PITCH YOUR BOOK TO A LITERARY AGENT:
These in-person one-on-one meetings at the 2026 Chesapeake Writing Workshop are an amazing chance to pitch your book face-to-face with an agent, and get personal, individual feedback on your pitch/concept. If the agent likes your pitch, they’ll request to see part/all of your book — sending you straight past the slush pile. It also gives you an intimate chance to meet with an agent and pick their brain with any questions on your mind. More 2026 agents to be announced as they are confirmed. You can sign up for pitches at any time, or switch pitches at any time, so long as the agent in question still has appointments open. We have seen many, many writers sign with agents after connecting after our conferences.
Eric Smith 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.
Rose Conway is a literary agent with Confluence Literary Agency. Her list focuses on stylistically subversive and thematically layered fiction: work that leads with artistry and allows deeper themes to emerge naturally. She seeks upmarket and smart commercial fiction with inventive structures, emotional depth, and distinctive voices. Think braided narratives, unexpected POVs, and prose that takes creative risks. In building her list, Rose is interested in career-oriented writers and her goal is to help authors lay the foundation for sustainable career growth. Learn more about Rose here.
Jessica Berg is a literary agent with Rosecliff Literary. In fiction, she seeks: Alternate History/Historical Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, Historical Fiction, Twisty Thrillers, Upmarket/Book Club Fiction, YA, and Women’s Fiction. In nonfiction, she seeks: Cookbooks, Travel Guides, Memoir – Military Women Adjacent, and Self-Help with a Witchy Vibe. Learn more about Jessica here.
Jess Taylor is a literary agent with Martin Literary Management. She reps young adult, new adult, and select romance. I’m open to any subgenre except tech-heavy science fiction. I adore fresh and unique concepts as well as tried-and-true tales. Retellings of myths, fairy tales, or classic stories are always appreciated, and I love a good paranormal romance (especially if there are mermaids). New Adult wishlist: I am specifically open to new adult romance titles featuring characters under twenty-five and focused on coming-of-age stories. Romance wishlist: Witchy and cozy fantasy romances will always be on my TBR pile. If you have a book like The Kiss Curse, Love’s a Witch or The Nightmare Before Kissmas, I want to read it. I know I love a book when I can’t stop thinking about it. LGBTQ+ books are always welcome, and previously self-published titles are considered on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about Jess here.
Bethany Jett is a literary agent with MacGregor & Luedeke. She seeks a variety of adult fiction, adult nonfiction, Christian works, and children’s picture books. In adult fiction, she seeks: psychological thriller, domestic thriller, suspense, cozy mysteries, historical, book club / upmarket, women’s fiction, romantic comedy, historical romance, romantic suspense, Regency romance, and magical realism. In adult nonfiction, she seeks cookbooks, how-to, self-help, Christian living, lifestyle, home & garden, gift, Bible studies. In children’s picture books, she leans heavily toward 1) Highly commercial concepts with strong hook appeal, like How to Babysit a Grandpa or How to Catch a Unicorn; and 2) Classic, literary-type prose or emotionally layered storytelling like BIG or The Rough Patch. Learn more about Bethany here.
Tara Kimberly is a literary with D4E0 Literary. She seeks: Romantasy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, New Adult, Young Adult, Romance & Dark Romance. Tara is interested in primarily Romantasy (adult and young adult and new adult) with a focus on strong female characters and all consuming stories. She is a self diagnosed Romantasy addict and loves diving into lush worlds with complex characters and messy interpersonal relationships that teach us about our own lives. Learn more about Tara here.
Dara Kaye 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.
Kirsten Neuhaus is a literary agent with Ultra Literary. “My top nonfiction categories are memoir, business books, journalist authored issue driven or current events narratives, and parenting. On the fiction side, I do occasionally represent young adult.” She represents primarily nonfiction, in the categories of: business/finance; memoir; advice/relationships/self-help; food/beverage; health/medicine; lifestyle; culture/pop culture; biography; how-to; parenting; science/technology; body, mind & spirit; Illustrated/art; reference. Her list of clients includes entrepreneurs, personalities, influencers and thought leaders across a wide range of industries. Learn more about Kirsten 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.
Chris Park is a literary agent with DeFiore & Company. Chris represents books across a broad spectrum of nonfiction—memoirs, narrative, prescriptive, Christian, and sports—and works with her authors to develop books that are appealing and accessible to a broad audience. She is passionate about stories that must be told: of an achievement-oriented mother who learns the true worth of every life when her daughter is born with Down syndrome, a medical missionary who puts his life on the line treating patients during the Ebola epidemic, a couple who makes the stunning choice to forgive their daughter’s killer. Learn more about Chris here.
Megan Frayser 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.
Amanda Jain 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.
Leia M. Johnson is an editor with Phoenix Media & Books What Leia is looking for: contemporary middle grade, YA, and adult books that strike a balance between happy and sad; unique memoir; cozy mysteries with series potential; books with some element of surprise; 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. Learn more about Leia here.
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ADDED ONLINE PITCHING: To ensure that writers have a robust and diverse lineup of agents & editors to pitch, 2026 Chesapeake Writing Workshop attendees will have the ability to also pitch literary agents at the Writing Day Workshops *online* event that follows the 2026 CWW on our calendar.
That event is the 2026 Online California Writing Workshop, June 12-13, 2026, which will have 30-40 agents taking one-on-one Zoom virtual pitches.
This means that 2026 CWW attendees can have access to pitching all those online California agents — pitches still at $29 each — without being a formal registrant for the online June 2026 CWW. (That said, if you want to formally register for the June 12-13 CWW and have access to all classes and panels, let us know, as there is a discount for confirmed Chesapeake attendees.)
If you are interested in this added pitching opportunity, the first step is to get formally registered for Chesapeake. Following the CWW conferences on March 21, 2026, we will be in touch with all Chesapeake attendees and ask them if they want to partake in pitching online agents at the 2026 June 12-13). At that time, you can communicate your pitch requests and purchase meeting time.
More 2026 agents/editors to be announced as they are confirmed. You can sign up for pitches at any time, or switch pitches at any time, so long as the agent in question still has appointments open. You can pitch as many agents & editors as like you wish.
These one-on-one meetings are an amazing chance to pitch your book face-to-face with an agent, and get personal, individual feedback on your pitch/concept. If the agent likes your pitch, they’ll request to see part/all of your book — sending you straight past the slush pile.
It also gives you an intimate chance to meet with an agent and pick their brain with any questions on your mind. (Please note that Agent/Editor Pitching is an add-on, separate aspect of the day, for only those who sign up. Spaces are limited for these premium meetings.)