2026 September Conference
Faculty for the Sept. 19 Conference:
Celina Sun -- Associate Editor at Penguin Workshop, where she works on board books through YA, including graphic novels. She looks to champion joyful, escapist stories by underrepresented voices that capture all the tender and thorny emotions of growing up, falling in love, and navigating evolving relationships with friends, family, and oneself. She's had the pleasure of working with bestselling, critically acclaimed, and debut creators, including Julie Abe, Robert Mgrdich Apelian, Aashna Avachat, Melanie Gillman, Jessica Hische, Kevin Johnson, Mae Respicio, Teresa Robeson, Ned Wolfe, and more.
WORKSHOP TITLE AND DESCRIPTION: Hook, Line and Sinker: Catching Attention With Your Pitch and Story
This workshop will take a look at how identifying your story's hook is integral throughout the publishing process, from the first pitch to an agent through the book's publication. Once a reader is hooked, your story's layers are key to keeping their interest and the pages turning -- so we'll also explore how to strengthen the threads of your work-in-progress.
We'll look at market examples and do some fun exercises for attendants to apply their skills.
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Elizabeth Barton -- Executive Editor at Simon Spotlight, a division of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Company. She is grateful to have edited books like the Nat the Cat series by Jarrett Lerner, Olive & Oscar: The Favorite Hat, by Ariel Bernstein and Marc Rosenthal, Elvis & Romeo Go to Dog School by David Soman and Jacky Davis, My First Yoga Class and more by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, I Am a Big Fish by Susie Lee Jin, the Rex & Oslo series by Doug Cushman, the Critter Cam series by Margie Palatini and Dan Yaccarino, the Dog and Pony show series by Jeff Mack, Geraldine Pu and her Cat Hat, Too by Maggie P. Chang, Chicka Chicka Sun & Sea by Blake Marsden, and many more. She also loves coming up with new book formats, and has written over 100 books for children under pen names.
WORKSHOP TITLE AND DESCRIPTION: Inspiring New Readers: From Beginning Reader Books to Early Chapter Books and Graphic Novels
Beginning reader books and early chapter books/graphic novels may seem simple at first, but writing a great story with compelling characters and heart within set parameters (like limited word counts and simpler sentence structure) can be a fun and challenging puzzle! Learn how beginning reader book levels are determined, and what makes a great submission for the earliest readers. You have a unique opportunity to use your creativity to inspire the next generation of bookworms!
Workshop: A hands-on “Leveling Scavenger Hunt” workshop will involve looking for specific features like contractions, shorter or longer sentences, and more, to see if you can guess the reading level. As an exercise, we will also work together to think of how an existing book can be made into a book series or expand to other formats and age ranges. This activity may inspire you to re-envision your own work-in-progress!
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Kelsey Horton -- Executive Editor at Delacorte Press, is avidly looking for novels with high-concept hooks and smart storytelling. Notable YA books on her list include the multimillion-copy bestselling series A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, the instant #1 New York Times bestselling blockbusters The Reappearance of Rachel Price and Five Survive, and The Kissing Booth series which has become a Netflix hit. Kelsey gravitates towards YA book club fiction including high-concept contemporaries/romances, addictive mysteries/thrillers and commercial, cinematic series. Some examples on her list include the dreamy speculative romance Meet Me at Midnight, the mind-blowing mystery Silent Sister which selected for the Scholastic book fairs, and the emotional, star-crossed romance See You on Venus, now a major motion picture. Kelsey is also the editor of award winning and bestselling middle grade authors including Natalie D. Richards, Rebecca Lim, Kereen Getten, Jen Calonita and Lynne Kelly. In middle grade through young adult, she enjoys stories with a gut-wrenching coming-of-age story, cinematic competition, inventive retelling or smart speculative twist that explores timely themes. No matter the genre, she is always on the lookout for a manuscript with a strong voice that hooks you from the beginning with a surprise ending that begs to be talked about.
WORKSHOP TITLE AND DESCRIPTION: Elevate Your MG/YA Manuscript From Plot Points to Jacket Copy
Does your novel hit all the important plot points editors are looking for? Kelsey will be going over her plot checklist and how to guide your characters from start to end.
She will also be providing a hands-on workshop to make sure your flap copy describes the plot with maximum marketability. Bring your work-in-progress or story idea.
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Josh Funk, award-winning author, writes silly stories such as the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series (including the five sequels: The Case of the Stinky Stench, Mission Defrostable, Short & Sweet, The Great Caper Caper, Attack of the Scones, and Whodonut? A Holiday Mystery), the How to Code with Pearl and Pascal series (including How to Code a Sandcastle and How to Code a Rollercoaster), The Dino Door, A Celebration of You, Dear Dragon, Dear Unicorn, My Pet Feet, the It's Not a Fairy Tale series (including It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk, It's Not Hansel and Gretel, It's Not Little Red Riding Hood, and It's Not the Three Little Pigs), the A Story of Patience & Fortitude series in conjunction with the New York Public Library (including Lost in the Library and Where Is Our Library?), Albie Newton, Pirasaurs!, A Night at the Bookstore: A Barnsie & Noble Adventure, and more coming soon!
For more information about Josh Funk, visit him at joshfunkbooks.com and on social media at @joshfunkbooks.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: School Visits: Tips, Best Practices, and Lessons Learned for Your Author Visits
Shannon Gallagher -- Agent at Wernick & Pratt. Shannon has been with Wernick & Pratt Agency for eight years. Prior to that, she spent more than twelve years in the marketing departments at various adult trade publishers, and she also worked as a book reviewer and copywriter. Shannon has a soft spot for subversive humor, imperfect, spunky characters, and stories with a strong sense of place. She is especially interested in both fiction and nonfiction picture book authors and illustrators.
Shannon will be doing additional critiques at the conference.
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Below was our faculty for last year's conference.
Alan is also a six-time Emmy-nominated writer for TV series including The Rosie O’Donnell Show, The Tony Danza Show and Double Dare, animated shows including Taz-Mania, Pinkalicious and Goof Troop, and network specials including the Grammy Awards and the Tony Awards.
He and his journalist wife (and co-author of an upcoming book!) Rose Horowitz live in Milford, CT.
Erika DiPasquale has worked at HarperCollins since 2017, first as a member of the adult foreign rights team and now as an Editor at Harper Children’s. She works on predominantly picture books and I Can Reads along with the select middle grade and YA. She’s excited about stories that tackle difficult topics in digestible ways as well as anything described as humorous, silly, quirky, clever, or unconventional. Erika manages the I can Read program as well as works on the Pete the Cat, Frog and Toad, and Girl Scout programs among others. She moonlights as a yoga teacher, forest bathing guide, and reiki practitioner.
https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/erika-dipasquale/
Catherine Laudone is a senior editor at Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. She primarily acquires and edits picture books and middle grade titles (both fiction and nonfiction) with a special interest in underrepresented voices and stories featuring neurodivergent and disabled main characters. She’s also open to select young adult novels and MG/YA graphic novels with a strong hook and narrative voice. Catherine has her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a published children’s book author. Her co-authored pictured book debut She Kept Dancing: The True Story of a Professional Dancer with a Limb Difference is an NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book Award winner, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, and a WLA Towner Award nominee.
Catherine currently serves as an editor advisor for The Writing Barn’s The Verge program and an advance PB workshop leader for Inked Voices. When not editing or writing she enjoys baking, traveling, and playing with her cat Biscotti. Learn more at catherinelaudone.com
Workshop Title & Description
https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/erika-dipasquale/
Workshop Title & Description
"Creating Extraordinary Anthropomorphized Characters"
In this interactive workshop, you will explore what makes an anthropomorphized animal or object a strong children’s book character through guided discussions, nature connection activities, and play.Catherine Laudone is a senior editor at Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. She primarily acquires and edits picture books and middle grade titles (both fiction and nonfiction) with a special interest in underrepresented voices and stories featuring neurodivergent and disabled main characters. She’s also open to select young adult novels and MG/YA graphic novels with a strong hook and narrative voice. Catherine has her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a published children’s book author. Her co-authored pictured book debut She Kept Dancing: The True Story of a Professional Dancer with a Limb Difference is an NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book Award winner, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, and a WLA Towner Award nominee.
Catherine currently serves as an editor advisor for The Writing Barn’s The Verge program and an advance PB workshop leader for Inked Voices. When not editing or writing she enjoys baking, traveling, and playing with her cat Biscotti. Learn more at catherinelaudone.com
Workshop Title & Description
"5 Tools for Crafting Strong Character Arcs"
Every story needs a strong protagonist. But how do you make your main character’s journey or arc satisfying for the reader? In this workshop, we’re going to explore the following 5 tools for crafting strong character arcs:
Unique character motivation
Overcoming obstacles
Emotional highs and lows
Positive and negative relationships with secondary characters
Evidence of change in the resolution
We’ll look at some mentor texts to see how these tools can be successfully applied in picture books and middle grade and young adult novels. Then it’ll be your turn to put these tips into practice during interactive writing exercises.
Unique character motivation
Overcoming obstacles
Emotional highs and lows
Positive and negative relationships with secondary characters
Evidence of change in the resolution
We’ll look at some mentor texts to see how these tools can be successfully applied in picture books and middle grade and young adult novels. Then it’ll be your turn to put these tips into practice during interactive writing exercises.
Kelly Going's first
novel, Fat Kid Rules the World, was named
a Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book[2] by
the American Library Association, and was
included on the Young Adult Library Services
Association's Best Books for Young Adults list and its list of Best Books
for the Past Decade.
Her books have been Booksense picks, Scholastic Book Club choices, Junior Library Guild selections, New York Public Library Best Books for the Teenage, and winners of state book awards. They have been featured by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and the Children's Book Council as best books of the year.
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| Erika DiPasquale |
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| Catherine Laudone |
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| ALAN KATZ |
