Andrea Cascardi, Agent - TRANSATLANTIC AGENCY

Andrea Cascardi has held senior publishing positions including that of founding editorial director of Disney’s Hyperion Books for Children (now Disney-Hyperion), Publishing Director of Knopf and Crown Children’s books (Penguin Random House) and Managing Director at Egmont USA. As a literary agent with Transatlantic Agency she has sold books to all major US trade publishers and handles foreign rights for her clients.. Among the books she has represented are many award-winners, including the highest award for children’s books, Newbery winner (MOON OVER MANIFEST), Printz Honor (FAT ANGIE) and several New York Times Bestsellers. She has taught book publishing at both Pace University and Hofstra University.

https://transatlanticagency.com/about-us/agents/cascardi-andrea/

1:05 PM - 2:05 PM - BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS

How Character and Action Work Together in Novels [NOVEL]

• Character drives action; action reveals character.

A great story unfolds on several fronts: a character readers care about, a plot that gives them a reason to take action, and an emotional arc that resolves their inner journey. Through examples in published books, we will look at how these important elements move a plot forward and develop a character deeply. 

Presented by Andrea Cascardi, Agent | TRANSATLANTIC AGENCY

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM - BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS

The Agent-Author Relationship [ALL]

• Ever wonder what attracts an agent to an author's work? Ever wonder what happens after "the call"? What is the agent-author relationship like after signing together? How do they handle submissions and working with an editor? Find out all this and more as Andrea and her client Karen Chow discuss their publishing journey together.

Presented by Andrea Cascardi, Agent | TRANSATLANTIC AGENCY & Karen S. Chow, Author

Andrea will provide 5 written-only critiques of picture books and 10 written-only critiques of portfolio, chapter book, middle grade, or young adult manuscripts. If you purchase one of Andrea's critiques, you will need to prepare one of the following:

Picture Books - send one complete picture book manuscript, no more than 800 words as a PDF file.

Novels - send 10 pages of the manuscript and a one-page synopsis for your better understanding of the work as a whole in one PDF file. Note: the 10 pages do not include the synopsis.

Portfolios - send a link to your online portfolio of a PDF with no more than 15 illustration.

Your critique materials will need to be received no later than Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

Andrea will accept submissions from attendees following the conference beginning Monday, November 16, 2026, to Tuesday, March 16, 2027.

She is open to submissions the following categories and genres:

Category – illustration portfolios, board books, picture books, early readers, chapter books, graphic novels, young adult, new adult

Genre – fiction, historical fiction, realistic, romance, biographies/memoirs, humorous

Attendees may submit their manuscripts and portfolios. Specific instructions will be provided at the conference.