Chat with agent Jim McCarthy for 30 minutes, and ask him anything about the industry!

Jim McCarthy has been with DGB for over two decades, the entirety of his publishing career. His client list includes bestselling and award-winning authors including Richelle Mead, Eric Gansworth, Morgan Rhodes, Livia Blackburne, Joy McCullough, Fonda Lee, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Kosoko Jackson, and many more.

Image: Headshot of Jim McCarthy

Win a 30-minute phone or video chat with #1 New York Times bestselling author Ruta Sepetys. Ruta will also send a signed, advance galley of her forthcoming book, You: The Story to the winner.

United States shipping only, please.

Ruta Sepetys is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Sepetys is considered a "crossover" novelist as her books are read by both students and adults worldwide. Winner of the Carnegie Medal, Ruta is renowned for giving voice to underrepresented history and those who experienced it.

Image: Headshot of Ruta Sepetys, photo by Rachel Kinney Studios

Win a 45-minute social media critique + AMA call with JoAnn! She'll not only assess your social media to offer personalized advice on how to play to your strengths and build your personal brand, but she'll also answer any other questions you have about professional websites, establishing yourself online, and (perhaps most importantly) how to stay engaged without burning out. She's managed and grown We Need Diverse Books' online presence since 2017, and can offer accessibility tips, graphic design hacks, habits to avoid, insights into algorithmic flows and SEO, and more!

JoAnn Yao is the Social Media Manager for We Need Diverse Books. She holds a B.S. in Computational Media from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a M.A. in TV, Radio, & Film from Syracuse University. She has worn many hats throughout the course of her career, including researcher for the American Film Institute, script reader and TV Lit assistant in Hollywood, webmaster, online narrative game designer, video editor, and New Frontiers comic anthology writer.

Image: Headshot of JoAnn Yao

Win a 30-minute 'Ask Me Anything' Zoom chat with literary agent Laurie McLean, co-founder and partner at Fuse Literary. You can ask questions about anything in publishing and pitch your work to her as well if you wish. Let's amp up your writing career.

Middle Grade, YA, or Adult only, please.

Laurie McLean spent 20 years as the CEO of a multi-million-dollar marketing agency and 8 years as an agent/senior agent at Larsen Pomada Literary Agents before co-founding Fuse Literary in 2013 with her business partner Gordon Warnock. Laurie specializes in middle grade, young adult and adult genre fiction including romance, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, and westerns. Laurie is also the Co-Director of the San Francisco Writers Conference, in its 19th year.

Image: Headshot of Laurie McLean

Win a 30-60 minute Ask Me Anything call with Editorial Director Jenne Abramowitz (Scholastic) to discuss the publishing industry, your career path, and any advice you may want to help you along your publishing journey.

Jenne Abramowitz is an Editorial Director at Scholastic, where she has worked with a diverse and talented list of authors and illustrators including Aaron Blabey, Varian Johnson, Debbi Michiko Florence, Liz Montague, Kate Messner, Ash Van Otterloo, Booki Vivat, Jess Keating, Stephanie Kuehn, and Keith Calabrese. She's a sucker for chapter book and middle grade fiction that features unforgettable characters, transporting prose, dynamic illustrations, and commercial plots that have something meaty under the surface that speaks to the world kids live in. Jenne is a member of the Brooklyn Book Festival's children's and YA programming committee, a cat lover, surprisingly good roller-skater, and lifelong Murder, She Wrote enthusiast.

Image: Headshot of Jenne Abramowitz

Win a 30-minute call with Terry Catasús Jennings, author of the Definitely Dominguita Chapter Book series to discuss a critique of the manuscript of your first book in a proposed series and steps for submission.

Early Reader or Middle Grade only, please.

Terry Catasús Jennings is the Cuban-American author of JLG selection The Little House of Hope, The Definitely Dominguita Chapter Book Series, and co-author of the biography in verse: Pauli Murray: The Life of a Pioneering Feminist and Civil Rights Activist. She supports the mission of WNDB and is delighted to be able to help out in this way.

Image: Headshot of Terry Catasús Jennings

Win a 50-page manuscript evaluation and 30-minute strategy session with Book Coach Julie Artz to discuss your manuscript, pitching, next steps, or any questions you have about the industry.

Middle Grade, YA, Adult, or Memoir only, please.

Julie Artz spent her young life sneaking into wardrobes searching for Narnia. When people started to think that was creepy, she went in search of other ways to go on mystical adventures. Now she finds those long-sought doors to magical story worlds in her work as an author, editor, and book coach. An active member of the writing community, she has volunteered for SCBWI, TeenPit, and Pitch Wars and is a member of EFA, the Authors Guild, and AWP. A social and environmental justice minded story geek, Julie lives in an enchanted forest outside of Redmond, Washington, with her husband, two strong-willed teenagers, and a trio of naughty furry familiars.

Image: Headshot of Julie Artz

Win a 30-minute video call with YA and MG author, H.E. Edgmon, for feedback on your query letter and first 20 pages, and behind-the-scenes insights on navigating the publishing industry from an Indigenous, trans, and disabled perspective.

Middle Grade or YA only, please.

H.E. Edgmon (he/they) is a questionable influence, a dog person, and an author of books both irreverent and radicalizing. His stories imagine Indigenous worlds and center queer kids saving each other. His highly acclaimed THE WITCH KING duology is out now.

Image: Headshot of H.E. Edgmon

Win a 20-page manuscript critique (or a full-length picture book critique) followed by a 30-minute video chat with Elizabeth Lee, Editor at Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.

Picture Book, Early Reader, Middle Grade, or YA only, please.

Elizabeth Lee is an editor at Penguin Workshop who is most excited about "hopeful-but-makes-you-cry" middle grade and young adult novels as well as select picture books. Some of her recent and forthcoming acquisitions include She Sang for India by Suma Subramaniam and Shreya Gupta, Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea, and Home in a Lunchbox by Cherry Mo. When she is not editing, Elizabeth is an author under the pen name, E.L. Shen (The Comeback - January 2021 and The Queens of New York - June 2023).

Image: Headshot of Elizabeth Lee

Win an AMA call with children's author Thushanthi Ponweera, to chat specifically about novels in verse. Thushanthi will also provide a critique of your query and first 30-pages during your call!

Middle grade or young adult verse novels only please.

Thushanthi Ponweera is an author and poet from Sri Lanka and a former WNDB Mentee. Her middle-grade verse novel I am Kavi is forthcoming from Holiday House in Fall 2023 and her picture book The Rainbow Bangles illustrated by Maithili Joshi comes out in Summer 2024 from Simon & Schuster BFYR. Her writing reflects the frustration she feels at the inequality and injustice she sees around her and the deep love she feels for her island home.

Image: Headshot of Thushanthi Ponweera, photo by Sanjeewa Weerasinghe

Win a 30-minute call with Alex Aceves, associate editor at Holiday House Publishing, to ask all your burning questions about the industry! Alex will also provide a critique of your query and first 20 pages during your call.

Middle Grade or Young Adult only, please.

Available within the United States only.

Alex Aceves (she/her) is a Latine writer and editor originally from Mexico City and currently based in Brooklyn. She works as an associate editor at Holiday House Publishing, where she oversees the expansion of the Holiday House Spanish language publishing program while also acquiring YA and middle grade for the English language list.

Image: Headshot of Alex Aceves

Win a 30-minute call with author Meera Trehan to discuss the industry, craft issues, or any other writing-related questions you may have. Meera will also provide a critique of your query during your call.

Picture Book, Early Reader, Middle Grade, or Young Adult only, please.

Meera Trehan is the author of The View From the Very Best House in Town, an Amazon Editor's Pick and Junior Library Guild Selection. Her second middle grade novel will be released in 2024.

Image: Headshot of Meera Trehan

Win a 50-minute Zoom chat with YA author/songwriter Mimi Cross. Send the first 3 chapters of your novel-in-progress, your query letter, and/or your synopsis in advance of the conversation, and Mimi will give you tips to make one or more of them stronger. Or, she'll give you a songwriting lesson! Winner's choice.

Young Adult only, please.

Available within the United States only.

Born in Toronto, Canada, Mimi Cross is an author, songwriter, and arts educator who grew up in New Jersey by the beach. She received a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College, where she worked on the college newspaper and became editor of the literary arts magazine, and an MA from New York University. Mimi lives with her son and a Siberian cat nicknamed The Dark Knight. Her first two novels are Before Goodbye and Shining Sea.

Image: Headshot of Mimi Cross

Win a query critique and 30-minute chat with Sarah Dass, YA author of Where the Rhythm Takes You and the upcoming When the Vibe Is Right. Sarah will discuss the query critique, and chat about writing and the industry.

Young Adult only, please.

Sarah Dass was born in Trinidad but has lived in Tobago since she was two years old. A graduate of University College London, she works as an office administrator by day and writes stories about the Caribbean by night. Sarah's debut novel, Where the Rhythm Takes You, was inspired by her childhood, spent in a seaside hotel.

Image: Headshot of Sarah Dass

Win a 30-minute call with Rebecca Friedman, agent and founder of Rebecca Friedman Literary. Rebecca will critique your query and first 50 pages and answer any industry questions you have.

Middle Grade, Young Adult, or Adult only, please.

Rebecca Friedman began her career at Greenburger Associates. From there, she worked at Sterling Lord Literistic and the Hill Nadell Agency, before starting her own agency in 2013. She is a graduate of Barnard College. Rebecca is interested in commercial and literary fiction with a focus on literary novels of suspense, women's fiction, and young adult, as well as journalistic non-fiction and memoir. Most of all, she is looking for great stories told in strong voices. She is especially interested in underrepresented stories by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers.

Win a 30-60 minute call with Doan Buu, Associate Art Director at Scholastic under the Cartwheel and Orchard imprints. During the call Doan will review your portfolio and field any questions you may have about your work and the publishing industry.

Picture Book or Early Reader only, please.

Doan Buu has worked as professional designer for over 20 years, ranging from online to on-air to print media. Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, based in Brooklyn, New York, he is always on the look for new and exciting work.

Image: Headshot of Doan Buu

Win a 1-hour consultation with a marketing manager with over ten years of experience at small and large publishers. Perfect for first time authors or authors looking to advance their personal marketing. Learn industry secrets and best-practices to position your book to booksellers, educators, media, and through social media.

For Picture Book, Early Reader, Middle Grade, YA, Graphic novels, and board books.

Available within the United States only.

Hannah Moushabeck is a second-generation Palestinian American author, editor, and book marketer who was raised in a family of publishers and booksellers. With over ten years in the industry, she has worked for publishers such as Chronicle Books, The Quarto Group, and Simon & Schuster. She is also the author of Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine (Chronicle Books, March 2023).

Image: Headshot of Hannah Moushabeck

Win a 30-minute call with Ariela Rudy Zaltzman, a production editor at Penguin Young Readers, to talk about the kidlit industry. Ariela will be happy to talk to you about finding a career in publishing, what to expect from the publishing process after your manuscript has been acquired, or how to effectively incorporate a language other than English in your manuscript.

Ariela Rudy Zaltzman is a production editor at Penguin Young readers. She copyedits, proofreads, advises on conscious language and cultural sensitivity issues in books, and translates English and Spanish texts. She has also worked at Disney Publishing, Chronicle Books, and other houses.

Image: Headshot of Ariela Rudy Zaltzman

Win a 30 minute zoom consultation/AMA with award-winning picture book, middle grade, and young adult author Robin Stevenson.

Robin Stevenson is the award winning author of thirty books of fiction and non-fiction for kids and teens: her writing has been translated into numerous languages and published in more than a dozen countries. Robin's books have won the Silver Birch Award, the Sheila A. Egoff award and a Stonewall Honor, and been finalists for the Governor General's Literary Awards, the Lambda Literary Awards, and many reader's choice awards. She is the Book and Periodical Council of Canada's Champion of Free Expression for 2022.

Robin is represented by Eric Smith and Maria Vicente at PS Literary Agency, and is a member of the Writers' Union of Canada. She regularly speaks at conferences, libraries and schools across North America.

Image: Headshot of Robin Stevenson

Win a 30-minute Ask Me Anything call with Paige Terlip, Associate Agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Publishing questions? Writing concerns? Ask anything!

Paige Terlip has worked at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency since 2017, first as an assistant to Executive Agent Laura Rennert, and then as an Associate Agent since 2021. Prior to joining ABLA, she worked at Candlewick Press and Charlesbridge Publishing, as well as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and a ranch in the Rockies to name a few. She has an MA in Children's Literature and an MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons University.

Image: Headshot of Paige Terlip

Win a 30-minute call with Jenny Xu, editor at Harper and Ecco, to discuss the industry, career path, and poetry and/or nonfiction projects.

Adult only, please.

Jenny Xu edits nonfiction for Harper Books, and oversees Ecco's poetry list. Her list has a particular focus on marginalized and underrepresented voices; recent and upcoming books include Rise by Jeff Yang, Phil Yu and Philip Wang, Heretic by Jeanna Kadlec, Bite by Bite by Aimee Nezhukumathatil, Talking out of Turn by Nicole Sealey, The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On by Franny Choi, and Monument by Natasha Trethewey.

Image: Headshot of Jenny Xu

Win a 30-minute call with Acquisitions Editor Alex Brown to discuss your personal career path, your WIP or any industry related questions you have!

Adult WIP only, please.

Alex Brown is the CEO and Acquisitions editor at Rising Action Publishing Co. Alex works in all types of genres. Alex also works in subsidiary rights including translation, film/tv and audiobooks.

Image: Headshot of Alex Brown

Win a 30-minute call with Amanda Orozco, Literary Agent at the Transatlantic Agency, to discuss your query and any other industry questions you may have about the publishing journey!

Middle Grade, YA, or Adult only, please.

Amanda Orozco is a literary agent, based out of Los Angeles, at the Transatlantic Agency. Before joining Transatlantic, she worked in Subsidiary Rights at Little, Brown and at Park & Fine Literary and Media. While at NYU, she interned at the National Book Foundation, Shreve Williams Public Relations, and The Gernert Company.

Image: Headshot of Amanda Orozco

Win a 30-minute call with Brian LaRossa, the executive art director of Branches and Acorn early graphic readers and nonfiction picture books for Scholastic's hardcover picture book group.

Picture Book or Early Reader only, please.

Brian LaRossa (he/him) is the executive art director of Branches and Acorn early graphic readers and nonfiction picture books for Scholastic's hardcover picture book group.

Image: Headshot of Brian LaRossa

Win a 30-minute call with Lala Watkins, author-illustrator of Little Santa's Workshop; I Love You More Than Ice Cream by Becky Davies, Bus Stop by Angela H. Dale, and many more in 2023. Lala will discuss the publishing industry as an illustrator and the winners' personal career paths/projects.

Available within the United States only.

Lala Watkins is the illustrator of I Love You More Than Ice Cream by Becky Davies, Bus Stop by Angela H. Dale, and the author-illustrator of her first board book series with Scholastic, Little Santa's Workshop. With a degree from Ringling College of Art and Design, Lala has also worked as a product designer, product developer, illustrator, and graphic designer at Sanrio, Paper Culture, and Cartoon Network. She lives in sunny Florida, is a good vibes connoisseur, and enjoys making fun illustrations and lovely stories that make her heart (and yours) emote the heart-eyed emoji.

Image: Headshot of Lala Watkins

Win a 30-minute phone or video call with Miriam Moore-Keish, Content Strategist at Capstone to chat about anything kids, books, kids' books, and publishing!

Miriam Moore-Keish is a writer and publisher from Atlanta, GA. She received her MPhil in Education and Critical Approaches to Children's Literature from the University of Cambridge and has since written and edited books for all ages, consulted on manuscripts, developed anti-bias preschool curricula, taught creative writing classes, guest lectured, and engaged in general bookwormery. Miriam currently publishes children's books at Capstone Publishers in Minneapolis, MN where they don't (but she does) sweeten their tea.

Image: Headshot of Miriam Moore-Keish

Win a 30-minute video chat with Sarah Fisk, literary agent at Tobias Literary Agency. Ask about publishing, querying, publicity, self publishing, and more. No critique is included in this item.

Sarah N. Fisk has worked in the publishing industry as an editorial assistant, author's assistant, publicist, and art director. Sarah is a former Pitch Wars mentor, board member, and Agent Liaison. They host the podcast Queries, Qualms, & Quirks and are one of the founding members of Disability in Publishing. Sarah is a literary agent at the Tobias Literary Agency, representing all genres in Middle Grade and Young Adult as well as adult science-fiction, fantasy, and romance.

Image: Headshot of Sarah N. Fisk

Win a 30-minute Zoom call with Feather Flores, editor at Simon & Schuster's Atheneum Books for Young Readers, to discuss any and all things publishing: industry, craft, career, you name it! Feather will also provide a critique of your manuscript (full picture book text or first 25 pages of a YA novel) during your call.

Picture book or YA only, please.

Feather Flores joined Atheneum in 2022 after a four-year stint at Chronicle Books. She works on smart, joyful picture books; middle grade romps with coming-of-age themes; and bold, open-hearted YA that reimagines everything our identities can be. You can find her expressing endless enthusiasm on Twitter @featherfully and explore her full manuscript wishlist at featherflores.com.

Image: Headshot of Feather Flores

Win a 30-minute video call with Claire Draper (they | them), agent at the Bent Agency, where you can ask questions about the publishing industry, your career path, and any of your projects.

Claire Draper fell in love with books later than some, when her high school best friend dragged her to the theater to see Twilight. After studying Queer Diversity in Children's Literature at New York University's Gallatin School and pursuing multiple internships, in 2016 she spent a fantastic (if short-lived) two weeks working as a bookseller for the Strand, before joining InkWell Management as a receptionist and agents' assistant. Since early 2019, Claire has been at the Bent Agency growing her list with a collection of very queer books for readers of all ages, including graphic novels, picture books, middle-grade, young adult, and adult romance, nonfiction, and memoir.

Image: Headshot of Claire Draper

Win a 30-minute phone or video call with Foyinsi Adegbonmire, an associate editor at Feiwel & Friends, Macmillan. This is an ask-me-anything prize and questions can range from career to craft to industry!

Foyinsi Adegbonmire is an Associate Editor at Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. She acquires Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction, from contemporary to mystery to grounded science-fiction, and enjoys lighthearted stories with conversational narrative voices. When not reading or thinking about her very large TBR pile, she can be found watching Black sitcoms from the 90s/early 2000s and fictional crime shows, or obsessing over bullet journaling.

Image: Headshot of Foyinsi Adegbonmire

Win a 30-minute call with Olivia A. Cole, author of The Truth About White Lies, to discuss author life and the publishing industry.

Olivia A. Cole is the author of six novels, most recently The Truth About White Lies. Olivia's essays have been published by Bitch Media, Real Simple, The L.A. Times, HuffPost, Teen Vogue, Gay Mag, and others. Dear Medusa, Olivia's first novel-in-verse will be released in Spring 2023.

Image: Headshot of Olivia A. Cole

Win a 30-minute Zoom call with Literary Agent Adria Goetz from P.S. Literary, who will answer any questions you have about the publishing industry. She looks forward to chatting with you!

Adria Goetz is a senior literary agent at PSLA representing picture books, middle grade, adult fiction, and graphic novels. She specializes in picture books by author/illustrators. You can find her detailed manuscript wishlist at adriagoetz.com and you can find her on Twitter at @adriamgoetz and on Instagram at @adriagoetz.

Image: Headshot of Adria Goetz

Win a A 30-minute phone or video call with Kandace Coston, associate editor at Lee & Low Books! Kandace can offer insight about the children's book publishing industry and discuss the winner's personal career path and projects.

Phone call will take place before March 1.

Available within the United States only.

Kandace Coston is the associate editor at Lee & Low Books and the alumnx manager on WNDB's Internship Grant Committee. After graduating from Barnard College, Columbia University, she won an internship grant from WNDB and joined the Lee & Low team. Professionally and personally, Kandace enjoys strong female protagonists as well as any story that can make her laugh!

Image: Headshot of Kandace Coston

Win a 30-minute call with award-winning author and teaching artist Kelly Starling Lyons. She'd love to hear about your writing journey and offer tips and insight into the publishing industry. With nearly two decades of experience, she has a wealth of information to share.

Available within the United States only.

Award-winning author Kelly Starling Lyons has written more than two dozen books that center Black heroes, celebrate family, friendship and heritage and show all kids the stories they hold inside. Her titles span easy readers, picture books and chapter books, nonfiction and fiction, standalone and series. She has been a WNDB and SCBWI-Carolinas mentor, is one of the founding members of The Brown Bookshelf and is a frequent speaker at conferences, libraries and schools.

Image: Headshot of Kelly Starling Lyons, photo by Lundies Photography

Win a 30-minute zoom call with crime novelist Marcie Rendon, published by Soho Press. Marcie has written adult crime novels, children's picture books, and short stories/poetry in anthologies. Open to discussing writing and giving encouragement to continue to write.

Marcie Rendon, White Earth Ojibwe. Listed in Oprah's 2020 list of 31 Native American Author's to read. Sinister Graves, Girl Gone Missing and Murder on the Red River, all Cash Blackbear adult novels, Soho Press. Stitches of Tradition, a children's book, will be published by Heartdrum 2024.

Image: Headshot of Marcie Rendon

Win a 1-hour video call with Melanie C. Duncan, Head of Collections & Acqusitions for a multi-county public library system. She'll answer any questions you have about libraries, book reviewing, library programs, and how to get your work into libraries through a scheduled video conference call. She's also willing to discuss her diagnoses of depression, anxiety, and ADHD, all of which were discovered at various points in her adult life to help #EndTheStigma against openly discussing mental health.

Available within the United States only.

Melanie C. Duncan graduated with a Master's in Library Science and has worked in public libraries for 29 years as a reference librarian, branch manager and cataloger. She's survived story times, Summer Reading Programs, and the insanity of the Eclipse Programs of 2017 (who knew free eclipse glasses would be so popular???). In addition, Melanie reviewed titles for Library Journal (Romance Reviewer of the Year, 2019), Booklist, Publisher's Weekly, and various other publications over the years, covering genres and heat levels from inspirational fiction to erotica, and been a panelist at DragonCon speaking about libraries for the Diversity and Fantasy Tracks.

Image: Illustrated headshot of Melanie C. Duncan

Win a 30-minute phone call with author Ann Braden to chat about whatever parts of the publishing process you're most interested in: querying, being on submission, promoting your book, etc.

Ann Braden writes books about kids learning to stand up for themselves even when it's hard. Her middle grade novels The Benefits of Being an Octopus and Flight of the Puffin have earned widespread recognition, including NPR's Best Books, Cybil Award finalist, and being named to over a dozen state lists. Her newest book Opinions and Opossums is coming out in May with Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin Young Readers.

Image: Headshot of Ann Braden

Win a 30-minute call with Alvina Ling, Editor-in-Chief at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and ask her anything related to the publishing industry!

Alvina Ling is VP and Editor-in-Chief at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers where she has worked since 1999. She edits children's books for all ages, including A Big Mooncake for Little Star and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, Dave the Potter by Laban Carrick Hill and illustrated by Bryan Collier, The Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer, The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Troublemaker by John Cho, The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan, and The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. She co-hosts the podcast Book Friends Forever with author Grace Lin and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two cats.