David Corbett

David Corbett is the author of seven novels, which have been nominated for numerous awards, including the Edgar®. His second novel, Done for a Dime, was a New York Times Notable Book, and Patrick Anderson of the Washington Post described it as “one of the three or four best American crime novels I have ever read.” His latest novel, The Truth Against the World, appeared in June, 2023. Corbett’s short fiction has twice been selected for Best American Mystery Stories, and a collaborative novel for which he contributed a chapter—Culprits—was adapted for TV by the producers of Killing Eve for Disney+ in the U.K. His non-fiction has appeared in the New York Times, Narrative, Writer’s Digest and other outlets. He has written two writing guides, The Art of Character (“A writer’s bible”) and The Compass of Character; and he is a monthly contributor to Writer Unboxed, an award-winning blog dedicated to the craft and business of fiction.

Richard Thomas

Richard Thomas is the award-winning author of eight books and over 165 stories in print. He was also the editor of four anthologies: The New Black and Exigencies. (Dark House Press), The Lineup: 20 Provocative Women Writers (Black Lawrence Press) and Burnt Tongues (Medallion Press) with Chuck Palahniuk. He has been nominated for the Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, Thriller, and Audie awards. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief at Gamut and previously held the same title at Dark House Press. In his spare time he teaches at various places including Writer’s Digest online and the Gilliam Writers Group, as well as his own classes at Storyville). For more information visit www.whatdoesnotkillme.com or contact Paula Munier at Talcott Notch.

Connie Berry

Connie Berry, award-winning author and former aspiring archaeologist, expertly weaves her passion for history and antiques into the Kate Hamilton Mystery series. Set in the UK, the series mirrors Connie’s own unique upbringing and love for the British Isles, gained through her studies at Ohio State University, Germany, and Oxford, England. Her debut, A Dream of Death, won the IPPY Gold Medal for Mystery and became a Silver Falchion and Agatha award finalist. Connie’s first novella, Mistletoe and Murder, released on October 17, 2023. The fifth novel in the same series, A Collection of Lies, released in 2024. Published by Crooked Lane Books and represented by Paula Munier at Talcott Notch Literary Agency, Connie’s works captivate readers with gripping mysteries set in the enchanting landscapes of the United Kingdom. Residing in central Ohio and northern Wisconsin with her husband and dog Emmie, Connie invites readers to explore her world at connieberry.com.

Vanessa Riley

Vanessa Riley is an award-winning author of over twenty-five novels like Island Queen (a GMA buzz pick), A Duke The Lady and A Baby, and the Lady Worthing mystery series (2024 Georgia Author of the Year for Mystery). Her works spotlight hidden narratives of Black women and women of color, emphasizing power, sisterhoods, and family sagas across historical fiction, romance, and mystery genres. With a doctorate from Stanford University and other engineering degrees from Penn State, Vanessa brings a research-oriented approach to her inclusive storytelling about Caribbean, Georgian, and Regency eras.

Iris Yamashita

Iris Yamashita is an Academy Award nominated screenwriter and an Anthony and Barry Award nominated mystery author. She wrote the script Letters From Iwo Jima for Clint Eastwood. The film received a Golden Globe award for “Best Foreign Language Film” of 2006 and was nominated for 4 Oscars including “Best Picture” and “Best Original Screenplay.” City Under One Roof was her debut mystery novel set in a tiny Alaskan town where all the residents lives in a single high-rise building. The book has been nominated for an Anthony Award and Barry Award and has made numerous “Best of” lists including “Best Thrillers of 2023” by The Washington Post. Village in the Dark is the follow-up to the Cara Kennedy series and was released in 2024. Iris wrote a six-part audio series called Purple Heart Warriors for BBC Wold Service, was released on December 9, 2024 and is now available on podcasts. Iris has also dabbled in writing a musical for a Japanese theme park with Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori. She has taught screenwriting at the University of California, Los Angeles and the American Film Institute.

Hank Phillippi Ryan

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the USA Today bestselling author of 15 psychological thrillers, winning the most prestigious awards in the genre: five Agathas, five Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV, with 37 EMMYs and dozens more journalism honors. National book critics call her “a superb and gifted storyteller.” Her current novel is the page-turning standalone ONE WRONG WORD, a twisty story of gaslighting, manipulation, and murder. B.A. Paris says, “A gripping rollercoaster of a read… This is Hank at her very best!” And James Patterson says, “If you’re looking for riveting suspense that keeps you up late… you get your wish.” Hank is the co-host and founder of THE BACK ROOM, host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze, and co-host of FIRST CHAPTER FUN. She lives in Boston, with her husband, a criminal defense and civil rights attorney.

Erica Wright

Erica Wright is the author of eight books, including the mystery novel Hollow Bones (Severn House, 2024) and the essay collection Snake (Bloomsbury, 2020). Her novel Famous in Cedarville (Polis Books, 2019) received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was called “a clever little whodunnit” in The New York Times Book Review. Her latest poetry collection is All the Bayou Stories End with Drowned (Black Lawrence Press, 2017). She is a former editorial board member of Alice James Books and currently teaches at Bellevue University. She lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, with her family.

Sheyla Knigge

High Line Literary Collective

Sheyla Knigge (SHAY-luh KUH-nig-gee) is a budding publishing professional who comes to the industry with a lifelong love of reading under her belt. Having worked under Victoria Marini since 2021 she has had the immense pleasure of perusing a variety of books that have gone on to do incredibly well and cannot wait to do the same for her own clients soon. What I'm looking for fluctuates as the seasons do, but something that I am steadfastly looking for at all times is immersive stories, the kind I can't stop talking about long after I have put them down. I'm particularly drawn to fantasy novels across genres, but stories that have a lot of heart are my sweet spot.

Jackie Kruzie

Olswanger Literary

Jackie Kruzie is a new agent with Olswanger Literary. Here are her needs: "Adult fiction, including fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, sci-fi, thriller, women's fiction, and I am particularly interested in magical realism and supernatural stories. I have a soft spot for historical fiction with dual timelines where events from the past impact the present. I am a sucker for stories with a romantic element and enjoy when budding romances develop organically throughout the story and I don't mind a little spice."

Daniel Niv

Olswanger Literary

"I am looking for fantasy manuscripts, particularly romantasy! I also love new adult, magical realism, dark academia, historical fiction and retellings, and family sagas. For romance, I am more intrigued if the setting is historical or unique. The most important thing for me when reading a manuscript is to connect with the protagonist. I often find myself connecting to vulnerable protagonists who discover their strengths. Overall, I love stories with a compelling hook, an emphasis on character development, high stakes, and plot twists. I welcome manuscripts with diverse voices from all backgrounds and marginalized communities."