2026 AGENT ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS
No Additional Cost • Limited Availability
Included with your Regular One- or Two-Day Conference Registration
Take advantage of this opportunity to secure one individual session with a literary agent, based on availability. These are optional sessions, which must be scheduled in advance unless otherwise announced. Included with your regular conference ticket at no additional cost.
These appointments are not transferable to others, and no one can have more than one agent meeting/consultation. Appointment slots are limited.
Scheduling
When you register for the conference you will be able to select your first and second choices for agents. Your second agent choice indicates who you would like to see if your first choice is not available. It is not a second meeting. Be sure to review the agent choices below and make your selections prior to beginning the registration process.
In mid September, we will send you further information about your scheduled appointment. Please do not contact us with questions about scheduling until after that time.
These individual meetings are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis and may fill up. Early registration is recommended to ensure you can take advantage of these opportunities.
On Selecting an Agent
How to make the best use of your appointment
We are pleased to offer a diverse selection of agents who represent a wide range of genres. When reviewing which agents you would like to select as your first and second choices on your conference registration form, review each bio carefully, including any links to their agent websites and manuscript wishlists (MSWL), to make sure you are selecting agents who represent the type of work you write.
Please note, even though we’ve asked our agents what they’re most interested in acquiring at this conference, you should take a look at their entire MSWL. Think of “specifically looking for” more as a mood and not as a finite list.
You will make your agent selections on your regular conference registration form.
Confirmed Agents for 2026
Natalie Edwards
Natalie Edwards joined Trellis Literary at its founding in 2021, after stints at Janklow & Nesbit Associates and Curtis Brown, Ltd. She represents upmarket and literary fiction, as well as narrative nonfiction and selective memoir. Originally from Pasadena, CA, Natalie is a graduate of Bowdoin College and lives with her wife in Brooklyn. At this conference, Natalie is particularly (but not only) looking for: I love books with a sense of humor, novels with speculative elements, upmarket fiction that deals with weighty topics but is ultimately hopeful, and I’m particularly on the hunt for queer historical fiction. Please do not pitch Natalie: |
Hard sci-fi/fantasy, romantasy, commercial romance (unless it’s queer), novels with writer protagonists, erotica, dark romance, prescriptive nonfiction (how-tos, cookbooks, etc.), straight-up memoir (without research/reportage elements).
Clare Mao
Clare Mao is an agent at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. In fiction, she is looking for literary, upmarket, and commercial novels with a strong sense of place and unforgettable characters. She has a soft spot for a good, elevated love story. In nonfiction, she represents illustrated projects like cookbooks, as well as voice-driven narrative nonfiction and essay collections. Across genres, she is drawn to writers who are curious, thoughtful, and critical. Most importantly, she wants to represent writers who are having fun. Authors include: Ifrah F. Ahmed, Johanna Hedva, Emily Mester, and Rioghnach Robinson.
At this conference, Clare is particularly (but not only) looking for:
Although I do represent nonfiction, I would prefer to be pitched mostly fiction. I am actively looking for contemporary romance, workplace novels, and novels set outside of New York/LA.
Please do not pitch Clare:
Historical fiction (anything set before the 1980s is tough for me), sci fi/fantasy (a touch of speculative is okay – no space operas or high fantasy), books about war, dark romance or romantasy. None of these are pet peeves; I’m just not the right agent!
Eric Smith
Eric Smith is an award-winning Young Adult author and literary agent living in Philadelphia. He’s worked with New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed authors across genres and categories, and is the founder of Neighborhood Literary.
At this conference, Eric is particularly (but not only) looking for:
I sure would love to find some high concept rom-coms and some social horror (for kids and adults!). But just because those are specific requests, doesn’t mean that’s all I want. | ||
Please do not pitch Eric:
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Saba Sulaiman
Saba Sulaiman is a Senior Agent at Talcott Notch Literary Services, an agency located in Connecticut. Being an immigrant who is constantly negotiating her own identity and sense of belonging in a place she now calls “home,” she is committed to championing books by writers from marginalized communities with compelling stories to tell; stories that demonstrate a wide range of perspectives, and address urgent and often underexplored issues in fiction and non-fiction with veracity and heart.
At this conference, Saba is particularly (but not only) looking for:
Children’s fiction and non-fiction, upmarket fiction for adults, anything genre-bending and weird, character-driven narratives, all kinds of humor!
Please don’t pitch Saba:
Tradiitonal scifi or fantasy, cookbooks, self-help, memoirs, graphic novels.
Marin Takikawa
Marin Takikawa is an agent and foreign rights director at The Friedrich Agency. Born in Tokyo and raised in Singapore and NYC, she joined TFA in early 2021 and now handles selling international rights for authors like Alison Espach, Jane Smiley, the Estate of Frank McCourt, in addition to representing her own list.
At this conference, Marin is particularly (but not only) looking for:
Literary Fiction, Upmarket Fiction, YA, Rom-Coms, Speculative Fiction
Please do not pitch Marin:
Middle Grade, Picture Books, Memoir, High Fantasy, Hard SF, Christian Fiction, Cookbooks, Military anything
Hannah Teachout
I love a good adventure on and off the page, but especially the stories that dig into themes of identity and explore the metaphors of magic and monsters. I work on Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult fiction across genres and love a speculative or romantic bent and distinct voice. I earned an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, but pivoted to working in the publishing industry shortly after graduating. Since then, I have worked as a bookseller, festival organizer, and freelance editor before landing at Folio Literary Management.
At this conference, Hannah is particularly (but not only) looking for:
I’m definitely looking for projects that cross genres (like romance/horror or fantasy/thriller) as well as stories that feel perfect for a book club.
Please do not pitch Hannah:
I am not looking for short stories, poetry, nonfiction, or military/political thrillers. Not a fit: issue-focused books, nonfiction, experimental fiction, poetry, and stories about cops. While I love reading picture books and early readers, I am not currently looking for these categories.
Hannah’s Manuscript Wishlist:
Across Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult fiction, I’m looking for stories with high concepts, gripping and memorable voices, and characters you don’t want to let go of when the book ends. This could be fantasy, speculative, thriller, romance, bookclub, etc, but I tend to prefer fast-paced, tight plotting no matter the genre. I’m a sucker for projects that cross genres (think horror-romcom or other mash-ups!) and I’m always looking for underrepresented voices telling all sorts of stories, with adventure and joy and hope at their heart. Adult: Whether it’s genre fiction or upmarket/bookclub, I’m looking for projects that make me feel big emotions about people and our societies.
In Adult (and new adult) fiction, I’m looking for romance, speculative, and upmarket/bookclub fiction with hooks that make you want to immediately dive into. I adore romance, but I’m also interested in exploring other types of relationships, such as family, friendships, mentors/role models, etc. Titles/authors I’ve loved: Scholomance trilogy, Emily Henry, In the Veins of Drowning, T Kingfisher, Starling House, Wild Dark Shore, The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years, Cassandra Khaw, Water Moon, The Ministry of Time, The Husbands.
YA: I’m looking for big hooks with distinct voice and a theme that will resonate with teen readers, that moves at a quick pace but doesn’t shy away from big emotions. I enjoy most YA whether it’s contemporary or speculative, but regardless of the genre I want to root for the character and end on a note of hope. Titles/authors I’ve loved: Little Thieves, Legendborn, Susan Dennard, Courtney Gould, Jill Tew, Keshe Chow, Midnights With You, Samantha Markum.
MG: I lean toward adventure and fantastical stories for younger readers, and my heart is especially gripped by the magical and spooky (even more so if it’s balanced with laugh-out-loud humor). Titles/authors I’ve loved: Small Spaces, The Jumbies, When You Reach Me, Ellie Engle Saves the World Herself, Jasmine Warga.
A few super-specific things I’d love to see: Horror about toxic friendships/friend breakups, Deep sea horror/dystopian, Dark academia, Unreliable narrators, and unusual narrative structures (Counterfeit, Code Name Verity, Expiration Dates) Unapologetically villainous women. Summer/lake romances that very nearly break your heart. Stories set outside of the US that make me feel like I’ve traveled there. Heists in unusual settings.
Kate McKean
PLACEHOLDER – UPDATE
Kate McKean is a literary agent at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her MA in fiction writing at the University of Southern Mississippi. She is the author of Write Through It: An Insider’s Guide to Publishing and the Creative Life (Simon Element, 2025) and a forthcoming picture book to be published by Sourcebooks in 2026. She writes the “Agents & Books” newsletter at agentsandbooks.com.
At this conference, Kate is specifically looking for:
| Commercial women’s fiction, romance, romcom, historical fiction, historical women’s fiction, science fiction, fantasy, romantasy, YA, MG |
Please do not pitch Kate: Memoir, Science, Essays, Thrillers, Mysteries |