Speakers

Amber Caravéo Amber Caravéo is the co-founder of Skylark Literary a boutique literary agency which specializes in the very best…

Caitie Flum Caitie Flum is a literary agent at Liza Dawson Associates and represents projects across genres in both middle…

Emily S. Keyes Emily S. Keyes joined Fuse Literary in 2013. Previously she worked at the L. Perkins Agency as…

James Mustelier I was born in Miami, Florida, and lived in Spain, France and Italy before moving to New York.…

Jem Chambers-Black Jem Chambers-Black is an Associate Agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency. But before joining the ABLA family, Jem…

Joanna Moult Joanna is co-founder of Skylark Literary Limited, a specialist Children’s and YA literary agency. Previously she was Editorial…

Katherine Wessbecher Katherine Wessbecher joined the Bradford Literary Agency in 2020. She began her publishing career at Penguin, where she…

Lindsay Davis Auld Lindsay Auld is a literary agent at Writers House. She started in the agency’s California office, where…

MONICA HAY Monica Hay earned her Master’s degree in Book Publishing at Portland State University and now works as an…

Natalie Lakosil Natalie is an agent at Bradford Literary Agency. Over the past decade she has had the honor to…

Patricia Nelson Patricia Nelson has been a literary agent with Marsal Lyon Literary Agency since 2014, representing all genres of…

Saba Sulaiman Saba Sulaiman is an agent at Talcott Notch Literary Services, a boutique agency located in Milford, CT. She…

Saritza Hernandez A Literary Agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Saritza is a geek with a love for romance…

Stefanie Molina Stefanie is an associate agent at the Jennifer de Chiara Literary Agency. She is also a book coach…

Stephanie Winter Stephanie Winter is an associate agent at P.S. Literary. She first joined the agency as an intern before…

TARA GILBERT Tara joined The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency as an Associate Literary Agent in 2020. She has been…

Z. R. Ellor Zabé “Z. R.” Ellor grew up in Washington, DC and narrowly escaped a career in the sciences…

Addie Thorley Addie Thorley is the author of Night Spinner and An Affair of Poisons, which was chosen as a…

Akemi Dawn Bowman Akemi Dawn Bowman is a critically-acclaimed author who writes across genres. Her novels have received multiple accolades…

Alexa Donne Alexa Donne is the author of Brightly Burning and The Stars We Steal, YA sci-fi romance retellings of…

Alexandra Overy Alexandra grew up in London and moved to Los Angeles to pursue her undergraduate degree in history at…

Alyssa Coleman Alyssa Colman is the author of magical, middle grade adventure novels. As a playwright, she was a winner…

Amanda Rawson Hill Amanda Rawson Hill grew up in Southwest Wyoming, with a library right out her back gate. After…

Amanda Sellet Amanda Sellet is the author of By the Book: A Novel of Prose and Cons. During her previous…

Amélie Wen Zhao Amélie (yes, like the movie!) has adored putting pen to paper since she was in kindergarten. Born…

Amparo Ortiz Amparo Ortiz was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and currently lives on the island’s northeastern coast. Her…

Amy Noelle Parks Amy Noelle Parks is the author of the YA rom-com, The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss (out…

Anna Staniszewski Born in Poland and raised in the United States, Anna Staniszewski grew up loving stories in both Polish…

Ashley Shuttleworth Ashley Shuttleworth is a young adult fantasy author with a degree in English literature and a slight obsession…

Beth Revis Beth Revis is a NY Times bestselling author with books available in more than 20 languages. Her latest…

Bitsy Kemper Bitsy Kemper is an award-wining author of 21 children’s books, from whimsical fairytale retellings to teen non-fiction, and…

Carolyn Tara O’Neil Carolyn Tara O’Neil grew up in a tiny New York City apartment filled with thousands of books.…

Cassandra Hartt Cassandra grew up in Maine and upstate New York before earning an English degree from Dartmouth College. She…

Christina Li Christina Li is a student at Stanford University studying Economics. In her spare time, when she is not…

Chrystal D. Giles Chrystal D. Giles is a children’s book author and champion for diversity and representation in children’s literature.…

Claire Eliza Bartlett Claire Bartlett is the author of the critically acclaimed YA fantasy We Rule the Night, and the…

Claire Winn Claire Winn spends her time immersed in other worlds—whether it’s LARP, video games, SF/F novels, nerd conventions, or…

Cyla Panin Cyla Panin is an MG, YA and Adult Author who prefers to look at the world through a…

Danielle Bennett Danielle is from Victoria, British Columbia, and works freelance as an independent editor, proofreader and plagiarism checker. Together…

Debbie Dadey Debbie Dadey grew up in Kentucky and now lives in a log cabin in TN with her husband…

Destiny Soria Destiny Soria is a fantasy author and freelance writer. Her novels feature magic, mystery, and an excess of…

Deva Fagan Deva Fagan is the author of Rival Magic, Nightingale, Circus Galacticus and other books for young readers. She…

Dr. Ellie Cypher Dr. Ellie Cypher grew up in Northern California, graduated from University of California Santa Cruz with her…

Emily Victoria Emily Victoria is a Canadian prairie girl who writes young adult science fiction and fantasy. When not word-smithing,…

Emma Kress Emma Kress loves writing about badass girls and her debut novel Dangerous Play (Macmillan, Summer 2021) is a…

Erin Riha Erin Riha writes young adult fantasy novels about ambitious girls who don’t know they’re not supposed to exceed…

G.Z. Schmidt G.Z. Schmidt is the author of the middle grade novel NO ORDINARY THING. She grew up all over…

Gabriela Martins Gabriela Martins is a Brazilian kidlit author and linguist. Her stories feature Brazilian characters finding themselves and love.…

Gail Carson Levine Gail Carson Levine has written twenty-six books for children. Her best-known is Ella Enchanted, which won a…

Gail D. Villanueva Gail D. Villanueva is a Filipino author born and based in the Philippines. She’s also a web…

Halli Gomez Halli Gomez teaches martial arts and writes for children and young adults. She has written several stories with…

Hanna C. Howard Hanna C. Howard spent most of her childhood wondering how she might avoid growing up, and eventually…

Hannah Carmona Hannah is a Latinx Bestselling Children’s Author. She is a single mom of two fierce girls, and enjoys…

Hannah Reynolds Hannah Reynolds is the author of the upcoming young adult romantic comedy, The Summer of Lost Letters. She…

Heather Fawcett Heather Fawcett is the author of the YA fantasy duology Even the Darkest Stars and middle-grade books Ember…

Heather Kassner Heather Kassner loves thunderstorms, hummingbirds, and books. She lives with her husband in Arizona, waiting (and waiting and…

Intisar Khanani Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler. She has lived in five different states as well…

J. C. Davis J. C. Davis is an unrepentant book addict who always has a spare book on hand in…

J.Elle J.Elle is a young adult and middle-grade author and advocate for marginalized voices in both publishing and her community.…

Jacob Sager Weinstein Jacob Sager Weinstein has written for The New Yorker, HBO, and the BBC, and he’s a former…

Jaida Jones Jaida Jones and Dani Bennett are married co-authors (without wanting to divorce yet) who live in Brooklyn with…

Janae Marks Janae Marks has an MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Writing for Children from The New…

Jenn Bishop Jenn Bishop is the author of the middle-grade novels Things You Can’t Say, 14 Hollow Road, and The…

Jennie Wexler Jennie Wexler spent the first part of her career producing television shows appearing on VH1, Bravo, and The…

Jennifer Voigt Kaplan Jennifer Voigt Kaplan is an award-winning author of children’s fiction. Her debut novel, Crushing the Red Flowers,…

Jess Rinker Jess Rinker is a children’s author and writing teacher currently living in the mountains of West Virginia. She…

Jessica S. Olson Jessica S. Olson claims New Hampshire as her home, but has somehow found herself in Texas, where…

Joan F. Smith Joan F. Smith lives with her family in Massachusetts, where she works as an associate dean, a…

Joanna Ruth Meyer Joanna Ruth Meyer is the author of the critically-acclaimed Echo North, as well as Into the Heartless…

Josh Funk Josh Funk writes silly stories such as the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, the How to…

Julie Abe Julie Abe is the author of the Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch middle grade fantasy series. She has lived…

Julie Eshbaugh Julie Eshbaugh is a YA writer and former filmmaker. She made two short films and then spent several…

Kaela Rivera Kaela Rivera was raised to believe in will-o’-the-wisps and el chupacabra, but even ghost stories couldn’t stop her…

Kalena Miller Kalena Miller grew up in College Station, TX with her mom, dad, and the most photographed hamster in…

Kalynn Bayron Kalynn Bayron is the author of the bestselling YA fantasy, Cinderella is Dead, and a classically trained vocalist.…

Kathryn Purdie Kathryn Purdie is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Burning Glass series and the Bone…

Katya de Becerra Katya de Becerra is the author of What The Woods Keep and Oasis. Born in Russia, Katya…

KayLynn Flanders KayLynn Flanders is a graduate of Brigham Young University, with a degree in English Language and a minor…

Kristine Asselin Kristine Asselin is the author of several works of children’s nonfiction, co-author of the middle grade novel The…

Laura E. Weymouth Laura Weymouth is a lifelong writer who lives at the edge of the woods in western New…

Laura Taylor Namey Laura Taylor Namey is a Cuban-American Californian who can be found haunting her favorite coffee shops and…

Lauren Mansy Lauren is from Chicago area, where she grew up helping her parents in their family business before she…

Lee Edward Födi Lee Edward Födi is an author, illustrator, and specialized arts educator—or, as he likes to think of…

Lindsay Lackey Lindsay Lackey is the author of the bestselling middle grade novel, All the Impossible Things (Roaring Brook Press),…

Liselle Sambury Liselle Sambury is a Canadian author whose brand of writing can be described as “messy Black girls in…

Louisa Onomé Louisa Onomé is a Nigerian-Canadian writer of books for teens. She holds a BA in professional writing from…

Lyndall Clipstone Lyndall Clipstone writes about monsters and the girls who like to kiss them. A former youth librarian who…

Marcie Colleen Marcie Colleen is an award-winning author of picture books and chapter books. Through the years her books have…

Maria Ingrande Mora Maria Ingrande Mora is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she received her bachelor’s degree…

Mary Kole Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Mary Kole Editorial in 2013 and provides consulting and developmental editing services…

Megan E. Freeman Megan E. Freeman attended an elementary school where poets visited her classroom every week to teach poetry…

Melanie Conklin Melanie Conklin grew up in North Carolina and worked as a product designer for ten years before she…

Natalie Mae Natalie Mae is an ex-programmer, dessert enthusiast, and the author of YA fantasies The Kinder Poison and The…

Nicki Pau Preto Nicki Pau Preto is a YA fantasy author living just outside Toronto, Canada. After getting a degree…

Payal Doshi Payal Doshi has a Masters in Creative Writing (Fiction) from The New School, New York. Having lived in…

Rachel Griffin Rachel Griffin is the author of the upcoming The Nature of Witches, releasing from Sourcebooks Fire in June…

Remy Lai Remy Lai writes and draws for kids. She was born in Indonesia, grew up in Singapore and currently…

Ronni Davis Ronni Davis lives in Chicago with her husband Adam and her son Aidan. By day she copy edits…

ROSIEE THOR Rosiee Thor began her career as a storyteller by demanding to tell her mother bedtime stories instead of…

Ryan Dalton Ryan Dalton is author of Remember Me, Archie (Lerner 2021) and the Time Shift trilogy. He splits his…

Saadia Faruqi Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American author, essayist and interfaith activist. She writes the children’s early reader series…

Sam Taylor Sam Taylor grew up in Arizona’s deserts and now lives among Connecticut’s trees. She spends her days writing,…

Sara Holland Sara Holland grew up in small-town Minnesota among hundreds of books. She worked in a tea shop, a…

Sean Fletcher Sean Fletcher is the Amazon bestselling author of YA fantasy, and an award-winning author of middle grade fantasy.…

Shakirah Bourne Shakirah Bourne is a Barbadian author, filmmaker, and lover of ripe mangoes. Josephine Against the Sea (Scholastic, July…

Shannon Doleski Shannon Doleski was born and raised in Cazenovia, New York. After graduating from Niagara University with an English…

Shelli R. Johannes Shelli R. Johannes is the coauthor of the Loves Science picture book series (4 out, 2 coming)…

Sophie Gonzales Sophie Gonzales writes young adult queer contemporary fiction with memorable characters, biting wit and endless heart. She is…

Supriya Kelkar Supriya Kelkar is a screenwriter, illustrator, and award-winning author of several books including Ahimsa (Tu Books, 2017), Strong…

Tara Lazar Street magic performer. Hog-calling champion. Award-winning ice sculptor. These are all things Tara Lazar has never been. Instead,…

Terry Catasús Jennings On September 11, 1961, Terry Catasús Jennings landed in the United States after a short flight from…

V.T. Bidania V.T. Bidania was born in Laos and grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. When she was five years…

Vicky Fang Vicky Fang is a product designer who spent 5 years designing kids’ technology experiences for both Google and…

Yvette Clark Yvette Clark is the author of novels for young readers. Glitter Gets Everywhere, her debut middle-grade novel, will…

Z. R. Ellor Zabé “Z. R.” Ellor grew up in Washington, DC and narrowly escaped a career in the sciences…

L. M. Klein L. M. Klein is an editor in Copenhagen, Denmark, a city steeped in fairy tales. In her…

Mary Kole Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Mary Kole Editorial in 2013 and provides consulting and developmental editing services…

MONICA HAY Monica Hay earned her Master’s degree in Book Publishing at Portland State University and now works as an…