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

PITCH YOUR BOOK TO A LITERARY AGENT:

Eric Smith [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent at Neighborhood Literary, with a love for young adult books, literary fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction. Eric is eagerly acquiring fiction and nonfiction projects. He’s actively seeking out new, diverse voices in young adult (particularly sci-fi and fantasy), middle grade, and literary and commercial fiction (again, loves sci-fi and fantasy, but also thrillers and mysteries). In terms of nonfiction, he’s interested in cookbooks, pop culture, humor, middle grade, essay collections, and blog-to-book ideas. Learn more about Eric here.

Alyssa Eisner Henkin is a literary agent and founder of Birch Path Literary. She seeks all kinds of kidlit — picture books, middle grade, young adult, chapter books. While kidlit & children’s books will always comprise the bulk of her list, she is open to representing select projects for grownups. Right now, Alyssa is on the hunt for the following: character-driven young adult romcoms that are heavy on the comedy and feature endearing and underrepresented voices in the vein of Never Have I Ever; early graphic chapter books —a Dog Man format with a Madeline flair—would be a dream; inventive nonfiction for board book through young adult created by changemakers and experts in their fields; and upmarket fiction – both historical and contemporary. Books about book lovers and book clubs are especially intriguing. Learn more about Alyssa here.

Margaret Danko [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with High Line Literary Collective. Margaret is actively looking for attention-grabbing voices especially historical fiction with a dash of magical realism, literary and upmarket suspense or horror, narratives with a deep sense of place and history, quirky and heartwarming family stories, and women’s fiction and rom-coms full of charm and whimsy. She is also accepting nonfiction in the areas of humor, lifestyle, new age and general spirituality, popular science especially in environmental and human sciences, mental health/wellness, politics and true crime that challenge established conventions, and select cooking projects with an emphasis on new takes on tradition, especially within the Latine diaspora. Learn more about Margaret here.

Marie Lamba [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a senior literary agent at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency. She represents fiction and nonfiction picture books, middle grade, YA and adult works, plus graphic novels and memoir. She likes general adult fiction, women’s fiction.  Across the genres, she’s on the hunt for works that are moving, original and funny, and she’d love to find a fresh rom-com or a witty romantasy work. She also seeks engrossing memoirs, as well as nonfiction works that are eye-opening from authors with a strong platform. Learn more about Marie here.

Jennifer Herrera [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with David Black Literary Agency. She is seeking nonfiction books about big ideas and is particularly drawn to smart, issue-driven books, especially those from journalists as well as writers with professional expertise, including science, psychology, philosophy, economics, prescriptive, lifestyle, history, and the stories of underrepresented groups. Her authors have been awarded the Harriet Tubman Prize, nominated for the J. Anthony Lukas Prize, appeared on NPR’s Fresh Air, and been New York Times bestsellers. Learn more about Jennifer here.

Ismita Hussain is a literary agent & social media manager with Great Dog Literary. In adult fiction, she seeks literary fiction, upmarket, new adult, and short story collections. She enjoys fiction in all genres that is informed by, or inspired by, the myths and superstitions of a culture. Ismita is open to novels that fit these categories but have some genre-fiction elements (i.e., literary fiction with a speculative twist). In adult nonfiction, she seeks narrative, pop culture, humor, memoir, travel, cookbooks, history, and sports. In young adult, she seeks contemporary, rom com, novel in verse, and commercial. In all pitches, she seeks Southern settings, Italian settings, gritty and realist writing, and books that explore health/disability. Learn more about Ismita 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.

Lizz Nagle is a literary agent with Victress Literary. “For young adult and middle grade, I’m looking for contemporary, diverse, underrepresented stories with messy, resilient characters driving the show. Bonus points for a mystery, adventure, or thriller element. For adult I’m looking for psychological thrillers, domestic suspense/mysteries, and historical fiction. Always bonus points for: LGBTQIA+, inclusivity, found families, physical disabilities, grief, addiction, dark and twisty, characters questioning the status quo and deepening their understanding of the human condition. Plus all of your thought-provoking, laughter-inducing, social-movement inspiring narrative nonfiction.” Learn more about Lizz here.

Amy Giuffrida is a literary agent with The Belcastro Literary Agency. “I am especially seeking stories written by diverse creators—BIPOC, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse, and disabled creators are encouraged to query me. Send me your stories of joy, where your characters and their worlds can be celebrated by the reader.” In nonfiction, she seeks: business, social media, tech, cookbooks, and also anything by an author with a strong platform and a love for their subject. She seeks upper middle grade fiction. In young fiction, she seeks fantasy, horror, sci-fi, contemporary, contemporary romance, mystery, thriller, historical, and novels-in-verse. In adult fiction, she seeks women’s fiction, book club / commercial fiction, non-political thriller, horror, contemporary romance, and rom-com. Learn more about Amy here.

Deeba Zargarpur is an editor with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and Salaam Reads. “I acquire picture books, middle grade, young adult and graphic novels. I am always striving to champion and uplift underrepresented voices. I gravitate toward commercial, high concept premises that spark a feeling of magic and wonder. Whether it be on a football field or a high fantasy realm, I want to be swept up in the free fall of an epic journey. As a child of immigrants, family means everything to me, and I’m a sucker for stories that feature big, multi generational, immigrant families with strong cultural and religious ties. I am always looking for stories that explore love between friends and family (biological and found) and how characters navigate break ups between friends, siblings, cousins and parents in MG and YA.” Learn more about Deeba here.

Madison Smartt Bell is a literary with Ayesha Pande Literary. He is interested in literary fiction, noir, criminal procedurals, work from the Caribbean basin and other diasporas, and anything genuinely original and fresh. A graduate of Princeton University and the Hollins College graduate creative writing program, he has taught in many other writing programs, including Goucher College, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and the Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars. Learn more about Madison here.

Ginger Hutchinson [SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with Movable Type Management. “I only represent books for adults. I’m looking for escapist books: beach reads in unique locations, swoon-worthy romance with the right amount of comedy, and thrillers that transport me and feature well-earned twists. I’m open to historical fiction with a feminist bent, and/or centered on underrepresented identities. I’d be thrilled to get a great campus novel in my inbox. I’d like to see clever puzzle-solving mysteries set in specific hobby groups, such as role play games, filmmaking, ballet/dance, knitting/crochet. Additionally, I’d love some character-driven book-club reads that spark conversation, but aren’t overly dark and depressing. I love stories with a tight timeframe and high emotional stakes. I have a soft spot for books set in the South. When it comes to genre fiction, I’m open to magical realism, speculative fiction and some sci-fi, but they must be grounded in real human emotions and conflict. I’m open to some horror, but nothing overly violent or gory. I’m very selective with nonfiction. Memoirs need a big commercial hook and out-of-this-world writing on the level of H is for Hawk or Crying in H Mart. I’m open to expert-written nonfiction, particularly if you have a strong platform and POV. My areas of interest include pop-culture, film/tv/media, human/animal relationships, alternative histories from fresh and diverse perspectives.” Learn more about Ginger here.

Dean Krystek 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.

Leslie Zampetti is a literary agent and founder of Open Book Literary.  Leslie is a unique agent at the 2025 PWW because she is not taking pitches, but rather offering her 10-minute appointments to answer any questions an attendee has, and help on your writing journey. This includes attendees practicing their pitch on her, answering questions about the quality of a first page or query letter, or getting clarity regarding confusion about the submission process. She is here to answer questions and quickly critique queries in her 10-min sessions. Use her knowledge to your advantage. Learn more about Leslie 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