Agents confirmed for Pitchfest

Currently looking for:

• fun young adult and middle grade contemporary, sci-fi, and fantasy
• contemporary romance (please no cheating or abuse)
• strong, funny, intelligent characters
• well-developed friendships

. Please note that while it isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, she tends to shy away from novels with trigger topics, such as suicide and any type of abuse. Jordy is NOT accepting picture books, non-fiction or screenplays at this time.

About Jordy:

Jordy Albert is a Literary Agent and co-founder of The Booker Albert Literary Agency. She holds a B.A. in English from Pennsylvania State University, and a M.A. from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. She has worked with Marisa Corvisiero during her time at the L. Perkins Agency and the Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Learn more about Jordy and the Booker Albert Agency!

Currently looking for: Amish Romance, Rom-Com, Romantic Suspense, Historical Romance, Inspirational Romance, Cozy Mystery, Suspense, Mystery, Middle Grade Reader Mysteries, True Crime, Picture books, & Cookbooks.

About Dawn:

Dawn Dowdle began Blue Ridge Literary Agency, LLC (www.blueridgeagency.com) in Virginia in 2009 to help authors, especially newer authors. Prior to establishing her agency, she was a freelance copy editor and an avid reader of cozy mysteries. Murder at Redwood Cove by Janet Finsilver, Staging Is Murder by Grace Topping, and Murder at Harbor Village by G.P. Gardner, are Cozy Mysteries she represents that are USA Today Bestsellers. The agency now has 4 agents. Please check the website for the genres the other agents are representing.

Learn more about Dawn and Blue Ridge Literary Agency!

Currently looking for:

• Katie is particularly interested in representing women’s fiction
• women’s fiction
• romance
• children's books
• middle grade
• young adult
• LGBTQ+
• historical biography

About Katie:

A traditionally published novelist, certified copy editor, and avid reader with eclectic genre interests, Katie Salvo loves nothing more than to see authors succeed in introducing new ideas and fresh voices to the publishing industry. With a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, Katie has a background in literary criticism, philosophy, political theory, and history.

Learn more about Katie and Metamorphosis!

Currently looking for:

• Romance:
• Heart-rending love stories in most sub-genres (no erotica)
• Romcom
• Romantic suspense
• High-concept:
• Middle grade
• Young adult
• Adult fiction:
• Commercial
• Humorous, or harsh and sobering contemporary
• Low fantasy
• Urban fantasy
• Paranormal
• Unusual re-tellings
• Mystery
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Nonfiction:
• Proposals from authors with a robust platform.
• High-profile crime memoir
• Whistleblower memoir
• True crime
• Narrative nonfiction on the subjects of space, science or medicine. No end-of-life nonfiction.

She's not currently acquiring picture books, upmarket fiction, literary fiction, poetry, horror, sword & sorcery fantasy, high fantasy, YA with issues (drug use, suicide, rape, pregnancy, eating disorders, etc).

About Colleen:

Colleen is a literary agent at MacGregor and Luedeke Literary. She's a disabled veteran who worked in space launch, and she holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with a focus in Biotechnology and a Bachelor of Science in German with a minor in International Business, both from Penn State. With over a decade of experience in the publishing industry, Colleen has worked at a couple literary agencies as an agent and PR manager. She’s also hosted numerous “Pitch Perfect” and “Rejection Correction” workshops on Facebook and at conferences nationwide and mentored several authors one-on-one through online pitch contests such as Pitch Wars. As an author of young adult fantasy and memoir, Colleen has a deep appreciation for the bond between an author and their art as well as a keen understanding of the PR world, having been featured in People Magazine, on Inside Edition, Fox News’s Tucker Carlson and on 20/20.

About MacGregor and Luedeke Literary

Since 2006, we at MacGregor & Luedeke (formerly MacGregor Literary) have served fiction and nonfiction authors in the general and Christian markets. We represent a range of genres, and we work with award-winning, bestselling authors as well as authors who are making a smaller—but still significant—splash in the market.

Learn more about Colleen and MacGregor and Luedeke Literary!

Currently looking for:

• I represent Picture Books/Middle Grade/Young Adult and Non-fiction.
• In PBs I want to see something totally original, with a dash of social justice, a spunky main character, humor and no talking animals.
• In MG and YA, I'm open to everything but fantasy. I love main characters you want to root for, who are savvy and smart.
• I'd also love to see some social justice topics and humor (not necessarily in the same book), #OwnVoices, Rom-Coms, Thrillers, and something that grabs me in and makes me forget about the chaos in the world.
• In Non-fiction I'm looking for Parenting, Narrative, Biography and Memoir, Psychology, and History

About Shari:

Shari graduated from Duke University with a degree in English, and later studied Dramatic Writing at NYU. Following a stint at The Children’s Television Workshop on international productions of Sesame Street, she published both novels and non-fiction, and worked as a writer and editor. Shari has also written Parenting & Lifestyle columns for several websites. A mother of three, she lives in New York with her husband.

Currently looking for:

While her sweet spot is horror and middle grade, Carey’s tastes are wide and varied. From mystery to fantasy to science fiction, she loves anything that can draw her in and have her rooting for the main characters. She accepts all genres and all age groups, except nonfiction.

Specific Things I Would Love to Find:

• Cozy fantasy!
• Books set in fun settings, like a coastal town or a summer camp or a mountain cabin.
• A horror book centered around video games.
• A story where the main character is a barista or a chef.
• I am OBSESSED with books that use multimedia storytelling or unique perspectives. One of my all time favorite books is A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.
• Picture books! I am really looking to represent a handful of picture book authors, so if you have something that fits any of my MSWL items, please send it my way!
• Stories written by Swifties or inspired by Taylor Swift's lyricism.

About Carey:

Hannah VanVels is an agent with Belcastro Agency. Hannah has worked various bookish jobs including a stint as a bookseller at Barnes & Noble, a freelance editor for scholarly and academic essays and journals, and most recently as the acquiring editor at a young adult imprint with HarperCollins Publishing. Hannah loves working closely with authors and coming alongside them to make their vision come to life on page. She lives on Lake Michigan with her partner, two German Shepherds, and two cats.

Learn more about Carey and the Belcastro Agency!