Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch Retreat

Workshop your pitch. Pitch the agent.

Early Bird Registration is now OPEN for the February 8-9, 2025

(Agent slots fill quickly, so register early to ensure you get to pitch all desired agents).

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 virtual pitch retreat on February 8-9th, 2025

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 7 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 Virtual Pitch Retreat has it all. During the virtual retreat, we will have author chats, drawings for incredible prizes (including free manuscript evaluations, 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 of Writing Away Refuge

Crafting the Unforgettable Protagonist

(Why We LOVE a Good Hero!)

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 "Crafting the Unforgettable Protagonist: Why We LOVE a Good Hero" to our February Pitch Retreat.

Joyce Scarbrough

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 February!

Allison Hong Merrill

Workshop Leader

Award-winning & Bestselling Author

Permanent Staff Member, Writing Away Refuge

Writing Creative Nonfiction

Allison was born and raised in Taiwan and arrived in the U.S. 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. 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, launched in September 2021 and continues to win book awards.

Allison is a keynote speaker, an instructor, and a panelist at various writer’s conferences both in the U.S. and in Asia. She also appears on TV, radio, and podcasts; in magazines, newspapers, and journals.

Now Allison brings her workshop

"Writing Creative Nonfiction" to Writing Away Refuge.

Lee Ann Ward

Workshop Leader

USA Today Bestselling Author &

Founder of Writing Away Refuge

Crafting the Unforgettable Antagonist

(Why We LOVE to HATE a Good Villain!)

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

"Crafting the Unforgettable Antagonist" to Writing Away Refuge.

Meet the Agents

Pitch up to 7 Literary Agents Over Zoom as part of the Writing Away Refuge Virtual Pitch Retreat, February 8-9th, 2025. 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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Maria Vicente, Senior Agent

P.S. Literary Agency

Maria Vicente is a Senior Literary Agent and Advisor at P.S. Literary Agency representing creators of innovative and beautiful books for readers of all ages. With over a decade of experience in the publishing industry, Maria has helped launch the careers of many bestselling, award winning, and critically acclaimed authors and illustrators. Whether it’s collaborating on manuscript drafts and proposals, negotiating book deals, or exploring adaptation opportunities, she advocates for her clients every step of the way. Maria is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA) and the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents (PACLA). She lives in New Brunswick, Canada, reading and selling books from the Atlantic Ocean shore.

To view Maria's complete manuscript wishlist, follow this link:

Maria Vicente – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

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Vicky Weber, Assoc. Agent

Creative Media Agency

Vicky Weber is a former elementary school teacher turned bestselling children’s book author and literary agent at Creative Media Agency. She represents commercial fiction – board books through adult – but specializes in children’s literature. In all manuscripts, she wants intensity in the writing—to be dropped into the moment and experience the story alongside the characters. If a book is high-concept, commercial fiction with beautiful, literary-leaning prose, it’s probably up her alley.

Follow the link to view Vicky's full manuscript wishlist:

https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/vicky-weber/

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Terrie Wolf, Senior Agent & Owner

AKA Literary Management

After nearly two decades of interaction with authors, musicians, and dignitaries in publishing, international media, and large-scale events, Terrie founded AKA (Also Known As) Literary Management (AKALM) in 2009. As a full member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), she received the Agent of the Year Award in 2021 from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), was named a “Top 20 of 2020 Agent” by Writer’s Digest magazine and has sold rights in over forty countries and thirty languages.

Terrie is a member of the Cambridge University Alumni Association, Ringling Bros. Blue Unit, International Publishers Association, and several writing organizations, including American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), International Thriller Writers (ITW), Sisters in Crime (SiNC), Sisters in Crime – Colorado (SiNC-CO), and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She is a member of the board of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association Education and Literacy Foundation (CIPA ELF). She has served as a board member of the Colorado AIDS Project, Project Angel Heart, Colorado Cattlewomen, and Colorado Youth Rodeo Association.

Ask Terrie about her perfect book, and she’ll tell you it positively intrigues, enthralls, and impacts readers, regardless of genre.

See Terrie's full manuscript wishlist here:

Terrie Wolf – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

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Kelly Thomas, Assoc. Agent

Serendipity Lit

Kelly Thomas is an associate literary agent at Serendipity Literary Agency and a certified copy editor with a bachelor’s degree in English (Literature) from Pace University. She is an associate member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), a member of the Women in Film (WIF), New York Women in Film & Television (NYWFT), and a member of the Editorial Freelance Association (EFA). Kelly is a participant for pitch slams and speaks on various panels at writing conferences, including Thriller Fest, Crime bake, Writing Day Workshops, AWP, Writing Barn, Writer’s Digest, SCBWI, Carnegie Center for Literary and Learning, and Women in Publishing, and The Hampton Roads Writer’s Conference, where she also taught classes on synopsis writing and character development. She is a trainer at The Next Bestseller™ Workshop and co-runs a monthly Synopsis Writing Workshop for Your Book Is Your Book publishing consulting company. Kelly is also a screenwriter with a project in development and a published poet with publications in Tales for the Disenchanted (2008) and Penumbra Art & Literature (2015). She has served as a developmental editor and ghostwriter for various narrative nonfiction projects. Prior to joining Serendipity Literary Agency, Kelly provided manuscript analysis for the D4EO Literary Agency. She has worked as an editor for the literary arts magazine Pen & Brush and as a writing coach for the academic consulting company Brattlestreet.

See Kelly's complete manuscript wishlist here:

Kelly Thomas – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

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Bethany Jett, Assoc. Agent

C.Y.L.E. Agency

Bethany Jett is an associate literary agent with the C.Y.L.E. agency, as well as a multi-award-winning author, and a marketing strategist who earned top honors in her master’s program, where she earned her MFA in Communications focusing on Marketing and PR.

Bethany is a military spouse (and a military mama!). She and her husband live outside of the DC area with their teenage sons and a not-at-all spoiled Pomeranian.

Bethany's manuscript wishlist is here:

Bethany Jett – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

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Mara Cobb, Junior Agent

Martin Literary & Media Management

My favorite books have always been those that keep me on the edge of my seat in excitement and those that allow me to feel the full scope of human emotions as I read late into the night.

After earning my master's degree in English, achieving over fifty publications, and serving as the editor-in-chief for a small literary journal, I completed a year-long publishing internship learning the ins and outs of Martin Literary Management. Now, as a junior literary manager, I am most excited about coming alongside fresh and seasoned writers to help them reach their full potential.

Mara's Manuscript Wishlist is here:

Mara Cobb – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

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Alex is actively building her client list, focusing on science fiction, fantasy, and horror. She is a sucker for gothic horror, reimagined folklore, and poetic prose. Alex combines her legal and literary background to work with authors every step of the way on their journey to publication.

See more of Alex's Manuscript Wishlist here: https://www.corvisieroagency.com/alexandra-grana.html

Workshop and Pitch Session Schedules for
February 8-9, 2025

Early Bird Registration for the February 8-9, 2025
Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch Retreat is now OPEN!
(The Zoom retreat is limited to 85 writers & agent pitch slots fill quickly.
Registering early is recommended.)

Early Bird Discounted Registration

(Includes all workshops & agent pitches)

$65.00

WORKSHOPS ONLY!

No agent Pitches! $49.95

$49.95

Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch Retreat

Workshop your pitch. Pitch the agent.

Meet The Workshop Team

​

Allison is a keynote speaker, an instructor, and a panelist at various writer’s conferences both in the U.S. and in Asia. She also appears on TV, radio, and podcasts; in magazines, newspapers, and journals.

Meet the Agents

Workshop and Pitch Session Schedules for February 8-9, 2025 Early Bird Registration for the February 8-9, 2025 Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch Retreat is now OPEN! (The Zoom retreat is limited to 85 writers & agent pitch slots fill quickly. Registering early is recommended.)

Workshop and Pitch Session Schedules for
February 8-9, 2025

Early Bird Registration for the February 8-9, 2025
Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch Retreat is now OPEN!
(The Zoom retreat is limited to 85 writers & agent pitch slots fill quickly.
Registering early is recommended.)