PITCH YOUR BOOK TO A LITERARY AGENT:
These one-on-one in-person meetings at the 2026 Carolina Writing Workshops (Friday, March 13 in Charlotte; Saturday, March 14 in Raleigh) 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.
Marisa Zeppieri-Caruana [CHARLOTTE; SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with Strachan Literary Agency. In fiction, she seeks: debut fiction, romance, upmarket & commercial women’s fiction, upmarket mainstream fiction, apocalyptic, thrillers, fantasy, and upper young adult. In nonfiction, she seeks: memoir, narrative nonfiction, investigative journalism, platform-driven nonfiction, diet and health, Christian spirituality, inspirational, food and cookbooks, self-help and humor. She is particularly interested in finding nonfiction authors to build her client list and is only taking on a limited amount of fiction. Marisa is currently seeking to champion new talent who create memorable characters with unforgettable words, and she has a soft spot for writers in marginalized communities and persons with disabilities. Learn more about Marisa here.
Kaitlyn Katsoupis [CHARLOTTE] is a literary agent with Belcastro Agency. She likes historical fiction for all ages. She enjoys horror novels for all ages (less gore, more psychological/haunting). For contemporary stories, she welcomes them for all ages and is interested in mental health angles. Fantasy welcome, but she leans toward MG/YA and crossover rather than for adults only (BIPOC voices welcome).She seeks suspense & thriller for young adult and adult books. Graphic novels welcome for all ages, though she leans toward kidlit GNs. Learn more about Kaitlyn here.
Kelly Dyksterhouse [CHARLOTTE] is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency. I am looking to acquire middle grade and young adult novels and narrative nonfiction, as well as author-illustrator created picture books. I am especially looking for high-concept middle grade and young adult novels with high-level writing. For picture books, I am drawn to books that are character driven and have a strong narrative arc, and I particularly love stories with a surprise or subversive twist to them that make me laugh. In terms of nonfiction, I am looking for books about a little known period of history or that focus on the natural world and STEAM concepts. For both MG and YA, I am drawn to high concept, character driven books with a strong hook, a compelling plot, and strong writing. I am looking for books that stay with the reader long after they’ve turned the last page. Learn more about Kelly here.
Vicky Weber [SOLD OUT OF APPOINTMENTS FOR BOTH CHARLOTTE & RALEIGH] is a literary agent with Creative Media Agency. In adult and young adult fiction, she seeks: horror, psychological suspense, thrillers, commercial, upmarket, historical, women’s fiction, romance, fantasy (dark/high/epic), magical realism, speculative, and paranormal/supernatural. In middle grade and picture books, she seeks highly giftable, commercial fiction with a strong voice—stories that feel like they always should have been on the shelf. Learn more about Vicky here.
Erica Bauman [HAS OPENINGS FOR CHARLOTTE; SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS FOR RALEIGH] is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. Erica represents a wide variety of authors across middle grade, young adult, and commercial adult fiction. She is most interested in commercial novels that feature an exciting premise and lyrical, atmospheric writing; imaginative, genre-blending tales; speculative worlds filled with haunting, quietly wondrous magic; fresh retellings of mythology, ballet, opera, and classic literature; sharply funny rom-coms; graphic novels for all ages; fearless storytellers that tackle big ideas and contemporary issues; and working with and supporting marginalized authors and stories that represent the wide range of humanity. Learn more about Erica here.
Sarah N. Fisk [HAS OPENINGS FOR CHARLOTTE; SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS FOR RALEIGH] is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency, and is open to pitches for young adult of all genres, middle grade of all genres, adult romance, science fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, and select nonfiction (see wishlist for more specifics). They also take pitches for mysteries and thrillers via conferences only. Sarah especially loves fiction that is compulsively readable and social justice issues woven into commercial plots. Particular areas of interest include atmospheric fantasies, speculative mysteries, books that challenge societal norms, especially gender norms. Learn more about Sarah here.
Sorche Fairbank [CHARLOTTE & RALEIGH] is a literary agent and the founder of Fairbank Literary. Our tastes tend toward literary and international fiction; voice-y novels with a strong sense of place; big memoir that goes beyond the me-moir; topical or narrative nonfiction with a strong interest in women’s voices, global perspectives, and class and race issues; children’s picture books & middle grade from illustrator/artists only; quality lifestyle books (food, wine, and design); pop culture; craft; and gift and humor books. We are most likely to pick up works that are of social or cultural significance, newsworthy, or that cause us to take great delight in the words, images, or ideas on the page. Lately we have been doing extremely well in the humor/gift/pop culture category, international fiction, and children’s picture books by illustrator artists, and we’d love to take on more projects in those categories. Above all, we look for a fresh voice, approach, story, or idea. Learn more about Sorche here.
Melissa Jeglinski [RALEIGH] is a literary agent with The Knight Agency. Melissa is currently seeking projects in the following areas: Romance (contemporary, category, historical, inspirational) Young Adult, Middle Grade, Women’s Fiction and Mystery. 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 AALA. Learn more about Melissa here.
Andrea Hurst [RALEIGH; SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent and the founder of Andrea Hurst Literary Management. She is seeking: Women’s Fiction: Upmarket/Book Club, Romance, Historical, Contemporary, Thriller/Suspense/Mystery/Crime, Prescriptive Nonfiction/Memoir, Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy (Space Opera, Military Science Fiction, LitRPG), Cookbooks. “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. Learn more about Andrea here.
Shelly Romero [RALEIGH] is a literary agent with Azantian Literary Agency. She is seeking: science fiction; speculative fiction; horror (almost all subgenres & especially for all age categories); Honduran authors; stories by Latine/x authors from Central America and the Caribbean (including Afro-Latine & Indigenous Latine stories); playing with formatting such as mixed-media & epistolary novels that give the story a “found footage” type of vibe; anything comped to Guillermo del Toro, David Cronenberg, Clive Barker, John Carpenter, or Wes Craven; Catholic horror; gothic romance; grounded fantasy; midwestern gothic; southern gothic; vampires; Jewish stories especially if they are intersectional with BIPOC and/or queer characters; thrillers/mysteries (with non-cop protagonists); commercial fiction; slice-of-life a la One Tree Hill, OG Gossip Girl, The Sandlot, Real Women Have Curves, What We Do in the Shadows; historical fiction set during: Regency, Edwardian, & Victorian eras; post-WWII; 80s – 00s…but featuring BIPOC and/or queer characters; adult erotic fiction, especially featuring BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA characters in kink spaces; set during college and non-college bound post-high school. Learn more about Shelly here.
Jamie Chambliss [RALEIGH; SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with Folio Literary. She is seeking the following: I’m drawn to literary and upmarket/book club fiction; nonfiction; narrative nonfiction, especially dealing with food, pop culture, the quirks of human nature, the stories within the worlds of science and sports, and the forgotten corners of history; and memoir. She is not seeking sci-fi or high-concept fantasy; legal- or political thrillers; poetry; romance; screenplays. Learn more about Jamie here.
Lydia Caudill [RALEIGH; SOLD OUT OF PITCH APPOINTMENTS] is a literary agent with Andrea Hurst & Associates. For adult fiction and new adult fiction, she seeks: contemporary, domestic suspense, historical (NOT war-based or rooted in medical/medicinal history), horror/supernatural, LBGTQ+, mainstream/commercial, mystery, mythic retellings & fairy tales, romance, romantasy, science fiction (light and cozy only), thriller, and upmarket/book club. Learn more about Lydia here.
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ADDED ONLINE PITCHING: To ensure that writers have a robust and diverse lineup of agents & editors to pitch, 2026 Carolina Writing Workshop attendees will have the ability to also pitch literary agents at a specific Writing Day Workshops *online* event that follows the 2026 CWWs on our calendar.
That event is the 2026 (Online) Ohio Writing Workshop, April 10-11, 2026, which will have 30-40 agents taking one-on-one Zoom virtual pitches.
This means that 2026 CWW attendees (both cities) can have access to pitching all those online Ohio agents — pitches still at $29 each — without being a formal registrant for the online April 2026 OWW. (That said, if you want to formally register for the April 10-11 Ohio Writing Workshop and have access to all classes and panels, let us know, as there is a discount for confirmed Carolina attendees.)
If you are interested in this added pitching opportunity, the first step is to get formally registered for Carolina (either Charlotte or Raleigh or both). Following the conferences on March 13-14, 2026, we will be in touch with all Carolina attendees and ask them if they want to partake in pitching online agents at the 2026 OWW (April 10-11). 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, and pricing/detail is explained all throughout this site.)