morgan (Executive Director, Westport Writers’ Workshop) and Conference Co-Chairs, Sam & Elise → Meet Conference Co-Chairs |
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10:00 – 10:40 AM: Ask the Agent | Moderator: Chris Steib → Panel Details |
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10:40 – 11:00 AM: Panel 1 | Q & A |
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11:00 – 11:30 AM: Bite-Sized Insight | Jane Kurtz on Building a Platform → Insight Details |
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11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Bite-Sized Insight | Brooke Warner on Validation From Within → Insight Details |
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12:00 – 1:00 PM: Lunch Break I Library cafe, local eatery (map in folder), or pack your own |
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12:15 – 2:15 PM: Agent Pitches → Meet the Agents |
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1:00 – 1:40 PM: How to Build Suspense | Moderator: Liv Constantine → Panel Details |
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1:40 – 2:00 PM: Panel 2 | Q & A |
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2:00 – 2:40 PM: Publishing Pathways | Moderator: Megan Sells → Panel Details |
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2:40 – 3:00 PM: Panel 3 | Q & A |
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3:00 – 3:45 PM: Keynote | Helen Simonson → Keynote Details |
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3:45 – 4:15 PM: Ending Remarks from Co-Chairs Elise & Sam, and Book Signing |
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4:30 – 5:30 PM: After Party at Emmy Squared, Westport |
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I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the opportunity to be part of the conference this weekend. There was so much to appreciate: the honest, kind, and informed esteemed panelists, the range of topics, the encouragement and humor, the comradeship between volunteers, writers, agents—everyone. I walked away inspired and happy, as did so many. I loved the chance to root for my fellow writers and classmates on their pitch, and I loved the partnership between two of my favorite intellectual and community hubs—WWW and the WESTPORT library!
What a great—and well-organized—conference! So nice to know there’s such a vibrant writers’ community in my backyard.
Pitch & Publish was a wonderful experience. I almost got an agent, but not quite! But what I learned more than made up for it... I am now energized by the positive feedback on my query and writing and will keep querying until my piece lands. A great experience—what you folks are doing is amazing.
Thank you for putting together a truly marvelous conference. It was clear how much love and work went into it. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed it (and how excited I am about the manuscripts I requested).
Elise Chidley’s first novel, Your Roots Are Showing, received a six figure advance and was nominated in two categories of the RITA© Awards:Best First Book and Best Single Title Contemporary Romance.
She received her MFA from Penn State and teaches creative writing at Westport Writers' Workshop. She is currently writing a cozy murder mystery and a YA fantasy series. She works as a freelance developmental editor and loves the process of revision. Find her at elisechidley.com.
Sam is a published fiction writer, an instructor at Westport Writers Workshop, and works as a freelance developmental editor.
Her short fiction has been a Narrative Story of the Week, a finalist in American Short Fiction’s Halifax Ranch Prize, and shortlisted in the Bridport Prize. She won the Anthony Grooms’ Prize in 2024 and appeared in The Connecticut Literary Anthology 2024. Sam completed her MFA at Fairfield University. Her first children’s picture book was published in the UK in 2025. Her first novel, The Light Remains, received an honorary mention in the Fairfield Book Prize and will be published in South Africa and the US in April, 2026. You can find her at samkellerwriter.com.
Genres:
ADULT FICTION: Upmarket and Literary Fiction NONFICTION: Memoir and Narrative Nonfiction
CHILDREN’S FICTION: Select Literary YA
Alexandra Franklin joined Curtis Brown in 2023 as an associate agent in the dramatic rights department and in the books department. She was previously an assistant at Writers House and then an associate agent at Vicky Bijur Literary Agency.
She holds an MFA in poetry from The New School. Alexandra is particularly interested in upmarket and literary fiction, narrative nonfiction and memoir, and select literary YA. She is not the right agent for horror, sci-fi, fantasy, or children’s books.
Genres:
ADULT FICTION: Literary, Commercial, Contemporary, History, Family Relationships, Coming-of-Age Stories
NONFICTION: Narrative Nonfiction, Historical, Current Affairs, Social and Cultural Issues, Memoir, Food
Amaryah Orenstein, founder and president of GO Literary, is thrilled to help writers bring their ideas to life. Aiming to give voice to a broad range of perspectives, she represents a wide array of literary and commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction.
Amaryah began her career at the Laura Gross Literary Agency in 2009 and, prior to that, worked as an Editorial Assistant at various academic research foundations, including The Tauber Institute, where she edited books for Brandeis University Press/University Press of New England. Originally from Montreal, she earned a BA at McGill University before coming to the US to pursue graduate work in American History. She received her MA from the Contemporary History Institute at Ohio University and her PhD from Brandeis University.
Genres:
ADULT FICTION: Commercial Fiction, Sci-Fi and Fantasy, Historical, Mystery, Thriller, Women’s Fiction
CHILDREN’S FICTION: Select Literary Middle Grade and YA
Caitlin Blasdell has been a literary agent with Liza Dawson Associates since 2002 with a focus on commercial fiction. Before becoming an agent, she was a senior editor at HarperCollins Publishers.
A graduate of Williams College, she lives in Westchester with her husband and four sons. Caitlin specializes in quality commercial fiction including science fiction & fantasy, historical fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and women’s fiction. She also handles a few select middle grade and YA authors.
Genres:
CHILDREN’S FICTION: From Boardbooks through YA, especially Picture Books
Charlotte Wenger is a literary agent in the Boston area with Prospect Agency. Prior to joining Prospect, she was an associate editor at Page Street Kids and interned with literary agent Rubin Pfeffer. She earned her Master of Arts in Children’s Literature from Simmons, during which she held editorial and sales internships at Charlesbridge and Candlewick.
She has since mentored a number of Simmons MFA in Writing for Children students. When she’s not working, you can find her occasionally crafting, randomly breaking into song, and most importantly, being a toddler mom. Charlotte represents authors and illustrators of children’s books – ranging from board books through YA, but especially picture books. You can find her online at www.charlottewenger.com.
Genres:
ADULT FICTION: Literary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, and Thriller
NONFICTION: Science, Arts, Pop Culture, History, Current Events
Eloy Bleifuss is a book agent who represents both fiction and nonfiction.
On the fiction side, Eloy is especially interested in literary fiction along with character-driven genre fiction. His favorite novels are ones that bridge the high and the low, the real and the imaginary, the trashy and the serious.
In nonfiction, Eloy is always eager to be introduced to an under-explored subject, no matter the exact field of study—so long as the writer can make their passion infectious. He’s looking for obsessives who can take a single topic and explode it into a vast, multidisciplinary inquiry—whether they’re writing about science, the arts, pop culture, history, or current events. He is especially drawn to the works of experts writing authoritatively and legibly about complex systems like capitalism, identity, and the climate crisis in a way that renders them down to the human scale.
Prior to joining Neon, Eloy worked at Janklow & Nesbit Associates and Simon & Schuster. Born and raised in Chicago, he is a graduate of Vassar College and now lives in Brooklyn.
Genres:
ADULT FICTION: Historical, Horror, Mystery, Sci-fi, Thriller, Women’s Fiction
NONFICTION: Cookbooks, Crafts, History, Memoir, Science, Travel, True Crime
Gina Panettieri is the Founder and President of Talcott Notch Literary Services, a five-member literary agency headquartered in Milford, Connecticut. Gina has worked in the publishing industry for more than 35 years as an agent, author and freelance editor, and has shepherded hundreds of authors to their goals of publishing success.
She is a generalist, representing a range of fiction and nonfiction for both adults and children. Some of her most recognizable projects include the Tier One military thriller series by Andrews & Wilson, the Mercy Carr mystery series by Paula Munier, Scott Deitche’s acclaimed Organized Crime histories, and Drew Eric Whitman’s popular CA$HVERTISING business book series.
Genres:
ADULT FICTION: Upmarket, Diverse, Commercial
NONFICTION: Narrative Nonfiction, Biography, Self Help, Health and Wellness, Pop Culture, Social Justice, LBBTQIA+ Rights, BIPOC
CHILDREN’S FICTION: YA
JL Stermer is the CEO of NEXT LEVEL LIT and a third-generation New Yorker. With over a decade of agenting experience prior to starting NEXT LEVEL LIT, she and her team are uniformly dedicated to securing book publishing deals that build careers in both fiction and nonfiction categories.
Her client’s books have been featured on NPR, Late Night with Seth Meyers, TODAY, ESPN, E News, and CBS This Morning as well as in The New York Times, USA Today, Oprah Daily, Refinery 29, The Root, ESSENCE, and more.
After exploring careers in theater, fashion, network TV, and hospitality, JL eventually found her way to book publishing. She attended Temple University, FIT, and earned her BA from Columbia University in English Literature.
When not at her desk, JL can be found strolling around the city noticing her favorite things: street style, architecture, nature, construction sites, and the diversity of humans who create the chaos and beauty of NYC.
Genres:
ADULT FICTION: Fantasy, Romance, Sci-fi, Thriller, Historical, Diverse, Romantic Comedy, Crime, Alternate History, Literary
NONFICTION: Memoir, Biography, History, Self Help, Travel, Nature
CHILDREN’S FICTION: Middle Grade, YA, Graphic Novels
Mark Gottlieb is the Executive Vice President and a top-ranked literary agent at Trident Media Group, where he helms one of the most successful client rosters in the industry and oversees major agency initiatives at one of the world’s leading literary agencies.
Widely recognized for his sharp editorial vision, powerhouse deal-making, and strategic approach to career building, Mark consistently lands six- and seven-figure publishing deals and film/TV deals for debut and established authors alike. His portfolio spans #1 New York Times bestsellers, award-winning fiction and nonfiction, and children’s books & graphic novels. Known for his unrivaled commitment to authors, deep command of the publishing landscape, and global reach across all major markets, Mark has become one of the industry’s most sought-after agents and a defining force in shaping today’s publishing success stories.
Genres:
ADULT FICTION: Upmarket, Diverse, Commercial, Speculative, Sci-fi, Dystopian, Mystery, Suspense, Commercial with Literary Elements
NONFICTION: Memoir, Narrative Nonfiction, Biography, Self Help, Health and Wellness, Pop Culture, Social Justice, LGBTQIA+ Rights, BIPOC
CHILDREN’S FICTION: Middle Grade and YA, Picture Books, Early Readers, Chapter Books
As an Acquisitions Manager and Developmental Editor at Atmosphere Press, Megan helps authors navigate hybrid publishing contracts and shape their manuscripts into powerful, polished books ready for publication. They’re passionate about storytelling craft and love helping writers deepen their characters and tighten their narratives—nothing beats the thrill of seeing a story click into place.
They hold an M.F.A. in Acting and Directing from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, and before joining the publishing world, Megan spent years developing new plays with theatre companies like the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Kansas City Repertory Theatre. That background gives them a uniquely embodied, character-driven approach to editing. They’ve edited more than two dozen books across genres like speculative fiction, YA/MG, and memoir.
When it comes to new projects, Megan is excited to connect with authors who bring energy, originality, and heart to their work. Atmosphere Press considers manuscripts in every genre, and Megan especially loves working with writers who have fresh perspectives, distinctive voices, and a clear spark of passion for the story they’re telling.
Megan is also a featured speaker at Writing Day Workshops, The Fiction Lab, and other programs focused on narrative technique. They’re a speculative fiction fanatic, an obsessed pet parent, and a sucker for a good thrift store find. Megan lives in Tulsa, OK in a household containing 3 cats, 3 dogs, and 3 humans (or 5 cats, if you count the porch regulars!). When they’re not editing or writing, you’ll find them daydreaming about horses or hunting down the perfect weird coffee mug.
Genres:
ADULT FICTION: Contemporary, Historical, Romantic Comedy, Upmarket Romance, Sci-fi, Thrillers, Suspense, Detective, Literary, Horror
NONFICTION: Memoir, Biography, History, True Crime
Ronald Gerber is President at Lowenstein Associates, where he has been a literary agent since 2019. His clients include: Daniel Kenitz, whose debut thriller The Perfect Home was published by Scribner in 2025; Sonja Thomas, author of the acclaimed children’s books Sir Fig Newton and The Science of Persistence and Olive Blackwood Takes Action! with Aladdin/Simon & Schuster…
… and Lorissa Rinehart, author of feminist biographies First to The Front and Winning the Earthquake with St. Martin’s Press. Ronald is focused on cinematic stories with strong hooks and relatable characters, and is always looking for projects from queer, BIPOC, and other underrepresented authors. He is a proud graduate of Bard College at Simon’s Rock and Clark University. He resides in Queens, New York with his wife and too many books to count.
New York Times-bestselling author Helen Simonson is living proof that “overnight success” is often years in the making, and that the path to publication requires perseverance. She started her writing journey with a course on beginner fiction at a YMCA and often tells aspiring writers that it took her fifteen years from first ambition to first book deal.
Simonson’s debut, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand—a late-in-life love story set in an English village—sold over a million copies, was published in more than twenty countries, and established her as a modern master of the comedy of manners. She followed it with The Summer Before the War, a richly layered historical novel about a coastal town on the brink of World War I, and most recently with The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club, a gripping tale of women, wartime change, and newfound freedoms in 1919.
Born and raised in England, Simonson studied at the London School of Economics, later earning her MFA in creative writing from Stony Brook Southampton. Before becoming a full-time novelist, she worked as a travel advertising executive, then spent years writing while raising two sons.
Now a dual UK–US citizen living in Brooklyn, New York, Simonson writes fiction that blends wit, emotional depth, and sharp social observation, exploring class, colonial legacy, gender, and the quiet rebellions of ordinary lives. A frequent guest at festivals and libraries, she brings to the stage the same warmth, dry humor, and brisk narrative energy that animate her novels—along with a candid, encouraging perspective on perseverance, revision, and building a writing life over the long haul.
Visit Helen Simonson's Website
Many shy writers are shocked to realize our job isn’t done once a book is published. How do we reach readers? How do we share pieces of our heart with the big, old world?
Award-winning author Jane Kurtz has published more than forty books for young readers. A large part of Jane’s success is because she understands the hard part of being a published writer so well—the time and effort it takes to connect with readers. Jane has done author speaking in all but ten of the states and on five continents, visiting libraries and schools and staying connected with many who share her passions. In this bite-sized insight on Building a Platform, Jane will share her approach and ideas.
Award-winning author Jane Kurtz has published more than forty books for young readers, fiction and nonfiction, from picture books to middle grade novels. Her newest book is an almost true story in verse that Booklist called “heartwarming, relatable, and humorous” and Kirkus described as “A buoyant, beautiful explication of cultural adjustment as seen through a child’s eyes” (both starred reviews). She has done author speaking in all but ten of the states and on five continents. She also volunteers for a nonprofit project that creates bilingual books for and about Ethiopia, where she spent most of her childhood.
Today’s publishing landscape can feel daunting. Traditional routes are more selective than ever, and the world of hybrid and self-publishing can be overwhelming to navigate. Along the way, writers inevitably face emotional terrain: Am I good enough? Will my book find readers? What will it cost me—personally and publicly—to share my story?
In this talk, Brooke Warner invites writers to tune in to their own inner compass rather than looking outward for approval or permission. She reinforces that there is no single “right” path to publication. Instead, authors will discover deeper confidence and creative freedom when they release the expectation that only gatekeepers decide their worth.
Brooke Warner is the publisher of She Writes Press, an imprint of The Stable Book Group. She is a memoir coach and author of Write On, Sisters!, Green-light Your Book, What's Your Book?, and three books on memoir. She’s also a TEDx speaker, weekly podcaster (of “Memoir Nation” with co-host Grant Faulkner), and publishes a weekly newsletter, Writerly Things, on Substack at brookewarner.substack.com.
A must-attend session for writers ready to move from querying to representation. Our panel of experienced agents will reveal what compels them to request a full manuscript, what turns them off immediately, and how they spot market potential. Expect frank insights about navigating trends, choosing your lane as an author, and treating your creative work as both art and business.
Moderator
Chris Steib is a bookshop owner, startup consultant, teacher, and entrepreneur. When not running Transom Bookshop in Tarrytown, NY, he’s either building websites or teaching marketing, pitching, and web design to writers. An aspiring spec-fic/horror writer, one-time karaoke champion, and pretty bad chess player, Chris’s info can be found at chrissteib.com.
Panelist
Alexandra Franklin joined Curtis Brown in 2023 as an associate agent in the dramatic rights department and in the books department. She was previously an assistant at Writers House and then an associate agent at Vicky Bijur Literary Agency. She holds an MFA in poetry from The New School. Alexandra is particularly interested in upmarket and literary fiction, narrative nonfiction and memoir, and select literary YA. She is not the right agent for horror, sci-fi, fantasy, or children’s books.
Panelist
Caitlin Blasdell has been a literary agent with Liza Dawson Associates since 2002 with a focus on commercial fiction. Before becoming an agent, she was a senior editor at HarperCollins Publishers. A graduate of Williams College, she lives in Westchester with her husband and four sons. Caitlin specializes in quality commercial fiction including science fiction & fantasy, historical fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and women’s fiction. She also handles a few select middle grade and YA authors.
Panelist
JL Stermer is the CEO of NEXT LEVEL LIT and a third-generation New Yorker. With over a decade of agenting experience prior to starting NEXT LEVEL LIT, she and her team are dedicated to securing book publishing deals that build careers in both fiction and nonfiction.
Her clients’ books have been featured on NPR, Late Night with Seth Meyers, TODAY, ESPN, E! News, and CBS This Morning, as well as in The New York Times, USA Today, Oprah Daily, Refinery29, The Root, ESSENCE, and more.
After exploring careers in theater, fashion, network TV, and hospitality, JL eventually found her way to book publishing. She attended Temple University and FIT, and earned her BA in English Literature from Columbia University.
When not at her desk, JL can be found strolling around the city, noticing her favorite things: street style, architecture, nature, construction sites, and the diversity of humans who create the chaos and beauty of NYC.
GENRES: Commercial Fiction, Upmarket Fiction, Narrative-Nonfiction, Biography, Self-help, Contemporary YA, Adult and YA nonfiction: health & wellness, pop culture, social justice, women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights, BIPOC stories.
Panelist
Mark Gottlieb is a senior vice president and prominent literary agent working at book publishing’s leading literary agency Trident Media Group in New York City. He has ranked highly among literary agents across the industry for overall number of deals and other individual categories. While at Trident Media Group, Mark Gottlieb has represented New York Times bestselling authors as well as major award-winning authors. He has optioned and sold numerous books to production companies and studios for film and TV adaptation. Mark Gottlieb greatly enjoys working with authors to help manage and grow their careers with the resources available at Trident Media Group. In addition to having worked at the company’s Foreign Rights Department, he also ran the company’s Audiobook Department. Utilizing his drive and intuition for discovering talented writers, he is currently expanding his client list of authors. As a literary agent he looks forward to bringing authors to the largest possible audience.
Whether it’s a love story, a literary coming-of-age tale, or a high-stakes thriller, suspense keeps readers glued to the page. Join a panel of local authors as they reveal how to craft tension that feels organic to your story—through pacing, unanswered questions, emotional stakes, and the art of withholding just enough. Learn how to make readers need to know what happens next, whatever your genre.
Moderator
Liv Constantine is an Edgar award nominated, New York Times and internationally bestselling author. She is the co-author of The Last Mrs. Parrish, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick now in production with Netflix for a film adaptation with Robert Zemeckis directing and Jennifer Lopez starring. Her critically acclaimed books have been praised by the Washington Post, USA Today, the Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others, with more than two million copies sold worldwide. Constantine also writes the Jack Logan series under the pen name L. C. Shaw. She has a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. Her work has been translated into twenty-nine languages, is available in thirty-four countries, and is in development for both television and film.
Panelist
I.M. Aiken, who now lives in Vermont, worked on ambulances off and on since the 1980s, starting in the Boston area where she was born and raised. She also served one tour in Iraq as a civilian member of the US Army’s 4th Infantry Division. Stolen Mountain is part of The Trowbridge Vermont Series, which includes The Little Ambulance War of Winchester County (2024) and The Trowbridge Dispatch (2025), a growing collection of short stories. All works by I.M. Aiken are available as audiobooks read by the author.
Panelist
Karen Dukess is the USA Today bestselling author of Welcome to Murder Week and The Last Book Party and is a contributor to the anthology Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters. She is also the host of The Castle Hill Author Talks, a series of virtual and in-person interviews with some of today’s most exciting authors. She has been a tour guide in the former Soviet Union, a newspaper reporter in Florida, a magazine publisher in Russia, and a speechwriter on gender equality for the United Nations. She has a degree in Russian Studies from Brown University and a Master’s in Journalism from Columbia University. She lives with her family near New York City and spends as much time as possible in Truro on Cape Cod.
Panelist
Tessa Wegert is the critically acclaimed author of the Shana Merchant mysteries along with the North Country series, beginning with In the Bones. Her books have received numerous starred reviews and have been featured on PBS and NPR Radio. A former journalist and copywriter, Tessa grew up in Quebec and now lives with her husband and children in Connecticut, where she co-founded Sisters in Crime CT and serves on the board of International Thriller Writers (ITW).
Panelist
Wendy Walker is the USA Today bestselling author of psychological suspense novels. Her work has been translated into over twenty-three foreign languages and has been optioned for television and film. She is a former attorney and investment banker, and as a teenager, she trained for competitive figure skating. Her next thriller, Blade, will be published by Thomas & Mercer in January 2026. Visit www.wendywalkerbooks.com.
Traditional publishing isn’t the only route to success. This candid conversation with hybrid-press and small-press editors explores today’s changing publishing landscape—where authors have more control and more choices than ever. You’ll discover the pros and cons of self-publishing, hybrid partnerships, and indie presses, and gain practical ideas for building your platform, running effective promotions, and connecting with readers on your own terms.
Moderator
As an Acquisitions Manager and Developmental Editor at Atmosphere Press, Megan helps authors navigate hybrid publishing contracts and shape their manuscripts into powerful, polished books ready for publication. They’re passionate about storytelling craft and love helping writers deepen their characters and tighten their narratives—nothing beats the thrill of seeing a story click into place.
They hold an M.F.A. in Acting and Directing from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, and before joining the publishing world, Megan spent years developing new plays with theatre companies like the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Kansas City Repertory Theatre. That background gives them a uniquely embodied, character-driven approach to editing. They’ve edited more than two dozen books across genres like speculative fiction, YA/MG, and memoir.
When it comes to new projects, Megan is excited to connect with authors who bring energy, originality, and heart to their work. Atmosphere Press considers manuscripts in every genre, and Megan especially loves working with writers who have fresh perspectives, distinctive voices, and a clear spark of passion for the story they’re telling.
Megan is also a featured speaker at Writing Day Workshops, The Fiction Lab, and other programs focused on narrative technique. They’re a speculative fiction fanatic, an obsessed pet parent, and a sucker for a good thrift store find. Megan lives in Tulsa, OK in a household containing 3 cats, 3 dogs, and 3 humans (or 5 cats, if you count the porch regulars!). When they’re not editing or writing, you’ll find them daydreaming about horses or hunting down the perfect weird coffee mug.
Panelist
Brooke Adams Law is an award-winning author and founder of the Writing Brave movement. Brooke helps creative, intuitive people claim their author identity so that they can start, finish and publish brave, dazzling books. Brooke’s debut novel Catchlight won the Fairfield Book Prize, was named a Best Indie Book of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews, and was featured on Good Morning America’s blog. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Fairfield University and a BA in English from Vassar College. Through Writing Brave, she offers comprehensive book coaching and hybrid publishing services. You can visit Brooke’s website at www.wearewritingbrave.com and sign up for the Writing Brave newsletter.
Panelist
Brooke Warner is the publisher of She Writes Press, an imprint of The Stable Book Group. She is a memoir coach and author of Write On, Sisters!, Green-light Your Book, What’s Your Book?, and three books on memoir. She’s also a TEDx speaker, weekly podcaster (of “Memoir Nation” with co-host Grant Faulkner), and publishes a weekly newsletter, Writerly Things, on Substack at brookewarner.substack.com.
Panelist
David LeGere is a seasoned publishing professional with over eighteen years of experience in U.S. trade nonfiction, fiction, gift, and outdoor markets. In addition to his publishing work, David is a dedicated English professor and writer. He hosts literary conferences such as the Woodhall Press Writers Conference, and produces the podcast Publish This! Over Lunch, and serves as publisher of the annual Connecticut Literary Anthology and the Fairfield University Book Prize. For more information, visit www.dllegere.com.
Panelist
Jessica Powers writes under the name J.L. Powers and has published 9 books for children and young adults. She started in publishing in 2002, working as a publicist, editor, and rights manager for Cinco Puntos Press until it sold to Lee & Low in 2021. In 2016, she launched her own publishing company, Catalyst Press, which now encompasses four imprints (Catalyst Press, Flare Books/Flare Kids, PowersSquared, and Catalyst Collective). She can be found online at jlpowers.net or catalystpress.org.
In addition to our conference programming on the 21st, join us for two workshops tailored to enhance your experience.
Yes! We have a slate of new agents taking pitches and sitting on our Ask the Agent panel.
Agents will be taking pitches from 12:15 - 2:15. Meeting will be scheduled specifically during this time and you will receive an individualized schedule prior to the event with your Conference with Pitches ticket purchase.
Three weeks before the event, you will receive an email asking for your top choices for agents with whom to meet. Though we can’t make guarantees, we will do our best to meet your requests and ensure you are matched with agents who represent the genre of your work.
For Conferences With Pitches, partial refunds (50% of the ticket price) will be given if requested before February 27th. No refunds will be issued for Conference Only tickets after this date.
The entire conference takes place at The Westport Library. The panels and talks are on the main stage, and the agents will be taking pitches in breakout rooms. Volunteers will be on site to help you find where you need to go.
Yes! This event is certainly still for you. We have a conference-only ticket price that does not include pitching to agents. You will have access to all other elements of the conference; a full day of talks about how to find an agent, the publishing process, how to level up your writing game, and more! We know the conference will educate, motivate, and inspire you, and you’ll meet new fellow literary citizens.
Westport is about an hour away from Grand Central on the Metro North train service.
Hotel recommendations: Delamar Westport, The Circle Hotel in Fairfield, Delamar Southport, Hotel Zero Degrees in Norwalk,
Scholarships are available for Conference-Only tickets.
You may apply for a scholarship below with a sample of your writing (no more than 500 words) and a personal statement detailing your interest and your financial need (no more than 250 words).
