This is an in-person First Page event with opportunities to submit your First Page, attend as a listener only, and also choose to have a written critique of your Picture Book manuscript or Picture Book dummy by Miloni Vora, Assistant Editor Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books.
What is a First Pages event?
••At a First Page event the (anonymous) first page of your manuscript submission will be read aloud and the faculty will give first impression verbal feedback.•• There is a general admission to attend the event and listen to the first page feedback without submitting or you can attend and submit a first page which will incur an additional cost. The First Page submission choice is limited to 20 spots. There will also be a choice to purchase a written Picture Book manuscript or Picture Book dummy critique with Miloni Vora where she will email you her written feedback.
Important Submission Information. - please submit your First Page by 9/26/25
If you choose to submit a First Page for our in-person event please email your first page to [email protected] with the subject line: First Page 9/28. Please follow these format guidelines: 12 point Arial font, 1" margins all around, double spaced, with the genre: PB, Chapter, MG, YA in the top right corner (if you do not follow the guidlines, your submission will be re-formatted.)
Important Written Critique Information - please submit your full manuscript or full dummy by 9/26/25 - there will be a 6-8 week turnaround.
Written Critiques will be given by Miloni Vora. Please submit -only- 1 full Picture Book manuscript per critique purchased or 1 full Picture Book dummy per critique purchased - please follow professional formatting guidelines which can be found in the SCBWI's The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children. Note: Your full manuscript critique can be different from your first page submission - if you submitted one. Please email your submission to: [email protected] with the subject line: ManuscriptCritique_MV
Faculty Bios:
Miloni Vora, Assistant Editor Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Miloni Vora joined Simon & Schuster in January of 2022. She loves stories with strong, spunky characters that make her laugh (and cry). For YA she specifically enjoys multigenerational coming-of-age stories with a speculative twist. Her favorite fantasy books feature strong world-building, particularly from non-European cultures, and featuring multiple protagonists who use humor as a coping mechanism. For middle grade, she loves reading shenanigans featuring the class nerd and the class clown, and for picture books she loves everything from grumpy toddlers to stories filled with stunning, lyrical prose. On any given Sunday, you can find her at her favorite café, crocheting baby animals, and watching dramas that give her serious second-lead-syndrome.
Sean McCarthy, Literary Agent
Sean McCarthy founded his own full-service literary agency in 2013 after working at Overlook Press and Sheldon Fogelman Agency, and represents authors and illustrators across all age ranges in children’s publishing. His clients include Hyewon Yum, Mark Fearing, Dana Wulfekotte, Ariel Bernstein, Margaret Chiu Greanias, and Junghwa Park, among others. Sean graduated from Macalester College with a degree in English-Creative Writing, and is grateful that he no longer has to spend his winters in Minnesota. He currently lives in Westchester County with his wife and two pet rabbits (who aren’t much help when it comes to reading manuscripts, though they are excellent at shredding them).
- If you have any questions, please email Kimberly Marcus, RA
- Refund Policy
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