Fort Lauderdale/Pompano Writing Workshop:
March 15, 2025
In-Person Writers Conference 

PITCH YOUR BOOK TO A LITERARY AGENT:

Sheila Fernley is a literary agent with Storm Literary Agency. Storm is a boutique agency representing quality literature for all age ranges from talented authors and illustrators. “I am currently seeking submissions from kidlit authors and author/illustrators (picture books fiction/nonfiction, middle grade novels, and selective young adult projects. As a former special education teacher, Latino author and agent, I support diverse and underrepresented authors, but a great story always comes first. I enjoy lyrical writing, but I’m not the agent for rhyming picture books, horror, dragons, or science fiction.” Learn more about Sheila here.

Claire Romine is a literary agent with Trident Media Group. Claire is open to submissions and excited to continue to work closely with authors. In the fiction space, she is looking for upmarket and book club fiction, particularly with an element of suspense and/or romance. She’d also love a true romantic comedy à la Emily Henry, and is especially partial to enemies-to-lovers, fake relationships, and anything inspired by the wise words of Taylor Swift. Though Claire is primarily interested in fiction, she’s also open to select nonfiction memoirs or essay collections, either focusing on the personal or pop culture (or a blend of the two, in the vein of STRIP TEES BY Kate Flannery). Learn more about Claire here.

Sophia M. Ramos is a literary agent with New Leaf Literary + Media. Sophia is a Cuban-American literary associate based in South Florida. She represents commercial to upmarket genre-blending fiction for adult, YA and select middle-grade projects. Sophia loves intentional, lush prose combined with propulsive plots and thoughtfully complex family dynamics. She gravitates toward speculative (sci-fi and fantasy) books rooted in history or culture that have elements of romance, mystery, and horror. She strives to build a list that speaks to traditionally underrepresented voices and intersectional identities. Learn more about Sophia here.

Joyce Sweeney is a literary agent with The Seymour Agency. She represents children’s picture books as well as middle grade. In Picture Books: Joyce seeks: fiction or nonfiction. I am drawn to lyrical voices, fun syntax and offbeat concepts. I like unusual characters, and plots that make me cry or laugh out loud. Illustrator/authors welcome and rhyme (if you really know how to do it) is fine. Diversity, please. Most of all, be unique. In Middle Grade: I am especially drawn to humor, fantasy and sci-fi, but a realistic novel that makes me cry will work too. Advocate of books for boys. Would love to see more LGBTQ as well. Learn more about Joyce 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:

• All types & genres of fiction for adults, young adults, and middle grade readers (virtual critiques): Faculty member Lorin Oberweger, a writing coach and author, 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.
• Middle grade, young adult; adult fiction in the areas of low fantasy, literary fiction, romance, contemporary fiction, women’s fiction, historical fiction, and mainstream fiction (virtual critiques): Faculty member Joel Brigham, a writing coach and author, 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 sometime around the workshop to discuss his thoughts, and pass along written critique notes.
• Children’s picture books and middle grade (virtual critiques): Faculty member Brittany Thurman, a published author, 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. If you submit a picture book, it must be 1,000 words or fewer (can have illustrations or not).
• Romance, women’s fiction, domestic suspense, and young adult fiction (virtual critiques): Faculty member Swati Hegde, an author and freelance editor, 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.
• 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.
• More critique options possibly forthcoming