Pittsburgh Writing Workshop:
November 15, 2025
In-Person Writers Conference

PITCH YOUR BOOK TO A LITERARY AGENT:

Dr. Uwe Stender is a literary agent — the Founder and President of TriadaUS. In adult nonfiction, he particularly seeks narrative nonfiction, popular science, and pop culture, with favorites including A Place for Everything and The Jazz Men. In adult fiction, he loves suspense, thrillers, and mysteries, enjoying works such as Cabaret Macabre (A Spector Locked-Room Mystery), and the Reacher series. He is also eager for more adult romance, with a particular fondness for the Maxton Hall series and One Day. In contemporary YA fiction, he looks for romance, rom -oms, boarding school settings, and thrillers with a hint of horror, referencing favorites like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and The Statistical Probability of Falling in Love at First Sight. He also has a keen interest in YA Graphic Novels, listing The Fox Maidens, The Magic Fish, and Pumpkinheads among his top reads. Learn more about Uwe here.

Rachel Beck is a literary agent with Liza Dawson Associates. Rachel is looking for: upmarket/book club women’s fiction; smart contemporary romance/romcoms (beach reads); historical fiction this side of World War II; sweeping, multigenerational family sagas; speculative fiction; thrillers/domestic suspense; contemporary YA: Especially LGBTQIA+ stories and “issue” books on what teens face today; and select nonfiction (narrative, gifty/pop culture, cultural criticism, politics, career/personal growth, self-help, health/wellness, sports, parenting). Learn more about Rachel here.

Rachel Estep is a literary agent with D4EO Literary Agency. She is seeking: literary fiction; mainstream fiction; all types of middle grade and young adult (especially that centers underrepresented voices); voicey, high-stakes psychological thrillers; stories that mess with your head in the best way; gothic fiction that blends deep senses of foreboding with modern themes; true crime projects that dig deeper than the headlines and center empathy alongside the horror; queer romcoms that bring the banter, the swoon, the spice, and a whole lot of heart; historical fiction driven by complex, unforgettable women in the style of Marie Benedict. Learn more about Rachel here.

Lindsey Smith is a literary agent with Speilburg Literary Agency. Lindsey represents nonfiction only, with a focus on voice-driven, prescriptive books that shine a light on lesser-known topics. She also loves illustrated gift books and card decks. Her current interests include: cookbooks, lifestyle, mind/body, health, humor, pop culture, self-help, true crime, history, gender issues, and current events. Even if she doesn’t represent the genre, you’re welcome to book a meeting with her to get feedback on your query, talk through your publishing plan, or ask any questions about the industry. Learn more about Lindsey 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.

Lauren Bajek is a literary agent with Liza Dawson Associates. Lauren represents adult science fiction, fantasy, and horror, as well as upmarket fiction, mystery, and romance with speculative elements. She represents very select science/nature nonfiction, but she does not represent children’s books or YA. Across the board, she is drawn to literary prose, queer and trans elements, puzzle and discovery plots, and an ambitious sense of imagination. She is particularly interested in translation, ecology, and werewolves. Learn more about Lauren here.

Moe Ferrara is a literary agent with Triada US. I’m interested in fictional works for all ages, including picture books, middle grade, young adults, and adult readers (plus graphic novels in the kidlit space!). My list skews heavily toward children’s fiction, but I’m on the hunt for select authors in the adult space. Favorite genres include contemporary, fantasy & fabulism, horror, retellings, romance & rom-coms, light Sci-Fi and anything LGBTQIA-centric. I am not a good fit for upmarket/literary fiction, cozy mysteries, true crime, women’s fiction, high fantasy, hard sci-fi, or inspirational romances. Learn more about Moe 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 organizers. (This rate is a special event value for Pittsburgh 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 15-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.
• 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.
• 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).
• Cozy mysteries (virtual critiques): Faculty member Jen Collins Moore, 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.
• All adult fiction genres and categories (except for sci-fi) (virtual critiques): Faculty member Tayler Hill, an author and publishing house assistant, 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.