Author: Erik Grove

  • Christa Heschke

    Christa Heschke

    Christa Heschke graduated from Binghamton University with a major in English and a minor in Anthropology. She started in publishing as an intern at both Writers House and Sterling Lord Literistic, where she fell in love with the agency side of publishing. Christa has been at McIntosh and Otis, Inc. in the Children’s Literature Department since 2009 where she is actively acquiring for all age groups in children’s and some select adult.

    Learn more here: https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/christa-heschke/

    Meet with Christa
  • Daniele Hunter

    Daniele Hunter

    Daniele Hunter (she/her) is a queer, chronically ill, disabled junior agent in the children’s department at McIntosh & Otis. She started at McIntosh & Otis in 2016 as an intern and has been there ever since. She has a BA in English with concentrations in Literary Criticism, Poetry, and Creative Writing from Drew University. Before agenting, she held various odd jobs in the publishing industry, from proofreading to teaching and working on literary journals. She’s also a member of the American Association of Literary Agents . She’s on the board of Literary Agents of Change, and co-directs their Fellowship program. In her spare time, she reads way too quickly, sings opera, and puts her ambidexterity to good use as a knitter.  She lives in New Jersey with her spouse and their cat.

    Seeking work in these genres: Children’s, Middle Grade, New Adult, Picture Books, Young Adult

    Learn more here: https://www.dhunteragent.com/mswl

    Meet with Daniele
  • Kathryn Willms

    Kathryn Willms

    Kathryn Willms is a literary agent at The Rights Factory. In nonfiction, she loves working on big-idea projects rooted in the writer’s expertise that teach us something new or change the way we see ourselves and the world. In fiction, she is currently looking for cozy fantasy and women’s fiction that is warm, hopeful, character-driven, and emotionally satisfying. An experienced freelance editor, Kathryn has extensive experience in the education sector and has also worked as a journalist, hybrid publisher, and marketing consultant.

    Seeking work in these genres: Romance, Fantasy, Non-Fiction, General Fiction, Literary Fiction

    Learn more here: https://www.therightsfactory.com/Agents/kathryn-willms

    Meet with Kathryn
  • Natalie Kimber

    Natalie Kimber

    Natalie/Nat Kimber (she/her) has been an agent with The Rights Factory since 2014, and is based in Weehawken, NJ. She represents adult fiction, nonfiction, and books for young adults. She is the lead organizer of the NYC Writers Circle. She takes pride in guiding authors through the strategy and practical process of publishing, and yet she acknowledges that a wondrous magic is at work when books come into form. She appreciates authors who incorporate a strong vision into their writing, writers who fully understand the WHY of their book, and she encourages strong author connection with the writing community. As an aesthete and theologian at heart, she aspires to a “post-mystic modern” philosophy, which attempts to reintegrate our mystic roots and intuition with contemporary life. Nat hails from the West—CO and NM—and cherishes art and books that capture this region. Her wishlist categories can be found on her agent page at therightsfactory.com

    Seeking work in these genres: Mystery, Romance, Crime, Thriller, Suspense, YA, Historical Fiction, Non-Fiction, Memoir, Poetry, General Fiction, Literary Fiction

    Meet with Natalie
  • Rosanne Parry

    Rosanne Parry

    Rosanne grew up in Oregon loving its wild places and fabulous libraries. She’s the author of the bestselling “Voice of the Wilderness” novels and nonfiction picture books. Her newest is A Wolf Called Fire. Rosanne sells books at Annie Blooms, and writes in a treehouse in her backyard.

    Find out more at rosanneparry.com

    Schedule

  • Anjanette Barr

    Anjanette Barr

    Anjanette Barr is a literary agent at Dunham Literary, representing authors and illustrators across all genres and age categories. She lives in beautiful Juneau, Alaska.

    Seeking work in these genres: Romance, SF, Fantasy, YA, Historical Fiction, Non-Fiction, Memoir, Middle Grade, General Fiction, Literary Fiction

    Find out more at https://www.dunhamlit.com

    Schedule

    Meet with Anjanette
  • Write Around Portland

    Write Around Portland

    Write Around Portland’s mission is to change lives through the power of writing. Write Around Portland holds free creative writing workshops in hospitals, prisons, schools, treatment centers, low income residences, homeless shelters and social service agencies. Write Around Portland workshops are based on respect, writing and community. Three times a year, Write Around Portland publish books of participants’ writing and organize readings where participants share their writing with each other and with the greater community.

    Learn more at https://www.writearound.org/.

    Schedule

  • Keri-Rae Barnum

    Keri-Rae Barnum

    Keri-Rae Barnum has empowered hundreds of authors to launch and grow their writing careers with confidence and real-world results. She is the owner and CEO of New Shelves Books, where she partners with publishers and authors alike to strengthen production, distribution, and visibility in bookstores and libraries.


    She is also the author of Tough Love for Indie Authors: An Honest Look at What It Takes to Win in Self-Publishing (Sibyl Writing Craft, February 2026), a practical guide grounded in her hands-on experience working across every stage of the publishing process to help indie authors publish, market, and sell their books. Through her work, Keri specializes in platform building, strategic book launches, and innovative marketing approaches that have helped numerous titles reach bestseller lists and long-term sales success.

    Schedule

  • Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito

    Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito

    Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito is the founder of Demagogue Press. When she’s not rolling a d20 and playing with meeples, she’s reading or writing SF/F/H/genre-busting stories. Her writing has appeared in several venues including Nightmare Magazine, Flame Tree Press’s Asian Ghost Stories and Immigrant Sci-fi Stories, Mother:Tales of Love and Terror, Death’s Garden Revisited, and Unquiet Spirits: Essays by Asian Women in Horror. Frances also co-chairs the Young Willamette Writers program that provides free writing classes for high school and middle school students. You can find her on FB Frances Pai and IG @francespaippolito.

    Schedule

  • 1 – 1:30PM Sunday Belmont Foyer: Book Pick-Up

    Pack your bags, grab your books, and head out the door. Time for last-minute shopping and settling of consigment sales. The conference is over, but we will see you online and in-person this September!