Chesapeake Writing Workshop:
March 22, 2025
In-Person Writers Conference 

PITCH YOUR BOOK TO A LITERARY AGENT:

Dara Kaye [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with William Morris Endeavor. She represents adult nonfiction that tells great stories—from serious history and memoir to pop science and parenting—along with select speculative fiction. Her clients include NYT bestsellers and winners of awards from the Locus to PEN America, Fulbright, and NEH fellowships. Across genres, she is drawn to projects with potential for international success and books that make the familiar world feel new and surprising. In nonfiction, she especially loves working with academics, journalists, and other experts with a knack for communicating original research to mainstream audiences, and with memoirists whose unique perspective stays with readers long after the last page. Learn more about Dara here.

Amanda Jain [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with BookEnds. Amanda currently reps adult romance, mystery / crime / thrillers, upmarket and book club fiction, horror, and science fiction & fantasy. She also represents narrative nonfiction, especially projects exploring the literary world, art history, material culture, archaeology, food history, social history, and popular science. She loves projects with a strong sense of place and those that create a completely immersive world. She is particularly interested in books that add something important to the conversation, that explore stories we haven’t yet heard, and that introduce new voices to our reading experience. Learn more about Amanda here.

Bridget Wagner Matzie [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She specializes in nonfiction. She is most interested in strong original ideas, new and international voices, big-think topics and books that challenge readers and create discussion. Bridget has represented projects such as the #1 New York Times bestseller Shattered by Jon Allen and Amie Parnes, the Washington Post‘s #1 New York Times bestseller The Mueller Report, the national bestseller The Case for Impeachment by Allan Lichtman, the acclaimed novel The Private Life of Mrs. Sharma by Ratika Kapur, as well as To Raise A Boy by Washington Post journalist Emma Brown, and Emory Professor Ruby Lal’s LA Times book prize finalist, Empress, among others. Learn more about Bridget here.

Chip Rice [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with Wordlink. Chip is looking for fiction that delivers exceptional voice with commercial appeal and a brisk pace. He values emotion, authenticity, humor, and memorable characters. Chip plans to open again in spring 2025 with specific interest in representing rom-com / romance for adults or teens, as well as contemporary YA. He will also consider most other genres of adult and young adult fiction, as well as platform-driven nonfiction. Chip is not the best fit for fantasy/sci-fi. Learn more about Chip here.

Taj McCoy [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with Rees Literary. Taj is building her list in Adult Fiction and Nonfiction, Young Adult, and Middle Grade, as well as looking for illustrators. She’s passionately seeking BIPOC and queer creators who highlight parts of their cultures and experiences. She is an advocate for body positivity in publishing, and loves to highlight intersectionality. In Adult Fiction, she is searching for: Steamy romance; Comedy-forward rom-coms; Exciting mysteries (cozy or otherwise) which include a romantic element; Family sagas and strong, character-driven commercial fiction with a clear character arc; Powerful women’s fiction; Main characters who are members of underrepresented groups in publishing; and Cinnamon roll love interests, intergenerational family dynamics, and masculinity that isn’t toxic. In Young Adult, she’s searching for: Angsty, emotional love stories; Rom-coms; Challenging coming-of-age stories; Exciting mysteries and thrillers; Witty teens who embrace their cultures and differences. In Middle Grade, she’s looking for: Adventure stories, Thrilling fantasies which help kids explore their identities, Mysteries that allow readers to explore intersectionality and inclusivity; and Romance/romcom: first crushes, first kisses, acknowledged feelings. In Nonfiction, she’s searching for: Adult biographies and memoirs which shed light on people and parts of history that are often erased or forgotten, Self-help collections focused on empowerment; Cookbooks that highlight family traditions and culture; YA and MG nonfiction that highlights historical figures and innovators who aren’t included in today’s curriculum; Nonfiction picture books; Interesting gift/survey/table books––including illustrations or photography; Humorous pop culture books. Learn more about Taj here.

Lindsey Smith is a literary agent with Speilburg Literary. Formerly a publicist and hailing from the world of self-publishing, Lindsey understands the importance of branding, and she works with each client not only to sell a book but to build a career. Lindsey is excited to work with first-time authors as well as those who are established. She is seeking nonfiction only, specifically prescriptive nonfiction that is compelling, and voice-driven, with the ability to shed light on a topic that might be unknown. She especially loves projects and people that bring humor to serious situations.  Lindsey is interested in cookbooks, lifestyle, health, pop culture, gender issues, self-help, true crime, and current events. She is especially interested in podcast-to-book ideas, journalists who specialize in specific research, and cookbooks that have a niche and/or narrative voice. Please do not pitch diet books. Learn more about Lindsey here.

Noah Grey Rosenzweig is a literary agent with Triangle House. Noah is interested in representing both fiction and nonfiction. He is a reader of all fiction but has a particular love for literary, climate, and speculative fiction, as well as the occasional YA novel. He has an eye out for stories that hold up a mirror to our culture in new ways, and he’s especially interested in queer and trans coming-of-age fiction, particularly told from a horror perspective. They are also looking for narrative nonfiction that chronicles recent history, cultural trends, technology, and social rules that explain why and how we live in our current world. Above all, Noah is looking for work that is subversive — in prose, style, or subject. Learn more about Noah here.

Renee C. Fountain [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent, publishing industry veteran, a reviewer for Kirkus and New York Journal of Books, and a book scout for The CW Network. She is the president of Gandolfo, Henlin and Fountain Literary. Renee is looking for all types of adult and YA fiction and nonfiction. She prefers: thrillers, horror/dark fantasy, urban/contemporary fantasy, humor, science fiction, pop culture, memoirs, and narrative/commercial. Learn more about Renee here. 

Dean Krystek [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent at Wordlink. Dean is looking for authors with distinctive voices whose narratives invoke a strong sense of time and place and whose stories create a memorable reading experience. He’d like to see mysteries (whodunit, cozy); sci-fi (space opera, dystopian, alternate history, time travel); psychological suspense; thrillers; military fiction (character-driven pieces; favoring post-WWII. *Vietnam*). In YA he would like to see mysteries, paranormal, sci-fi, coming-of-age, and suspense with writing that stirs the imagination and caters to the young reader’s sense of wonder and adventure. Learn more about Dean here.

Austin Ross is an editor with HarperCollins Publishers. He is seeking: Nonfiction of many kinds. “I read widely across [nonfiction categories], but I will always be drawn to narrative nonfiction. Tell me a fascinating and compelling story. While I acquire a number of nonfiction genres, what I am most interested in at the moment are the untold stories of what life is like in the United States, and the ways in which we can find connection and common ground. This could be history, memoir, current events, biography/autobiography, music, science, parenting, self-help, and more. Through the books I acquire, I want to center a wide variety of diverse voices that speak to the many facets of life in America—past, present, and future—in a way that ultimately informs, moves, and inspires the reader in some way.” Learn more about Austin here.

Megan Frayser [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with Creative Media Agency. In adult books, she is seeking: contemporary romance, women’s fiction, book club fiction, mystery, thriller, horror, mythological retellings, dark academia, fantasy, and some nonfiction (true crime, sociology). In young adult books, she is seeking: contemporary, romance, fantasy, mystery, and horror. “Pitch me anything with found families, stories about a close group of friends, or a quirky cast of characters. I’m also always looking for stories that focus on minority voices, including neurodivergent, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disability, and mental health.” Learn more about Megan here.

Dave Fessenden is a literary agent with Wordwise Media Services. What I’m looking for: I’m interested in representing Science fiction, Fantasy, Historical fiction, Theology, Bible studies, Professional, Church Issues, Social/Cultural Issues, Career, Reference. “I have degrees in journalism and theology, served in editorial management positions for Christian book publishers, and was regional editor for the largest Protestant weekly newspaper in the country. I am the author of seven books.” Learn more about Dave here.

Optional Manuscript Critique Options

Add $69 — for an in-depth, personal critique of your one-page query letter from Chuck Sambuchino, one of the workshop’s former instructors. (This rate is a special event value for Florida Writing Workshops attendees only.) Registrants are encouraged to take advantage of the specially-priced critique, so they can send out their query letter with confidence following the workshop. Also, if you are meeting with an agent at the event, you’re essentially speaking your query letter aloud to them. Wouldn’t it be wise to give that query letter (i.e., your pitch) one great edit before that meeting?

Add $89 — for an in-depth personal critique of the first 10 pages of your novel. Spaces with faculty for these critiques are very limited, and participating attendees will either 1) get an in-person meeting at the workshop, if the faculty member is attending the live event, or 2) get a 10-minute phone call with the faculty member, and have notes passed along via email, if the critiquer is not attending the live event. Options:

• Science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, young adult SFF, urban fantasy (virtual critiques): Faculty member Wesley Chu, a published novelist, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss his thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• Women’s fiction, contemporary/mainstream fiction, literary fiction, young adult, and memoir (virtual critiques): Faculty member Kimiko Nakamura, a literary agent and writing coach, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• Fantasy (both YA and adult), fantasy romance, contemporary romance, women’s fiction (virtual critiques): Faculty member Shauna Golden, a former agent, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, talk with you virtually (Zoom/phone) for 15 minutes workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes.
• All types of adult fiction (except erotica); all types of young adult fiction and middle grade; Christian fiction; screenplays and TV scripts (virtual critiques): Faculty member Jaimie Engle, a screenwriter, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book/script, talk with you virtually (Zoom/phone) for 15 minutes workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• More manuscript critique options possibly forthcoming.