Agents and Editors

Meet the industry pros who will be at the Writers’ Institute

Review the pitch sessions page to see agent and editor “wish lists”—the kind of material they are—and are not—looking for.

Marilyn R. Atlas, Marilyn Atlas Management

Marilyn is equally at home in the worlds of film, television, and live theater. Among her film credits are Real Women Have Curves for HBO—which won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival—A Certain Desire, starring Sam Waterston, and Brides March for Lifetime Television. Additionally, she produced the award-winning play, To Gillian on her 37th Birthday. She is scheduled to begin production in 2013 on a new play in San Antonio and is working with a first time YA novelist to bring their book to the screen. She is featured in the book Write Now! by Penguin/Tarcher Press, and is co-authoring a book on character. Committed to projects that reflect diversity, Marilyn has been a constant presence at the National Association for Latino Independent Producers writer and producer conferences, as well as at various industry events, film festivals, and schools across the country.

Scott Eagan, Greyhaus Literary Agency

Scott Eagan opened Greyhaus Literary Agency in 2003 representing exclusively romance and women’s fiction for the print market. Scott uses is BA in English Literature, MA in Literacy, and MA in Creative Writing to assist his authors. Greyhaus has sold to publishers including Pocket, Source Books, New American Library, Kensington, Mills and Boon, and Harlequin. Scott also travels internationally to present at writers conferences and local writing chapters, including work with the International Women’s Fiction Festival in Matera, Italy.

April Eberhardt, April Eberhardt Literary

After 25 years as a corporate strategist and consultant, April Eberhardt joined the literary world as head reader for Zoetrope: All-Story, a literary magazine, followed by five years as an agent with two San Francisco-based literary agencies. She holds an MBA from Boston University in Marketing and Finance, a BA from Hamilton (Kirkland) College in Anthropology and French, and a CPLF degree from the University of Paris. She represents clients worldwide, and divides her time between San Francisco, New York, and Paris.

Judith Engracia, Liza Dawson Associates

Judith handles audio rights and digital publishing at LDA. She graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University with a BA in English and History on a full presidential scholarship. Prior to joining LDA, she interned at Random House, FinePrint Literary Management, Nancy Coffey Literary, and various other literary agencies. She is currently building her client list and looking for all types of fiction, particularly plot-driven literary fiction, realistic middle grade with perhaps just a touch of magic, all types of young adult, urban fantasy, steampunk, paranormal romance and soft science fiction. When she’s not reading, Judith is either training for her next martial arts test or causing mischief with her Siberian Husky, Grendel.

Dawn Frederick, Red Sofa Literary

Dawn is the owner and literary agent of Red Sofa Literary, based in the Twin Cities. Previously an agent with Sebastian Literary Agency, Dawn brings a broad knowledge of the book business to the table, with multiple years of experience as a bookseller in the independent, chain, and specialty stores. Dawn is also a co-founder of the MN Publishing Tweet Up, a networking group composed of writers and publishers. She looks forward to sharing her bookseller know-how with Writers’ Institute attendees.

Raphael Kadushin, University of Wisconsin Press

Raphael is Senior Acquisitions Editor at the UW Press in charge of the film, dance, classics, fiction, memoir, regional and poetry lists. He is also a Contributing Editor at National Geographic Traveler magazine and a contributing writer to NGT, Conde Nast Traveler magazine, all the Conde Nast sites (Epicurious, Gourmet, etc), editor of two travel anthologies, frequent contributor to Best Food Writing annual, contributor to National Geographic's travel books, including Behind the Lens, etc.

Julie Matysik, Skyhorse Publishing, Sky Pony Press

Julie Matysik grew up in Madison and attended the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where she received her bachelor's degree in English. After graduation, Julie spent one year teaching English in Yamanashi, Japan, and then moved back to Madison to teach a preschool afterschool program. In 2008, Julie moved to New York City where she worked part-time at the Irene Skolnick Literary Agency until she was hired at Skyhorse Publishing. As editor at Skyhorse, Julie has acquired more than a dozen titles for the company’s adult lists and has edited more than 50 books in a variety of nonfiction categories. While she still acquires selection adult titles, Julie is also the acquiring and managing editor for Skyhorse’s children's imprint, Sky Pony Press, which launched its first list in fall 2011.

Bree Ogden, D4EO

Bree joined D4EO in November 2011, after having been an associate literary agent at Martin Literary Management for nearly 2 years representing children’s, YA, and graphic novels. Bree graduated with her BA in Philosophy from Southern Virginia University where she served as editor-in-chief of the University’s newsmagazine. She was awarded Most Valuable Player and Editor of the Year, as well as SVU’s Pioneer Award, an honor the University awards to two students each year. She then received her MA in Journalism with an emphasis in editing and expository writing at Northeastern University where she worked on both the New England Press Association Bulletin, and also served as the features editor of the premier campus music magazine, Tastemakers Magazine. Bree has spent many years working as a freelance journalist and currently co-operates the macabre children’s magazine Underneath the Juniper Tree where she serves as Editorial Director. Bree is an instructor and columnist for the Web site LitReactor.com where she teaches Intro to Graphic Novel Writing. Bree is also the newest judge for the Ghastly Awards—Honoring Excellence in Horror Comics. You can follow Bree on Twitter @breeogden or check out her blog agentbree.wordpress.com.

Tina P. Schwartz, The Purcell Agency

Tina founded The Purcell Agency in July of 2012 after she spent 12 years writing and marketing her work and helping several others get published. After a career in Radio Sales and Marketing, she turned to her true passion, selling manuscripts. She sold her first book contract in 2004, and most recently sold one that is forthcoming 2014, with eight others in between, all non-fiction for the Teen and Youth markets. All 10 manuscripts sold to traditional publishers, all for one author. Tina has expanded The Purcell Agency to take on multiple clients as of 2012.

Gordon Warnock, Sr. Foreword Literary

Gordon Warnock is a founding partner at Foreword Literary, bringing experience as a senior literary agent, marketing director and editor for independent publishers, freelance publishing consultant, and college-level writing tutor. He frequently teaches workshops and gives keynote speeches at conferences and MFA programs nationwide. His client list is an even balance of seasoned veterans and promising new voices including local sensation Tanya Chernov, whose debut memoir, A Real Emotional Girl, is out now from Skyhorse Publishing.

With a zest for fresh, new voices and a deep love of the classics, Gordon actively seeks out both the timely and the timeless. In that spirit, he establishes involved, long-term working relationships with talented and dedicated authors of many genres.