From gothic and horror to dystopian and speculative fiction, readers are gravitating toward stories that explore fear, uncertainty, and emotional intensity, while still offering escape. Literary agent Ellen Goff is here to tell us why.

In this session, Ellen explores the rise of this trend from both a creative and industry perspective. You’ll get a clearer understanding of why these stories are resonating right now and what that means for writers working in (or who are curious about) darker genres.

Industry professionals: authors, agents, editors, etc. facilitate these events. Price points are low and attendance is high, anywhere from 50-200+ attendees. Writing craft and industry engagement are explored. *REPLAYS are made available for all registrants 2 business days after the event and are available for a limited time.*

Ellen (she/her) graduated from The University of Chicago with a BA in English, a minor in Cinema and Media Studies, and a focus in Creative Writing. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School, in both Fiction and Writing for Children and Young Adults. She has worked everywhere from The White House under the Obama administration to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. At HG Literary, her client list consists of authors writing for all age groups, from picture books to middle grade to young adult to adult, in both fiction and nonfiction. She also represents illustrators as well as graphic novelists. In addition to building her own domestic list, she is the International Rights Manager of the company’s Children’s & YA list. In her elusive free time, Ellen runs an active writing workshop and critique group in the heart of New York City. 

After hours and in her spare time, Ellen is also an author of grounded fantasy novels with Saga Press.