SCBWI-NM Handsprings Conference 2026

Zahra Marwan, award winning writer and illustrator, works as a traditional artist with watercolor and ink. Zahra creates work that reflects her cultural roots in Kuwait as well as her life now in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her debut picture book, Where Butterflies Fill the Sky, was published by Bloomsbury Books and named one of the New York Times/New York Public Library’s 10 Best Illustrated Books as well as NPR’s Best Books of 2022.

Vaunda Micheaux Nelson’s books for young people include Bad News for Outlaws; The Book Itch; No Crystal Stair; Small Shoes, Great Strides; and Let ‘er Buck. Among her awards: the Boston Globe-Horn Book, Coretta Scott King, Jane Addams Children’s Book, WWA Spur, Will Rogers Medallion, and National Storytelling Network’s Talking Leaves Oracle. Her latest, Radiant, was a 2026 ALA Notable Children’s Book, a 2025 SLJ Best Book of the Year, an NCTE Notable Verse Novel, and won the Paul Rhetts 2025 New Mexico Book Award.  She has served on several awards committees and was the New Mexico Centennial Children’s Author.

STEPHANIE FRETWELL-HILL started her publishing career in 2004 at Walker Books Ltd. in London, where she sold foreign language rights. In 2011, she moved back home to Atlanta, where she spent four years at Peachtree Publishers as an editor. During her time there, her acquisitions received such honors as YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year, Parents’ Choice Awards, and starred reviews from major trade magazines. Stephanie joined Red Fox Literary in 2016. She represents authors and illustrators of literary fiction and narrative nonfiction picture books and middle grade. Her clients include New York Times bestselling author Kelly DiPucchio, Caldecott Honoree Drew Beckmeyer, Paddington Bear illustrator R. W. Alley, Carolyn Crimi, Donna Gephart, and Anne Lambelet. The books she represents have won numerous awards, including Newbery Honor, Caldecott Honor, Sibert Honor, the Jane Addams Book Award, the Youth Book Prize for Social Justice, YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, Walter Dean Myers Honor, Ezra Jack Keats Honor, and many starred reviews. Stephanie’s tastes are eclectic, but across all genres she looks for compelling, diverse voices and strong hooks combined with literary merit and classroom value. Most of all, she loves stories and art with the perfect mix of humor and heart.

Ali DeMoro is a children’s author located in Santa Fe, NM. She made her picture book debut with The Jealous Little Munchkin, which BookLife Reviews calls a, "Playful, encouraging story of a curious kitty learning to welcome a new sibling". Ali comes to the world of children's writing after a decade as a marketing professional. Before that, she studied theater arts and business management economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In addition to SCBWI, Ali is an active member in the Independent Book Publishers Association and the 12x12 Picture Book Writing Challenge. Her next picture book It's The Great Butter Wolf! is set to release in early 2027 under her imprint, Little Munchkins Press.

Alexandra Diaz is an award-winning author for children and teens. She has written and translated into Spanish the immigration books: THE ONLY ROAD (Pura Belpré Honor and Américas Award Winner); THE CROSSROADS; SANTIAGO'S ROAD HOME; and FAREWELL CUBA, MI ISLA, the latter is loosely based on her mother's immigration from Cuba to the U.S. in the 1960s. Her 2026 middle grade book, CAMP BIG TOP, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard and is about empowerment in circus arts, of which she is an aerial instructor and professional stilt walker.

Laurel is a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation and the Tsimshian Nation. She lives in Albuquerque, NM. Before writing for children, she worked for various non-profits in community advocacy. She received both her BA in Psychology and an MA in Counseling and Family Studies at UNM.  She has several award-winning picture books and one young-reader chapter-book biography. Her newest picture book, Stories Are the Heart of the World (Simon & Schuster, 2026), weaves an intertribal celebration of traditions and stories that help Indigenous children, and all children, understand who they are as they enter and discover the world.

Susan Metallo is a young adult author and librarian. Her debut novel, Reasons to Hate Me, was one of Publishers Weekly’s Best YA Books of the Year, a Children’s Book Council “Teacher Favorite,” an ALA Feminist Taskforce selection for “Rise: a Feminist Book Project," and a finalist for the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association's "Reading the West" Award. In addition to these accolades, her work has received starred reviews in Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and The Horn Book. Her sophomore novel, Hearts on the Table, explores queer and neurodivergent identities against the backdrop of the first World War, and her third novel (YA Contemporary) will be released in 2027 from Candlewick Press.

Caroline Starr Rose is a middle grade and picture book author whose books have been ALA-ALSC Notable, Junior Library Guild, ABA New Voices, Kids’ Indie Next, Amazon’s Best Books of the Month for Kids, and Bank Street College of Education Best Books selections. In addition, her books have been nominated for almost two dozen state award lists. Caroline was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start Author for her debut novel, May B. She spent her childhood in the deserts of Saudi Arabia and New Mexico and taught social studies and English in four different states. Caroline now lives with her family in her hometown, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

*Online Only. Pitch Party Round Table Panelist & open to queries from Handsprings attendees.* ❖ Adria Goetz is a Senior Agent and Illustration Coordinator at KT Literary. She is based out of the beautifully gloomy Pacific Northwest where she began agenting in 2016. Adria represents picture books, middle grade, graphic novels, and adult fiction. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s degree in English with a Creative Writing emphasis, as well as the Columbia Publishing Course. In 2019, she was selected as a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree. Adria has eclectic taste but particularly enjoys projects that are tinged with magic, have so much heart you can practically hear their heartbeat, and have a compelling, commercial hook.

*Online Only. Pitch Party Round Table Panelist, open to queries from Handsprings attendees.* ❖ Sara is the President and Senior Literary Agent of Megibow Literary Agency. She has worked in publishing since 2006 and represents New York Times bestselling authors including Rebecca Roanhorse, Margaret Rogerson, Jaleigh Johnson, Roni Loren and Jason M. Hough. Sara specializes in launching debut authors and working on long-term career development and profit strategy with them. She is a graduate of Northwestern University with degrees in Women’s Studies, Gender Studies and American History. Always LGBTQIA+ Friendly!

*Online Only. Pitch Party Round Table Panelist, open to queries from Handsprings attendees.* ❖ Kaitlyn Sanchez (she/her) joined Bradford Literary in 2022 with two years of agenting experience under her belt. Kaitlyn is the proud co-creator and co-host of the Spring Fling Kidlit Contest and Kidlit Zombie Week as well as creator and co-host of the Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy Contest. Kaitlyn is an editorial agent and always works with her clients to make sure we’re putting out their best work. She’s highly communicative and invested in every aspect of helping her clients have a strong and happy career. Kaitlyn is looking for children’s books (picture books through middle grade) in all categories, including fiction, graphic novels, nonfiction, and illustration. She is incredibly eclectic in her tastes, with a great affinity for emotional stories as well as funny stories. Kaitlyn is always looking for diversity in all forms, including but not limited to BIPOC, neurodiversity, and LGBTQ+. Kaitlyn loves working with artists, so she’s always on the lookout for great author-illustrators and graphic novelists.