Westport Writers' Pitch & Publish Conference
Saturday, March 16, 2024

Westport Writers' Workshop Pitch & Publish Conference 2024 took place at the Westport Library on Saturday, March 16th, 2024, from 10:00am - 4:15pm. The conference featured author and publishing expert Leigh Stein as the keynote speaker, a day of dynamic talks and panels on writing and publishing, and the rare opportunity to pitch your book to two agents, as well as a Friday night welcome party, book signings, books for sale, and a Saturday evening wrap party. We had confirmed agents from Curtis Brown, Aevitas, Janklow, Fletcher & Company, among others. Last year's conference offerings included the opportunity for each agent to read five pages of your work prior to the conference, a mini “practice your pitch” session during the conference, and a catered lunch.
Questions? Email: pitchandpublish@westportwritersworkshop.com or visit our FAQ page.
For Westport Writers' Pitch & Publish Conference 2025 please visit the Pitch and Publish 2025 website for more details.

About
The
Event

Julie
Sarkissian

Conference Co-chair

Liz
Matthews

Conference Co-chair

Leigh
Stein

Conference Co-chair

Making
Your Pitch!

Writers who buy a Conference With Pitches ticket, will have the opportunity to discuss their work in person at the library or via Zoom with two agents for 10 minutes each (included in the cost of registration). New this year: Agents will read five pages of each writers work, in addition to a query letter, in advance of the conference.

Pitch
Takers

Erica McGrath

Writers House

Erica McGrath

Writers House

Erica gravitates toward adult literary fiction—with a particular interest in subversive and darkly humorous voice-driven novels—, adult narrative non-fiction and microhistories, both adult and children’s graphic novels, picture books, middle grade, and select YA.

Paul Lucas

Janklow & Nesbit

Paul Lucas

Janklow & Nesbit

Paul is actively looking for upmarket commercial fiction, specifically historical, thrillers, science fiction and fantasy. On the literary side, he likes reading narratives about immigration, ostracization, class, family and race. For non-fiction, he is drawn to narratives, learning new things and the occasional humor project.

Charlotte Wenger

Prospect Agency

Charlotte Wenger

Prospect Agency

Charlotte is looking for children’s fiction and narrative nonfiction – picture books, middle grade, graphic novels, and young adult – as well as adult nonfiction, particularly biographies and memoirs. She’s especially drawn to stories that have a strong voice and memorable characters. She loves books that teach her new things, make her laugh out loud, or tug at the heartstrings

Kelly Karczewski

United Talent Agency

Kelly Karczewski

United Talent Agency

Genres: Literary fiction, upmarket fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, speculative fiction, elevated romantic comedies. Nonfiction: Pop culture, memoir

Ask the
Agents
Panel

Westport Writers’ Workshop Programming Director Liz Matthews discussed with literary agents everything you need to know about finding and working with a literary agent.

MODERATOR

Ayla Zuraw Friedland

Frances Goldin Literary Agency

Jessica Felleman

Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency

Rachel Beck

Rachel Beck Liza Dawson

Reiko Davis

DeFiore & Company

Eloy Bleifuss

Janklow & Nesbit

Good Bad
and The
Ugly Panel

Everything You Wanted to Know About Publishing but Were Too Afraid to Ask. No question is off limits in this candid discussion of publishing's stickiest situations.

MODERATOR

Julie Sarkissian

Westport Writers' Workshop

Anya Liftig

Creative Nonfiction Author

Cara Wall

Author & Westport Writers Workshop Instructor

Brigitte Dale

Editor at St. Martin's Press

Soon Wiley

Author & Westport Writers Workshop Instructor

Paul Lucas

Agent at Janklow & Nesbit

Agenda

Friday Evening

Saturday Morning

Saturday Afternoon

Friday & Saturday

March 15th & 16th

Welcome
Party

Friday 07:00 PM -> 09:36 PM EST

At The Workshop

Registration
& Coffee

Saturday 09:00 AM -> 10:00 AM EST

Westport Library

Welcome Comments
& Overview

Saturday 10:00 AM -> 10:15 AM EST

Westport Library

PANEL 1:
Ask the Agent

Saturday 10:15 AM -> 11:00 AM EST

Westport Library

Q&A
Ask the Agent

Saturday 11:00 AM -> 11:30 AM EST

Westport Library

Practice
Your Pitch

Saturday 11:30 AM -> 12:15 AM EST

Westport Library

Lunch
Break

12:15 PM -> 12:45 PM EST

Agent
Pitches

Saturday 12:15 PM -> 02:15 PM EST

Westport Library

PANEL 2:
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Saturday 01:00 PM -> 01:45 PM EST

Westport Library

Writing
Exercise

Saturday 02:00 PM -> 02:30 PM EST

Westport Library

Agent
Pitches

Saturday 02:15 PM -> 04:15 PM EST

Westport Library

Keynote
Speaker

Saturday 02:45 PM -> 03:45 PM EST

Westport Library

Ending Remarks
& Book Signing

Saturday 03:45 PM -> 04:15 PM EST

Westport Library

After
Party

Saturday 04:30 PM -> 07:30 PM EST

Westport Library

9:00 AM

07:30 PM

Pitch & Publish
Testimonials

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!

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Pitch & Publish Conference 2024

About The Event

Julie Sarkissian

Conference Co-chair

Liz Matthews

Conference Co-chair

Leigh Stein

Conference Co-chair

Making Your Pitch!

Pitch Takers

Erica McGrath

Erica McGrath

Paul Lucas

Paul Lucas

Charlotte Wenger

Charlotte Wenger

Kelly Karczewski

Kelly Karczewski

Ask the Agents Panel

Westport Writers’ Workshop Programming Director Liz Matthews discussed with literary agents everything you need to know about finding and working with a literary agent.

MODERATOR

Ayla Zuraw Friedland

Frances Goldin Literary Agency

Jessica Felleman

Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency

Rachel Beck

Rachel Beck Liza Dawson

Reiko Davis

DeFiore & Company

Eloy Bleifuss

Janklow & Nesbit

Good Bad and The Ugly Panel

Everything You Wanted to Know About Publishing but Were Too Afraid to Ask. No question is off limits in this candid discussion of publishing's stickiest situations.

MODERATOR

Julie Sarkissian

Westport Writers' Workshop

Anya Liftig

Creative Nonfiction Author

Cara Wall

Author & Westport Writers Workshop Instructor

Brigitte Dale

Editor at St. Martin's Press

Soon Wiley

Author & Westport Writers Workshop Instructor

Paul Lucas

Agent at Janklow & Nesbit

Agenda

Friday Evening

Saturday Morning

Saturday Afternoon

Friday & Saturday

March 15th & 16th

Welcome Party

Friday 07:00 PM -> 09:36 PM EST

At The Workshop

Registration & Coffee

Saturday 09:00 AM -> 10:00 AM EST

Westport Library

Welcome Comments & Overview

Saturday 10:00 AM -> 10:15 AM EST

Westport Library

PANEL 1: Ask the Agent

Saturday 10:15 AM -> 11:00 AM EST

Westport Library

Q&A Ask the Agent

Saturday 11:00 AM -> 11:30 AM EST

Westport Library

Practice Your Pitch

Saturday 11:30 AM -> 12:15 AM EST

Westport Library

Lunch Break

12:15 PM -> 12:45 PM EST

Agent Pitches

Saturday 12:15 PM -> 02:15 PM EST

Westport Library

PANEL 2: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Saturday 01:00 PM -> 01:45 PM EST

Westport Library

Writing Exercise

Saturday 02:00 PM -> 02:30 PM EST

Pitch & Publish
Conference 2024

About
The
Event

Julie
Sarkissian

Liz
Matthews

Leigh
Stein

Making
Your Pitch!

Pitch
Takers

Ask the
Agents
Panel

Good Bad
and The
Ugly Panel

Welcome
Party

Registration
& Coffee

Welcome Comments
& Overview

PANEL 1:
Ask the Agent

Q&A
Ask the Agent

Practice
Your Pitch

Lunch
Break

Agent
Pitches

PANEL 2:
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Writing
Exercise

Agent
Pitches

Keynote
Speaker

Ending Remarks
& Book Signing

After
Party

Pitch & Publish
Testimonials

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