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True Lit: Publisher & Agent Pitch Sessions *

Are you ready to publish your writing? Join us for an opportunity to pitch your work to literary agents and publishers.

Writers may sign up for an individual one-on-one session with the publisher or literary agent of their choice. Writers will visit FPL's Walker Community Room where staff will handle the technology used to connect virtually with agents and publishers. Pitches are verbal and are limited to 10 minutes. 

Publishers and agents featured: 

Jeffrey Condran, Publisher of Braddock Ave Book

Jeffrey Condran is the author of the story collection, A Fingerprint Repeated (Press 53). His debut novel, Prague Summer (Counterpoint), was published in August 2014 and received a 2015 Independent Publisher Book Award’s Silver Medal. His fiction has appeared in journals such as The Kenyon Review, The Missouri Review, and Epoch, and has been awarded the The Missouri Review’s 2010 William Peden Prize and Pushcart Prize nominations. He is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and co-founder/publisher of the independent literary press, Braddock Avenue Books. Braddock Avenue Books is an independent literary publisher looking for works that speak to the difficulties and rewards of being human. We prefer fiction in a realistic mode and favor serious long-form essays that engage with contemporary circumstances in a style aimed at an educated, but not necessarily academic, audience.

Selina Rosen, Publisher of Yard Dog Press

Selina Rosen is the author of over twenty-five novels including the Sword Masters series, and the Nebula-nominated Strange Robby, and she has had dozens of short stories published in professional venues including Thieves World and Impossible Monsters. She is married, owns a small farm, and has kids and grandkids. She is a carpenter, a rock mason, a sword fighter and an all-around swell gal. As owner and editor-in-chief of Yard Dog Press she has edited ten anthologies including Bubbas of the Apocalypse. Yard Dog Press primarily publishes fantasy, dark fantasy, science fiction, and some mystery. They are not typically open to submissions, so if your book is a good fit, take this rare opportunity to pitch to them!

FULL Rachel Beck, Literary Agent at Liza Dawson Associates

Rachel Beck joined Liza Dawson Associates in 2020. She has been in the publishing industry since 2009. Rachel believes that the right book can change or heal a life, and she wants to find those but she’s also interested in lighter fiction that helps you escape or simply makes you laugh after a tough day or nonfiction that teaches you something about an obscure topic, thus opening up a new world. More specifically, she’s looking for upmarket/book club women’s fiction, light-hearted millennial fiction or contemporary romance, domestic suspense, contemporary young adult, select nonfiction, anything featuring odd, eccentric, quirky or perhaps on-the-spectrum characters, treated authentically and with compassion, anything exploring complex sibling relationships, particularly sisters, anything set in the South and retellings of classics. Rachel's pitch slots are filled.

FULL Jane Chun, Literary Agent at Transatlantic Agency

Jane is particularly interested in stories that center marginalized communities and prose that is cinematic and atmospheric with good rhythm. In both fiction and nonfiction, she's drawn towards compelling, fresh voices that make me feel as though the writer is in the room with me, telling me their story with intimacy as if we were already acquainted. Regardless of how plot-driven a story is, characters with rich inner worlds and emotional depth are a must for her. What she is seeking: Fiction: Action/Adventure, Children's, Commercial, Family Saga, Fantasy, General, Graphic Novel, Historical, Horror, LGBTQ, Literary, Middle Grade, New Adult, Science Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult. Non-Fiction: History, Illustrated, Journalism, LGBTQ, Memoir, Pop Culture, Sports, Travel. Jane's pitch slots are filled.

FULL Cate Hart, Literary Agent at Harvey Klinger Literary Agency

Cate Hart has been at Harvey Klinger Literary Agency since 2019. She's a true Nashville native, born and raised in the Music City and is a firm believer that there’s something magical about the mid south. She specializes in Historical, whether in Middle Grade and Young Adult, Women’s Fiction and Romance, or narrative nonfiction. She is particularly drawn to oft-forgotten stories of the past and underrepresented voices, and especially personal to me is unexplored Southern history and culture. She also loves high-concept fantasy in YA and Adult fiction. She is always looking for fun or feel good RomComs, Contemporary YA, or a bit darker psychological thrillers and classic feel mysteries. She prefers stories with strong romantic elements, or even better, a heart-pounding romance. Cate's pitch slots are filled.

FULL Rebecca Eskildsen, Literary Agent at Writers House

Rebecca Eskildsen has been at Writers House since 2017 and is actively growing her list of middle grade, YA, and adult fiction. Across the board, she is looking to elevate LGBTQ+ and BIPOC voices, among other underrepresented narratives. In middle grade, she's seeking fresh, engaging voices with heart and humor that make kids feel seen. For YA, she's looking for some darker themes and twisty, gripping stories — give her your toxic friendships, your weird horror, and your ambitious “unlikable” girls. She's looking for a more limited variety of adult books, including rom coms and critiques of modern society. She's also looking for sagas about families or friends, of any age or topic, and 20-something coming-of-age stories. Rebecca's pitch slots are filled. 

FULL Patricia Nelson, Literary Agent at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Patricia Nelson has been a literary agent with Marsal Lyon Literary Agency since 2014, representing all genres of young adult and middle grade fiction, as well as women's fiction and romance. Patricia looks for stories that hook her with a unique plot, fantastic writing and complex characters that jump off the page. On the children’s side, Patricia is open to a wide range of genres of YA and MG, with particular interest in contemporary/realistic, magical realism, mystery, science fiction and fantasy. On the adult side, she is seeking women’s fiction both upmarket and commercial, historical fiction set in the 20th century, and sexy, smart adult contemporary and historical single title romance. Her clients include bestselling and award-winning authors, and recent sales include books placed with Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster, among others. Patricia holds master's degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Southern California. Patricia's pitch slots are filled.

The True Lit Festival is in collaboration with the Fayetteville Public Schools, Fayetteville Public Education Foundation, Walton Arts Center, University of Arkansas Program in Creative Writing and Translation and Altrusa International of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

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