What's scarier than love? Join us February 14th before all your Valentine's Day festivities for a conversational, interactive webinar led by Stuti Telidevara with Park, Fine & Brower Literary Management, as we delve into the secrets of age-appropriate suspense, from tension that tingles to jump scares that spark giggles. OPTIONAL written Critiques available.
Registration
This webinar dives into types of horror genres that are appropriate for different age groups (we all know about Edward Gorey and Goosebumps, but did you ever think of Where the Wild Things Are?), crafting scares that feel thrilling, clever, and emotionally rich, and the current market trends for the genre.
We’ll explore how to escalate tension without overwhelming, build atmospheric settings that hum with unease, and create characters whose fears feel as real as their crushes, friendships, and late-night anxieties. Expect tools for timing your jump scares, sharpening your stakes, and weaving in humor and heart so the chills land with style.
You’ll leave ready to craft stories that shiver with charm—stories that make them lean in and whisper, “Okay… maybe just one more page.”
$25 for SCBWI members; $30 for non-members.
To register for the event, please click on the green "Register for event" button above by the event title.
Submission Opportunity and Recording: The webinar will be recorded, and the recording will be available for one month following the event. Attendees will receive a link and a password by email a few days following the event. Plus, all attendees will be emailed submission guidelines for Stuti Telivedara.
Also, there are limited number of OPTIONAL critiques available for purchase:
· $70 for SCBWI members; $80 for non-members
If you would like to purchase a critique, please add the critique option that you want during the registration checkout. All critiques are due on February 16th, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.
Faculty Bio
About Stuti Telidevara
Stuti Telidevara works on sharp, commercial adult, young adult, and middle grade fiction. She is looking for diverse storytellers and vivid, detailed worldbuilding across genre, and fiction with a strong, high-concept hook. She is especially interested in fantasy and speculative fiction and is actively building her list. Prior to joining Park & Fine (now Park, Fine & Brower) in 2021, she held positions at Raven Quill Literary, Orbit Books, and Transatlantic Literary. She holds a B.A. in English from Harvard University and spends her free time watching ice hockey, listening to history podcasts, and brewing perfect cups of tea.
About Christie Megill
Christie Megill joined The CAT Agency in 2022. She’s overjoyed to be working with artists and children’s book authors, offering long-term support in their careers and creative journeys. Storytelling is her passion, no matter the medium. Christie comes from a background in elementary education, and previously worked as an editor at an academic press in New York City, as a volunteer at the Housing Works Bookstore in SoHo, and as a bookseller at the bygone Borders Books and Music in Columbus Circle. She holds a BA in English Literature from Fordham University. When she’s not losing herself in a good book, she spends her time writing scary stories for grownups, baking butter-laden desserts, and going for long walks through Brooklyn. *Please note submission guidelines and send all queries to the Agency submission inbox, not Christie’s direct email.
Questions?
For any questions regarding the event, please contact us at [email protected]