2021 Agent Pitch Sessions

The 10-minute elevator pitch provides the chance to present the idea of your book the way you would if you were on a slow elevator ride with an agent or publisher. Your job is to learn how to pitch so compellingly that the agent or publisher tells you to send the entire manuscript for consideration of representation.

Conference attendees have the opportunity to sign up for two 10-minute pitch sessions FREE of charge. Slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to members of Hampton Roads Writers. Golden Ticket attendees will be allowed to pitch to all agents if so desired. Come prepared to pitch your project.

Literary Agents

matt belfordMatt Belford joined The Tobias Agency in 2020 after previously working at the David Black Agency and the Aaron M. Priest Agency. After he received his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Emerson College, he decided to apply his talents in representing authors, as opposed to writing himself.

A lover of all things science fiction and fantasy, Matt accepts his nerd status readily. He is interested in receiving submissions for both graphic memoirs and graphic novels, as well as adult science fiction and fantasy, and some popular nonfiction. He is not interested in YA.

Some of Matt's favorite reads include: THE SUMMONER by Gail Z Martin, KINGS OF THE WYLD by Nicholas Eames, TRAIL OF LIGHTNING by Rebecca Roanhorse, and RED RISING by Pierce Brown.

jessica erreraJessica Errera has been with the Jane Rotrosen literary agency since 2014. She is looking for commercial women’s fiction with a fresh and fun hook, all genres of YA (especially diverse stories), contemporary romance, book club fiction, mysteries and suspense, the occasional historical fiction, graphic and LGBTQ novels, and anything that might be read in a day on the beach. Jessica is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she spent four years cheering on the Tar Heels and a few fantastic months interning with Algonquin Books.

Jessica is also looking for anything with lists/letters/texts/media embedded into the story, or subplots that get woven together in unexpected (but seamless) ways. She is particularly drawn to family or sister stories, imaginative re-tellings, stories with a food or travel element, and anything to do with theater.

kristina slaterKristina Slater, an agent at Metamorphosis Literary Agency, has known she wanted to write since she was six years old and wrote her first fairy tale. A voracious reader, she likes to disappear into other worlds. She is the youngest of 10 siblings, having nine older brothers.

Kristina has an Animal Science degree from Kansas State University and is currently residing in Omaha, Nebraska. A fangirl at heart, she is looking for her next world to get lost in. She is seeking: Fantasy (Adult/YA), Horror, Sci-fi (Adult/YA), Historical Fiction, and STEM Children’s Picture Books.

lauren biekerAfter a brief career in the fashion industry, Lauren Bieker made her move to publishing as an intern for agent Paige Wheeler. She moved to FinePrint Literary Management to assist with day-to-day administrative tasks, but is now developing her client list and is open to queries.

Lauren is looking for commercial and upmarket women’s fiction and some well-crafted and differentiated YA novels. She is also open to select science fiction, as well as high concept and literary fiction works. She appreciates great storytelling and is a "sucker" for outstanding writing and convincing characters. While primarily interested in fiction, she will consider nonfiction proposals. She is looking for #ownvoices stories, Feminist lit/#MeToo stories, and LGBTQIA+ authors in both fiction and nonfiction. Her goal is to "hold the mic" for authors to tell their stories and be a helpful support system. Her message to querying authors: "Have fun with your pitch--if you're passionate about your story, I will be too!"

PLEASE NOTE: Lauren is NOT looking for religious fiction, horror, fantasy, or political/military fiction.

Lauren writes during her free time and has been published on various online platforms. She has attended many writing workshops and intensives, including the National Academy of Writing’s intensive at Cambridge University in the UK.