Writing Day Workshop Success Stories

These are some of our growing list of success stories regarding workshop attendees who have found their agent (or editor) match at a Writing Day Workshops event:

“I have BIG news. I just signed with agent Leticia Gomez, whom I met
through the 2021 [online] Minnesota Writing Conference. I want to
thank you for all the support you have shown me over this year and
the wonderful conferences you put on.”
– writer Maria Costanzo Palmer

“Last week I signed Sarah Elisabeth Brown who pitched to me
via your [online] 2021 Michigan Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Darlene Chan of Linda Chester Associates

“Highly recommend these workshops! This is how I got my agent!
The live pitch definitely gave more opportunity to be passionate & talk
about the book than my query letter ever could.” [S.E. found her agent,
Eric Smith of P.S. Literary, at the online 2021 San Diego Writing Workshop.]
– writer S.E. Doster of Geeky Acrylics

“This year I signed Natasha Khan, who pitched her story to
me at the [online] 2021 Atlanta Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Kortney Price of Raven Quill Literary

“Excited to announce that Megan Davies-Ostrom is my newest client!
Her horror and horror-adjacent work is wickedly fun and I know you’ll
all love it! (She pitched me at the 2020 [online] Toronto Writing Workshop.)”
– literary agent Becky LeJeune of Bond Literary

Screen Shot 2016-10-16 at 2.54.50 PM.png“I signed novelist Kathleen McInnis after meeting her
at the 2016 Chesapeake Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Adriann Ranta of Foundry Literary + Media

“I just signed client Kyle Reardon from the [online] 2021 San Diego
Writing Workshop. Online virtual pitches DO WORK!!!”
– literary agent Lynnette Novak of The Seymour Agency

Screen Shot 2019-08-22 at 1.24.40 PM.png“I met author M. David Flanagan at the 2019 Writing Workshop of
San Francisco and will be representing his middle grade series,
Maggie Monday! How exciting!”
– literary agent and partner Laurie McLean of Fuse Literary

“Fun fact: I have offered representation to at least one attendee
per Writing Day Workshops conference. There’s always one gem
(at least!). So excited for your events!”
– literary agent Cecilia Lyra of P.S. Literary Agency

“After pitching to book agent Nikki Terpilowski through the [online]
2020 Colorado Writing Workshop, she wants to represent my book. Thank
you for your wonderful online conference and for making this possible.”
– writer Karen Harlin

Screen Shot 2020-05-04 at 11.11.38 PM“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Anne Christopher to
#TeamSpencerhill. We first met at the 2020 Atlanta Writing Workshop,
and I absolutely fell in love with her Southern-flavored reunion romance.”
– literary agent Ali Herring of Spencerhill Associates

“I ended up signing up with agent Michael Carr of Veritas Literary following
the [online] 2020 Boston Writing Conference. As a non-US author and
non-native English speaker living outside the big literary hubs, the opportunity
to connect with industry professionals via Zoom was invaluable for me.”
– writer Didem Tali

Screen Shot 2020-08-14 at 11.54.44 AM.png“I’m thrilled to announce that Sandra Knisely Barnidge has signed with me!
I met Sandra in Birmingham [2020 Alabama Writing Workshop] in March.
She pitched me her story about a group of girlfriends & what happens
when one girl becomes convinced she can levitate—I was hooked.”
– literary agent Erin Clyburn of Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency

Screen Shot 2019-04-27 at 11.08.05 AM.png“I just signed a writer from the 2019 North Carolina Writing
Workshop! Her name is Sarah Warburton and we’ll be working
together on her women’s fiction. Thanks!”
– literary agent Melissa Jeglinski of The Knight Agency

Screen Shot 2019-10-12 at 11.29.53 AM.png“I signed Andrea Kessler, a picture book
writer I met at the 2019 Chesapeake Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Shari Maurer of The Stringer Agency

Screen Shot 2016-10-16 at 3.19.33 PM.png“I am happy to report that I signed a writer after meeting
them through a pitch session at the 2016 Writing Workshop of Chicago.”
– literary agent Marcy Posner of Folio Literary

“I got an offer of representation from an agent at the [online]
2020 Boston Writing Workshop. I can’t thank you enough for
your incredible hard work in organizing the conference.”
– writer Anoop Ahuja Judge

Screen Shot 2016-10-16 at 3.24.34 PM.png“I signed writer Julie Tuovi after we met
in person at the 2016 Cleveland Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Moe Ferrara of BookEnds Literary

Screen Shot 2018-11-05 at 12.56.10 PM“I signed author Stephanie Wright from
the 2018 Seattle Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Kathleen Ortiz of New Leaf Literary

Screen Shot 2019-03-05 at 1.34.53 AM.png“I signed writer Mia Lazarewicz after she pitched
me at the 2018 Boston Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Amelia Appel of TriadaUS Literary

Screen Shot 2018-11-05 at 12.59.36 PM“I signed an author from the 2016 Toronto Writing Workshop. I
requested her manuscript during a pitch session, read it overnight,
and loved it so much that I offered representation the next day!”
– literary agent Rachel Letofsky of CookeMcDermid Literary Management

Screen Shot 2018-02-08 at 10.20.16 AM.png“I got to attend your 2015 L.A. Conference [The Writing Conference of Los
Angeles] and it was a great experience. Thank you for all the information!”
– Tomi Adeyemi, author of #1 New York Times bestseller CHILDREN OF
BLOOD AND BONE (March 2018, Henry Holt Books, Jimmy Fallon’s Summer Reads Choice). Her agent is Alexandra Machinist of ICM Partners

“I went to the 2019 Kansas City Writing Workshop, and that’s how I got
my agent! Also, your encouraging critique of my query letter and
synopsis helped me have the confidence to put myself out there.”
– writer Angela Crocker

Screen Shot 2020-04-02 at 12.42.27 PM.png“I recently signed Cathy Collison & Janis Campbell, who I met at the 2019
Michigan Writing Workshop. We’re starting out with a MG nonfiction
project and have a lot of other things in the pipeline after that!”
– literary agent Jacqui Lipton of Raven Quill Literary

Screen Shot 2017-05-02 at 11.47.54 PM.png“Good news! I signed a client [novelist Aliza Mann]
from the 2017 Michigan Writing Workshop!”
– literary agent Sara Mebigow of KT Literary

Screen Shot 2017-09-08 at 11.47.54 PM.png“I wanted to let you know I signed a writer who
I met at the 2017 Writing Workshop of Chicago,
Rebecca Rissman. It was a quality conference.”
– literary agent Jennifer Unter of The Unter Agency

Screen Shot 2019-11-11 at 5.03.53 PM“I truly loved doing the 2019 San Diego Writing Workshop
and signed writer Marie Lavanier from the conference!”
– literary agent Jessica Watterson of Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency

I recently signed on Daniel Stuart Olmes, whom I met at the  2021
[online] Chesapeake Writers Conference for his book Reflections of
an Ordinary Guy: The Everyday Experiences That Changed My Life.”
– literary agent Leticia Gomez of Savvy Literary

Screen Shot 2019-09-07 at 10.52.41 AM.png“I found a fabulous client at the 2019
Florida Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Cricket Freeman of The August Agency

“I attended the 2019 Philadelphia Writing Workshop. The conference and
one-on-one session with agent John Willig reaffirmed my belief in my book
idea and book proposal. About a year ago I earned representation from Waterside
Productions; my book APA Style & Citations was released by Wiley in May
2021. Thank you for the encouragement.”
– writer Joe Giampalmi

Screen Shot 2019-01-14 at 11.13.50 AM.png“I signed Lew Schrager, an author from
the 2015 Chesapeake Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Laura Strachan of The Strachan Literary Agency

Screen Shot 2020-06-16 at 6.35.07 PM“I signed a client, Claudia Sorsby, from the
2019 Boston Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Charlotte Wenger of Prospect Agency

Screen Shot 2019-04-19 at 10.48.43 AM.png“I signed an attendee from the 2018 Writing Workshop
of San Francisco! Her name is Justine Macauley, and we are
very excited to have made the match!”
– literary agent Jennie Kendrick of Red Fox Literary

“After attending the [online] 2020 Colorado Writing Workshop, I signed
with a literary agent! I am so delighted. I received interest from multiple
agents and signed with Keely Boeving from WordServe Literary. I am thrilled.”
– writer Brie R. Doyle

Screen Shot 2017-11-14 at 4.27.50 PM.png“Hi WDW team, I just wanted to let you know that
I signed an author I met at the 2017 Michigan
Writing Workshop: Theresa Grant. Thanks so much!”
– literary agent Alice Speilburg of Speilburg Literary

Screen Shot 2019-12-07 at 12.01.07 PM“I pitched two agents at the 2019 Florida Writing Workshop. Both
agents requested my manuscript and, less than a week later, one of
them offered representation! I ultimately received five (!!) offers of
representation on the manuscript. I’ve always said the WDW conference
was the ‘first domino’ in getting my agent, Stefanie Lieberman of Janklow & Nesbit.
My debut novel sold in a pre-empt.”
– author Sarah L. Penner

Screen Shot 2017-12-04 at 5.12.24 PM.png“I just signed writer E.J. Lawrence, who I met
at the 2017 Tennessee Writing Workshop!”
– literary agent Lesley Sabga of The Seymour Agency

Screen Shot 2018-11-26 at 11.11.29 AM.png“I met my client, Alison Hammer, at the 2017 Writing
Workshop of Chicago and just sold her book.”
– literary agent Joanna Mackenzie of Nelson Literary

Screen Shot 2018-06-09 at 10.20.48 AM“I love the quality of clients I find at the Writing Day
Workshops events. I signed writer Alicia Bernasconi
from the 2018 Indiana Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Cyle Young of Hartline Literary

Screen Shot 2017-11-27 at 8.10.32 PM“[Author] Amber Cowie met [agent] Gordon Warnock of Fuse
Literary and [editor] Alison Dasho of Lake Union Publishing
at the 2017 Seattle Writing Workshop. Amber’s debut
RAPID FALLS is due out from Lake Union in fall 2018.”
– literary agent Gordon Warnock writing on the Fuse Literary blog

[UPDATE: RAPID FALLS was released and quickly gathered more than 900 reviews on Amazon, reaching #1 on some categories.]

Screen Shot 2019-08-12 at 5.10.39 PM.png“After meeting him at the 2019 Writing Conference of Los Angeles,
I signed with agent Steven Hutson as a client. I’m so stoked to move
into the next leg of my writing career. Such a blessing.”
– writer Mya Douglas

Screen Shot 2018-07-09 at 10.11.07 PM.png“I made an offer of representation to Sarah Kaminski,
who pitched me at the 2018 Writing Workshop of Chicago.
A million thanks for introducing us.”
– literary agent Tina P. Schwartz of The Purcell Agency

Screen Shot 2018-07-09 at 11.48.39 PM.png“I got my agent at the 2018 Pittsburgh Writing Workshop. The
conference was a great opportunity to connect with agents in person.”
– writer Caitlin M. Smith

Screen Shot 2017-08-02 at 10.57.22 PM.png“Yay! I signed two clients from the
2017 Minnesota Writing Workshop!”
– literary agent Mary Cummings of Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises

Screen Shot 2017-02-24 at 10.01.23 PM.png“I signed with a literary agent after pitching her at
the 2017 Alabama Writing Workshop.”
– writer Laura W. Carter

Screen Shot 2017-10-15 at 6.06.45 AM.png“I was at the 2017 Philadelphia Writing Workshop. I pitched two
agencies that day, and today I signed with one of them! I am now
represented by Brower Literary! Thank you for all you do to
support writers trying to get their stories out in the world.”
– writer Jenny Raphael

Screen Shot 2018-09-22 at 11.30.09 AM.png“I signed with Beth Marshea of Ladderbird Literary Agency! I
pitched her at the 2018 Florida Writing Workshop. It was a perfect match.”
– writer Erica Shaw

Screen Shot 2018-12-29 at 10.48.03 AM.png“I attended the 2017 Alabama Writing Workshop. With the instruction
I received at your conference, I was better prepared to submit my novel. I
landed a great NY-based agent, got a book deal, went on a book tour,
and was picked as a columnist by a women’s magazine!”
– author Lorna Hollifield

Screen Shot 2017-05-09 at 12.53.01 AM.png“Agent Julie Gwinn [of The Seymour Agency] signed me from the 2017
Kentucky Writing Workshop! I feel so blessed and am thrilled beyond
belief!” [2020 update: Sue’s memoir, THE ATHLETE INSIDE, was sold
to Fortress Press and released in 2020.]
– writer Sue Reynolds

Screen Shot 2017-01-22 at 12.18.06 AM.png“I signed with agent Veronica Park of Fuse Literary after
pitching my manuscript to her at the 2016 Atlanta Writing Workshop.”  
– writer Renee Barrow

Screen Shot 2016-10-16 at 3.23.35 PM.png“I signed an author from the 2016 Writing Workshop of Chicago.
Her name is Georgina Cross and I’m delighted I found her.”
– literary agent Rachel Beck (nee Burkot) of Liza Dawson Associates

Screen Shot 2018-06-10 at 10.30.28 AM.png“I signed with a literary agency [Hartline Literary] after
pitching them at the the 2018 Michigan Writing Workshop.”
– writer Makiko Orser

Screen Shot 2018-06-19 at 3.42.12 PM“I just wanted you to know that I signed writer Brian Roth,
whom I met at your 2018 Indiana Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Amanda Luedeke of MacGregor & Luedeke Literary

Screen Shot 2016-10-16 at 3.21.40 PM.png“I signed a writer-illustrator after meeting her
at the Atlanta Writing Workshop in 2016.”
– literary agent Sally Apokedak of Apokedak Literary Agency

Screen Shot 2016-10-16 at 3.20.42 PM.png“I signed a client after he pitched me
his novel at the 2014 Texas Writing Retreat.”
– literary agent Elizabeth Kracht of Kimberley Cameron & Associates

Screen Shot 2019-07-26 at 10.04.05 PM.png“Three positive agent pitches led to two offers of representation,
following the 2019 Chesapeake Writing Workshop.”
– writer Andrea Kessler

Screen Shot 2018-10-01 at 10.57.36 PM.png“I signed writer Joe Stowitschek after meeting him
at the 2017 Seattle Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Paul S. Levine of Paul S. Levine Literary

Screen Shot 2016-10-16 at 3.16.24 PM.png“My newest client’s name is Leslie Vedder. She pitched me
during the 2016 Colorado Writing Workshop. I read her story afterward
and loved it. I offered representation the week following the event!”
– literary agent Alex Barba of Jennifer De Chiara Literary

Screen Shot 2018-05-17 at 9.07.44 PM“I signed an author [Kate Thompson] that I
met at the 2017 Philadelphia Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Kimberly Brower of Brower Literary

Screen Shot 2016-10-16 at 2.56.25 PM.png“I signed a client from the 2016
Writing Workshop of Chicago.”
– literary agent Abby Saul of The Lark Group

“This is easily the best spent money I’ve ever spent on a writing conference.
Period. I can’t sing enough praise for Writing Day Workshops. Their help directly
led to signing with agent Sharon Belcastro. Even if you don’t find your match at
one of their events, the connections and feedback you get will be life-changing.”
– writer Robert Blaine

Screen Shot 2020-01-22 at 10.48.23 PM“I attended the 2019 Atlanta Writing Workshop and loved it. I pitched
my book to two agents and through one of them I signed with her
agency. We got a book deal with Skyhorse and my book will be
published this spring! I’m so thankful for this workshop!”
– writer Leah Weber

(Update: Kathleen’s novel THE HEART OF WAR: MISADVENTURES IN THE PENTAGON (A NOVEL) came out in 2018.)

Screen Shot 2017-07-25 at 8.29.22 PM.png“I signed with The Seymour Agency after pitching one
of their agents at the 2017 Tennessee Writing Workshop.”
[UPDATE: Tera’s memoir, Swimming for Freedom, was
released in 2020 by Broadstreet Publishing.]
– writer Tera Bradham

Screen Shot 2016-10-16 at 3.02.36 PM.png“I met my client Lindsey Smith (The Food Mood Girl)
at the 2016 Philadelphia Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Eric Smith of P.S. Literary

(Update: Eric sold Lindsey’s book to St. Martin’s Press, and it came out in fall 2017.)

Screen Shot 2016-12-13 at 12.07.49 AM.png“I signed with my agent, Patricia Nelson [of Marsal Lyon Literary
Agency], after meeting her at the 2014 Arizona Writing Workshop.”
– writer Axie Oh

(Update: Patricia sold Axie’s debut novel, THE AMATERASU PROJECT, to Tu Books.)

Screen Shot 2016-12-13 at 12.07.56 AM.png“I officially signed with agent Renee Nyen of KT Literary.
I met her at the 2014 Colorado Writing Workshop.”
– writer Jessie Hilb Akos

(Update: Jessie’s novel, THE CALCULUS OF CHANGE, was released from Clarion Books.)

Screen Shot 2017-11-28 at 11.13.03 AM.png“I signed writer Beka Passauer, who I met at a pitch
session at the 2017 Seattle Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Adria Goetz of Martin Literary Management

Screen Shot 2019-09-20 at 3.20.47 PM.png“I’m happy to report that I signed an author from the 2019
Chesapeake Writing Workshop! She’s terrific. I sold her book to
Simon & Schuster! It will be out in spring 2022.”
– literary agent Emily Williamson of Williamson Literary

Screen Shot 2018-12-06 at 11.07.44 AM.png“I’m proud to say I signed Andrew Southwick, one of the writers
who pitched me at the 2018 Philadelphia Writing Workshop.”
– literary agent Michelle Lazurek of Wordwise Media Services

Screen Shot 2017-04-22 at 11.31.50 AM.png“I signed writers Laura Barnaby and Anitra Schulte after
meeting them at the 2017 Kansas City Writers Workshop.”
– literary agent Stephanie Hansen of Metamorphosis Literary Agency

(Update: Attendee Anitra Schulte has two books out with Two Lions [Amazon imprint]. Also, attendee Laura Barnaby (pen name Laura Snider) has a book series out with Severn River Publishing.)

Screen Shot 2018-12-10 at 9.54.30 PM.png“I signed with a literary agent I met at the
2018 Writing Workshop of Chicago”
– writer Ryann Roberts

Screen Shot 2019-03-21 at 10.02.33 PM.png“I attended the 2018 Chesapeake Writing Workshop and I
signed with a literary agent from the event. It was the
first conference I’ve been to, and I found it super helpful.”
– writer Katie Mastin

Screen Shot 2018-02-14 at 10.39.15 AM.png“I met my literary agent, Alice Speilburg of Speilburg Literary, at
the 2015 Kentucky Writing Workshop in Louisville. She is awesome
and I can’t recommend Writing Day Workshops events highly enough.
Book four of my #1 Amazon-bestselling Horizon Alpha series
releases April 2020, and the fifth and final book will hit stores in November 2020.”
– writer Wendy Vogel

Screen Shot 2016-12-13 at 12.08.00 AM.png“After taking pitches at the 2015 Michigan Writing Workshop,
I signed writer Kyle Prue as a new client.”
– literary agent Veronica Park of Fuse Literary

Screen Shot 2019-07-18 at 12.23.17 AM.png“I found my agent at the 2018 Boston Writing Workshop. She and I hit it
off right away, and I knew she was the right agent for me. I’m happy I
made the trip from North Carolina and would highly recommend WDW
conferences for anyone who needs an agent.”
– writer Dawn Reno Langley

Screen Shot 2017-12-15 at 11.03.30 PM.png“At the 2017 Tennessee Writing Workshop, I signed a number
of new authors whose books will be published in 2018.”
– editor Mike Parker of WordCrafts Press

“I now have an agent! I signed with an agent I met
at the [online] 2020 Kansas City Writing Workshop!”
– author Dionne Jones

Screen Shot 2018-07-30 at 4.22.56 PM“I am a success story! I attended the 2018 Michigan Writing
Workshop and it thrills me to announce that I am now
represented by an agent I pitched at the event.”
– writer Kristiana Sfirlea

Screen Shot 2019-01-24 at 10.43.12 AM.png“I enjoyed last year’s 2018 Pittsburgh Writing Workshop so much,
and from it I was able to sign with Tara from Bailey Publishing House!
I see now that I would never be where I am if it wasn’t for the workshop.”
– writer Addison Schmitt

Screen Shot 2016-12-13 at 12.08.09 AM.png“After taking pitches at the 2016 Alabama Writing Workshop, I met
Erin Brown Hollis at a pitch session, and she is now my client.”
[UPDATE:] “I got two publishing contracts for Erin — Broadstreet
Publishing and Vinspire Publishing.”
– literary agent Julie Gwinn of The Seymour Agency

Screen Shot 2019-05-10 at 12.53.39 AM.png“I just wanted to let you know I signed Rachel Homard, an author
that pitched me at the 2019 Kansas City Writing Workshop. I got
a two-book deal for her.”
– literary agent Leanne Tavares of Metamorphosis Literary

We will continue to update the list as success stories trickle in. Will our next success story be you? Join us at an event and pitch your work to agents and editors seeking new writers now!

 

 

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