FRIDAY, September 25
6:30–9:30 pm | Industry Mixer
SATURDAY, September 26
7:45–8:15 am | Registration & Portfolio Showcase Setup
8:15–8:30 am | Coffee & Portfolio Showcase Viewing
8:30–9:00 am | Local Author Panel
9:00–9:10 am | Welcome Remarks
9:10–9:50 am | Opening Keynote (Coming Soon)
9:50–10:10 am | Break
10:10–10:55 am | Breakout One & First Looks
- Yellow Room: Breakout with Anoosha Syed (Topic: Coming soon)
- Purple Room: Breakout with Romy Natalia Goldberg (Topic: Creating Art While Caring for Children and Aging Parents)
- Orange Room: Breakout with Jackie Kruzie (Topic: Coming soon)
- Blue Room: First Pages with Editor AZ Hackett (Picture Books, PAL only)
- Red Room: First Pages with Editor Ruqayyah Daud (Middle Grade/YA, PAL only)
10:55–11:10 am | Break
11:10–11:55 am | Breakout Two
- Yellow Room: Breakout with Kat Fajardo (Topic: Coming soon)
- Purple Room: Breakout with Ruqayyah Daud (Topic: Coming soon)
- Orange Room: Breakout with Britta Jensen (Topic: Coming soon)
- Blue Room: First Look with AD Kirk Benshoff (Graphic Novels)
- Red Room: First Query with Agent Kayla Cichello (Pre-Published)
12:00–12:30 pm | Lunch
12:30–1:15 pm | Agent & Editor Panels <- Submit your burning questions!
1:15–1:30 pm | Break
1:30–3:30 pm | Workshops
- Yellow Room: Workshop with Kirk Benshoff (Topic: Graphic Novels)
- Purple Room: Breakout with AZ Hackett (Topic: Coming soon)
- Orange Room: Breakout with Kayla Cichello (Topic: Crafting a Hook That Sells)
- Blue Room (1:30–2:15 pm): First Look with Anoosha Syed (Portfolios, no dummies)
- Blue Room (2:30–3:15 pm): First Pages with Editor Vanessa Aguirre (YA)
- Red Room (1:30–2:15 pm): First Look with Agent Jackie Kruzie (Picture Books, dummies, and portfolios)
- Red Room (2:30–3:15 pm): First Pages with Agent Jem Chambers Black (Picture Books)
3:30–4:00 pm | Cookie Break + Portfolio Viewing
4:00–4:40 pm | Closing Keynote
4:40–4:50 pm | Awards
4:50–5:30 pm | Book Signings + Door Prizes
Note: All pitches, critiques, and portfolio reviews are virtual on September 28–30.
**all programming is tentative and subject to change before the event date**