Georgia McBride (RALEIGH CONFERENCE ONLY) is the creator of Georgia McBride Media Group is home of Month9Books, Swoon Romance, and Tantrum Books.

Swoon Romance is a digital-first romance imprint from Georgia McBride Media Group that publishes romance for all audiences from Teen to Mature audiences. Our first title, CAPTIVATED BY YOU by New York Times and USA Today bestseller Diane Alberts, published in November 2012. Since then, we have had many Amazon and Barnes and Noble best sellers, with Amazon category best sellers in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and Germany. We are home to New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors such as Stacey Mosteller, Diane Alberts, Kenya Wright, and Tamara Mataya as well as international bestselling authors Lizzy Charles, Alla Kar, Natalie Decker, Cassie Mae, and more. We practice a hybrid distribution model of self distribution, but also work with InScribe and IPG.

Month9Books publishes speculative fiction for teens and tweens, where nothing is as it seems. We published our first title in 2012 and our first full list published in 2013.

From concept to cover, Tantrum Books brings kidlit stories to life for readers aged 7+.

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Drawing from her experience at veteran branded companies like Viacom, Madison Square Garden, eBay, Toysrus, and ASCAP, Georgia is one of Publishers Marketplace’s most prolific editors, and has spent most of 2014 through 2019 atop the editors lists in Editors, Young Adult, Digital New Adult, Children’s, and Digital deals. She’s completed over 400 publishing deals on behalf of three imprints and consulting clients since March 2012.

Books published by Georgia McBride have been Junior Library Guild Selections, Scholastic Book Club and Reading List Selections, Kirkus Prize nominees, Bram Stoker Award nominees, Moonbeam winners, and winners of various regional and local SCBWI awards. Books she’s published have been sold to Hungary, Turkey, Slovakia, Korea, Czech Republic, Greece, UK, Denmark, Australia, and New Zealand.

Georgia’s published and edited works by NYT bestsellers such as Gretchen McNeil, Nancy Holder, Sayantani DasGupta, and more.

In 2022, Georgia began offering consulting services for content companies in publishing or publishing adjacent verticals. Her recent clients include Inkitt and Hot Ghostwriter.

In 2023, Georgia began literary management representation of Sapir A. Englard, author of the International bestseller, THE MILLENNIUM WOLVES, which has had over 125 million views.

 

Melissa Jeglinski (RALEIGH CONFERENCE ONLY) is a literary agent with The Knight Agency.

A graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in English with a writing concentration, Melissa began her career as an editor with Harlequin Enterprises. Looking to work with a variety of authors and genres, she joined The Knight Agency in 2008.

With over two decades experience in the publishing industry, Melissa has fostered her clients to National prominence including a recent Newbery Honor. She is a member of RWA and AAR.

She is seeking:

• I would really love to find a project that captures my attention immediately. For me, this means a strong opening chapter, wonderfully engaging characters, unexpected twists and turns, and a very satisfying ending. No projects over 100k words, please.

• Contemporary Romance which is lighter in tone, has a sense of humor and a premise that is out of the box. Diverse characters welcome.

• Historical Fiction set in periods other than WWII. Also looking for contemporary and historical intertwined timelines. Prefer strong female protagonists.

• Cozy Mysteries with a unique premise but no paranormal edge. Planned series a plus.

• Middle Grade fiction with a heartwarming message or just pure entertainment. Fun and flawed realistic characters. Contemporary and historical settings but no paranormal or fantasy.

Recent and upcoming titles include Aimie K. Runyan’s ACROSS THE WINDING RIVER, Sarah Warburton’s ONCE TWO SISTERS, Ginger Garrett’s NAME TAGS AND OTHER SIXTH GRADE DISASTERS, and Rosemarie Ross’s FINISHED OFF IN FONDANT.

Andrea Hurst (RALEIGH CONFERENCE ONLY) is a literary agent and the founder of Andrea Hurst & Associates.

She is seeking: Women’s Fiction: Upmarket/Book Club, Romance, Historical, Contemporary, Thriller/Suspense/Mystery, Prescriptive Non-Fiction/Memoir,  Science Fiction/Fantasy (Space Opera, Military Science Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy), Cookbooks, YA Contemporary/YA Thriller. “We are always on the lookout for #OwnVoices authors, writing about their own experiences.”

Andrea works as a literary agent with both bestselling and emerging new authors to help polish their book, obtain publication, increase sales, and build their author brand.

Andrea brings over 25 years experience in the publishing industry, including her work as a literary agent. She is also a developmental book editor for publishers and authors, a bestselling Amazon author, an instructor for the MFA creative writing program at the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts, and a webinar presenter for Writer’s Digest. As a literary agent, she selectively represents high profile adult nonfiction and well-crafted genre fiction.

 

Nikki Terpilowski (RALEIGH CONFERENCE ONLY) is a literary agent with Holloway Literary.

She is seeking: romance; women’s fiction; Southern gothic; alternate histories; grounded science fiction and fantasy; speculative thrillers, Westerns (traditional and fresh takes in contemporary, historical, mystery, romance); multi-generational women’s fiction (standalone or series) about an African-American family (showing Black joy, family dynamics/relationships, etc. not racism, discrimination and oppression as part of their experience); young adult fiction; and nonfiction on the craft of writing or screenwriting, North Carolina history, culinary, hobbies, arts and crafts, plants/herbs.

After achieving a B.A. in English and Marketing, with a minor in creative writing and a graduate degree in international relations, Nikki who has been a bookworm from way back decided she wanted to learn more about the publishing industry.

She interned in the industry while working in marketing communications and then established Holloway Literary in 2011. You can find her @AWomanReading on Twitter and Instagram discussing her favorite topics: books, wine, beer & whiskey, history, travel and southern living.

WISHLIST SPECIFICS:

Romance:

Looking for excellent writing and voice, relatable, likable heroines, dashing Alpha rakes, old tropes, fresh spins.

Aphrodite And The Duke by JJ McAvoy
Tying The Scot by Jennifer Tretheway
Royally Screwed by Emma Chase (with a lower heat level)

Young Adult & YA Speculative:

Beautiful atmospheric settings, princess-core, interesting world-building, high stakes.

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
The Selection by Kiera Cass
Interview With The Robot by Lee Bacon

Speculative Fiction (Sci-fi & fantasy):

Dark, spooky, propulsive fiction.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
My Soul To Keep by Tananarive Due
Midnight Is A Lonely Place by Barbara Erskine

Women’s Fiction:

Family relationships, small towns, emotional, secrets.

Big Lies In A Small Town by Diane Chamberlain
The Favorite Daughter by Patti Callahan Henry
The Recipe Box by Viola Shipman
Island Of Sweet Pies And Soldiers by Sara Ackerman
The Marriage Of Opposites by Alice Hoffman

Domestic Thrillers:

Scary, psychological, page-turners.

Behind Closed Doors by BA Paris

Science Fiction/Alternate Realities

Looking for super-grounded fiction with speculative elements, often within a government, military or research-based context.

Underground Airlines by Ben Winters
The Rise And Fall Of D.O.D.O by Neal Stephenson
Version Control by Dexter Palmer

Thrillers:

ISO espionage and military thrillers by BTDT authors with threats beyond the usual suspects.

The Expats by Chris Pavon
Red Widow by Alma Katsu
One Second After by William R. Forstchen

Southern Nonfiction:

Would love to find interesting, alternative, controversial ideas, and voice-driven Southern history.

The Best Cook In The World by Rick Bragg
The Secret Life Of Bacon Tait

Not Looking For

Plots that focus on the Mafia
Mysteries featuring professional detectives/investigators
Grief/Trauma/Loss-based plots or themes
Cozy mysteries
Plots that focus on murder/serial killers/death
WWI/WW2/Vietnam-war era historical settings
Crimes against children
Assaults of any kind
Legal thrillers/courtroom dramas
Hot mess heroines

Kaylee Zou (BOTH CHARLOTTE & RALEIGH CONFERENCES) is a literary agent with Williamson Literary.

Kaylee graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a double major in Writing Seminars and English in May of 2020. Since graduating, she has worked as a Technical Writer in the DC area. Recently, she left the corporate world and began pursuing writing her first novel full-time.

Kaylee joins Williamson Literary out of her passion for literature and writing while she continues to work on her manuscript. To many’s dismay, one of Kaylee’s favorite activities is spoiling movies and books for herself, and as such Wikipedia is her most visited website. Her favorite genre of content to consume is sad–anything tragic will do. Kaylee loves reality television, taking naps, and promenading around the ton like they do in Bridgerton. Having recently quit coffee, she promptly entered an identity crisis but found herself again in green tea. So it is with a belly full of green tea that Kaylee supports Williamson Literary as Associate Agent.

What the agency represents:

Nonfiction: history, sports, science, environmental, biographies, travel, culture, adventure, educational, motivational (i.e. work that informs or inspires social change or advocates for women and BIPOC). Give thought to your author platform and develop a strong marketing section for your book proposal.

Adult Fiction:  upmarket, contemporary, literary, and commercial; character-driven women’s fiction, book club fiction, domestic suspense, adventure, international, upbeat, feel-good, dark and dangerous, fiction with fantastical elements or magical realism, poignant social commentaries, humor, satire, new takes on old tropes. Pitch us writing that sings rather than tells, take us on an emotional journey, build vivid scenes for us, craft strong voices and unusual and unforgettable settings (we love stories where place is a character too). Any subject is welcome.

What we do Not represent:

– The heavily partisan, inflammatory, or hateful
– Children’s picture books, Middle Grade or Young Adult
– Genre Romance or Erotica
– Horror (as a strict genre, but we like classic horror elements)
– Hard Science Fiction and High Fantasy (again as a strict genre, but we love out-of-this-world stories)

La Sheera Lee (BOTH CHARLOTTE & RALEIGH CONFERENCES) is a literary agent at SBR Media.

“The genres I prefer are Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Young Adult, Urban Lit, Erotica, Suspense/Thriller, Christian Fiction, & Women’s Lit. I may consider others outside of these to represent.”

Award-winning blogger, La Sheera Lee, M.Ed., is a wife, mother, educator, podcaster, moderator, literary event planner, and magazine contributor. She is on a mission to help others to see the beauty of their own voices.

La Sheera, also known for her savvy as a social media strategist and book influencer, loves to help people connect the dots. She utilizes the power of social media to inspire, inform, and educate on a global level.

She is also the founder of the artistic event Lights! Camera! Action! #LCA is an experience that integrates books and the arts into an interactive weekend. Readers, authors, and publishing experts converge to have a weekend that is literally one for the books.

You can also catch her FB Live (Cool Conversations with La Sheera Lee ) or Clubhouse (Cool Conversations Club), chatting it up with some of your favorite authors and industry professionals.

Your goals are too powerful to give up! Keep Shining!

Tracey Adams (CHARLOTTE CONFERENCE ONLY), literary agent, co-founded Adams Literary in 2004, after nearly a decade with literary agencies Writers House and McIntosh & Otis, where she was the head of the children’s department. Prior to becoming an agent, she worked in the marketing and editorial departments of Greenwillow Books and Margaret K. McElderry Books.

“Our clients’ work spans every age and every genre—from picture books to middle grade and young adult fiction, from historical novels and fantasy to books that tackle important contemporary issues.

“While we give every submission careful consideration, we look for unforgettable, life-changing books: literary stories, high-concept speculative fiction, unique fantasy adventure, humor, and character-driven picture books. At this time, we only consider picture book submissions from author-artists (someone who is both author and artist of their work, not a team). We gravitate toward the timeless, not the trendy. We don’t typically handle textbooks, novelty, craft, how-to or coloring books—and we don’t handle any adult works.”

A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, Tracey speaks frequently about her profession and the children’s book industry at conferences across the country. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Association of Author Representatives (AAR), and a founding member of the Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) chapter in Charlotte.

In her spare time, Tracey enjoys traveling, playing tennis, cheering for the Carolina Panthers, and test-marketing children’s books with her two daughters.