Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch Retreat
Workshop your pitch. Pitch the agent.
Discounted Early Bird Registration is now OPEN for the
August 30th-31st Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch Retreat!
Our Agents' Pitch Slots fill quickly, so register soon to reserve your space.
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 August 30th-31st, 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.
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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 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)
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**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
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Meet the Agents
Pitch up to 8 Literary Agents Over Zoom as part of the Writing Away Refuge Zoom Pitch Retreat, August 30th-31st, 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. Early registration ensures that you pitch all desired agents.
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Sophie Sheumaker, Assoc. Agent
BookEnds Literary Agency
Sophie Sheumaker is the Global Rights assistant and literary assistant. She studied writing, literature, and publishing at Emerson College, graduating in the spring of 2023 and has recently begun building her list of authors and illustrators. She can be found at the library checking out more books than she could ever possibly read, crocheting like it's a full-time job, or taking her anxiety-ridden dog for a walk through the streets of Boston. She is a firm believer that everyone should read children's books, walnuts should never be in banana bread, and the 2005 Pride and Prejudice is better than the BBC version.
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See Sophie's Full Manuscript Wishlist here: Sophie Sheumaker - BookEnds Literary Agency
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Kristine Epps, Esq., Agent
Birch Literary
Before Kristine began her career in the literary world, she received her Juris Doctorate from Texas A&M University and took those skills to serve as a personal injury attorney. Please review Kristine's MSWL and be sure to only submit finished work that has gone through a critique process.
Kristine's Manuscript Wishlist:
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Mythology, fairy tale, or folk tale retellings or adaptations that give depth to the original while having a unique feature.
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Dynamic literary fiction like The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt or Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
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Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy with innovative magic systems like The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin or Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
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Adult romance that strays from the beaten path like Alone with you in the Ether by Olivie Blake or Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli.
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Stories that blend genres such as women’s fiction and fantasy or literary fiction and sci-fi.
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Kristine is particularly interested in romantasy works that have unique magic systems like One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig or The Road of Bones by Demi Winters.
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Kristine is not seeking nonfiction or children’s books at this time.
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