Nashville Writing Workshop:
April 26, 2025
In-Person Writers Conference

PITCH YOUR BOOK TO A LITERARY AGENT:

Kathleen Ortiz is a literary agent with K.O. Media Management. Her focus is on books and media for adults and children, especially with a visual element. At this time she’s looking for graphic novels for all ages, illustrated nonfiction, and both adult and YA contemporary romance. She loves media and books that bring humor and joy and inspire others in life. She is on the Illustration committee in the Association of American Literary Agents, Licensing International, and Women in Toys. Kathleen represents content creators, authors, illustrators and brands from all around the world. Her passion is helping clients find the best partners for their IP and and looking at properties from all angles, including possibilities beyond the book. She loves projects that feature pop culture, joy, encouragement, and humor. Learn more about Kathleen here.

Anna Clark is a literary agent with Wordlink, Inc. Anna is looking for dark fiction such as psychological, gothic, southern gothic, paranormal, and literary horror, as well as new adult fiction about immigrant diaspora, interracial identity, and multi-generational conflict. As a lover of the stage and all things dramatic, she appreciates cinematic writing that paints clear pictures of complex worlds and characters in the reader’s mind. She celebrates own voices, particularly those that are usually overlooked or ignored in traditional spaces. Learn more about Anna here.

Danielle Marshall joined the Jane Rotrosen Agency in 2025 after more than 30 years working in publishing and bookselling, with varied experiences across the book business including Editorial Director for Lake Union Publishing, marketing and publicity roles at Workman and Simon & Schuster, as well as frontlist book buyer for the largest independent bookstore on the west coast. An avid reader and editor, she is known as a strong advocate for her authors and for building bestselling brands. Danielle is looking for fresh voices in women’s fiction, literary fiction, book club fiction, contemporary romance, historical fiction, mystery and suspense, as well as memoir and selected self-help nonfiction.Learn more about Danielle here.

Christine Goss is a literary agent with FinePrint Literary Management. Christine is drawn to stories with high stakes and tension. The first pages must draw her in with action and curiosity. Lyrical writing, along with emotionality, physicality, and interiority, are all key components Christine looks for in a manuscript.  Christine is generally interested in romance, historical fiction, book club fiction, upmarket, dystopian, graphic novel, and fantasy. Nonfiction and graphic novels covering a specific range of topics are also of interest. She is also open to most young adult. Championing marginalized voices is important to Christine as she seeks to include BIPOC, LGTBQ+, and neurodivergent (and more) authors on her list. “I am looking to uplift, support, and highlight marginalized voices.” Learn more about Christine here.

Cole Lanahan is a literary agent with The Seymour Agency. Cole is actively looking for all genres of YA, all genres of adult romance, psychological suspense in the vein of The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine, and thrillers in the vein of Verity by Colleen Hoover and I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. In nonfiction she is looking for humor, business, self-help, lifestyle, and arts and crafts books. Learn more about Cole here.

Cate Hart is a literary agent with Harvey Klinger Literary Agency. She is seeking: “I specialize in historical, whether in middle grade and young adult, women’s fiction and romance, or narrative nonfiction. I am particularly drawn to oft-forgotten stories of the past and underrepresented voices, and especially personal to me is unexplored Southern history and culture. I also love high-concept fantasy in YA and adult fiction. As well, I am always looking for fun or feel good RomComs, contemporary YA, or a bit darker psychological thrillers and classic feel mysteries. I do prefer stories with strong romantic elements, or even better, a heart-pounding romance. I’ll still be looking for stand-out science fiction and fantasy as well as psychological thriller and classic-feeling mysteries.” Learn more about Cate here.

Mike Parker is the publisher and acquiring editor for WordCrafts Press. WordCrafts publishes fiction, nonfiction and stage plays for both the Christian and general markets. Mike is actively seeking adult and young adult fiction in the following genres: historical (including Biblical), contemporary, women’s fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, suspense, thriller, horror, romance, young adult, and middle grade. Mike is actively seeking nonfiction titles in the following categories: memoir, biography, self-help, humor, travel, business, motivation, mentoring. Learn more about Mike here.

Katie Otey is an editor with Phoenix Media & Books. She seeks: children’s fiction and nonfiction picture books. She will accept rhyming picture books and is especially interested in multicultural stories. She also likes Middle Grade humor, Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction, Self-Help nonfiction, and Poetry. She is also open to pitches on behalf of her co-editors in the following areas: Contemporary Middle Grade; YA and Adult books that strike a balance between happy and sad; Unique memoir; Cozy mysteries with series potential; MG/YA research-based nonfiction about lesser known topics with broad appeal; Literary-leaning fiction that highlights cultures/perspectives that have been overlooked by traditional publishing; Picture Books (humorous, subversive, comic style, lyrical [but no rhyming], and creative nonfiction); Middle Grade (humor, mystery, realistic fiction, action and adventure, fantasy, sci-fi); YA/Adult (humor, mystery, romantic comedy, horror, suspense/thriller, fantasy, sci-fi). Learn more about Katie here.

Julie Gwinn is a literary agent and vice president of The Seymour Agency. Julie also has more than 25 years of public relations and marketing experience and has worked in marketing for several Nashville nonprofit organizations, including the Tennessee Association for the Education of Young Children, the Nashville Area Red Cross, and the YWCA. She puts that marketing expertise to use in working with her authors. She represents romance, mystery/true crime, historical and speculative/fantasy novels. In nonfiction she is looking for self-help, lifestyle, motivational and sports related books. Julie is actively looking for diverse voices in both fiction and nonfiction. Learn more about Julie here.

Meagan Irby is a literary scout with William Morris Endeavor. She is taking pitches for: literary and commercial fiction (mainstream, women’s), along with narrative nonfiction, memoir, and lifestyle titles in the areas of food, home, faith/spirituality, and well-being. Meagan supports a large list of bestselling and award-winning authors through a wide range of editorial and administrative tasks. Learn more about Meagan here.

Optional Manuscript Critique Options

Add $69 — for an in-depth, personal critique of your one-page query letter from Brian Klems, one of the day’s instructors. (This rate is a special event value for Cleveland Writing Workshop 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:

• Women’s, mainstream, science fiction, fantasy, romance, crime, thriller, mystery (virtual critiques): Faculty member Michelle McGill-Vargas, 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.
• Commercial women’s fiction, thriller/suspense, thriller with romantic elements, cozy mystery, YA thriller, young adult in general, middle-grade, literary fiction, and fantasy (virtual critiques): Faculty member Amberly Finarelli, a former literary agent and current 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.
• Children’s picture books (virtual critiques): Faculty member Rosie Pova, a published author, will get your work in advance, critique your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime around 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).
• Young adult, middle grade, romance, upmarket/literary, women’s fiction, fantasy, paranormal, children’s picture books; in nonfiction, self-help or inspirational by women (virtual critiques): Faculty member Lindsay Flanagan, a published novelist and former agent, 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. For picture books, text should be 1,000 words or fewer; and it can or cannot include illustrations.
• 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.