Writing Away Refuge Virtual Pitch Retreat

Workshop your pitch. Pitch the agent.

Registration is now OPEN for the September 14-15th

virtual pitch retreat over Zoom

(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 September 14-15th, 2024

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 5 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

Layering Conflict in Your Book and Why it Matters

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 "Layering Conflict in Your Book and Why it Matters."

Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong

Workshop Leader

Agent, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Save Your Darlings: Reduce Your Word Count Without Deleting All Your Hard Work

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Cathie is a 1992 graduate of the University of Oklahoma and holds a B.A. in Journalism and a minor in history. Unsurprisingly, she's a rabid OU Sooners football fan. Currently, Cathie lives in Minnesota and shares two grown children with her husband of more than 30 years. Cathie is writer and a literary agent at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Cathie says about herself, "My journey in the publishing industry was born in 2014 after my oldest child left for college. With newfound time on my hands, I set about writing my first novel, The Edge of Nowhere, a work of adult fiction inspired by my grandmother’s life as a widow raising fourteen children during the one-two punch of the 1930s Dust Bowl and The Great Depression. Three years later, I followed up with my sophomore novel, Roam, a young adult title inspired by the homeless community where I currently reside. The release of this second book coincided with my first job as a literary agent where I spent eight years learning the industry before joining the team at Marsal Lyon."

Now Cathie brings her "Save Your Darlings" workshop to Writing Away Refuge.

Brandie June

Workshop Leader

Award-winning Author

First Draft Done! Now What?

Brandie spent most of her childhood onstage or reading, as both activities allowed her to live in fantastic stories. She moved to Los Angeles to study acting at UCLA, and eventually branched out into costume design, playwriting, prose writing, and even got an MBA in Entertainment Marketing, becoming the Marketing Director for Kids & Family entertainment at Shout! Studios. When not writing or marketing, she can often be found going to the theatre, drinking too much espresso, finding excuses to play dress up, and coming up with new art projects. She lives with her husband, two spoiled rescue pups, a spoiled cat, two baby birds, two fish tanks, and five bookshelves. She hopes to acquire more bookshelves in the near future.

GOLD SPUN is her debut novel, and CURSE UNDONE is the conclusion to the duology.

Now Brandie brings her workshop

"First Draft Done! Now What?" to Writing Away Refuge.

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Katharine Sands

Workshop Leader

Agent with Sarah Jane Freymann Agency,

Permanent Staff Member of

Writing Away Refuge

Getting Readers: Promotion & Publicity

Katharine Sands is a literary agent with the Sarah Jane Freyman Literary Agency and has worked with a varied list of authors who publish a diverse array of books including fiction, memoir and non-fiction.

Among the books she represents are: The Apothecary’s Curse, nominated for the Bram Stoker Award 2017 in the First Novel category by Barbara Barnett and its sequel, Alchemy of Glass; and Girl Walks Out of a Bar, a memoir by Lisa Smith that was featured by People Magazine as Notable Nonfiction.

Katharine is also a notable workshop leader and loves to help writers hone their skills and perfect their craft.

Now Katharine brings her workshop

"Getting Readers: Promotion & Publicity" to Writing Away Refuge.

Meet the Agents

Pitch up to 5 Literary Agents Over Zoom as part of the Writing Away Refuge Virtual Pitch Retreat, September 14-15th, 2024. 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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Kate Rogers, Assoc. Agent

KO Media Management

Kate Rogers is a University of Washington graduate with a double major in English and Cinema Media Studies. She has worked in customer service at Vroman’s Bookstore in her hometown of Pasadena, California, and as the Assistant Director for Communications and Marketing for Stevens Court Community Council in Seattle.

Kate loves stories with graphic/illustrated elements or multimodal components. All ages (Children’s, MG, YA, and Adult) welcome, as long as there is a visual component!

Genres include humor, horror/thriller (bonus if it’s entry level for a younger audience!), romance, light sci-fi, light fantasy (not currently open to high fantasy of any kind), contemporary realistic fiction, and narrative non-fiction. She is interested in diverse, character-driven narratives that subvert familiar tropes or conventions. Bonus points if your story includes non-conventional, interactive formats.

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

Kate Rogers – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

Carleen Geisler, Assoc. Agent

ArtHouse Literary Agency

(CARLEEN'S PITCH SLOTS ARE FULL)

Carleen Geisler is an Associate Literary Agent at ArtHouse Literary Agency who is actively building her client list. She represents adult fiction across contemporary genres as well as adult nonfiction. Carleen lives on a small-scale produce farm, so when she's not working, she is usually outside with the plants and animals.

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

Carleen Geisler – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

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Kendall Berdinsky, Agent

Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC

(KENDALL'S PITCH SLOTS ARE FULL)

A native Texan, Kendall Berdinsky fell in love with the Junie B. Jones books she discovered in kindergarten and has been an avid reader ever since. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in professional writing with a minor in English literature. During her junior year abroad, she interned in the children’s department at Simon & Schuster UK and after graduation attended the Columbia Publishing Course. With DGB since 2021, she assisted Jane Dystel and has been the digital coordinator since 2023.

Kendall is interested in seeing upmarket romance, book club fiction, psychological thrillers, and narrative nonfiction. Overall, she is looking for work from underrepresented communities with new stories to tell.

See her full manuscript wishlist here:

https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/kendall-berdinsky/

Attention Writers Pitching to Agents!!!

We are thrilled that you're joining us for our September Pitch Retreat over Zoom, but we do want to make sure that we all put our best foot forward. So, please read over our agents' manuscript wishlists very carefully and be sure to only select to pitch those agents who represent your genre. Doing so will ensure that we all get an opportunity to pitch to the agents who are hungry for our projects. Each agent only has so many pitch slots available, and we don't want to waste our time or theirs or take a spot away from a writer who does have exactly what an agent is looking for. Being courteous guarantees that we all get a spot with an agent who is best suited for us. Happy Pitching, and that you for being the best part of Writing Away Refuge!

Katharine Sands, Agent

Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency

Katharine Sands is a literary agent with the Sarah Jane Freyman Literary Agency and has worked with a varied list of authors who publish a diverse array of books including fiction, memoir and non-fiction.

Among the books she represents are: The Apothecary’s Curse, nominated for the Bram Stoker Award 2017 in the First Novel category by Barbara Barnett and its sequel, Alchemy of Glass; and Girl Walks Out of a Bar, a memoir by Lisa Smith that was featured by People Magazine as Notable Nonfiction.

Katharine is also a notable workshop leader and loves to help writers hone their skills and perfect their craft.

Katharine's manuscript wishlist is here:

https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/katharine-sands/

Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong, Agent

Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Cathie is a 1992 graduate of the University of Oklahoma and holds a B.A. in Journalism and a minor in history. Unsurprisingly, she's a rabid OU Sooners football fan. Currently, Cathie lives in Minnesota and shares two grown children with her husband of more than 30 years. Cathie is writer and a literary agent at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Cathie says about herself, "My journey in the publishing industry was born in 2014 after my oldest child left for college. With newfound time on my hands, I set about writing my first novel, The Edge of Nowhere, a work of adult fiction inspired by my grandmother’s life as a widow raising fourteen children during the one-two punch of the 1930s Dust Bowl and The Great Depression. Three years later, I followed up with my sophomore novel, Roam, a young adult title inspired by the homeless community where I currently reside. The release of this second book coincided with my first job as a literary agent where I spent eight years learning the industry before joining the team at Marsal Lyon."

Cathie's Manuscript Wishlist is here:

Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

Workshop and Pitch Session Schedules for
September 14-15th, 2024

Registration for the September 14-15th Writing Away Refuge Virtual Pitch Retreat over Zoom is now OPEN
The virtual retreat is limited to 75 writers so register soon to ensure your spot.

Reduced Price for WAR Members Registration for all

workshops and agent pitches $75.00

$75.00

Non-member Registration for all

workshops and agent pitches $95.00

$95.00

WORKSHOPS ONLY!

No agent Pitches! $49.95

$49.95

Writing Away Refuge Virtual Pitch Retreat

Workshop your pitch. Pitch the agent.

Meet The Workshop Team

Katharine Sands is a literary agent with the Sarah Jane Freyman Literary Agency and has worked with a varied list of authors who publish a diverse array of books including fiction, memoir and non-fiction.

Meet the Agents

Katharine Sands is a literary agent with the Sarah Jane Freyman Literary Agency and has worked with a varied list of authors who publish a diverse array of books including fiction, memoir and non-fiction.

Workshop and Pitch Session Schedules for September 14-15th, 2024 Registration for the September 14-15th Writing Away Refuge Virtual Pitch Retreat over Zoom is now OPEN The virtual retreat is limited to 75 writers so register soon to ensure your spot.

Workshop and Pitch Session Schedules for
September 14-15th, 2024

Registration for the September 14-15th Writing Away Refuge Virtual Pitch Retreat over Zoom is now OPEN
The virtual retreat is limited to 75 writers so register soon to ensure your spot.