PITCH YOUR BOOK TO A LITERARY AGENT:
These one-on-one pitch meetings at the 2026 Michigan 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.
Maggie Sadler is a literary agent with Howland Literary. She is seeking: literary fiction written in lyrical, artful prose with carefully crafted tension; iterary fiction with speculative flavors—let’s get weird; upmarket fiction, especially with emotionally complex characters who explore evocative settings; untold and/or underrepresented historical fiction (pre-twentieth century, please); urban fantasy/magical realism rooted in our reality; folk and fairy tale retellings—the more stunning the twist, the better; work from Indigenous/First Nations authors, as well as other historically marginalized and underrepresented voices; narratives that interrogate themes of cultural identity, femininity, family legacy, rebellion against tradition, and self-discovery from a fresh, unorthodox perspective. An experienced traveler, Maggie also welcomes nonfiction travel narratives depicting remote locations and thought-provoking encounters in a raw, authentic, and intentional narrative voice. Learn more about Maggie here.
Kelsey Evans is a literary agent with Rosecliff Literary. In adult fiction, she seeks romance, horror, science fiction, fantasy, suspense, mystery, thriller. In adult nonfiction, she seeks: narrative nonfiction — specifically in sports, nature, and science. In young adult fiction, she seeks: fantasy and magical realism. Generally looking for: immersive settings (fantasy or otherwise), jaw-dropping plot twists, distinctive voice, tight plotting, high concept hooks, emotional character journeys, slow burn romances, top-tier banter. Learn more about Kelsey here.
Erika Staiger is a literary agent with Spencerhill Associates. On behalf of her agency, Erika is seeking commercial fiction — new women’s fiction, romance, historical fiction, thrillers and horror. She is seeking exciting new voices that utilize elements of different genres to tell their story. She holds an MFA in Fiction from the University of South Florida, where she also taught creative writing and worked as a writing tutor. Learn more about Erika here.
Carrie Howland Yellin is a literary agent and founder of Howland Literary, LLC. She is a twenty-year veteran in the publishing industry. She worked for fourteen years as a literary agent at two New York City based agencies before founding her eponymous agency, Howland Literary, LLC in 2018. Carrie now calls Southwest Michigan home! Carrie holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from Albion College, where she was the Poetry Editor of The Albion Review. Her poetry has appeared in various literary journals and magazines. Carrie’s passions include music, pop culture, parenting, counseling and psychology, and the Midwest. She has been featured in several publications discussing her work as an agent including Poets & Writers, SCBWI insight, Akashic Books, and Slice Magazine. In addition to her work as an agent, Carrie is a longtime animal rescue volunteer, having fostered and found permanent homes for over one hundred fifty dogs to date. She is also a member of the Junior League and an alumna of Delta Gamma Sorority. When not spending time with her husband and son, Carrie teaches group fitness classes at Pure Barre. Carrie is accepting submissions for: adult literary and upmarket fiction, contemporary romance, short story collections, prescriptive nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, and essay collections. Learn more about Carrie 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.
Jacqui Lipton is a literary agent with The Tobias Agency. Jacqui represents authors of fiction and nonfiction from middle grade through to adult, as well as selected projects for younger readers (picture books, chapter books etc.) She is currently focusing on developing her adult fiction and nonfiction lists and particularly enjoys mystery/crime, romance, how-to books, and compelling contemporary novels. She is not currently seeking high fantasy, and only considers science fiction selectively. Learn more about Jacqui here.
Linda Glaz is a literary agent and founder of the Linda S. Glaz Literary Agency. She is seeking: Suspense and romantic suspense both full-length 80K and shorter for Love Inspired 55-60K. Thrillers also if they are clean reads. Historic and historic romance. Contemporary Romance. Western settings both historic and contemporary. Mysteries, especially those with subtle humor. Amish, both full-length 80K and those for Love Inspired 55K. She takes some literary fiction but it’s rare. Nonfiction: Can you change lives with what you write? — devotionals, daily living, how tos, self-help. Nonfiction writers must have a strong online presence/platform to pitch. “I do NOT handle children’s books, science fiction, fantasy, speculative of any kind. Please no profanity and/or graphic sexuality.” Learn more about Linda here.
Paige Broadbent is a literary agent with The Purcell Agency. At the Michigan event, Paige is taking pitches on behalf of herself as well as her agency. She is seeking pitches for the following genres and categories: Middle grade fiction (contemporary, coming of age, dystopian, romantic, #ownvoices, BIPOC, and LGBTQ); Young adult fiction (contemporary, coming of age, dystopian, romantic, #ownvoices, BIPOC, and LGBTQ); New adult fiction (contemporary, coming of age, dystopian, romantic, #ownvoices, BIPOC, and LGBTQ); Adult fiction — contemporary, upmarket, women’s, book club, mainstream, romance, dystopian, #ownvoices, BIPOC, and LGBTQ; Some memoir; Children’s picture books; and any fairy-tale retelling or re-imagining, especially if pulled into a contemporary setting. Learn more about Paige here.
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ADDED ONLINE PITCHING: To ensure that writers have a robust and diverse lineup of agents & editors to pitch, 2026 Michigan Writing Workshop attendees will have the ability to also pitch literary agents at a specific Writing Day Workshops *online* event that follows the 2026 MWW on our calendar.
That event is the 2026 (Online) Chesapeake Writing Workshop, August 14-15, 2026, which will have 30-40 agents taking one-on-one Zoom virtual pitches.
This means that 2026 MWW attendees can have access to pitching all those online Chesapeake WW agents — pitches still at $29 each — without being a formal registrant for the online August 14-15 2026 event. (That said, if you want to formally register for the August online Chesapeake Writing Workshop and have access to all classes and panels, let us know, as there is a discount for confirmed Michigan attendees.)
If you are interested in this added pitching opportunity, the first step is to get formally registered for Michigan. Following the conference on May 2, 2026, we will be in touch with all Michigan attendees and ask them if they want to partake in pitching online agents at the 2026 online CWW (August 14-15, 2026). At that time, you can communicate your pitch requests and purchase meeting time.
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.
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.)