Win a written critique of your query letter from acclaimed NYT bestselling authors Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, the co-authors behind Christina Lauren! SECOND PLACE WINNER WILL ALSO BE OFFERED THE CHANCE TO WIN A CRITIQUE!

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners and best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The #1 international bestselling coauthor duo writes both young adult and adult fiction, and together has produced nineteen New York Times bestselling novels. They are published in over 30 languages, have received multiple starred reviews, won both the Seal of Excellence and Book of the Year from RT Magazine, been inducted into the Library Reads Hall of Fame, named Amazon and Audible Romance of the Year, a Lambda Literary Award finalist and been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. They have been featured in publications such as Forbes, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Time, Entertainment Weekly, People, O Magazine and more. Their third YA novel, Autoboyography was released in 2017 to critical acclaim, followed by Roomies, Love and Other Words, Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating, The Unhoneymooners, In a Holidaze, and The Soulmate Equation and Something Wilder.

Win a 30-minute Zoom or phone call to with literary agent Carly Watters to discuss your adult fiction or nonfiction query letter! During your call, Carly will also answer your writing and publishing questions.

Carly Watters is a Senior Literary Agent at P.S. Literary and VP of PACLA (Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents). She's been an agent for 14 years and represents award-winners and bestsellers in a variety of categories. Clients have been translated into 40 languages, optioned for TV, and have been on every bestseller list including the New York Times, USA Today and Globe and Mail. Carly co-hosts The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast. She has a Masters in Publishing Studies from City University London and is a graduate of Harvard Business School's Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports continuing education program.

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Win a written critique of your query and a 30-minute call (via phone or Zoom) with literary agent Andrea Somberg! Andrea will discuss your query and answer your questions about the publishing industry.

A literary agent for over twenty years, Andrea Somberg represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction, including projects for adult, young adult and middle grade audiences. Her clients' books have been NYTimes and USA Today Bestsellers, GMA and Target Book Club Picks, winners of ALA's Alex Award and the Nebula, finalists for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, the NYPL Young Lion's Award, The Edgar Award, The Governor General's Award, the Lambda Award, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, the Ohioana Award and the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. Her clients books have been Junior Library Guild Selections, PublishersMarketplace's Buzz Book Selections, and have been named best books of the year by NPR, Kirkus, NYPublic Library and Book of the Month Club.

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Win a critique of your nonfiction proposal or query from editor Jill Schwartzman! Jill will join you for a 30-minute phone or video chat to discuss the material and cover and any other industry questions.

Jill Schwartzman joined Dutton in January 2012 and acquires platform, publicity, and voice-driven nonfiction, with a focus on celebrity, pop culture, memoir, humor, music, biography, and narrative nonfiction. Recent and upcoming Dutton titles include Nick Offerman's fifth New York Times bestseller Where the Deer and the Antelope Play, Des Linden's Choosing to Run, Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack's What's Next, and Anna Lembke's The Official Dopamine Nation Workbook.

Jill is also Editorial Director of Plume, where she published the New York Times bestseller Subpar Parks by Amber Share, Trixie and Katya's Guide to Modern Womanhood, as well as many other books in the pop culture, illustrated, and humor space, including Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka's upcoming cocktail and mocktail book, Mixed.

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Win a written critique of your query in ANY GENRE from literary agent Sharon Pelletier! Sharon will provide a 30-minute follow-up phone call to discuss your query and answer any other questions you have about the query process or the publishing industry.

Sharon Pelletier joined Dystel, Goderich & Bourret in 2013 after working in editorial at small presses and as a B&N bookseller. She was named senior agent in 2021 and named vice president in 2024. Sharon's list focuses on upmarket fiction of all sorts, from smart, complex women's fiction; to unexpected suspense fiction and romance; to hearty, unforgettable book club fiction.

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Win a written critique of your adult fiction query from literary agent Elisabeth Weed, plus a 30-minute call with Elisabeth to discuss your query and learn about the inner workings of the publishing industry!

Elisabeth Weed is an industry veteran with over 25 years in the publishing world. A partner at The Book Group, she is especially attracted to plot-driven novels with a sense of place, and loves discovering new voices. Elisabeth is committed to working with authors not just on individual titles, but for the long term.

Win a written critique of your adult fiction query and a 30-minute phone or video call to discuss your query and learn about the inner workings of the publishing industry with literary agent Julie Barer!

Julie Barer began her career as a bookseller at Shakespeare & Company, and after a decade of running her own agency, she co-founded The Book Group with her partners in 2015. Julie represents a variety of writers across a literary spectrum, with a special emphasis on fiction. Her clients include Madeline Miller, Celeste Ng, Rumaan Alam, Charles Yu, and Lily King.

Win a written critique of your query and a 30-minute phone or video call to discuss your query and learn about the inner workings of the publishing industry, with literary agent Stephanie Winter.

Stephanie Winter is a multi-passionate book lover, specializing in visual works across genres and age categories, including graphic novels and nonfiction. From horror and thrillers to queer romance, her tastes in prose and illustration are varied and expansive. Stephanie holds a BA in English from the University of Toronto, a MA in English: Issues in Modern Culture from University College London, UK, and is a member of the Toronto Comic Arts Festival Board of Directors.

Win a 30-minute call with freelance children's and YA editor Julie Scheina to discuss your picture book, middle grade, or YA query, as well as any other industry questions!

Julie Scheina is a former senior editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers with over 17 years of experience editing acclaimed and bestselling books for children and young adults. Julie has edited more than 200 titles across a variety of genres, from picture books and poetry collections to middle grade and young adult novels.

Win a 30-minute call with Miriam Altshuler, literary agent at DeFiore & Company, to discuss your adult fiction query letter and questions about the publishing industry!

Miriam Altshuler began her career at Russell & Volkening and in 1994 established her own agency, which she ran for twenty-one years until she joined DeFiore & Company in 2016. She focuses primarily on literary and book club fiction, narrative nonfiction, and children's literature. Miriam is particularly interested in finding emerging and underrepresented voices, and she loves reading and representing books that focus on diversity and explore the experiences of people of color.

Win a written critique of your fiction query from literary agent Michaela Whatnall!

Michaela Whatnall is an agent with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, where they have worked out of the West Coast office since 2019. They have a degree in English and linguistics from Emory University, completed the Columbia Publishing Course, and in 2023 they were selected as a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree. Michaela represents middle grade and young adult fiction across genres; upmarket adult fiction and grounded fantasy; and select picture books, graphic novels, and narrative nonfiction.

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Win a written critique of your adult fiction query from literary assistant Xanthe Coffman of CAA, who sees hundreds of queries every week!

Xanthe Coffman is a literary assistant at CAA, working closely with renowned literary agent Alexandra Machinist. Xanthe supports the representation of a diverse range of authors, from bestsellers to new voices in contemporary literature. Xanthe's role involves evaluating queries, providing feedback, and facilitating connections between writers and the publishing world.

Win a written critique of your adult fiction query letter from Rebecca Strauss, literary agent at DeFiore & Company!

Rebecca Strauss is an agent at DeFiore & Company and focuses on literary and commercial fiction, women's fiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery, YA, pop culture, and select nonfiction. In all genres, she looks for a compelling story, clear concept, fresh voice, and emotional heart - a work that grabs you from the first page. She is especially interested in emerging writers and underrepresented voices; and she is looking to develop long term relationships.

Before joining DeFiore, Rebecca was at McIntosh and Otis for seven years, where she was an agent and Director of Subsidiary Rights. Prior to her time at McIntosh, she was a foreign rights associate at Trident Media Group, as well as a book scout and development assistant at Sony Pictures. Rebecca is originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and earned her degree in English Literature from Duke University.

Win a critique of 25 pages of your adult fiction manuscript OR a query critique/revision from Ann (A.H.) Kim, author of A Good Family (2020) and Relative Strangers (2024)! Either option includes a 30-minute video-chat.

A.H. Kim is the author of A Good Family (2020), which The Washington Post described as a "lively suspense diversion," as well as Relative Strangers (2024), a modern retelling of Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility.

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Win a query critique and 30-minute phone call with Julia Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of the The Writing Retreat. Julia will offer feedback on your query and answer any of your questions about the publishing industry!

Julia Bartz is the New York Times bestselling author of The Writing Retreat, as well as a therapist and creative coach. Her fiction has appeared in The South Dakota Review, InDigest Magazine, and more. She lives in Brooklyn.

Win a brainstorm and writing session with query geek and bestselling author Carinn Jade. If you don't have a solid query letter and don't know where to start, Carinn will roll up her sleeves to help you! Carinn will share her Astrology House query letter with you (which landed her multiple offers of representation) and you will share the cover copy/bookseller description of 2 to 3 comparable titles for your book. By the end of your 30-minute video discussion you will have a draft or a roadmap for your polished query letter.

Carinn Jade is the author of the vacation suspense novel, The Astrology House, and co-host of the podcast, Pop Fiction Women

Win a query critique and chat with New York Times bestselling author Emiko Jean. Emiko will offer a 30-minute zoom chat to discuss your query, work, or other industry questions.

Emiko Jean is a New York Times, USA Today and Indie bestselling author of young adult and adult fiction. Her books have been published in over thirty languages. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America as a GMA book club pick, by Reese Witherspoon as a young adult book club pick, and in publications such as: Marie Claire, Entertainment Weekly, Time, Cosmopolitan, Shondaland and Bustle.

Win a query critique and Zoom call with acclaimed historical romance author, Elizabeth Everett! During your call, Elizabeth will go over her critique and discuss any other questions you have about publishing, querying, historical modes of contraception, or whatever strikes your fancy!

Elizabeth Everett is the author of the critically acclaimed Victorian romcom series, The Secret Scientists of London. She is also the author of the upcoming Damsels of Discovery, which continues to explore the lives and loves of women scientists in the early Victorian era.

Win a 30-minute phone or video chat to discuss your adult fiction query with New York Times bestselling author Kimberly McCreight!

Kimberly McCreight is the New York Times bestselling author of eight novels including Reconstructing Amelia, A Good Marriage and Like Mother, Like Daughter. She's been nominated for the Edgar, Anthony and Alex awards, her books translated into more than twenty languages and optioned for film and television. She attended Vassar College and graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She lives in Brooklyn with her two daughters.

Win your choice of:

• a written critique of your adult fiction query and email response to your questions on your writing or publishing process OR
• a 5,000-word manuscript critique

all from author Lauren Ling Brown!

Lauren Ling Brown is the author of Society of Lies, a Reese's Book Club pick and USA Today bestseller. She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA where she works as a film editor.

Win a written critique of your YA query and the first 10 pages of your manuscript with YA debut author and ghostwriter Veronica Bane!

Veronica Bane is a young adult author and experienced ghostwriter living and working in Los Angeles. Her debut YA thriller Difficult Girls will be published from Penguin Random House/Delacorte Press in summer 2025. When she isn't writing, Veronica is teaching English and Creative Writing to high school students.

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