The following Literary Agents will offer 10 – 15 minute pitch sessions on Tuesday, September 8 and Wednesday, September 9 during the retreat only. You must be a registered attendee to qualify for pitch session signup. Pitch times are to be determined and will be announced and mailed out a week prior to retreat for those requesting to pitch.
Pitch Session Prices:
1st – included with registration
2nd – $35 [total $35 for 2]
3rd – $30 [total $65 for 3]
4th – $25 [total $90 for 4]
5th – $20 [total $110 for 5]
Pitch Session payments will be payable upon arrival at the retreat on Monday, September 7 via PayPal, check, or cash only. If you are interested in pitching agents, please research the agent and be sure you know what they represent and what genres they are currently seeking! Please email us at as soon as possible at pennedbyyoullc@gmail.com with your pitch requests. Spots will fill up quickly! Any future openings will be announced at the retreat and will be on first come first serve basis.
Connor Smith – Seeking Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Magical Realism, particularly those that have a literary bent. Powerfully written Horror, Speculative, Romance (all subgenres except fantasy). In these genres, he is looking for fast-paced plots penned with style and verve. Seeking high-platform Nonfiction that expands a reader’s understanding of the world. Please have a well-structured proposal for nonfiction queries.
He does not currently accept YA, MG, Cookbooks, Children’s Books, or Psychology/Business NF.
Connor will offer only eight 15-minute slots. We will honor all requests on first received first served basis!
Sara represents authors who write picture books (fiction and nonfiction/ all sub-genres), middle grade (all sub-genres), young adult (all sub-genres), adult romance (all sub-genres) and science fiction/ fantasy/ horror for the adult market.
Sara’s Manuscript Wishlist (MSWL): https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/sara-megibow/
Sara will offer only four 15-minute slots. We will honor all requests on first received first served basis!
Note: A pass from one agent at Megibow Literary is a pass from all. So, you may not want to pitch both agents from this agency at retreat. If you do and receive a request from the fir tone you pitch, please inform the second one when you pitch!
Jazmia represents children’s books and picture books through YA.
In picture books: Jazmia is looking for lyrical PBs focusing on maximizing a child’s emotions. Exploring deep emotions like in Remembering Ethan, is important to me. But she does love and enjoy anything funny such as Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!, and she’s a sucker for dreamy lyrical prose.
In Middle Grade: Jazmia wants to read stories exploring identity, grief and loss, friendship, and complicated emotions. She gravitates towards voice and the ability to capture the complexity of emotions of that age. She is in love with King and the Dragonflies! There needs to be more stories of little black boys exploring their emotions! She is always interested in characters with unbeatable courage and anything filled with heart as in Front Desk or stories that make your heart clench like The Thing About Jellyfish. Most importantly, give her little black girls saving the world!
In Young Adult (YA): She’s looking for stories that attach themselves to you and don’t let go. Books that amplify LGBTQ voices while exploring what it means to fall in love for the first time like Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, immigration stories that open your eyes as in The Book of Unknown Americans, and standout voices like You Should See Me in A Crown.
Jazmia states that her taste is always subject to change and sometimes she really doesn’t know what she would love until she sees it. So, if it’s a children’s book and you think it’s a good fit for her, she’d love to take a look!
Here is an interview with Jazmia explaining her interests: http://www.literaryrambles.com/2022/09/agent-spotlight-jazmia-young-interview.html
Jazmia will offer twelve 10-minute sessions! We will honor all requests on first received first served basis!
Jennifer loves reading nonfiction books about big ideas and is particularly drawn to smart, issue-driven books, especially those from journalists as well as writers with professional expertise, including science, psychology, philosophy, economics, prescriptive, lifestyle, history, and the stories of underrepresented groups.
In terms of fiction, she loves character-driven thrillers, suspense, upmarket book club fiction, women’s fiction, imaginative fantasy, literary fiction, and anything that surprises or enchants her.
As an author herself (Putnam 2023, Putman 2026), she brings a deep passion for storytelling to all of the work that she does.
Find Jennifer’s leading clients, most recent sales, and more specifics on her genres and specialties here: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/herreraj/
Jennifer will offer only several pitch slots as she is our on-site resident partner this year! We will honor all requests on first received first served basis!
Matthew is always looking to champion stories from writers of all marginalized backgrounds, especially voices from the LGBTQ+ community! As of May 2026, his main focus has shifted to genre fiction. He is exclusively seeking Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror, and Romance.
ADULT
- Fantasy
- All subgenres including: Romantasy, High/Epic, Cozy, Dark, Historical, Folklore Retellings, Dark Academia, Portal.
- I am desperately looking for LGBTQ+ and marginalized MCs in fantasy!
- Some recent favorites: THE HURRICANE WARS by Thea Guanzon, IN THE VEINS OF THE DROWNING by Kalie Cassidy
- Science-Fiction
- All subgenres welcome, just keep in mind I’m very picky and looking for super high concept!
- I am desperately looking for LGBTQ+ and marginalized MCs in Sci-Fi!
- Some recent favorites: THE HURRICANE WARS by Thea Guanzon, IN THE VEINS OF THE DROWNING by Kalie Cassidy
- Horror
- Paranormal, Demonic Possession, Historical, Folklore, Dark Academia, and Gothic.
- LGBTQ+ and marginalized MCs are a plus!
- Some recent favorites: INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE by Josh Malerman, DIAVOLA by Jennifer Marie Thorne
- Romance
- Contemporary, New Adult, Dark Romance, Paranormal, Romantic Comedy, Romantasy, Holiday, Sports
- LGBTQ+ preferred, but all are welcome!
- Spice at any level is welcome!
- Recent favorites: BOOK LOVERS by Emily Henry, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE KISSMAS by Sara Raasch
YOUNG ADULT:
- Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- All subgenres including: Fantasy Romance, High, Cozy, Dark, Historical, Folklore Retellings, Dark Academia, Portal.
- I am desperately looking for LGBTQ+ and marginalized MCs in YA fantasy!
- I am open to high concept YA Science Fiction
- Some recent favorites: LEGEND OF THE WHITE SNAKE by Sher Lee, THE PRISON HEALER by Lynette Noni, CROWN OF FEATHERS by Nicki Pau Preto
- Romance
- Contemporary, Paranormal, Romantic Comedy
- LGBTQ+ and marginalized MCs are a plus!
- Some recent favorites: DARK HEARTS by James L. Sutter, THE LONG RUN by James Acker, WHAT IS THIS FEELING? by Robby Weber
- Contemporary
THINGS MATTHEW WOULD LOVE TO SEE IN HIS INBOX
LGBTQ+ Romance that features characters that are famous. IF THIS GETS OUT, KISS & TELL, DARK HEARTS, are all favorites! Would love to see some similar New Adult projects.
Greek Myth. He’s a sucker for Greek God shenanigans. Adult or YA. (Think Lore Olympus, Song of Achilles, Elektra, Ariadne, etc.)
A unique combination of genres that take place in a fantasy world with the focus NOT being on the fantasy world. Think a murder mystery set in a city in the clouds or a horror story that takes place in an undersea village.
He would LOVE to see dark academia that takes place in foreign lands. Surely there are cool colleges and universities across the globe? Japan? Zimbabwe? Australia? China?
Retellings: Myth, folktales, to Shakespeare; He wants them all! He is particularly interested in myths and retellings from all parts of the world, especially ones we don’t normally see in media.
Baking! Particularly an LGBTQ+ Romance with Great British Bake Off vibes.
He is DESPERATE for LGBTQ+ Sports Romance / RomComs!
Horror similar to INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE by Josh Malerman. This book had him turning the lights on at night for weeks. If you have a manuscript that will freak him OUT… He wants to see it.
Matthew will offer only four 15-minute slots. We will honor all requests on first received first served basis!
Note: A pass from one agent at Megibow Literary is a pass from all. So, you may not want to pitch both agents from this agency at retreat. If you do and receive a request from the fir tone you pitch, please inform the second one when you pitch!
2026 editorial sessions
The following editors have agreed to limited paid editorial consultations. Please see individual rates and which service each offers below.
All retreat attendees who register by August 6 will receive ONE editorial session with one of our Penned by You editors (Christine or Kathleen) FREE with registration. You may schedule a second paid session as well if you’d like to take advantage of both sessions.
Alexa Schmidt’s fees and sessions are separate from the registration perks offered.
Alexa is offering an in-depth editorial review of your first 25 – 50 pages of your manuscript! Pages will be due via email to us (pennedbyyoullc@gmail.com) no later than August 21. She will then schedule a 30-minute session with the author at the retreat only (via zoom) to review her edits with you.
Her fee is $70 payable upon arrival to the retreat via PayPal, check, or cash. Payments are made strictly to Penned by You via our contract with Alexa. Individual Editorial Session times will be emailed to each author at least a week prior to the retreat.
Christine is our developmental editor. With more than 30 years of editorial experience, she can help you pinpoint your manuscript’s strengths, identify areas that need improvement, and develop a clear plan to make your story stronger from the ground up. Whether you’re refining plot, pacing, character development, or overall structure, Christine provides thoughtful, actionable feedback to help your manuscript reach its full potential.
Christine’s fee is $30 for your first three pages and a short summary of your book (one-to-two short paragraphs ONLY). Pages are due by August 21 to our email address (pennedbyoullc@gmail.com). Payments are payable upon arrival to the retreat via PayPal, check, or cash. Payments are made strictly to Penned by You.
Kathleen is our copy editor and query queen. With a sharp eye for detail and a deep understanding of what agents are looking for, she’ll help you polish your query letter so it presents your story at its very best and gives you the strongest chance for success.
Kathleen’s fee is $30 for a one-page query review (max 300 words). Pages are due by August 21 to our email address (pennedbyoullc@gmail.com). Payments are payable upon arrival to the retreat via PayPal, check, or cash. Payments are made strictly to Penned by You.
Penned By You, LLC 