Hello! In this episode we talk about writer conferences. What they are, why you should go or not, and which ones are worth the investment. 

Here are some of the authors, artists, and other things we brought up during the episode. Just a disclaimer - please do not take our word as fact. The publishing industry is always changing, and often we are talking about things we are remembering from a while ago or have heard from others. While the agent deep dive is always fact checked, we do not prep for these episodes or look up other information beforehand. It’s always important to do your own research! If we realize after the fact that we have gotten anything wrong, we will do our best to correct it in the show notes.

Links for Agent Sarah Landis:

https://www.sll.com/our-team

https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/sarah-landis/

https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/dealmakers/detail.cgi?id=54166

Writers conferences to check out:

https://thewritelife.com/writers-conferences/

Storymakers Conference:

https://storymakersguild.org/storymakers-conference

Milkwood Retreat:

https://www.milkwoodfarm.org/2025-schedule

Alaska Writer’s Guild:

https://www.alaskawritersguild.com/

Author Ronald L. Smith:

https://strangeblackflowers.com/

Serpent & Dove:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/serpent-dove-shelby-mahurin/bc970fc784729858?ean=9780062878038&next=t

The Raven Boys:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-raven-boys-the-raven-cycle-book-1-volume-1-maggie-stiefvater/b3f546551e827665?ean=9780545424936&next=t

Hello!

In this episode we talk all about loglines! What they are, how to write one, and what to pay attention to.

Here are some of the things we brought up during the episode. Please do not take our word as fact. The publishing industry is always changing, and It’s always important to do your own research! If we realize after the fact that we have gotten anything wrong, we will do our best to correct it in the show notes.

Tamar Rydzinski, agent:

https://www.contextlit.com/submissions

https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/tamar-rydzinski/

https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/dealmakers/detail.cgi?id=21368

The 10 types of stories:

https://savethecat.com/forum/10-genres-and-beat-sheets

BOOKS: 

Akata Witch:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/akata-witch-nnedi-okorafor/bf7765fff598874a?ean=9780606401012&next=t&next=t

Book Lovers:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/book-lovers-emily-henry/99f6c7d4ccb34055?ean=9780593440872&next=t

Six of Crows:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/six-of-crows-leigh-bardugo/702f4e72e3675cb5?ean=9780606399449&next=t&next=t

Cinder:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/cinder-book-one-of-the-lunar-chronicles-marissa-meyer/33d4ad8f225f4dcc?ean=9781250768889&next=t

The Hunger Games:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-hunger-games-hunger-games-book-one-volume-1-suzanne-collins/b0f082e59a4806b5?ean=9780439023528&next=t

Eleanor Olifant is Completely Fine:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/eleanor-oliphant-is-completely-fine-reese-s-book-club-a-novel-gail-honeyman/b20d1b1ac60fc502?ean=9780735220690&next=t

You should see me in a crown:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/you-should-see-me-in-a-crown-leah-johnson/fb2fac43734ad748?ean=9781338503296&next=t

The three lives of Kate K:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-three-lives-of-cate-kay-kate-fagan/e0a009353105fe4f?ean=9781668076217&next=t

The Wednesday Wars:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-wednesday-wars-a-newbery-honor-award-winner-gary-d-schmidt/88d9850240192f30?ean=9780547237602&

Hello! In this episode, we go over writer resources. Wanna hear us word vomit as many helpful things as we can? This is the episode. 

Aaaaah I ran out of characters so I wasn't able to link everything, but reach out if you need a link for something we mentioned that isn't on here!

Links for Jessica Mielo:

 https://inkwellmanagement.com/staff/jessica-mileo

Query section of inkwell’s page: https://inkwellmanagement.com/contact/

Query tracker page: https://querytracker.net/query/JessicaMileo/

Publishers marketplace: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/dealmakers/detail.cgi?id=56038

MSWL: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/jessica-mileo/

88 Cups of Teat: https://88cupsoftea.com/

First Draft with Sarah Enni: https://www.firstdraftpod.com/

The Happy Writer: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Book Lounge by Libby: https://www.libbylife.com/booklounge

Scrivener: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview

Ulysses: https://ulysses.app/

Microsoft OneNote: https://www.onenote.com/?public=1&wdorigin=ondcauth2&wdorigin=ondc

Literary Lens Podcast: https://www.literarylenspodcast.com/

Bookends Literary Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BookEndsLiteraryAgency

Proko:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClM2LuQ1q5WEc23462tQzBg

Schoolism:

https://www.youtube.com/@Schoolismlive

Ming Creative Art Academy:

https://www.mingcreativeart.com/

Books we mentioned:

Lessons in Chemistry:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/lessons-in-chemistry-bonnie-garmus/19638865?ean=9780593314487&next=t

Author Christina Lauren:

https://christinalaurenbooks.com/

Plain Jane and the Mermaid:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/plain-jane-and-the-mermaid-vera-brosgol/20221536?ean=9781250314857&next=t

Hello!

In this episode we interview Katie Dwyer, a picture book author/illustrator repped by Kaitlyn Sanchez of Bradford Literary. Her debut picture book, Bear’s Friend, is slated for publication in 2027 by Rise, an imprint of Penguin. Katie is a mom of both kids and dogs and works out of her home in Ashville, N.C. 

Here are some of the authors, artists, and other things we brought up during the episode. Just a disclaimer - please do not take our word as fact. The publishing industry is always changing, and often we are talking about things we are remembering from a while ago or have heard from others. While the agent deep dive is always fact checked, we do not prep for these episodes or look up other information beforehand. It’s always important to do your own research! If we realize after the fact that we have gotten anything wrong, we will do our best to correct it in the show notes.

Author/Illustrator Interview Episode with Katie Dwyer!

https://www.katiedwyerillustrations.com/

instagram.com/katiedwyer.illustrations/

Katiedwyerillustrations.substack.com/

Illustrator Katia Chen

https://www.catiachien.com/

Illustrator Beatrice Alemagna 

http://www.beatricealemagna.com/

The Illustration Department

https://illustrationdept.com/

SVS Learn

https://www.svslearn.com/

Kaitlin Sanchez of Bradford Literary (Katie’s Agent):

https://bradfordlit.com/kaitlyn-sanchez/

Hello!

In this episode we talk about building your query list. What ways can and should you track agents you’ve queried? What sort of research should you do on an agent beforehand? What do partial and full requests mean? All explained in this episode of Publishing Pals :)

Here are some of the authors, artists, and other things we brought up during the episode. Just a disclaimer - please do not take our word as fact. The publishing industry is always changing, and often we are talking about things we are remembering from a while ago or have heard from others. While the agent deep dive is always fact checked, we do not prep for these episodes or look up other information beforehand. It’s always important to do your own research! If we realize after the fact that we have gotten anything wrong, we will do our best to correct it in the show notes.

Jim McCarthy, the agent from our agency deep dive:

https://www.dystel.com/jim-mccarthy
https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/jim-mccarthy/
https://www.instagram.com/jimmccarthy528/

https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/dealmakers/detail.cgi?id=789

List of pitch events (many have moved over to Bluesky!):

https://www.futureworldsediting.co.uk/twitter-pitch-events-2024/

Manuscript Wish List:

http://manuscriptwishlist.com/ 

Books we talked about:

Beasts of Prey:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/beasts-of-prey-ayana-gray/17371592?ean=9780593405703&next=t

Wonder:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/wonder-r-j-palacio/7364522?ean=9780375869020&next=t

Trigger Warning: At 45:19 we talk about a book in which attempted SA occurs. If this is triggering for you, please resume at 46:13 if you would like to skip that part. 

In this episode we talk all about agents! What is an agent? Where do you look for one? How can you tell if one is reputable?

Here are some of the authors, artists, and other things we brought up during the episode. Just a disclaimer - please do not take our word as fact. The publishing industry is always changing, and often we are talking about things we are remembering from a while ago or have heard from others. While the agent deep dive is always fact checked, we do not prep for these episodes or look up other information beforehand. 

Katelyn Detweiler, the agent from our agency deep dive:

https://jillgrinbergliterary.com/about/#meet-the-team
https://querytracker.net/agent/4889

https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/dealmakers/detail.cgi?sort=date&s=all&id=25849&p=2

Query Shark:

https://queryshark.blogspot.com/

PubTips:

https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/

SCBWI’s “The Book”:

https://www.scbwi.org/essential-guide-to-publishing-for-children

Bookends youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/BookEndsLiteraryAgency

Query Tracker:

https://querytracker.net/

Query Manager:

https://querymanager.com/app/dashboard/index.php

3 Point Perspective Podcast:

https://www.svslearn.com/3pointperspective

An article about the #publishingpaidme hashtag (it shares info on advances from different authors):

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jun/08/publishingpaidme-authors-share-advances-to-expose-racial-disparities

Association of American Literary Agents:

https://aalitagents.org/ 

The Happy Writer Podcast:

https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Books we talked about:

Kaetlyn Detwieler’s book mentioned in the episode, The First Date Prophecy:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-first-date-prophecy/18846605?ean=9781496742841&next=t

Wintersong:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/wintersong-s-jae-jones/8454784?ean=9781250157362&next=t

Dial A for Aunties:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/dial-a-for-aunties-jesse-q-sutanto/16520404?ean=9780593333037&next=t

Hello!
In this episode, meet the pals! Maria and Suzanne, who will be talking you through the ups and downs of the traditional publishing industry.

Please do not take our word as fact. While the agent deep dive is always fact checked, we do not prep for these episodes or look up other information beforehand. If we realize after the fact that we have gotten anything wrong, we will do our best to correct it here.

This is where all the publishing deals are announced: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/

The wonderful artist Suzanne used:

https://www.fiverr.com/mountdesign

Suzie Townsend, the agent from our Agency Deep Dive:

https://www.newleafliterary.com/people/suzie-townsend/

SCBWI 

https://www.scbwi.org/

The Highlights Foundation:
https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/

RWA (Romance Writers of America).
Disclaimer: I had heard it was disbanded but it looks like it’s still up and running and thriving!

https://www.rwa.org/

SFF writers of America:
https://www.sfwa.org/

Kitlit GN/ Janna Morishima’s community:

https://kids-comics-unite.mn.co/

https://kidlitgn.com/

FirstSecond Books:

https://firstsecondbooks.com/

Books we talked about:

Starling House:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/starling-house-alix-e-harrow/19538409?ean=9781250799067&next=t

The School for Good and Evil:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-school-for-good-and-evil-soman-chainani/6430357?ean=9780062104908&next=t

Anything by Emily Henry:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/book-lovers/18860710?ean=9780593334836&next=t

The inventors at No. 8:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-inventors-at-no-8-a-m-morgen/113569?ean=9780316471497&next=t

The inventors and the lost island:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-inventors-and-the-lost-island-a-m-morgen/113566?ean=9780316471534&next=t

Wordslut:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/wordslut-a-feminist-guide-to-taking-back-the-english-language-amanda-montell/7994946?ean=9780062868886&next=t

Legends and Lattes:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/legends-lattes-a-novel-of-high-fantasy-and-low-stakes-tr