We are thrilled that we will have a number of editors and agents joining us at the upcoming conference! Before registering for an editor/agent appointment, please check to see what are the interests of the respective editors and/or agents. Thank you!
Agents
| Andrea Hurst | Andrea Hurst Literary Management |
| Grace Milusich | Looking Glass Literary |
| Amy Nielson | The Purcell Agency |
| Ashley Reisinger | Triada US |
Editors
| Tina Moss | City Owl Press |
| Yelena Casale | City Owl Press |
Please click here to download information on the submission guidelines for the editors and agents or see below.
To sign up for the editor/agent appointments, please click here or visit https://www.libertystatesfictionwriters.com/editor-agent-appointments/.
If you have additional questions about Editor/Agent appointments, please contact us at contact at lsfwriters.com.
Editor/Agent Wish List
Editors
City Owl Press publishes all genre of adult and New Adult Romance (No YA please) except for erotica, as well as speculative fiction with romantic elements.
TINA MOSS, co-founder of City Owl Press, is USA Today Bestselling Author and business professional with over a decade and a half of experience in the publishing industry. Starting in 2006, she began her career penning narrative fiction shorts for women’s magazines. Since then, she’s written several novels in urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and sci-fi romance. Earning a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature from Brooklyn College, she shared her love of books for seventeen years in academia and teaching the next generation of literati. Now, she works exclusively for City Owl Press. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Clinical Psychology. With extensive design, business acumen, and editing expertise, she brings a critical eye to all aspects of book production. As a social media savant (and admitted TikTok addict), she emphasizes the importance of strong marketing and advertising for every City Owl Press book.
YELENA CASALE, co-founder of City Owl Press, is a USA Today Bestselling Author and editor, who highly prizes quality and professionalism. She earned a Master of Science in Publishing from New York University and has always been interested in everything literature and publishing. Over the past decade, she has edited numerous fiction and non-fiction works, including novels, short stories, articles and business documentation for a variety of organizations, charities, and presses. She’s a highly experienced social media strategist and marketing expert. She is keen to share a wealth of knowledge with authors, bringing her editorial skills, expertise, and great enthusiasm to the mix. She loves strong urban fantasy and paranormal romance, as well as medieval, Renaissance and Native American historical romance. She’s currently also open to contemporary romantic suspense and sci-fi romance.
YELENA CASALE
In my position as the Executive Editor at City Owl Press, my manuscript Wishlist is as follows:
Urban Fantasy
Paranormal Romance
Medieval, Renaissance and Native American Romance
Historical fiction with romantic elements
Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Sci-fi Romance
I love strong heroines and alpha male heroes who are a good match for these heroines. I’m particularly attracted to novels with compelling world-building and strong, realistic character development. City Owl Press is strongly interested in series but we will also accept great stand-alones. Any heat level except erotica.
Agents
ASHLEY REISINGER – TRIADA US
Ashley is looking for adult romance/women’s fic and horror. She is primarily interested in swoony romances, the more chaotic the protagonist, the better (think Boyfriend Material, The Love Hypothesis, You Had Me at Hola, Book Lovers, Weather Girl), but she can also be enticed by women’s fiction that includes a romantic subplot. In horror, she loves anything a little more meta/satirical that plays with the conventions of the genre in an unexpected way, and horror with a psychological bent (think Mexican Gothic, Bad Cree).
AMY NIELSON – THE PURCELL AGENCY
Amy Nielsen spent nearly twenty years on the other side of the writing aisle as a children’s librarian, sharing her love of books with young readers. Daily immersion in story took root, and she started penning her YA debut, Worth It, behind her checkout desk. She has also published books about autism spectrum disorder, a television production curriculum, and freelances as a lifestyle journalist.
Amy is currently an Associate Literary Agent at The Purcell Agency. Working with multiple critique partners in a variety of genres, and now as an Associate Literary Agent, Amy has honed her developmental editing skills. She has an intuitive eye for setting, pacing, continuity, plot, plausibility, dialogue, and character development. She is also a developmental editor and publicist at Wild Ink and Conquest Publishing. Amy’s passion is collaborating with authors to ensure the best version of their story makes it into the hands of eager readers.
Amy’s Manuscript Wish List
Picture Books
o I’ll be looking for hyperbolic, zany storylines that teach a life lesson—even subtle.
o Or laugh-out-loud moments written simply to entertain. Don’t we all need more of this?
o Check out the legendary Robert Munsch and Michael Marchenko for what I’m hoping to see in my inbox.
o Bonus if your picture book includes supplementary educational materials.
Middle Grade
o I’ll be looking for fast-paced stories across all genres that feature characters that think, act, and talk like real middle graders.
o Bonus for a MG main character who has a unique hobby or whose parents have unique careers.
Young Adult
o I’ll gravitate toward contemporary issue-driven plots where teens find themselves in situations they aren’t equipped to handle, but eventually figure it out.
o As in MG, bonus for a YA main character who has a unique hobby or whose parents have unique careers.
Adult Fiction
o I’ll lean into contemporary women’s fiction where main characters are shattering glass ceilings despite obstacles and defying stereotypes.
o That being said, I’m not opposed to male leads who also defy stereotypes.
General Wishes
o Across all age ranges, I’m looking for contemporary, dystopian, horror, paranormal, romance, suspense, political, thriller, and speculative.
o As the mother of an autistic child, I’d appreciate any story that features characters across the autism spectrum written authentically and free from stereotypes.
o I’d swoon over a Gilmore Girls retelling with a paranormal or speculative element, anything that could comp my favorite song of all time, “Never Surrender” by Cory Hart or a story set in a coastal boating town.
o I’m also always game for any fairy-tale retelling or re-imagining, especially if pulled into a contemporary setting.
o I would love any age range where a dystopian plot mirrors a current social issue. Think Handmaid’s Tale versus the current political landscape of abortion. Or how the political landscape is impacting marginalized communities such as the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC.
o Succinct and simplistic writing. Craft is as important to me as the story itself. Before you submit, here is my guide for the Ten Steps Authors Should Consider Before Querying. I’m looking for a lifelong partnership with my authors and I want to know if they are serious about craft.
o Diverse representation from authors to main characters, including but not limited to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse, and persons with disabilities.
I wouldn’t be the best fit for:
o Epic fantasy (if your story features a dragon or fae—probably not for me),
o High-concept sci-fi (if most of your story doesn’t take place on Earth—probably not for me)
o Historical fiction (unless it’s the 80s or 90s then bring it on) I’m fine with dual timelines if the majority of the plot is in a contemporary setting.
o Erotica. I’m fine with some on-page-steam, but not if the plot centers around it.
o Literary. If your story isn’t plot-driven, it’s probably not for me.
o Nonfiction – While I will rep nonfiction in the future, for starters, I’ll stick to the world of fiction.
GRACE MILUSICH – LOOKING GLASS LITERARY
Grace is an associate agent and the marketing and publicity assistant at LGLM. After graduating from the National University of Galway with a Master’s degree in Publishing, Grace worked in various editorial and marketing roles for publishing houses all across Ireland. When she realized her favorite part of the publishing process was working directly with authors and helping them to reach their fullest potential, she began to work in the agenting world.
Born and raised in New York, Grace used her international perspective on the publishing industry to join Irene Goodman Literary Agency as a Junior Agent and marketing assistant. Her experience at publishing houses gives her valuable insight into what editors are looking for. Grace is a member of the AALA and SCBWI. During her free time, Grace enjoys listening to Ethel Cain’s discography on repeat, running and baking anything that involves cinnamon.
Grace is interested in pursuing both YA and adult pieces (with a particular interest in works that narrow the gap between YA and adult). She is passionate about fantasy, psychological thrillers, crime, romance, and contemporary fiction featuring powerful/challenging themes, unputdownable pacing, strong voices, gothic narratives, and complex characters. Grace is also a lover of the found family trope in all its forms!
Grace hopes to work on projects featuring diverse protagonists and intersectional identities. She is a sucker for sapphic narratives and morally grey characters too! If your book is a little twisty, strange, or dark, Grace would love to read it!
Grace is also looking for romance and historical fiction pieces with strong hooks, prosaic voices, lush worlds, and deep dives into character development. She is especially drawn to manuscripts with a literary leaning and fresh twists on familiar tropes.
Grace is excited to explore fantasy romances that feature enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, forbidden/doomed romance, and even a bit of spice! Grace always enjoys pieces with magic, adventure, mythos, and a bit of dark humor too.
Andrea Hurst – President and Literary Agent | Andrea Hurst Literary Management
Andrea works as a literary agent with both bestselling and emerging new authors to help polish their book, obtain publication, increase sales, and build their author brand. Andrea brings over 25 years experience in the publishing industry, including her extensive experience as a literary agent. She is also a developmental book editor for publishers and authors, a bestselling Amazon author, an instructor for MFA creative writing programs, and a webinar presenter for Writer’s Digest. As a literary agent, she selectively represents high profile adult nonfiction, and well-crafted genre fiction in the areas of women’s fiction, psychological suspense, crime/thriller, and upmarket book club fiction.