Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch

Workshop your pitch. Pitch the agent.

Registration for our July 11th-12th, 2026

Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch is OPEN!

Agent pitch slots fill quickly, so registering early is recommended.

Workshop your pitch. Pitch the agent.

Ready to meet your new writing community?

At Writing Away Refuge, we are all about support and helping you craft your best book and make solid industry connections. The focus of our Zoom pitch retreat on July 11-12th, 2026

is powerful story development and delivering a winning pitch.

We have workshops to help you perfect your craft and time allotted for practice pitch sessions as well.

And, best of all, we have 8 literary agents ready to listen to your pitches!

You'll spend the weekend in the comfort of your own home participating in workshops to make your book the best it can be, getting to know and connect with fellow writers, and pitching your completed book to agents if you're at that level in your writing journey (we have special pricing if you only need the workshops but no agent pitches). The Writing Away Zoom Pitch has it all. During the virtual retreat, we will have author chats, drawings for incredible prizes (like free services, gift cards, and free memberships to Writing Away), and workshops by amazing industry professionals. Don't miss out!

(You may register for the full retreat that includes agent pitches or for workshops only)

**Please note that pitch sessions with agents are on a first come, first served basis and WILL fill up quickly.

It is best to register early and make your agent selections to ensure you receive your agent preferences. If a desired agent's sessions fill, you will be allowed to submit a written query through our Writing Away Refuge portal that will be reviewed by those agents with priority. Thank you!**

Meet The Workshop Team

Lee Ann Ward

Workshop Leader

USA Today Bestselling Author &

Founder & CEO of Writing Away Refuge

Building Your Author Platform

Lee Ann Ward is a USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author of 13 novels, including her international bestseller, GLIMPSES OF WILDERNESS. She is the former senior editor of Champagne Books and the founder of Writing Away Refuge retreats and author services. She is a former journalist and has taught her novel plotting course at workshops across the country. She also offers the How to Write a GOOD Book 12-week writing-course through Writing Away Refuge.

When she's not helping writers or working on a new book, she's spending time with her husband and grown sons, and with her little girl who's the love of her life. And her grandchildren are totally dreamy. Just ask her!

Now Lee Ann brings her workshop "Building Your Author Platform" to our July Zoom Pitch!

Joyce Scarbrough

Senior Workshop Leader

Award-winning Author & Editor

Permanent Staff Member, Writing Away Refuge

Showing vs. Telling the Shirley Jackson Way

Joyce Scarbrough is the author of eight novels and numerous short stories featured in multiple anthologies. Joyce is a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature, she was the founding senior editor for Champagne Books, and she now works freelance as an editor and book coach. Joyce was president of the Mobile Writers Guild for three years and still serves on its board of directors. She is also a member of the Southern Breeze chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, but she also writes women’s fiction. She has served on the faculty of the Mobile Literary Festival since its inception in 2016 and has given numerous workshops on characterization and editing for writers’ groups, conferences, libraries, colleges, and high schools throughout the Southeast. Joyce has lived all her life in LA (lower Alabama), she is the mother of three gifted, non-conformist children, and she’s been married for 39 years to a superhero who disguises himself during the day as a high school math teacher and coach.

Now Joyce brings her workshop "Showing vs. Telling the Shirley Jackson Way" to Writing Away Refuge in July!

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Allison Hong Merrill

Workshop Leader

Award-Winning & Bestselling Author

Permanent Staff Member Writing Away Refuge

Author Presence

Obsessed with love and kindness, Allison is a loveaholic. In fact, she’s the original creator who coins the word “loveaholic.”

Allison was born and raised in Taiwan and arrived in the US at twenty-two as a university student. She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and writes in both Chinese and English, both fiction and nonfiction for both adult and young readers. She is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author. Her work appears in the New York Times and HuffPost and has won both national and international literary prizes. Her debut memoir, Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops, has won 70 book awards. Focus on Women Magazine awarded her the title “Woman of Impact.”

Besides sitting on the executive board of Calliope Writing Coach Program and being a permanent staff member of Writing Away Refuge, Allison is also a frequent conference keynote speaker, instructor, and panelist. She also appears on TV, radio, and podcasts; in magazines, newspapers, and journals.

Now Allison brings her workshop, "Author Presence" to our July Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch!

Lee Ann Ward

Workshop Leader

USA Today Bestselling Author &

Founder & CEO of Writing Away Refuge

Your First 10 Pages

Now Lee Ann brings her workshop "Your First 10 Pages" to our July Zoom Pitch!

Meet the Agents

Pitch up to 8 Literary Agents Over Zoom as part of the Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch, July 11-12th, 2026. Each one-on-one pitch session lasts 5 minutes

and is included in your registration fee. Be sure to register early before their spaces fill. Registering early ensures that you pitch all desired agents.

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Laurie Dennison, Associate Agent

Creative Media Agency

After earning a master’s degree from the University of Florida, I began my career as an English teacher. I then spent over ten years working as a freelance writer and editor in desktop publishing, including serving as a Pitch Wars mentor for five years. In 2022 I attended the Denver Publishing Institute, leading to an internship at Creative Media Agency, Inc. before stepping into my current role as an associate agent and internship coordinator at CMA.

I love upmarket writing, complex characters, and immersive settings. I enjoy upbeat, positive stories but don’t shy away from darker themes. Complicated relationships and family dynamics are a particular interest of mine, and I appreciate character development that is directly and organically integrated with the plot. In nonfiction, I’m interested in authors who are specialists in their fields, have strong platforms, and can help me see the world in a new light.

We live in a diverse world, and I want to see diversity of all types authentically represented in all genres; I’d love to champion minority voices as I build my list.

See Laurie's complete Manuscript Wishlist here:

Laurie Dennison – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

Elizabeth Guthrie, Associate Agent

P.S. Literary Agency

Elizabeth Guthrie is an associate literary agent at PSLA representing fiction and nonfiction.

In non-fiction, she is particularly drawn to true crime, music (almost any genre, but especially blues and classic rock), religion, and history (especially ancient civilizations or intellectual history). She also likes expert-driven wellness, popular psychology, and other science-related ideas (especially in biology or
physics).

In fiction, she is interested in fantasy, historical, romance
(especially fantasy, historical, or LGBTQ), speculative, and
psychological thrillers.

Before joining the team, she worked first as an intern and then as a literary agent at Lucinda Literary. Prior to moving into publishing, she had a career in trauma-informed integrative medicine, earning a PhD in Natural Medicine and a Master’s of Public Health with a concentration in
functional nutrition.

See Elizabeth's complete Manuscript Wishlist here:

Elizabeth Guthrie – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

V Ruiz, Agent

D4EO Literary Agency

V. Ruiz is a lesbian, Mexican-American agent, editor, and author, who aspires to make publishing more equitable by working as an advocate for their authors. With nearly ten years of editing experience across literary and commercial genres, they are eager to collaborate with authors who want to grow as writers and who are eager to receive feedback.

Recently, they worked as an acquisitions editor and project manager with Row House Publishing (distributed by Simon and Schuster) for over three years. You can rest assured that they have a deep understanding of the publishing process which, in turn, helps their authors feel prepared with what to expect. V. is always eager to hear from voices who have been systemically underrepresented in publishing.

See V's complete manuscript wishlist here:

V. Ruiz – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

Kaylyn Aldridge, Junior Agent

Metamorphosis Literary Agency

Kaylyn Aldridge is a junior agent at Metamorphosis Literary Agency. She seeks young adult, new adult, and adult fiction across romance (all heat levels welcome), LGBT+ fiction, and commercial fiction.

She especially enjoys stories following Black and/or LGBT+ characters that are not centered around trauma; dark, weird, and offbeat stories (think Jennifer’s Body, Ginger Snaps, Fresh, or Teeth); unique takes on classic stories; and paranormal romances (vampires, werewolves, ghosts, etc.).

She is NOT a good fit for historical fiction (across all genres), science fiction (across all genres), or epic/high fantasy (across all genres).

See Kaylyn's complete manuscript wishlist here:

Kaylyn Aldridge – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

Kelsey Evans, Associate Agent

Rosecliff Literary

Kelsey Evans is a publishing professional with a background in communications, marketing, and editing. After a decade helming marketing strategy and content development for agencies with major clients like AAA, Dannon, and Target, she transitioned into publishing. She began as an editor, helping writers shape their work through developmental feedback, query critiques, and revision guidance. Later, she moved into agenting, interning with Triada US and Creative Media Agency (CMA), where she gained hands-on experience in manuscript evaluation, submissions, and client development.

Passionate about championing authors, Kelsey now combines editorial insight with marketing expertise to help writers navigate both craft and career. She is especially excited to seek out independent voices by tracking breakout self-published successes, surfacing under-the-radar talent, and scouting the indie authors whose sales, platforms, and craft signal they’re ready to leap into traditional publishing.

See Kelsey's complete manuscript wishlist here:

Kelsey Evans – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

Madelyn Knecht, Associate Agent

Storm Literary Agency

Madelyn Knecht is an Associate Literary Agent at Storm Literary Agency. Madelyn is an editor, writer, and passionate reader from Texas whose hair changes color on a weekly basis. After falling in love with reading books that made her laugh and cry in equal measure, she started writing her first book at nine and never looked back. She serves as a RevPit board member, where she created the BIPOC Editor Mentorship, and a member of the EFA. When not reading or writing, you can find her playing cozy games, crocheting, or spending time with her two criminal Australian Shepherds and her lovable cat, Lucas.

SEEKING: Young Adult, Adult, and select Middle Grade in horror, fantasy, light scifi, LGBT+, and anything speculative and spooky. She is especially looking for novels with heart and masterfully-handled social and/or political commentary, and characters who pull you in until the very last page.

Find more about her wishlist here.

Elisa Saphier, Agent

MacGregor & Luedeke

Elisa Saphier is an agent with MacGregor & Luedeke where she is the exception, looking for nonreligious nonfiction and upmarket genre fiction (especially mystery/thriller and romance) to balance out her mostly literary list. She represents lower middle grade through adult (fiction and nonfiction) and she is especially eager to work with marginalized writers to help equalize the publishing industry and to get their stories out into the world (#representationmatters). She lives in Portland, OR with her wife and son where she is always behind on queries but where she is constantly reading.

Find out more about what she's looking for here:

https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/elisa-saphier/

Shania Soler, Agent

Metamorphosis Literary Agency

I’m currently on the lookout for horror that unsettles rather than overwhelms—stories that don’t rely on excessive gore to make their impact. I’m drawn to gripping, atmospheric narratives in the vein of Nothing But Blackened Teeth and The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw.

I’m especially interested in gradual, tension-driven build-ups where dread accumulates quietly and deliberately. Give me suspense that keeps me guessing, that lingers under the skin, that refuses to let go. I’m eager for body horror that feels intimate and destabilizing, and for characters who unravel in ways that are both unsettling and psychologically compelling.

I’m particularly excited by stories where the setting becomes a character in its own right—spaces that breathe, watch, distort, and exert influence. Haunting atmospheres, claustrophobic environments, and slow descents into madness are very much welcome.

I’m also considering fantasy with compelling magical or political systems, not just romance (though I welcome spice!). I’m open to both low and high fantasy, particularly unique fairytale or mythological retellings. Bonus points for horror elements.

Find out more about what she's looking for here:

https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/shania-soler/

Workshop and Pitch Session Schedules for
July 11-12th, 2026 Zoom Pitch.

Registration for the July 11-12th, 2026
Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch is OPEN!
Register Early to ensure you get to pitch to all of your desired agents!
Our pitch slots usually fill in a week!

Member registration

(includes all workshops & agent pitches)

$95.00

Non-member registration

(includes all workshops & agent pitches)

$115.00

WORKSHOPS ONLY!

No agent Pitches!

$65.00

Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch

Workshop your pitch. Pitch the agent.

Meet The Workshop Team

Obsessed with love and kindness, Allison is a loveaholic. In fact, she’s the original creator who coins the word “loveaholic.”

Besides sitting on the executive board of Calliope Writing Coach Program and being a permanent staff member of Writing Away Refuge, Allison is also a frequent conference keynote speaker, instructor, and panelist. She also appears on TV, radio, and podcasts; in magazines, newspapers, and journals.

Meet the Agents

Workshop and Pitch Session Schedules for July 11-12th, 2026 Zoom Pitch. Registration for the July 11-12th, 2026 Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch is OPEN! Register Early to ensure you get to pitch to all of your desired agents! Our pitch slots usually fill in a week!

Workshop and Pitch Session Schedules for
July 11-12th, 2026 Zoom Pitch.

Registration for the July 11-12th, 2026
Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch is OPEN!
Register Early to ensure you get to pitch to all of your desired agents!
Our pitch slots usually fill in a week!