Meet Alyssa
Alyssa Eisner Henkin founded Birch Path Literary, a full-service boutique literary agency, in 2021. She began her publishing career in children’s editorial at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. She later joined Trident Media Group as a literary agent and was named Executive Vice President. She is proud to represent a stable of bestselling and multi-award authors including Ruth Behar, Julie Berry, Jen Bryant, Lisa Greenwald, and R.J. Palacio, whose #1 New York Times bestseller Wonder was turned into a major motion picture and sparked a movement to #choosekind. Alyssa's favorite books are character-driven, quirky, heartfelt, slyly humorous, and ultimately hopeful.
Sessions + Events
Critiques + Reviews
- Manuscript Critique - PB, Chapter Book, Early Reader, MG, YA, Nonfiction, GN Manuscript, Novel in Verse. Alyssa is not a good fit for science fiction or high fantasy.
- Pitch Package Critique
- PB Dummy Review
Operation Overhaul: How to Revise Your MG or YA Book and Position it for Today's Market - Half Day Intensive
Small class size. Learn more.
Blocking Out the Buzz - Breakout
Saturday, Sept 21st 2 pm - 3 pm
Moore
How many daily publishing roundups hit your inbox each week? Do you spend more time reading or scrolling bookstagram? This age tantalizes us with up-to-the-minute information on everything from six-figure book deals to starred review recipients. But is the buzz good for our creative brains or are they turning to popcorn? Does some news discourage more than it delights? Learn how to prioritize craft, focus on the voices that inspire, and silence (or temporarily mute) the rest…
First Pages Panel - PB Room
Saturday, Sept 21st 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Merchant
Conference attendees are invited to submit the first page of their manuscript anonymously and receive feedback from our industry professionals. Visit the First Pages Submission page for details.
Pitchers Anonymous
Results Posted: Saturday, Sept 21st 5:30 pm
Location TBA
Conference attendees are invited to submit to our pitch event and find out anonymously if any faculty have invited them to submit. Learn more.
What We Can Learn from the Classics - Breakout
Sunday, Sept 22nd 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Merchant
Sometimes in today’s publishing world we prioritize innovation over tradition. But do our TBR lists too often reflect primarily frontlist books? Are we forgetting the books that made us readers in the first place? Join me as we seek inspiration from a diverse body of books that were published years ago. Feel free to prepare a 2–3 minute monologue from your favorite kids book of old for a fun ice breaker.
Faculty Q&A Panel
Sunday, Sept 22nd 10:45 am - 11:45 am
Knox Auditorium
