Apply for The Verge
Industry Engagement Day
Publishing industry professionals will respond in real-time to pitches for picture books, novels, and long-form nonfiction, giving writers valuable insight into what's working and how they can sharpen their pitch.
Online event - July
Writers submit a book pitch and get live feedback from top literary agents and editors.
cost
đź’ˇ faculty may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.
$250 for Non-Members with a Pitch
$185 for CTC Members with a Pitch
$175 Without a Pitch
Critique-Only Guests
Katie Hopkins
Agency Assistant to Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties
Katie Hopkins fell in love with reading in her childhood, where she could often be found raiding her dad’s treasure trove of science fiction paperbacks. She then continued to cultivate her love of storytelling at Missouri State University, where she earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. Upon moving to NYC, she wore many hats (from Cruise Ship Singer to Axe Throwing Instructor), before finally pivoting from performing to publishing with an internship at DeFiore & Company. Now at Pippin, Katie is thrilled to champion works that offer fresh perspectives and bring people together.
Katie also manages the licensing of foreign and translation rights for Pippin titles, and assists Pippin's Creative Director, Holly McGhee.
Manuscript Wishlist ✨
Holly's particular taste tends toward powerful & deep graphic novels, poignant middle-grade and YA that speaks to the human spirit, and picture books in which she can immediately understand the characters from looking at their faces, picture books that she feels will make a difference in the world.
Katie's taste lends itself to sharp and funny picture books, voice-driven middle grade and YA coming-of-age tales, and anything that dabbles with the speculative or spooky. She has a special place in her heart for queer stories.
Interested in:
PB/MG/YA
Anna Luketic
Editor at Sourcebooks eXplore
Anna Luketic is an editor of nonfiction and fiction children’s books at Sourcebooks. She has a degree in PreK-8 education from California State University, Long Beach, with a concentration in mathematics.
Anna has worked as a teacher, tutor, curriculum developer, children’s minister, and freelance writer. As an elementary school teacher, Anna fell in love with children’s literature and later studied writing for children under Liz Garton Scanlon (All the World). Anna has taught writing through SCBWI, Inked Voices, the Verge, and the Writing Barn.
Her favorite food is tacos; her favorite pastime is photography; and her favorite place in the world is anywhere near water. She currently resides in Minneapolis
Manuscript Wishlist ✨
Animals, STEM, history, biography, nature, sports, and anything inspiring. I love stories about first-time experiences that include mishaps and humor, and when nonfiction tackles a familiar subject in a strange way. Looking for: Humor. Inspirational. Heartwarming. Exciting. Clever. Wacky.
Interested in:
PB
No open submissions, but requests from critiques possible.
