PITCH YOUR BOOK TO A LITERARY AGENT:
These one-on-one in-person meetings at the 2026 Writing Conference of Los Angeles 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.
Steven Hutson is a literary agent and founder of Wordwise Media Services. He is seeking: “I’m interested in representing a wide range of fiction and nonfiction books for children and adults. Surprise me.” Some of the categories he enjoys, though is not limited to, include: Action/Adventure, Children’s, Crime, Fantasy, General, Graphic Novel, Humor, Middle Grade, Military, Mystery, Religious, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult. For Nonfiction: Biography, Cookbooks, Crafts/DIY, History, Humor, Illustrated, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Sports, Travel, True Crime. Learn more about Steven here.
Darryl Oliver is a literary agent with The Caldwell Agency. Darryl specializes in adult science fiction and fantasy, historical fiction, speculative fiction, and select literary fiction. In the nonfiction space, he’s also interested in narrative history and narrative nonfiction. He previously worked in editorial at Random House and Hogarth Books. Learn more about Darryl here.
Jeanne De Vita is a literary agent with Martin Literary Management. I’m currently open to most commercial genre fiction, and I especially encourage new authors, indie authors, and authors underrepresented in traditional publishing to pitch. I am always open to LGBTQIA+ authors and #OwnVoices stories. Genre fiction is my happy place: romance, romantasy, thriller, horror, mysteries, speculative fiction, and more. (She is not a good fit for contemporary YA, most memoir, middle grade, picture books, or Christian/inspirational.) Learn more about Jeanne here.
Jacklyn Saferstein-Hansen is a literary agent with Renaissance Literary & Talent. She’s on the hunt for fresh nonfiction in the following areas: wellness/nutrition/food, mental health, history, science, pop culture, and Jewish issues. She’s interested in helping academics make the jump to the trade market. In fiction, she’s partial to novels with a distinct voice (the weirder the better) and quirky characters in the genres of women’s fiction, historical fiction, thriller/mystery, romance, and fantasy. Learn more about Jacklyn here.
Jolene Haley is a literary agent with Donald Maass Literary Agency. In middle grade fiction, I am particularly drawn to adventure, contemporary, horror, magical realism, and mystery novels. I love character driven stories with humor and authentic voices. In young adult fiction, I am interested in a wide variety of genres: adventure, contemporary, horror, magical realism, mystery, romance, and thriller. I love strong, unique voices and am always looking for diverse, inclusive reads. In adult fiction, I am interested in the following genres: adventure, chick lit, commercial women’s fiction, mystery, romance, true crime, and select horror. In nonfiction, she likes mind/body/spirit, true crime, and spiritualism, witchcraft, and/or magic. Learn more about Jolene here.
Dara Hyde is Senior Literary Agent at the Hill Nadell Literary Agency. Dara represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, including literary and genre fiction, graphic novels, narrative nonfiction, memoir, young adult, and children’s literature. Her clients have been winners or finalists for the Women’s Prize, NAACP Image Award, Carnegie Medal, Eisner Award, Anthony Award, YALSA Award, Harvey Award, International Latino Book Award, and the Reading the West Award, among others. “I’m drawn to stories that examine social issues in unique ways, and voices that have been historically under-represented in publishing; stories that explore the bonds and complexities of both blood and chosen families; stories with crossover appeal, whether that’s YA/adult or blending genres in surprising ways.” Learn more about Dara here.
Victoria Harris (they/them/theirs) is a literary agent with The Caldwell Agency. Their heart belongs to stories that feature POC and LGBTQ+ protagonists. Victoria is primarily seeking literary fiction, upmarket fiction, and queer romance. They are also open to literary-leaning sci-fi (grounded, set in the near future) and historical fiction (set in the recent past). Before joining The Caldwell Agency, Victoria worked in the editorial department of Oxford University Press for over six years. They have an MFA in Fiction Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. Learn more about Victoria here.
Paul S. Levine is a literary agent and the founder of Paul S. Levine Literary. He is also an attorney. His fiction interests include adventure novels, mainstream fiction, mysteries, romance, thrillers, and women’s fiction. His nonfiction interests include business/commerce, pop culture, how-to, self-help, politics/law, relationships, and sports. With almost 40 years of experience in the entertainment and book industries, Levine is one of the few lawyers on the West coast who also understands the world of book publishing; as such, he is able to act as both literary agent and publishing attorney for his clients. Learn more about Paul here.
Mindi St. Peter is a literary manager at BAMbooks. She is currently seeking graphic novels, middle grade, young adult, new adult, literary fiction, horror, supernatural romance, fantasy where she can pronounce the character names, and anything funny. She also loves Hallmark-style romances and cozy Scottish mysteries. She’s not looking for psychological thrillers, memoirs (unless they’re pop culture or entertainment-based), self-help, or hard sci-fi. Learn more about Mindi here.
Kiana Nguyen is an agent with Donald Maass Literary Agency. She is seeking young adult fiction across genres, particularly those with POC and queer voices. She is also interested in adult romance and domestic suspense thrillers. She very much enjoys: dark, twisty narratives that explore human complexity; young adult contemporary featuring lower socioeconomic backgrounds (poor kids who get in as much reckless mischief as their rich counterparts); young adult featuring happy/hopeful queer romances; and domestic suspense thrillers! Learn more about Kiana here.
Ken Sherman is President of Ken Sherman & Associates, a Los Angeles based literary agency. The company was established in 1989, and handles film, television, and book writers, as well as selling film and television rights for books and life-rights. He is seeking: Ken is a generalist, and represents adult fiction and nonfiction of all types. He does not want pitches for children’s books or novels of any kind. Ken maintains strong community involvement as well, serving as an Arts and Cultural Affairs Commissioner for the City of West Hollywood, is a charter member of the British Academy of Film and Television/Los Angeles (BAFTA), and is a member of both the Academy of Television Arts and Science and the International Advisory Board of the Christopher Isherwood Foundation. Learn more about Ken here.
Angela Rinaldi is a literary agent and founder of The Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency. We are actively looking for upmarket contemporary fiction, mainstream women’s fiction, multicultural fiction, as well as mysteries, suspense, literary historical thrillers, gothic suspense, and women’s book club fiction – novels where the story leads to discussion. In nonfiction, she is seeking: Submissions from nonfiction authors with an original idea who have a national platform will always get our attention, as will authors who have big ideas and can spot trends; authors who can explain the way we live, take the mystery out of everyday occurrences or have life transforming messages; authors who have brands and strong media contacts. We are very interested in narrative nonfiction, memoir, women’s issues/studies, current issues, biography, love/relationships, psychology, health/medical/wellness, business, parenting, cookbooks/food narratives/lifestyle/wine, personal finance and books written by established journalists, academics, doctors and therapists. Learn more about Angela here.
Jake Lovell is an editorial assistant with Counterpoint Press. Previously, he was an agent with Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. “Counterpoint publishes literary fiction and nonfiction, including history, memoir, literary biography, religion and philosophy, and natural history. We urge you to browse our website to discover the range of our interests. Learn more about Jake here and Counterpoint Press here.
Nephele Tempest is a literary agent at The Knight Agency. Nephele continues to actively build her client list and looks for fiction with both strong, well-developed characters and a story that pulls her in and won’t let go. She primarily represents women’s contemporary or historical fiction; contemporary, paranormal, and historical single-title romance; and adult fantasy and science fiction. More generally, Nephele always looks for work with diverse cultural influences, #ownvoices projects, and stories that inspire and/or make her think. Learn more about Nephele here.
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ADDED ONLINE PITCHING: To ensure that writers have a robust and diverse lineup of agents & editors to pitch, 2026 Writing Conference of Los Angeles attendees will have the ability to also pitch literary agents at a specific Writing Day Workshops *online* event that follows the 2026 WCLA 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 WCLA 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 Los Angeles attendees.)
If you are interested in this added pitching opportunity, the first step is to get formally registered for Los Angeles. Following the conference on May 2, 2026, we will be in touch with all Los Angeles 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.)