Compass Quests

Jenna Satterthwaite lives in Chicago with her family. She is a literary agent representing a wide range of age groups and genres, as well as the author of two thrillers with HarperCollins. Under pseudonym Sienna Sharpe, she is also the author of thriller-romance Beach Bodies, out now in the UK and in the US as A Killer Getaway. Jenna writes a weekly Substack about all things publishing with thousands of subscribers.

Hannah Hill is a Senior Editor at Delacorte Press, where she edits bestselling and critically acclaimed middle grade and young adult fiction. Her list includes the multimillion-copy bestselling We Were Liars series by E. Lockhart, which inspired the #1 Prime Video streaming series; the instant New York Times bestseller, #1 Indie Next Selection, and B&N YA Book Club selection The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold; and the instant New York Times bestseller While We’re Young by K.L. Walther; among many others. In 2022, she was named a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree.

Christine Goss graduated from Lake Forest College with a BA in communications. Formerly a sales representative, her skills pair well with her love of reading and story development. As an author herself, the craft of writing is very important to her when she looks at manuscripts. In 2023, Christine was promoted to Associate Literary Agent at The Purcell Agency, moving over to FinePrint Literary in 2024. Christine is drawn to stories with high stakes and tension. The first pages must draw her in with action and curiosity. Lyrical writing, along with emotionality, physicality, and interiority, are all key components Christine looks for in a manuscript. Christine is generally interested in romance, historical fiction, book club fiction, and fantasy. Non-fiction and graphic novels covering a specific range of topics are also of interest. Championing marginalized voices is important to Christine as she seeks to include BIPOC, LGTBQ+, and neurodivergent (and more) authors on her list. When she’s not working, reading, or writing, she’s usually chasing her two boys, who are likely chasing her fur baby (dog).

Vicky Weber is a literary agent, bestselling children’s book author, and publishing industry expert with years of experience helping authors navigate both traditional and self-publishing. As the founder of At Home Author, she has guided countless writers through the process of crafting, publishing, and marketing successful books. With a background in education, Vicky is passionate about breaking down complex industry concepts into actionable steps. Whether securing book deals for her clients or sharing insights on the ever-evolving publishing market, she is dedicated to helping authors turn their creative dreams into reality.

My love of reading started when I was young with The Chronicles of Narnia. I loved that I could escape into a world where magic and adventure existed. That love of books grew and has followed me into adulthood. Some of my best friends and greatest loves, through the years, have been fictional characters. They have inspired and motivated me in almost every facet of my life, from my first career as a Forensic Scientist with the FBI to owning and operating Page Turner Literary Agency. While I love all books, my heart beats for children’s literature for many reasons, but the main reason is children’s literature is fearless. These books and their authors are not afraid to tackle tough topics, to celebrate diversity, or bring awareness to issues that others would turn their backs on. Children’s literature never ceases to surprise me with its fortitude. I live in Burr Ridge, Illinois with my husband and our dogs, Henry (Great Dane/Lab) and Longaniza or Niza (miniature Dachshund.) When I'm not reading, I enjoy the outdoors, horror movies, and baking (and I'm definitely not imagining I'm on the Great British Bake Off... ok, I'm totally doing that.) I have two undergraduate degrees from West Virginia University: Forensic and Investigative Sciences and Psychology. I have two graduate degrees from Benedictine University: MBA and MS Management and Organizational Behavior. Prior to starting my own agency, I was an Associate Literary Agent with Flannery Literary.

Jessica Anderson (she/her) is a Senior Editor at Christy Ottaviano Books and works on a wide range of middle grade and YA fiction and nonfiction, as well as select picture books. She is the editor of the New York Times-bestselling Dream by the Shadows by Logan Karlie; the Orbis Pictus Award honoree Indigenous Ingenuity: A Celebration of Traditional North American Knowledge by Deidre Havrelock and Edward Kay; the Morris Award finalist Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown; and Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Huy Voun Lee, among other titles. Originally from Montreal, Canada, Jessica is a native French speaker. She holds a bachelor’s degree in comparative literature from Columbia University and is a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree.

Daniela Villegas Valle joined Simon & Schuster in 2021 and is now an assistant editor to Justin Chanda and Anne Zafian. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in both English and Spanish and a minor in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University, after which she completed the NYU Summer Publishing Institute. She is drawn towards multicultural voices that speak about identity and adventure. Whimsical picture books, cozy fantasy, and character driven stories are some of the things that she loves. Currently acquiring.

Wendy McClure’s kidlit career spans over twenty-five years. As a senior editor at Sourcebooks, she acquires for a broad range of children’s book categories, from board book to YA. Picture books she’s worked on include Jacob’s New Dress by Sarah and Ian Hoffman, How This Book Got Red by Margaret Chiu Greanias, and Judgy Bunny and the Terrible Beach by Scott Rothman. Lately in middle grade she’s edited the New York Times bestelling Isle of Ever series by Jen Calonita, and in YA, the thriller 49 Miles Alone, by Natalie D. Richards, which won the 2025 Edgar Award in the Young Adult category. Wendy is also the author of several books for kids and adults. She lives in Chicago with her husband.

Kristie Choi works on a range of YA/MG novels, picture books, graphic novels, and select nonfiction. The books she’s edited have won numerous accolades, awards, and hit bestseller lists. Kristie is looking for high-concept character-driven and voice-driven stories with an original and timeless feel that young readers of all backgrounds can get lost in. Regardless of format, she's drawn to stories that are inventive, creatively ambitious, and amplify traditionally marginalized voices. Many of the stories she's fallen in love with have been the kind she would never have thought to ask for with a MSWL. Find her on Bluesky @kristiechoi.bsky.social